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Design Dilemma
swisssheils

Help! Husband wants tv IN FRONT OF fireplace!

13 years ago
In short: No room above fireplace; both sides of fireplace are large windows to the porch; when facing fireplace the right side of room is open to the kitchen, left side of room is one large wall (where i think tv should go, on a long low cabinet, preferably something oriental). Opposite to fireplace are two doors, and entryway, so not an option. We live in the south,so fireplace will only be rarely used, but having a massive tv in front means we'll never use it, and we lose a lovely cosy focal point. Tv happens to be a 60" flatscreen, so quite a focal point in itself. Can't post photos as we haven't moved in yet. This was supposed to be our dream home. We haven't even got to the furniture selection discussions yet! I need some ideas of how to reach a compromise, please! If all else fails, suggestions for a marriage counselor may be in order :-)
Featured Answer
  • 12 years ago
    The no-TV-in-front-of-the-fireplace rule reminds me of the old no-white-shoes-before-Memorial-Day-or-after-Labor-Day rules. Who makes these rules? Be brave, friends, and assert your right to make your houses easier to live in and more comfortable by doing what works for you. Houzz, as a public service, you might take a poll of your readers and find out how many people have unused fireplaces taking up valuable space in their homes, and then grant those folks permission to put something there, especially something that's as space-devouring and intrusive as a TV. Wrong or not, a big black TV screen against a black hearth will simply disappear and the room will appear bigger and more open. Surprise!

    Comments (32)

    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Swisssheils, a big hug for you and my sympathies. You are absolutely right and unfortunately I can give you no advice on how to negotiate with your husband... How very unfortunate.
    • 13 years ago
      Would you (you, not your husband) have purchased the house if it didn't have a fireplace?

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    • PRO
      13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      swiss that doesn't sound good, except that you'd probably regret it if you did put your tv over the FP.

      While I have seen a tv tucked quirkily into a non-working fireplace, that doesn't sound like the vibe you're going for, and your tv sounds too big. But going only on your description and without photos or measurements, I wonder whether floating a sectional might work to help you have the tv opposite the kitchen (cursor over to see):
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Barnhart Gallery has illustrated a great furniture plan based on your description. TV should NEVER be placed in front of a fireplace.
    • 13 years ago
      Orangecamera: that is certainly food for thought. Yes, I probably would.
      Barnhart Gallery: Thank you! Would that work with a chaise opposite the fireplace and 2 individual chairs opposite the tv instead of the sectional? Or would it be too cluttered-looking?
    • 13 years ago
      I agree with everyone. The TV should not, under any circumstances, be placed in front of the fireplace. You simply must veto this unacceptable suggestion of your husband's. But arranging the room so that both fireplace and TV with console can be comfortably viewed, as with the sectional plan, should address what are probably your husband's unstated reasons for wanting the TV and fireplace together.
    • 13 years ago
      Assuming that this is not a new build, where did the previous owners have the television?
    • 13 years ago
      If you don't "need" the fireplace, would it make sense to cover it with wallboard - hide the fireplace - and mount the TV there?

      Julie Hunt asks a great question!
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Sorry Hubby you need to find a new place for the TV or get a smaller one. :-(
    • 13 years ago
      hmmmm, I think the problem is the fireplace, not the tv. Why decorate around something that's not reallllly wanted?

      You asked for a compromise suggestion. Here's one. Cover the existing fireplace to use that space for the tv in a realistic way. Then get a small ventless fireplace to use the few times a year that it gets chilly.

      My own solution was to get a DVD of a crackling fire and play it on my tv when I want the cozy feeling. Imagine a 60" fire on your tv!
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      Orangecamera - I agree with your suggestion. We are in the middle of planning a renovation and have vetoed a real fireplace for a bioethanol solution. a) it enables me to have a really chic looking fireplace - long and low and b) I can have the TV at a level that doesn't hurt my neck
      Orchard Family Room A · More Info
    • 13 years ago
      I would recommend moving the 60" television to another room and installing a projector in the ceiling and a roll up roll down powered screen coupled to a nice sound system as I once installed in a similar situation such that the television would "disappear" during fireplace evenings....
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Hi swisssheils! Great suggestions by everyone! Don't worry too much - once you show Hubby the ideas shared here - he will see there is more than 1 possibility for the room. Plus, maybe there's not even an outlet close to the fireplace, making his idea not workable! One can always hope. :)

      If you are able to get the tv on the wall you want, I wouldn't make the rest of the room too busy. I would even reconsider the idea of an oriental cabinet.

