Without a picture it’s impossible to say. We have no idea what the space looks like.

The hydrangea is likely to overwhelm and deform the rhododendron unless fully adequate future spacing has been allowed for. Also since the rhododendron is a flowering shrub having another shrub of similar - or greater - height directly in front of it at flowering time is not optimal. It would be better to instead have something like box or yew, that has no time when floral beauty is a significant feature serving as a backdrop. And if this bed already has a solid fence, hedge or wall behind it there is probably no need to plant an evergreen shrub behind the hydrangea. With even if the bed is so deep that the hydrangea's actual mature size will not extend from the existing background to the front of the bed it still being best to plant it to be seen at the back, with shorter plants in front of it.

That's what I was concerned about, Embothhrium. It's planted as a foundational plant near the house. I'm going to leave it and see what happens. Next year when I'll have more space to work with and put it somewhere else and just leave the hydrangea. I'm thinking the hydrangea is a stand alone plant after all even in winter.

Some people like to plant some smaller plants in front of paniculatas because it bothers them when their shrubs "show their feet" during the summer. If your VS continues the tradition, consider small plantings to cover their feet.