I think many of your issues would be lessened if the TV was lowered on the wall. The middle of the television screen should be at eye level when seated. The center of the television screen can be scooched up to standing eye-level if the couch is set far enough away that you're not straining your necks to view it. You'd still have a lot of space above the tv, but that is okay because the tv is the focal point. I would not try to fill in the space to the left of the television. It is close enough to the fireplace. You don't need to fill every nook and cranny, especially around a television. To the right, you might get more mileage out of a large potted plant instead of the chair.

I think you should create a TV backing frame. Add a flat piece of wood slightly larger than the TV and trim it with a picture frame molding. This picture shows a hutch which connects the console and the TV. Your TV looks hung slightly high, consider lowering some.

If a taller tv console cabinet is out of the question, and if the TV doesn't exude a lot of heat, you might try a fabric panel on the wall behind the TV running down to behind the top edge of the TV Console cabinet -- anything to draw the 2 closer together. You might consider matching the fabric with a dummy curtain panel and valence over the window blinds. Pick your favorite color out of the rug and think about that.

If you have small children, assymetrically stacking floor cushions on top the console (to be pulled down on the floor when kids play, would take up some space and not be distracting.

You could add 3-6 inches to the TV Console by buying some furniture feet/legs and installing them on the console... or see if there's an under-bed drawer kit that would serve as a good platform for the TV Console -- that would probably bring it up about 9-12 inches and give you some storage to boot. -- look for a twin bed size, or if that's too long, see about having one made --it's just a box with drawers on one side, a bit bigger then the TV console so as to be a platform for it, and stained to match the console

Place a large woven basket-type chest/trunk with brass closure under the tv and atop the console. This would fill in the space as this would be a large piece atop the console and would fill in the blanks and not detract from tv picture. They are rather inexpensive and can be used in other venues if you want to change your mind later.

thank you.
At the time our TV was mounted (professionally) the entire room was empty. I never questioned them and the height seems fine to me now with the furniture back in.

It measures 481/4" from the floor to the bottom of the TV (we have 8 ft ceilings).
Is there a standard mounting height? I'm 5'2" and husband 5'9" and it seems fine to us. Our TV console (where TV use to sit ) is 24" high.

True , as previously there was no furniture , now you will have to lower the T.V .

Agree with above posts .... TV is too high. It should be at or just above eye level when sitting.

make a 15 degree angle if possible .

I'm printing and taking all your suggestions seriously. Maybe I'll contact the company who mounted the TV since everyone seems to think 49" above the floor is too high. I'm afraid they'll say "we mount above fireplaces and that's higher than yours at 49". I guess it will depend on the cost to remount as well as the cost of other great options you all have given me.

Thank you so much.

silly question but I thought inorder for the cable box and DVD player to work, there couldn't be an obstruction such as a cabinet door when you point remote at them ?

I like the idea of moving sofa table in front of the TV to see how that looks even though it is only 30 " tall.

Any opinions on whether to hang drapery panels on either side of window ?

a) if you can lower the tv, even a little, that would help; b) rather than modify the furniture, darken the wall color so there is less contrast.You have beautiful wood floors that ground the room nicely, but going light on the walls makes for high contrast even if the tv was at a perfect height. By darken, i mean go to a medium hue, something that has presence...

What about putting the tv behind a big mirror... when the tv is on, you can see it, when it's not, you can have a lovely mirror with a much bigger size and frame to suit the overall wall.

I agree with Diane about darkening the wall. Our TV is on a low console at the perfect height, so we have lots of light cream wall above it. Since we're in a rental, I can't paint the wall darker. I'm going to hang fairly large pictures above the TV in a gallery wall display so that the TV doesn't stand out as much.

may consider the darkening wall as well. Thanks.
pamzella, no chance of your mirror idea. My DH has the tv on ALL day so we'd never see the mirror. Thanks though :)

I don't want to be a jerk, but the tv is too high. I'm not surprised that the installers put it there, almost everyone hangs their art too high as well. When it's over a mantle, people usually have it on a bracket that swivels downward to make viewing more comfortable. But mantel height, which is where they placed yours, doesn't look right if the tv is floating on the wall, the way yours is. True professional installers should have asked what furniture would be used beneath it and placed it accordingly.

Here is an image showing how low it could go.

If you had different furniture or special needs (like over a mantle or need to see it from bed) it would be fine. It's just too high for your furniture. If it cannot be moved, darken the wall a bit.

