In compact apartments, the hall wall often has to hold both the TV and the family mandir. Done well, a combined TV unit with a mandir looks graceful and keeps the pooja space distinct. Done badly, the deities end up beside the TV screen. Here are design ideas that respect both uses.

TV unit in marble finish with brass inlay lines beside an arched pooja niche, Sriraman’s home interior at The Prestige City, Sarjapur Road
3D design visualisation prepared for a ModScale client, not a photograph of a completed home. See the full design.

Design principles

  • Separate the two zones: give the mandir its own niche, panel or frame, rather than placing deities on a TV shelf.
  • Different materials: a marble or stone-finish mandir panel and a wood or laminate TV panel help each read as its own space.
  • Shutters for the mandir: jali, glass or tinted glass shutters can close the mandir while the TV is on.
  • Its own lighting: a warm backlight or Om panel in the mandir, separate from the TV wall lights.

TV unit with mandir design ideas

Arched pooja niche beside the TV

An arched niche on one side of the TV panel, in marble finish with brass inlay lines, keeps the mandir distinct but part of the same wall.

Mandir behind tinted glass

A recessed mandir behind tinted glass shutters, beside a floating TV console, keeps the deities protected and calm.

TV wall with floating walnut-top console and puja unit behind tinted glass shutters, Santhosh’s home interior at Prestige City Meridian Park, Sarjapur Road
3D design visualisation prepared for a ModScale client, not a photograph of a completed home. See the full design.

Jali-fronted pooja unit

A CNC jali shutter with a backlight gives privacy to the mandir while the pattern glows. See jali design.

Split wall

The TV on one wall and the mandir on the adjoining wall, linked by the same ledge or flooring, if the hall allows.

Living room TV unit with marble-finish back panel, fluted side panels and backlit display shelves, Ashish and Pooja Agarwal’s home interior at Assetz 63 Degree East, Sarjapur Road
3D design visualisation prepared for a ModScale client, not a photograph of a completed home. See the full design.

Practical tips

  • Use a heat-resistant marble, granite or quartz platform where lamps are lit.
  • Keep a drawer below the mandir for pooja items.
  • Plan ventilation for incense and lamps.
  • Many families prefer the mandir in the north-east; see Vastu tips for home.

More ideas in small pooja room design and modern TV unit design.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to have the mandir in the TV unit?

Many apartments do, as long as the mandir has its own niche, shutters or panel and is not simply a shelf beside the TV screen.

How do I separate the mandir from the TV?

Use a different material, a separate niche or frame, shutters that can close, and separate lighting for the mandir.

Which side of the TV should the mandir be?

It depends on the room and your family practice. Many families prefer the mandir towards the north-east.

What shutters suit a mandir in a TV unit?

Jali, glass or tinted glass shutters keep the mandir protected and allow it to be closed while the TV is on.

What platform is best for lamps in the mandir?

Marble, granite or quartz, which resist heat and are easy to clean.

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