simps214 Placing a television above the fireplace is one of those design decisions that has more cons than pros but I cant help but find appealing!

A black and white movie followed by a cozy fire? Yes, please!

sunrisedesign Strange, that after all the work to harmonize these 2 focal points on one wall, that several of the examples have the seating actually facing away from that amazing wall!..

Iyare I I struggled with this decision when I was redoing my living room. I wanted to separate and put a nice piece of art over the fireplace but I eventually had the choice taken out of my hands because the art piece I got was too big to fit over the fireplace so I had to move it to the tv wall and put the tv over the fireplace. I actually like it and I thin it is still cosy.

Lanie Brown My family room layout pretty well dictates that the fireplace and TV are on different walls, and I prefer it this way. I see how TVs and fireplaces share, but my gut is they don't go together and to me it always looks forced.

ikwewe I have no room next to the fireplace for the TV and above the fireplace is way too hot for the TV, so I have it fastened in front of built-in bookshelves on the wall to the left of the fireplace wall. My seating faces the fireplace, but on the left side, the chairs can swivel to face the TV when needed. It is maybe not the best solution but it works because we really don't watch a lot of TV.

Is there a way to make the space above the fireplace more TV friendly? We have a lot of heat rising up there.

Trish Estabrook The ideas just keeping pouring out of me as I view these awesome photos. Houzz really does bring innovation and class to the minds of their viewers. Thank you!

annoulaxeni "When placing your TV above your fireplace, make sure it's low enough to be comfortable to look at. You don't want anyone to crane a neck when trying to relax and watch TV."

That's a little bit more than a "design tip" -- it's essential to avoid neck strain, headaches, etc. And "low enough" means that the center of the screen is at the same height as your eyes when you're seated, or as close as you can get to that. Of course you also can factor in the distance you're sitting from the screen, as the further away, the less acute the angle would be for your eyes to reach a higher-than-eye-level screen (think front row of the movie theater versus back row).

And if you have to slouch on the sofa to relax and align your head, you're going to end up with back issues!

theory9design TV's should never go over a fireplace, IMO. It places the TV too high for safe/comfortable viewing, yes -- but, to me, it dilutes the interest in a room. If I want to relax, unwind and enjoy a fire why must I be reminded of my life's constant inundation of technology? And, with the TV off, it's just an ugly black hole stealing the interest of what could be some fine craftsmanship in the form of masonry or woodwork. Lame.

The last photo in the article has a corner fireplace with the TV on an adjacent wall - this is how my LR is set up and a preferred configuration. It creates interest as your focus is spread out more through the room.

Interestingly (to my eye), both the last photo and second photo have TV's on adjacent walls to the fireplace - yet, in both examples, the furniture is arranged with the TV as the main focal point. To me that seems normal (and how I have my LR) but why is there no way to cozy up to the fireplace in either example? There's no seating...there's no bear rug...it's as if the fireplace is a nuisance the room designer cared to dismiss ...

Kass Wilson/ WallsTreat Studio Outstanding article! Balancing these feature walls seems to be one of the biggest challenges for the designers I work with. These were great ideas and good food for thought.

kerryloves2travel My fireplace is flanked by bookshelves like photo # 1. Have raised brick hearth & oak mantle.
Husband wants flat screen & considering over fireplace. Walls painted taupe & bookshelves were white like picture but painter "antiqued" them taupe which I never liked. Will it look to busy if I repaint them white to match ceiling & crown molding. Other elements ar brown leather couch & chair & 2 other chairs.
Thanks for any suggestions.

astraea Years ago, people kept a TV until it died, and sizes didn’t change as often. With flatscreen “standards” increasing in size even multiple times a year, and new technology encouraging people to trade up a lot more frequently, I’d be afraid of spending a ton of money on such a restrictive built-ins as in many of these pictures! Replacing the TV would mean redoing an entire wall!

Bonnie Canesso I am struggling with the placement of our tv in the family room. My husband wants it over the fireplace, but I am not sure if that is the best location, but because of the configuration of the room for furniture placement.....It seems like the best choice. We just renovated the entire house and now I am stuck on this room, because I can't decide on two decisions. I also purchased stacked stone to run from floor to ceiling on the wall without a mantel, or should I just paint our old mantel white and tile around the inside, for a more traditional look? The room floors are dark hand scraped hardwood and there s 6" crown that will be going up. I welcome any suggestions.

oliverd I know it isn't possible in many homes but I prefer to separate my TV watching space from my socializing space. Combining the two always ends in compromise. Putting a TV above a fireplace is a huge compromise.

jalanlowe For the holidays, having a garland over the mantel gave more visual balance to the nearly equal size fireplace and 60" TV. Now I am wondering how to keep that balance as without the garland the TV is a bit "top heavy". Any advice? What objects to put on the mantel or just modify the garland?

wbixby Check out Seura.com. It's a solution to the "empty black box" when the TV is off.

housegroupie I've always thought the TV over the fireplace was absurd. Just too much distraction. And not the most comfortable angle for TV watching, either.

ltcroucher We just went through a whole house renovation. The fireplace in the living room is brick, which I plan to refinish with grey tile. My husband installed the TV on the other side of the fireplace at a level recommended for viewing when seated on the couch. I hope I can convince him to include the TV space when we finally refinish the fireplace so that the space is more cohesive. I like the side by side pictures 6 and 7. Thanks for this article.