Me again!
The remote will work even if the components are placed inside the cabinetry IF your system is set up for radio frequency.
Standard set up, which is point and click infra-red technology, would not work if the components are behind closed doors.
I have had clients put their components in a linen closet in a different room, using radio frequency, and had it all work beautifully! Talk to the audio /video guy to see what your system can do!

I'm with the group that thinks the console is too low...adding legs was a good idea, then another possible solution is add a ledge between console and TV for decorative items

Hi, I agree with Wow Great Place's comments. Also how about some floating shelves to the right of the tv and even 1 underneath if you keep the console - you can distract from the height with some carefully chosen objet and pics, a small pile of coffee table books, vase etc. Great way to add some personality and still have the TV as focal point when it's on.

I don't think the consel is to low I think the T.V is way too high !

I believe the T.V. is too high. But I haven't ruled out putting things on my console.We chose to put our T.V. a little higher than most because it's on a very high wall. To ground it I have put things on my console and have not found it to be a distraction at all. I think you just have to make sure it's not too busy, like an entire collection of small things. Just a few or even one larger item. I've attached a pic of mine. I think the curtain issue is entirely a personal choice. You could leave it as it is for a simple cleaner look or put full length curtains for a warmer look.

I wouldn't fret about your TV height! 49" inches really isn't too high. I'm sure you really enjoy it from your kitchen, too! Love the idea of raising the cabinet you have by adding legs, and adding large baskets on top of the current tv cabinet, or maybe some books stacked. Looks like you have some baskets under your sofa table you could just try for giggles. Nothing like rearranging and shopping in your own home! Give the sofa table a try under your TV, too. Doesn't look like you have many components, so you could either place them on top of the sofa table, or on the bottom shelf. Also agree with replacing the rocker with a large potted plant =) As for curtains, I would add floor length curtains, with the rods almost up to crown molding, and past the window frame on either end. Looks like your recliner is a swivel. If you don't use the sofa table under the TV, maybe you could move it away from the window and behind the sectional and scooch the whole sectional and rug closer to the window. Then pull back the recliner back a touch closer to the window, with a table and lamp in front of the window. Just a thought. We also have two swivel club chairs in our family room. They are GREAT for viewing TV, and swiveling for conversation.

Just wanted to say that I own the Louis XVI Sideboard that "Wow Great Place" posted, where it has my DVD player and other things for the TV. (Although I own the one with only too doors.) I am very happy with it. Our TV Is higher (like yours) because our bed (it's in our bedroom) is high, and this allows it to be eye level. It looks great. The space between the top of it and the TV looks great. If you want me to take a picture, let me know, and I'll post one.

yup... tv is too high. who came up with the idea to hang them over the fireplace to begin with? Awful idea unless you like neck pain!

tv is way to high, it has to be about 6-8 inches above the base. For curtains, put wall to wall so the difference on each side will disappear, and yes for always long curtains, put pole halfway from top frame to ceiling.

Drop the height of the tv a little, then put some decorative vases (preferrably, a set of 2 or 3 vases) ontop of the console. Voila

I definitely think the tv is too high! It should be lowered to 6"- 8" above your media cabinet. You will find it more comfortable in viewing and will add visual height to your ceilings.

Adding floor length drapery panels will also make your ceilings look taller and will soften the look af your space.

If you decide to lower the TV you may be able to just lower the TV mount without having to redo wiring or electrical outlet. I know what a production it is to hide those wires in the wall! As long as the outlet doesn't show, you may be able to lower the TV 8-10 inches.

If you decide to lower the TV you may be able to just lower the TV mount without having to redo wiring or electrical outlet. I know what a production it is to hide those wires in the wall! As long as the outlet doesn't show, you may be able to lower the TV 8-10 inches.

I think we're leaning towards leaving the TV at the current height. We are able to easily watch it from both our sectional as well as our kitchen island. As it turns out our daughter has hers mounted over her fireplace, I had her measure and it is several inches higher than ours, yikes !!

It is the open space that bothers me, not the height of the TV. I'm leaning towards several of the excellent ideas posted here, now to figure out which one as there are such good suggestions. You all are the BEST.

That is probably the easiest solution if you are happy with the height of the TV. I think you'll be able to fill in the space in an attractive way. Let us know what you do. This thread has inspired me to figure out what to hang *above* our low TV on the light-colored wall. :-)

The space below the television gives you an ideal place for a sound bar to enhance your viewing experience with improved audio. Just an idea.

I would slightly lower the TV and use a casement to float the tv. A center speakerbar would help also. take a look at: