We are putting our TV in the builtins next to the fireplace. It is a personal preference but I do not like to look up to watch a show unless I am at a movie. Good luck on your decision! You will get both sides of the question here. :)

Robyn

I am not a fan of the tv over the fireplace. I think the fireplace should be the focal point, not an piece of electronic equipment. I also think that it is more comfortable to have the tv at a proper angle, less eye and neck strain.

To be honest I know we will use the tv very often.. We love to watch our movies.. Not a fan of having the tv off to the side. I feel like it would just be "off".. I am 50/50 on this.. I understand why people put it on top of the fireplace.. It is a focal point of the room and it does look good there but I am also partial to displaying the brick/stone work.. I could go either way but feel like putting the tv on a separate wall will give you the great view of the fireplace by iteself and also you can lower the tv so you are not having to look up and strain your neck.. Although with the size of the family room we are planning i don't think you would be tilting your head back all that much.. I guess we will have to play with the idea..

The TV is above the fireplace in our current home. If we ever have a fireplace in a room with a TV again, it will be above the fireplace there, too.

There is no neck strain. The TV is not on the ceiling. Looking at the TV requires lifting my eyes slightly.

Having them on different walls makes them compete as focal points. How often are you going to sit and watch the fire? Probably a lot less than watching the TV. So you end up situating the furniture for best TV angles. Then this fireplace looks awkward. If you face the fireplace, it's awkward for looking at the TV.

A second choice is to have the TV in built-ins next to the FP.

In our new place, the FP is going in the dining room so there will be no competition with the TV.

Would you consider going fireplace-less?
We will not have an indoor fireplace in our new house but our circumstances probably are different than most . . . no one (other than Santa Claus) has used either of the two fireplaces in our house for the past 9 years . . .

I agree with all of Amberm145's post. We prefer it above the fireplace and find it actually more comfortable for watching TV.

I've been thinking about this topic lately, and I'm thinking of putting it over the fireplace for these reasons:

- Since we're doing a new build, I have the option of NOT going with a raised hearth (which I otherwise would have liked) so that the fireplace will be a little lower than usual . . . which means the TV won't be all that high.

- If we don't put the TV over the fireplace, we'll have the aforementioned "two focal points" issue; PLUS we'd have to give up a window. I don't want to do that.

- I'm considering some type of "shutter" to cover the TV when it's not in use.

I'm interested in hearing any thoughts on my reasoning.

No to competing focal points! :0)

I put the TV above the fireplace in the livingroom....which is also the greatroom. The ceiling is 22' high. Plenty of room to still see the stonework....

This has been debated many times and there seem to be 2 camps: those who complain the TV over the fireplace is too high for comfortable viewing and it causes neck strain, vs those who prefer the single focal point which makes for easier furniture arrangement. We solved it by having 2 separate rooms...the TV is in the family room where TV viewing is the primary function, the fireplace is in the library where reading and conversing is the primary function.

I've been there / done that both ways. Absolutely hated it over the fireplace. Even from across the room the angle was not good, and glare was also an issue. My advice is, have loads of extra space available. Even if you have something like a 50in now, who knows what you'll have in 10 years or if the overall shape will change again. Don't lock yourself in to the way things are now.

I have it over my fireplace and I LOVE the set-up.

This has been rather hotly debated here through the years. :) You will find people who seem to hate the very idea of it. It seems to come down to personal aesthetics, as long as you solve for the issue of viewing comfort.

It is possible to have the TV over the FP and have it very comfortable for viewing. You will also find people who categorically state that is not possible...which leaves me wondering why so many people also post here that they have the set-up and it works fine. :) (I suppose it is possible I'm delusional and don't know it.......)

I don't have a raised hearth, and I have the bottom of the TV set relatively low over the mantle. The TV is then angled downward too, and that downward angling makes a huge difference. (We first installed it without the downward angle, and it felt a smidge too high. It amazed me how just tilting it made a world of difference.)

Our regular viewing chairs are about 10-12 feet back from the FP.

I'm very pleased with this set-up. I have 5 windows in my living room and didn't want to block any of them. Competing focal points would have been a huge problem in the room too. This set up solved both issues and I couldn't be happier.

Two rooms might be ideal for some people, and that's what we have in our current house -- but I'm looking to downsize. I don't want to pay for two rooms or keep two rooms clean!

As for glare, I suspect that has more to do with the location of your windows than whether your TV's over the fireplace or not. If it is an issue, consider covering the TV with shutters; when you open them, the shutters will provide protection from window glare.

I'm not surprised that people have different opinions: Much of the success or failure of this concept has to do with the height of the TV placement, the windows in the room, and the angle of the TV. These are highly variable.

QUESTION for those who have this set-up: Obviously we want to have electrical outlets above the fireplace for the TV . . . but where do you place your DVD player, etc.?

I'm putting mine off to the side. I love to decorate my mantle at the holidays, and don't want my TV interfering. Plus, I want the 'stuff' (components) tucked away underneath.

This is my inspiration pic, I want my fireplace/TV to look like this, with the exception of putting the TV a bit higher on that cabinet (its a bit low).

[Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Saratoga Springs Design-Build Firms Witt Construction

Nepool-that hearth is awesome! Great inspiration. :)

we are putting the tv in a built in off to the side. The fireplace stone goes to the ceiling so there's no questioning the focal point of the room. The tv will be on an articulating mount so it can tuck in to the cabinet somewhat when not in use. IMO tvs are such a prevalent item in homes that they don't necessarily attract attention sitting near a fireplace.

I think that also if you have the right space you can put the tv and fireplace on completely different walls and that could work too.

Placing components shouldn't be an issue. All of ours are wireless.

Is someone willing to try the fireplace OVER the tv and report back? I think this would look just as absurd as tv over fireplace but at least you can solve the TV viewing height problem!

Just moved into our new construction home a few weeks ago. We chose TV over the fireplace - no raised hearth, 10-12 feet from TV to seating. We made this choice - after much debate and research - to avoid competition of three focal points in the room: Fireplace, TV, and view of the Rocky Mountains. I can sit in one place and enjoy one, or all three. I may eventually cover the TV with either a large piece of art or a sliding barn door system but for now, it's not bugging me - and I much prefer that all the furniture in the room is oriented to all 3 focal points.

As for components, our TV is recessed into a niche in the framing with a shelf above for a soundbar. Behind the TV is access to power and a "smurf tube", which is a tube that was run from the TV location to a closet that currently holds all of our components (cable box, router, Sonos bridge, DVD player, etc.). We did hire an audio/visual expert to connect all of the components rather than fishing the wires ourselves; he also set up an IR system which means that we point the remote at our TV and all of the components in the closet respond. I'm loving it so far. Of course, as mentioned before, you don't have to put the components in a closet - just know that any audio/visual guy worth his/her salt can set up your TV to communicate with your components in almost any location for a few hundred bucks AND if you have run a tube between locations during the build to accommodate wires.

Another TV above the fireplace fan here and with the new TV's there are hardly any bad viewing angles. I would absolutely not have the TV in any other location.

Best place for the TV:

Aaahhh DreamingoftheUP I like your way of thinking. :)

Only that round fireplace could use some work.

Pookapie, I intend to do exactly what you've just described (um, minus the Rocky Mountain view). I'm glad to hear you're pleased with your choices.

I understand because I too struggle with this. The best position in the room is over the fireplace, however, I love to decorate the mantle and don't want the tv over the fireplace, so it's going on another wall.

Our TV is over the fireplace, but we purposely designed the built-ins so the fireplace is quite low. Recently, DH decided we needed a bigger TV, and we set the new TV on a low table until the installer could come out and install it above the fireplace. We hated looking at the TV so low. We couldn't recline or lean back in a chair with ottoman. It was very uncomfortable. So glad when they finally came to install over the fireplace. Can't imagine putting this behemoth of a TV anywhere else.

I prefer to have the TV on a separate wall for a reason that no one has mentioned yet. When the fireplace is in use, I often get up from the sofa and stand in front of or sit next to the fire while watching TV or a movie. I've even been known to pull a chair over very close to the fireplace to soak up the warmth.

I spent a month this winter at my dad's house, who has his TV over the FP, and I realized it was impossible to stand in front of the fire and watch TV at the same time. Competing focal points or not, this was a dealbreaker for me. Therefore, in my new house, the TV will definitely be on a separate wall.

Mrs. Pete - one more word of advice, though I'm not sure what stage you are at in your build. Smurf tubes come in different sizes and when my local cable provider saw mine he thought it was WAY too small to run wires (I think mine is 1 in. circumference?). However, the audio/visual guy we hired just used HDMI cords, etc. that were super thin with no problem. Just be aware if you haven't run your setup yet that you should err on the side of a larger tube just for ease of use.

