A TV is one of those things that we like to have in every room, yet it can sometimes create a quandary on where to place it.
In a living room, I always talk about creating a focal point. If the room has a fireplace, this is the focal wall. Your seating should be directed toward the focal wall.
So, considering that your seating is placed toward the fireplace wall, your TV should be placed on, or near the fireplace.
Sometimes placing the TV above the fireplace can create an uncomfortable seating position as you strain your neck looking up too high. It can also create limited seating options as some of the seating faces the TV.
Others, especially if you have a sectional or additional chairs, can face toward another wall. If your room is small and your seating is close to the TV, it can be very difficult to look up so high.
Eye level is best, so hopefully, if the TV is over the fireplace, your seating sits back far enough and your fireplace doesn’t go up too high on the wall so that your TV is at a more comfortable level.
Also, keep in mind that TVs don’t work well near heat. So if your fireplace is wood burning or creates a lot of heat with gas or electric, you will need a mantle shelf to help deflect some, if not all, of the heat.
You can also find a TV bracket that can angle the TV down, so you don’t have to strain your neck.
If you find it problematic to place your TV over your fireplace, maybe it is because it would be difficult to place the wiring needed for the TV or maybe you can place your TV on a cabinet or in a bookshelf beside the fireplace.
There are some cabinets that have a lift for your TV to come up out of the furniture piece.
Living in the amazing technical age as we do, there are a variety of TVs to select from, especially some that look like framed artwork when the TV isn’t on. You can select from a variety of pictures that work with your decor!
Here is a fun project that I designed. This client wanted a hidden TV, so I suggested a projection system. Although the projector is hung from the ceiling and visible, the screen, itself, comes out of the ceiling, in front of artwork within a niche. It allowed for a movie theatre room with a press of a button! There are lifts for projectors that could have hidden the unit if need be.
Always consider your options when placing a TV in any room!
