Mini Split Cover Ideas: 9 Ways to Hide Your Mini Split
Some people are not satisfied with the appearance of mini splits. They want to cover up the indoor unit to make their living room and bedroom look better, and hide the outdoor unit to improve their house’s exterior aesthetic.
While covering up the mini split can make your house look better, the performance and energy efficiency are also important. A good cover idea should not hinder the system from working properly.
So, if you’re looking for ideas to cover up your mini split without causing any damage, here are 9 ways to hide your mini split:
1. Lined Wood Paneling
Overview
A neat way to cover up your mini split is by using a lined wood paneling with hinges for accessibility.
This method is suitable for people who are renovating their house. A simpler version, whereby you mount a ready-made frame onto the mini split is also viable for existing homes.
The lined wood can be colored to match the background wall, TV or kitchen cabinets.
The good thing about this approach is that you can customize the lined wood paneling to blend with your furniture seamlessly.
The downside is that these wood panels are costly. Ready-made frames may not fit your house.
Performance Check
The lined wood paneling should have sufficient gaps (free area) for proper air circulation. Pay attention to the top section as it is where most mini splits return is located at. Must be openable for service and maintenance.
Recommendation: Yes, for renovation.
2. Embedding
Overview
Embedding your mini split inside a drop ceiling, bookshelf, TV or kitchen cabinet is another way to hide it from plain sight.
This method is also suitable for people who are renovating their house, as the ceiling and cabinets need to be tailored for that.
This type of cover-up can be more seamless than using a lined wood paneling. Your mini split is almost as if it is part of the wall or furniture.
The downside of embedding is again cost, as well as the difficulty in customizing the ceiling and cabinets. Digging a hole in the ceiling is a cheap way to embed your mini split, but not recommended.
Performance Check
Most embedded mini splits only cover the middle part, leaving sufficient clearance for the supply outlet and return inlet. However, this type of setup is often too tight for service (can’t remove the plastic cover).
Recommendation: No, unless enough service clearance is provided.
3. Painting
Overview
Painting is a simple way to decorate your mini splits and make them blend into the background.
Manufacturers don’t explicitly prohibit you from colouring their mini splits as long as the paint doesn’t go into critical components such as the cooling coil, filter, and electronics.
The plastic cover of mini splits can be removed and painted separately. Hence, it is not risky to do so.
The downside is probably the finishing product. If the paint job is poor, the final look of the mini split could be worse than before.
Alternatively, you can buy a colored mini split so that it looks invisible with the background wall.
Performance Check
Painting the mini split plastic cover doesn’t have any effect on the performance. Just be careful not to get some of the moving parts, such as the supply vent clips, stuck due to the paint.
Recommendation: Yes, with a decent paint job.
4. Decorative Sticker
Overview
Decorative stickers are a great way to patch up your mini split if painting takes too much effort.
There are many decorative stickers you can buy online and they come with different styles and patterns.
Some people use decorative stickers to advertise their business, represent their personality or put something they like on the mini split.
Instead of covering up the mini split, you turn it into a decoration, a display unit or a commercial advertising space.
Performance Check
Pasting decorative stickers on the mini split doesn’t have any effect on the performance. Just be careful not to stick some of the moving parts, such as the front cover and air vents.
Recommendation: Yes.
5. Concealed Unit
Overview
Concealed mini splits are an alternative approach to hiding your mini split and making your house look better.
The list of concealed mini splits includes 4-way ceiling cassette, 1-way ceiling cassette and ceiling ducted.
LG Electronics even has a gallery mini split that looks like a piece of art. Looks cool.
The issue with using a concealed unit is usually not enough space or headroom. The house is simply not designed for concealed units.
So, this approach is only suitable if you haven’t bought the mini split and you have the space to install it.
Performance Check
Concealed units are slightly less energy efficient than wall-mounted units. Other than that, they perform about the same.
Recommendation: Yes, if your house can accommodate that.
So far, the decoration ideas are for the indoor unit. The following are the decoration ideas for the outdoor unit.
6. Roofing
Overview
Putting a roof over the mini split outdoor unit is a good way to protect it from snow, rain, sun and falling objects.
Constant exposure to strong sunlight can indeed reduce the lifespan of the mini split. Having a roof over the unit can make a big difference.
Manufacturers also recommend shading your mini split away from sun for energy efficiency reasons.
A similar type of roof dedicated to covering the mini split outdoor unit can be bought online.
A simple roof is enough to avoid water piling up on top of the outdoor unit, which can speed up rust.
Performance Check
As long as you don’t cover up the outdoor unit, having a roof over it is beneficial for both performance and lifespan. However, energy efficiency improvement is minor.
Recommendation: Yes.
7. Louvered Box
Overview
Containing the outdoor unit inside a louvered box (aluminium or wooden) is a common way to hide it.
There are different types of ready-made louvered boxes sold online, which you can buy and install yourself. They come in different colors as well.
Some of the boxes are designed to prevent your mini split from getting stolen or damaged, especially if they are exposed to the outside.
However, when housing in a louvered box, the performance may be reduced, or not as per what the product design is intended.
Performance Check
Try to use a louvered box with more gaps (free area) for proper hot air discharge. Otherwise, it is detrimental to the performance, energy efficiency and lifespan of the system.
Recommendation: Not really, unless for protection purposes.
8. Wooden Frame
Overview
Putting your mini split outdoor unit inside a wooden frame is a great way to improve its aesthetic while keeping its performance intact.
A wooden frame is better because it often leaves the hot air discharge outlet unobstructed. Meanwhile, other non-critical areas are covered up.
You can even buy some of these ready-made wooden frames and slot them in yourself.
The space on top of the unit becomes usable. You can put plants and other decorative items to improve the overall aesthetics.
Wooden frames are more suitable for outdoor units that are sitting on the floor instead of hanging on the wall.
Performance Check
Wooden frames have more free area for air circulation and thus, the risk of hot air short cycling is lower. However, the back and side should still have some gaps for air intake.
Recommendation: Yes.
9. Perforated Cage
Overview
Perforated cages are similar to louvered boxes but often have more gaps for proper air circulation.
They are usually made of steel, with different patterns. Plain ones are also available for basic protection.
Many of these cages are ready-made. Some of them are available in different colors.
However, some people may not like the industrial look of perforated cages, but they are sturdy.
Perforated cages are more suitable for commercial buildings and backgrounds with matching patterns.
Performance Check
This type of cover is better than louvered boxes since they have more free area, which has less impact on the performance and energy efficiency of your mini split.
Recommendation: Yes.
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