Great thing about a setup like this is that it is flexible enough to accommodate any wired options that change as technology advances. Look at me, I sound like I know something. :) Electrical/wiring was actually the most confusing part of the build for me, but now that we are done I can see the wisdom of this setup.

We are off to the side people. Lived with this for over 4 years in our previous home and it worked well. I greatly suggest having the TV on a pull out unit, as I do not think we would have been nearly as happy if we hadn't. We were able to pull the entire tv out a few feet and then turn the tv at an angle more towards the center of the room.

We have a wood burning, blower unit that we used often. A high, raised hearth was high on our want list. DH and others sit there all the time. This would have made our tV way too high. It isn't perfect viewing for a room full, but I'm not sure any location is ideal in a family room setting for a number of people. We usually do not watch any "TV," but do enjoy a couple movies on the weekend. We hope to have a home theatre room finished in the lower level in a few years and I guess that will solve our placement issues ;)

Pookapie, I appreciate the hint about the tube size. I would have thought 1" was plenty big, but making it bigger won't be difficult or expensive -- I just would've thought it unnecessary. Being made aware of small things that make life better is why we all read this board, isn't it?

Thanks!

I like the second picture...nice blue walls, but you need a BIGGER TV! LOL Having the TV on its own wall, means it can keep getting bigger...which is something my husband always seems to think he needs! It is nice though, when you're watching Game of Thrones :)

I am planning on installing my tv over the fireplace in our family room. Builder didn't charge much for the extras.

1. Added extra support bracing where tv mount would go.
2. Conduit from corner of room to tv for hdmi, ir extender etc.
3. Added Power and cable.
4. Recessed lights pointed to fireplace to try to maintain focus on fireplace instead of tv.

We haven't moved in yet, but I hope this looks good.

My fireplace is near a corner, so for me, TV went on a separate wall so that the fireplace would stay the focal point (it's pretty grand), but the TV is on a long extension arm, so normally it's folded up so the TV is on the South wall, but when we're snuggled on the couch, we can swing it out over the fireplace for easier watching. I like it because it is easier to watch when it's in front of the fireplace, but I HATE the way a massive black box looks over our beautiful floor to vaulted ceiling stonework. Makes a nice compromise.

...though I requires getting the DH to put the TV back against the wall.... :P

We don't have room for a fireplace (woe is me).

But my parents did. The FP was in the middle of the long wall of the family room; the TV was in the corner, at the end of the FP wall. My Dad's recliner was parked in front of the FP, facing the TV, but could be scooted back to face the rest of the furniture for conversation. As Vanilla pointed out, having the TV above the fireplace means you can't watch it while you warm your tootsies by the fire.

Our friends built a house with a FP in the corner of the living room, and TV on the adjacent wall. It works great, and allows for a cabinet under the TV for components. There is an outlet on the wall behind the TV, and a tube behind the sheetrock for cables.

We decided to take out our fireplace. Shocking? Not really. We live in a mild climate so it isn't often used, and it solved all the issues of completing focal points, height of tv, etc. Our fireplace wasn't much to look at in the first place - off center, ginormous drywall mantle. Taking it out freed us from lots of decisions. Now the tv and a nice console are the focal point.

I put the TV on a separate wall than the wall which will eventually have a wood burning stove. (The mantle and backdrop is already in place. Right now I am dealing with homeowners insurance that doesn't want me to have one.) I don't watch much TV at all, and I really dislike - for me - having an ugly black box being the center of living room attention. When I have guests over, we're here to talk. I can think of exceedingly few occasions I'd be watching the idiot box with guests. Probably if they were here several days, we'd rent a movie or two via Amazon Prime. (Moot point right now, COVID and all.... but hopefully that won't last...) And with a wood burning stove, the exhaust pipe will go up and bisect the view of any TV over the mantle.

I sat down on the couch to figure out the best viewing height - which is well below what the mantle might ever be, at least on this couch. It would be fine if I could lean back and rest my head, to have something over mantle height - assuming I'd go with a regular fireplace. But at six feet tall - there just isn't a couch or sofa like that. Plus as others have said, what about decorations? I enjoy decorating my mantle for various holidays! After all, that's really what mantles are for, right?

The thing is off to the side, and it does not get glare there, either.