Our Samsung Frame TV with Deco Frame Review
There was no reason to upgrade our TV - on paper at least. Our previous TV was about a decade old, purchased second hand, and technically worked just fine. Not to mention - for the last 7 years we have had other financial priorities that simply took precedence. So, upgrading our regular TV just didn’t makes sense.
But there was one outstanding factor - Stephen has always really wanted one - and he’s not one to spend frivolously. Following our Kitchen Renovation, and the completion of our first floor, it was time to splurge and reward ourselves with a new tv.
Sources
Samsung Frame TV
2022 Model in 50”
TV Mount Included
Deco Frame
Antique Gold
Link provides $50 off
or use code RENOVATIONHUSBANDS
Denon Soundbar with Subwoofer
Can be purchased as Soundbar Only and think that would work well
Samsung Frame TV ART Pack on Etsy
We love this shop - they have already optimized art for you
The Samsung Frame TV
We are sure that you can read up on all of the technical details, but there are a few key features that make this TV experience a bit different than any other smart tv.
// Mounting: The TV comes with a very flat, slim-fit wall mount. This does help the TV hang more like art, but made us a little bit nervous - our TV is quite high on the wall and we always used a tilting mount to help with the angle previously. Turns out - because the screen has such a matte finish - the viewing angle is much larger and we have no problem seeing it while flat.
// Matte Screen Finish: The finish on this tv is something like we have never seen. It reflects almost no light - and we would almost describe it as, beautiful? The purpose for the anti-reflection matte display is to help when you're in art viewing mode, so that it looks more like a real life painting. This also translates to excellent picture quality when you're actually watching the tv. Word to the wise: under no circumstance should you touch your screen (we have seen horror stories about this). Plan to install using gloves, an old tshirt, or with someone who you really trust not to touch the screen!
// Samsung One Connect Box: If you haven't experienced a Samsung TV before (we hadn’t), they have created some really smart features like the “One Connect Box”. This is a black box that plugs into the wall and contains all of the inputs you need, from HDMI ports to ethernet for better internet connectivity. The One Connect Box then has a single output (it’s a single clear cable) that heads to your TV - the best part is that other than audio/video, it also supplies your TV with power - so no need for an additional plug.
However, for the best results, and to make it look authentic in the art mode setting, you'll want to be able to snake that clear cable behind the wall. We have a chase that we installed behind the TV which feeds the One Connect Box into the piece of wood furniture next to the fireplace. Because the remote is AR it does not need to “see” the box in order to work!
// Hot Tip: This TV goes on sale periodically - sometimes dropping 30% from list price. We paid $898 (compared to $1298), and I don't even think that's the best deal we've seen.
Samsung Frame TV - 2022 Model in 50”
The Deco TV Frame
While Samsung does have a number of frames you can choose from, we find them all a bit contemporary. In a room of moulding, this just wouldn’t do so we looked for something special - this is when we found Deco TV Frames.
This Massachusetts company designs, builds, and ships its product from right here in our home state. We reached out to Deco Frames and we were lucky enough to get a tour. It may be a weird thing to say, but we are obsessed that these are manufactured so close to home. You always hear about (or lack of) manufacturing jobs and it was just nice to see people building things. We were really inspired by our trip and everything Kevin (the creator and owner) has built from the ground up.
Deco Frame - Antique Gold
Deco TV Frames has a wide variety of styles and different sizes. You can also order samples for about $3 if you're stuck between a few.
The Deco Frame was one of the easiest things we have ever assembled. The frame pieces snap together easily with simple magnetic assembly parts, the miters look great, and it's just really a stunning frame. Their quality team checks each and every frame before it gets shipped and even installs the actual frame on a tv to ensure the perfect fit.
Another high note? The frames are made from a recycled composite which is light weight and very strong. No more warping or chipping which you may see with a traditional wood frame. We chose Antique Gold, but Ornate Gold was a very close second.
// FAQ: Will the Frame block the motion sensor or brightness sensor? You can read more about that here on Deco’s website.
Samsung Frame TV Art
The biggest selling point of the Frame TV is definitely the custom ART. The Samsung art store requires a subscription, and to us it feels bonkers to pay a monthly fee for this.
Luckily, you can upload your own digital art and that is exactly what we have done. Using the Samsung SmartThings app on your smartphone, you can upload images directly from your camera roll and it’s a fairly straightforward process. Deco has actually already a created a bunch of resources about this process and I will link some of them here.
We have found it really helpful to create an album in our phones, in order to keep our art gallery together and organized.
Art Resources: This is a free Curated Art Collection by the amazing A Home Is Announced - you may be surprised by the iconic, real pieces of art that are available for free!
Art Resources: This is a paid Curated Art Collection of images, available on Etsy, already pre-sized for The Frame by Kelsi at Sage Print Shop. We really love this shop!
Etsy: There are so many beautiful pieces of digital art that are already fit for a frame tv. We like a combination of individual pieces we love, and the seasonal bundles.
We continue to be really impressed with the likeness to real pieces of art and the convenience of being able to change it out seasonally. Having the frame tv feels like you're gaining functional home decor. It's made the tv a focal point in our living space, but not in the imposing way a big tv can be. We tend to use digital art for our frame, but you could just as easily display your personal photos on there, too!
Final Thoughts
Samsung The Frame is a great tv and while it's more expensive than other TVs of a similar size, it does offer one unique advantage - it actually looks good in your home.
We saved up for this purchase for quite some time and we have no regrets.
