Before Hiding a Portable Air Conditioner
While portable air conditioners help keep rooms in your home cool and comfortable, they’re not the most stylish element in your space. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to help them blend into their surroundings. However, there are a few things to consider first before trying to hide it.
Your portable air conditioner should be easy to access for maintenance, filter changes and adjustments, and there should be enough room around the unit for necessary airflow. Leaving about a two-foot distance from walls, furniture and other objects around air intake areas is generally a good rule to follow — but since portable air conditioner designs differ between manufacturer, check your owner’s manual for specifics on your model and the clearance requirements to ensure proper airflow. A blocked air intake or exhaust can cause it to overheat or work inefficiently, keeping it from doing its job and possibly affecting lifespan. While keeping it out of view is the goal, safety and function should still be the top priority.
With these considerations in mind, here are a few different ways you can make your portable air conditioner stand out less.
Use a Room Divider
A room divider offers a flexible solution for concealing your portable air conditioner that can be set up and taken down quickly and easily. Choose a divider that’s tall enough to hide the unit from view, as well as one that fits the look of the room, so your style is enhanced while the appliance is hidden. While the divider acts as a visual screen rather than an enclosure, it’s still important to consider using one with a breathable design — such as one with slatted wood, rattan or perforated panels — to help maintain airflow, and position it so that air intakes, outlets and exhaust hoses aren’t blocked. Decorative screens are a similar, alternative option you can use for this idea.
Check your portable air conditioner and divider regularly for moisture. Condensation, leaks or damp areas around or under the unit could potentially cause mold or mildew and should be addressed and dried as soon as possible.
Create a Plant Grouping
Setting up a collection of plants beside and in front of your portable air conditioner is a great way to distract the eye from focusing too much on the unit. Varying plant heights offer an intriguing sightline, while the greenery itself brings a warm, organic feel to the space. Since the cold air coming from the air conditioner can sometimes be hard on live plants, considering using artificial plants where the air might hit more directly instead. It's also a good idea to check the plants and planters every so often for condensation to avoid the potential for mold growth. If there is any moisture on or around the unit and nearby surfaces, it should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Mix in other elements like floor lamps, large decorative baskets and tall vases for a cleverly curated arrangement of décor that helps block the A/C unit from view.
Disguise It Under a Table
If space allows, tuck your portable air conditioner under a console table positioned against the window where it's installed. This not only allows it to blend into the space a little more, but the tabletop gives you a surface to place a lamp and display pictures, trinkets and other décor. Leave room for the hose behind the table so it can properly vent outside.
Design or Buy a Cabinet
Louvered or mesh-front cabinets are an ideal solution for concealing your portable air conditioner, as the slatted design or mesh screens allow for airflow. Make sure the cabinet is large enough to house the unit with enough space for proper ventilation and room for the hose to come out the back. Refer to your owner’s manual for information about clearance requirements.
The key to this disguise is using a three-sided cabinet. For pre-made cabinets, this means you'll want to keep the back off. You can also go the DIY route and build your own cabinet. This gives you more flexibility to create a customized cabinet specifically for your needs. With either option, it’s important to note that the amount of cool air entering the room may be restricted since it’s coming through louvers or mesh and could potentially have a negative impact on performance.
Look for ways to get the most out of this cabinet. If the cabinet has interior shelves or you build one with them, you can store items on the other side of the cabinet, and use the top of it to display décor, books, small house plants and more.