“It sounds wonderful to say that flat-screen TVs sit flat on the wall and look beautiful,” says Boston interior designer Eileen Patterson. “But they don’t. They usually protrude anywhere from 4 to 18 inches from the wall. And then there’s all the equipment that goes along with it.”

The new generation of sleek, flat-panel televisions was supposed to eliminate the need for walnut armoires and sprawling home entertainment centers. But anyone who has purchased a flat-screen TV knows the future is not quite as simple as it looks. Magazine spreads featuring plasma and LCD technology promised a future with nothing but a chic rectangle hanging in a minimalist loft.

In addition to a new generation of armoires designed for flat screens, there are consoles that resemble low dining room sideboards, media centers with a built-in back panel for hanging the TV and concealing wires, and frames that surround a TV to give the illusion that it’s sitting flat against the wall. Pricier options include furniture that allows the flat screen to rise up for viewing and then be lowered to disappear from sight.

When working with clients, Patterson has the televisions recessed into walls, or custom furniture is built to accommodate them. But her advice to those who can’t afford an additional $15,000 for a custom solution is simple: “Shop for furniture when you shop for the TV.”

Flat-screen TVs have given rise to a new genre of furniture. Once consumers realize that owning an LCD or plasma set is a bit more complicated than hanging it on the wall, the decision-making begins. Hide it? Show it off? Recess it?

“Whenever we feature a story that shows custom cabinetry for flat screen, or spotlight a show house with a unique solution for the TV, there’s a ton of interest from readers,” says Home magazine Senior Editor Beth Roehrig. “So clearly this is something that people are still trying to figure out.”

Kevin Hancock knows how tricky those decisions can be. His Haverhill, Mass., company, Frame My TV, creates frames for those who opt to hang their flat screen. Customers can even choose a mirrored frame. When the TV is off, the frame looks as if it holds a mirror. But when the TV is on, the mirror disappears and the TV is visible.