Rock Point Cabinets Here is a hidden television behind a mirror in a fireplace detail that we did.

virginiacottage I must be in the minority in my dislike for television sets prominently displayed over a fireplace mantel, especially in a Living Room. Everyone seems to do it. Maybe they like the sheen of black plastic.

With two fireplaces in my cottage, I have the luxury of enjoying a good book by the glow of the Living Room fire, undisturbed by the flickering blue glare and incessant din of the latest ad for hemorrhoid cream or body hair removal systems (ouch!). I have the added luxury of being able to change the mantel decor at will. No NFL memorabilia allowed.

Downstairs in the Family Room, the huge flat panel monster is on a wall perpendicular to the other fireplace, with seating arranged in a U-shape for maximum enjoyment of both attractions. The idiot-box, as Dad called it, hides behind sliding louvered panels picked up at a thrift store for $20, re-stained a deep red mahogany, and mounted on a track over a huge old Craig's List-score of a dresser ($50 and painted a lovely, creamy white) for storage of DVDs, manuals, remotes, etc. If I don't want to stare at my own reflection in the Giant Black Plasma Hole, I close the sliders with a hearty thwack and a satisfied toss of the head, pick up my novel and a glass of Port and hope the kids don't find me.

jbsilver The fireplace at an angle looks perfect. You get to enjoy it no matter where you sit in the room. I like that.

Georgia Blum Oh my gosh I'm putting up a picture of my house on a site full of really designy people...anyway, I am not a fan of the big unblinking black eye either. Unless I'm actually using it...then the living room is a logical and convenient place to have it. So this was our solution. Tuck it into built-in cabinets which are incorporated into the design of the fireplace. (Sorry you can't see how it fits into the overall scheme of the room because we just moved in a couple of months ago, and it's nothing to show off yet if you know what I mean.)

Caterina Eltze For our house in progress, there is only one place where we can possibly mount the TV, due to open concept and lots of glass, which is above the linear fireplace. I don't like the idea of looking at the black hole over the fireplace either (when not in use). My idea is to cover it with artwork that can be raised or lowered. Did anybody do that or something similar?

leighlou Wow so many tv snobs on here. No wonder you're concerned about neck strain from the bad angle created by having a tv over a fireplace, when your eyes must already be exhausted from all the rolling around they do in your head when you see these "awful" designs. I for one love this look. And even if I didn't I would just say why it didn't work for me rather than talk down from on high my self given design pedestal.

hrose92 Didn't include an example of bookcases that separate to show the tv... I know someone who has built ins all the way around the fireplace and the middle above the fireplace opens to expose tv. looks great.

Greg I wanted the TV above the fireplace but had an orginal 32 inch fireplace opening and did not want to be looking up at the TV. So we lowered the fireplace opening to 11 inches. We wanted a more contemporary look anyway so this added to that look. To deal with heat from the fireplace we put 2 pieces of concrete board under the TV to insulate from the fireplace. We don't have a big basement for a home theater so this is our home theater.

Greg I wanted the TV above the fireplace, but I wanted to look at the TV and not up at the TV so we lowered the 32 inch fireplace opening to 11 inches. That also gave us a more contemporary look that we wanted. We put 2 stacked pieces of concrete board under the TV to insulate the TV from the fireplace heat.

mmaba wow! i lyk the desighn and the colour on the wall is so fantastic.

Affirming Kitchen Clarity love the idea of threes company, that was the approach used on this project,

marybraue I am not designer, but I have had 4 fire places in homes in the past 30 years and most were horrible.They did not have the ideas they have now. Your tile is beautiful if you want to tile all the way up would you need a break for your eyes? Possible changing tiles where a mantle would go. The mantle white or painted it one of the colors in the tile would give it some pop and remember you could dress up your mantle with a very few classy items to give it some drama. Have fun you have a great space to work with what ever you do share me your results. Before and after photos.

marybraue Look great good idea

danefaye Does anybody know where you can purchase these fireplaces please?