      Lyvonne
      www.essentialsinside.com
    • 13 years ago
      Note: my comments are made (somewhat) sarcastically:
      It's time to either ban TVs or Fireplaces! Possibly both. I hardly ever see anyone suggest that anyone get a super large solid black painting and hang it ... anywhere - and yet, 90% of all living rooms have one prominently featured, often above a fireplace. And those few who are focused on actual fireplaces, seem to spend an inordinate amount of time/creativity concealing the equally black gaping hole in the FP with baskets, screens, gorgeous hearths/mantles and floral arrangements! Why are we punishing ourselves? We need to employ a new design ethic that either fully embraces the existence of one or the other, one, or even none of the above black holes :-) rather than sheepishly trying to accommodate either in otherwise perfect rooms. Best to you all!
    • 13 years ago
      I'm kind of with you, lessismore. But we actually use our beautiful fireplace in winter more than our TV. So our TV is in a small separate TV room. We mostly stream TV shows on our laptops these days, so the larger flatscreen is only used for watching DVD's together as a family.
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      The projector and screen are a great way to use yourTV only when needed. A simple remote control would automate the screen so you never have to pull it down and it comes down when you turn the system on. The equipment could be located in a remote closet or cabinet.
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      The two focus wall with sectional solution is a definite possibility as is the projector and screen. However, you need to take into account the amount of light from the windows (and possibly some way of controlling it) when thinking of a projector for day time watching. Light sources can greatly affect the picture from a projector. I don't quite understand why the tv can't go over the fireplace? Is the fireplace very big? it would be nice to see a picture. We have used a lowering mount to help with the two focuses being on one place.
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Light in the room will definitely effect the projector, but if most of your watching is night time, it shouldn't matter too much. Also, a high quality projector with extra brightness will help out, as well as a high gain screen.
    • 13 years ago
      Thanks everyone. He's willing to try the wall. Let's see how it looks once we move in.
    • 11 years ago

      We're building a house and we have the same problem. The only place the TV should be is where the fireplace is and we never use the fireplace. So the builder said he would just put in a working, wood-burning fireplace but no mantel. We'll put the large flat screen TV in a cabinet in front of it and when it comes time to sell the place, there will be a fireplace.

    • 6 years ago

      I put one INSIDE our decommissioned gas log insert and stream a HD Yule log via YouTube. Looks real from 10’ away


      Someone should invent the TV insert. It looks more real than the gas logs ever did and more than an electric fireplace

    • PRO
      6 years ago

      Wow a response from a post almost seven years old! Lol But actually you are very imaginative and in the picture, the fire does look convincing! Merry Christmas!

    • 6 years ago

      I wonder if they're still married.

    • 5 years ago

      I am here bc I need to put either a sofa or a TV in front of our fireplace. (Fireplace never used and it soooooo limits our options. We won't get rid of it as we live in the NorthEast.) I am so tired of struggling with the design limitations of the fireplace in the room! I would prefer a low TV stand on the hearth vs. a sofa in front of the hearth. (Note: I will not put a TV above a fireplace. Hurts my neck.)

    • 5 years ago

      I'm here bc I'm looking for a low media stand so I can put our TV on the hearth of our unused fireplace. Better than putting a couch in front of it and I have run through umpteen options in our odd-shaped room (centered around - guess what?) and this is the best one. (Watching a TV above a fireplace is not comfortable in our opinion - so that's not an option.) I'm not a big decorator or entertainer, so this will have to do until we have to sell the house.

    • 5 years ago

      Coming in here to join the club of putting a TV in front of a fireplace. We have 3 in our new house, seriously, do we need that many?


      I have huge windows on one side with forest views, and i am not to block that. will have sofa floating towards "fireplace wall" and another one leaning against wall towards window.

      I don't want to spend money to demo the fireplace (there is also a huge ugly shelf built around it, so demo that plus fire place, i will have to do the floors too.


      I felt like the solution could be painting the shelves white, put a TV console in front of fire place and call it a day. This is the room next to the kitchen and i love watching tv after dinner to chill , pic found on internet, might not be ideal but it will save me some $


    • 4 years ago

      Projection tv with retractable screen! Why has no one else recommended this?

    • 4 years ago

      ...Apologies! I had not read far enough down the thread. We are working on solving this very problem at our home.


    • 3 years ago

      I did it.. no it’s not awesome.. Eesh.. but the window is huge and I’m not putting it there.. plus the sofa needs to go there.. we have zero options.. in fro t or above.. I’m not hanging it above as it’s too high and frankly looks almost as ridiculous. Not painting the brick or the wood.. it’s hickory and we love it.. if anything happened to my husband which would be terrible I would get a smaller tv (which we have ) and then cut out the shelves to make room for it.. not ideal either for sitting as either way you’re going to be looking not straight ahead but I’m not a huge tv person.. the original owners.. (we’ve been here 5 years and are the second owners..) had an old console and it was in that corner to the far left.. clearly that’s weird too..

      One thing I plan to do is remove the feet from the trunk the tv is on.. but I love the room except for that..

      Next plan is replacing those awesome blinds 🙄😬..

    • PRO
      3 years ago
      last modified: 3 years ago

      More comments on this nine-year-old thread! I found a great compromise since I first commented here, however. There's a tv bracket that you can mount over the fireplace, but when you want to comfortably watch tv, you pull it forward and down and the bracket brings down the screen to eye level in front of the fireplace!! It is only problematic if you want to watch tv like that and have a fire at the same time--that would wreck the television. I had trouble finding one at some of the main tv suppliers but did locate one through Visions Electronics in Canada. @visions.ca Here's what it looks like.


    • 3 years ago

      That’s awesome! The age old problem lol..

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