In years past, the boxy TV set and supersized home stereo were looked upon as practical, even though they robbed space and collected dust. But today’s ultra-sleek high-tech devices can be as feng shui as a flourishing lucky bamboo plant and as aesthetically pleasing as a nicely framed lithograph of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”

Indeed, in the 21st century the concept of interior decorating has led to “techorating” – a term that can be defined as the implementation of technology into a room or home’s overall decorative theme.

“Techorating is the art of stealth performance,” says Chris Lucera, owner of Chris Lucera Home Entertainment and IT Services in Winthrop, Mass. “Ideally, you should only see the equipment necessary to visually enjoy the experience while the brains and brawn of the setup are concealed as much as possible but still provide maximum performance.”

But techorating involves more than concealing speaker wires behind the wall or perfectly centering the plasma above the fireplace, says Doug Wilson, a celebrity designer who has appeared on TLC’s “Moving Up” and “Trading Spaces” programs and who also is the official Techorator for consumer electronics giant LG. Techorating is all about making chic consumer electronics like high-def TVs, Blu-ray players and space-age speakers blend into a room as seamlessly and harmoniously as possible, all while maximizing their potential.

“When people first unwrap and plug in new consumer electronics, they often realize they have no idea how to make these sleek pieces of technology fit into their home décor,” Wilson says. “One of the things I love best about the concept of techorating is helping consumers be successful at integrating electronics into the design of their interior space.”

Another perk of techorating: “the ability to simply and intuitively control the system and provide audio, video and information content anywhere in the home,” Lucera says.

Why is proper techorating important to consider now? Because in this economy, “consumers are definitely looking to stretch every dollar, and that means nesting at home,” says Al de Leon, a public relations manager at Sony Computer Entertainment America in Foster City, Calif. “Americans are escaping to their living room and maximizing their home entertainment experience.”

Wilson agrees, pointing to a Roper survey conducted in late 2008 that found consumers are continuing to nest. Twenty-nine percent of respondents indicated they are planning ahead and saving money to purchase big-ticket consumer electronics items.

Prime techorating objects: electronic frames that display your digital photos; media server-enabled devices like the Playstation 3 that connect to your PC and/or Internet and which share and store movies, audio files, photos and other media; sound bars and custom frames to fit your wall-mounted HDTV.

“One of the best ways to techorate your home is to establish a Wi-Fi network, which then enables you to connect a number of devices not only to the Internet but to each other,” says Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director at Wi-Fi Alliance, Austin, Texas.

In addition to implementing more wireless features, “consumer electronics companies are working to design products in a more aesthetically pleasing way, says Wilson. “Many of these products offer really beautiful designs – clean lines in cool colors.”

Wilson has three tips he recommends to help ensure that your new technology works with the look and feel of your home and doesn’t overwhelm the space:

1. Pick a focal point in the room. “If you are working with a larger living space, remember not to go overboard with one particular theme,” Wilson says. “With just a few integral pieces, the room can be made to feel spacious yet comfortable.”

2. Consider the space. “The technology in your room should be in proportion to the room for the best aesthetic and functional fit. For example, look for the best integration, not necessarily the biggest TV,” says Wilson.

3. Keep a clean design. “With all the technology in today’s homes, it can be challenging to maintain an organized look,” Wilson says. “Be careful with cords, so consider going wireless. And space can be of the essence, which is why mounting flatscreens to the wall has become so popular.”

Smart techorating also involves thinking green, says Wilson. Replacing old, outdated technology “can save consumers money by using less energy. For example, many of the better brands of HDTVs are designed to achieve the new ENERGY STAR 3.0 rating and be up to 30 percent more energy-efficient than non-qualified models.”

Techorating is a lasting trend, says Lucera. “As entertainment and information sources continue to converge, techorating will become a key consideration of homeowners when designing and decorating.”

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