Adcock-Smith Design Putting an electronic over a heat producing fireplace always seems odd to me. Rarely does the balance work aesthetically, although photo 1 has done a good job at balance. But, like the Pritchard's on Modern Family, imagine the crick in your neck from looking up at such an unnatural angle for a long movie or game.
I strive to always separate these components. If they MUST be on the same wall, photo 3 is an excellent example.

tapdancedi I can't stand having to look at a TV screen as part of my decor, unless I'm watching it. So I keep my little old small screen TV in an armoure. I want a big screen TV someday soon but have yet to see invented a casing you might put around on which I might have a lovely small mural painted or maybe hang some lovely fabric on it. This "casing could be opening to reveal the TV. C'mon, somebody invent this -- there's $$ in it!

reilii this would be one bz migraine causing picture

Iyare I The only reason I contemplated not putting my TV above my fireplace was because Houzz designers said I shouldnt because it was wrong. Like I said, it ended up being taken out of my hands but I love having my TV over the fireplace now. In my case, it makes for a much cosier feel when its lit and we're watching TV and drinking :) I thought it would be uncomfortable like I read and cause a neck strain but I actually doesnt because of the angle of the tilt.

Inside The Box Design The main thing I like about each of these is that genuine thought and consideration was put into each. In some cases I would have done a few things differently, but mostly personal tastes things. Each idea made the essence of the home itself most important; so it looks like something that was intended to be there.

Classic Interiors, Inc Why do people mount TV's so high? Shouldn't they be eye level, or close when you are seated?

Summerhouse Style In a model home for a townhouse that I designed in a resort area the builders insisted on a fireplace below-flat screen above combo. I designed a traditional wall unit around both to keep the two elements from fighting with each other, which also added architecture and dimension to the space. Adding a framed two-way mirror to hide the TV when not in use was explored, but was deemed cost prohibitive. Does anyone have recent experience with the hiding the TV with a mirror?

kerryloves2travel someone needs to invent a screen saver/picture for TVs. I heard there might be something be very costly. Anywhere you mount flatscreen TV you will see black hole. Why the big fuss! If it's in the room you watch TV, why do you have to hide it? Aren't we all past the "I don't watch much TV" and don't we watch more than we admit? No TV look is for formal living rooms.
Love the built in look here. Great way to make it fit into room.

twanger71 In some of the photos I don't see the media equipment or cabinetry in which it may be hidden. Did they find a way to have cable TV work directly through the television set? How'd they get DVR to work? What about DVD players? TVs can be as thin as paper but those darned cable boxes are a nightmare to hide away, at least in my house it is. I'll post my media design issue in a discussions board later.

tapdancedi Could you post some answers to these questions, Howzz, plez? Also, if they exist could you post some pics of ideas for disguising these huge TV's so they aren't such a dominant feature of the decor. Not all of us have homes w/ family rooms, and we don't like looking at a piece of mechanical equipment that is so very large. It's not that I want to negate the fact that I watch TV, but rather that they aren't at all decorative - big, black & boring. Afterall, we've been trying to disguise this type of equipment for years; hence the old, old invention of the stereo cabinet back in the 50's.

Kevin Karst Design Inc. This fireplace is direct-vented through the wall, allowing for a small enclosure, which is clad with marble. The TV is wall-mounted with a double wishbone bracket that provides huge adjustability. The AV components are behind a Whiting & Davis stainless chain-mail door insert, which allows ventilation, adequate visibility of LCD displays (especially at night) and operation with RF remotes with door closed. The Grass Nova Pro drawer slides run so smoothly that the turntable drawer can be opened and closed during operation without skipping! The wall feature above the wall unit is remnants of old wallpaper and layers of paint that were previously covered by the old fireplace enclosure. Finishes are marble, white lacquer and clear finished figured maple veneers and solids. This is a very comfortable, relaxing installation to live with.

Woutje Swets Why did you not show a TV that's a mirror until you turn it on? The mirror looks great over a fireplace - beat looking at an ugly TV.

Kevin Karst Design Inc. Thank you for your comment!

marcia6700 I love tv but I didn't want it to be a focal point in our living room. I did lots of research and couldn't find a solution. With a fireplace and windows with beautiful views and an open concept floor plan there were no walls to hang the tv on so we created a surround using a console table as the base and adding a back wall and shelf above for the DVR, DVD, sound system and all those wires. When the tv is off, it just looks like a table.

twanger71 I love these design solutions if I could just have the media equipment useable without having to open a cabinet. I like them hidden even when in use. They're just a mess. As far as tv height goes. It actually works for my family to have the TV mounted higher above the fire place. We tend to lay down with the ottoman butt up against the sofa like we're in bed. From what I've learned having the TV up higher is more correct while your watching tv while laying down. It's very comfortable.

marilyninv I am still in a quandry on what to do with the TV/firplace. We are planning on finishing an L-shaped area in our basement. The kitchen/bar goes in the bottom of the L. The long section needs to be split so I decided on a peninsula fireplace but can't decide how far into the room to bring it so we have walk room or where to put the TV so it is esthetically pleasing but still practical. I liked the 3 things on the wall but am more traditional and would like a mantle and perhaps some seating around the base. It is blank space with 3 equally spaced windows and a door on the wall of the L base at the moment though we have the travertine for the floors. what layout and surround. Should we come out 1/2 way or more from the wall. Help

confused

Classic Interiors, Inc Two different items. I'm not sure the fireplace and TV should even be in the same room?
One is for entertainment and learning, the other for relaxing, reading, contemplating...
Definitely not in the same space. Change spaces, change frame of mind. Also good exercise,
:-)

Iyare I I guess more important than design is comfort and relative use. Which one gets the most use though? I want to have a nice looking home but I think some of the design "no nos" are impractical. There are people who say no television, its distracting or dont take away from the fireplace but how many people use their fireplaces frequently? I feel like I have one room that is already just strictly for looks (my formal living room) that the living room should be my place to relax... Watch TV while I am cooking, watch a movie on the 3D tv i invested so much in. Ive been in my house for a little over a year and I've never turned on my fireplace (no time to). But I watch my TV quite frequently.

marcia6700 Hi lyare, I agree! Homes are for living, not for show. We don't have a formal living room, but a great room and a huge master bedroom, both with large TV 's and fireplaces and we enjoy both rooms everyday. I think it makes sense to get the most use out of every inch of your home. Our fireplace's are both wood burning so we have discovered the battery operated candles that come on every evening automatically and give a very nice ambiance without the mess, pollution etc. I think you're on the right track. Do what works for you. Rules change all the time. Don't worry about the "no no's".

Renaissance Kitchen and Home marcia6700,
I couldn't agree with Iyare more,
TV's are for designated TV areas, putting a TV in a formal area or a great room area detracts from the enviroment unless that is specifically what your intention for the space is.
I am attaching a photo of a compromise between a formal/ greatroom space and a TV area. I have designed a beautiful wood frame with special glass that allows the TV to show thru unabstructed while the TV is on and a Mirror when the TV is off. This eliminates the destraction of a TV when it is not needed, BUT allows great viewing of the TV when you want it!

Hope you like what you see.
Look for more pictures of this remodel on our Houzz site under"Townhome Redesign"

Torry Manzo
Renaissance Kitchen and Home

astraea @Renaissance - Whatever happened to the popular concept of "flexibility", and not having separate rooms for every possible activity?! I have a great room & the TV is over the fireplace. I don't need a TV room separate from that, and the TV isn't such an "eyesore" that it detracts from anything.

Renaissance Kitchen and Home Great comment Asteraea,
I know exactly what you mean. That's the great thing about this concept, everyone can get what they want when they want it without moving into another room.

Torry Manzo
Renaissance Kitchen and Home

Caterina Eltze Since moving to the U.S., I thought that the concept of a separate "formal" living area or a separate TV room away from the main living area is quite outdated and doesn't fit into a time when we all should think how we can use fewer resources. But I see how a different lifestyle or the fact that you always had it that way can affect those decisions.

Renaissance Kitchen and Home Catherina,
I think I may have got us off track on the TV/Fireplace concept.
My intention of showing the Mirror/TV photos was to show how we can all use the same space for many different applications. If you are in a informal TV viewing time the TV is on and obstructed. If you are using the room for a more formal dinner party the TV is off and hidden behind a beautiful mirror. The photos I attached are of a Townhome Greatroom so space is limited and the multiple purpose area is critical to the home's functionality.
I agree the formal living room concept is becoming a thing of the past and multi-purpose room are what ties us all together and makes our lifestyles work. I also agree that everyone has different styles of furnishings and the TV exposed doesn't always fit with the decor.

Torry Manzo
Renaissance Kitchen and Home

Planika Fires Just an idea, this is a bio fireplace and TV put together at the Sea Tower Apartment, Poland

Sara Wise Design Nice work Shane! I thought you might be interested to know about products such as this for managing the TV and Fireplace together! And it allows you to use art, not simply a mirror to conceal the TV when desired. Enjoy! http://www.sarawise.com/swd/media-track/

North Star Stone Interesting comments about TVs and fireplaces. The concept does work very well for those that like the idea. My wife and I were initially opposed to having a TV over the fireplace, however, so many of customers raved about the practically. We took the plunge 5 years ago and love our stone fireplace with a TV.

The viewing angle is comfortable. Heat has never been an issue. We placed a mantel on a different wall. We have a chase behind the wall to run new cables if necessary. Additionally we saved some of the stone from the time of installation in case we want to remove the TV and just have a stone fireplace.

Our web site and gallery on Houzz shows many examples of adding a TV over the fireplace.