This would have been your easiest solution. If you've done the demo, then you're beyond this simple fix.

Thanks! I haven't yet done anything. Seeking ideas and input first :-)

I just wouldn't want to have to address any remodeling of the crown details.

Also, is this the best location for the TV would a side wall allow a larger, lower mounted TV????

Thanks! Totally agree about the crown molding! Moving the TV to a side wall could allow for a larger, lower mount, but it would close off the flow of the room and wouldn’t solve the existing niche issue. This spot seems like the only logical place for the TV, even if it’s a bit high. Since the niche was part of the original design, I think the builders intended it this way too!

Post a sketch of the whole room, with dimensions for every wall, doorway, window. Houzz people may have a great solution for you. (You have Beverly's attention, and no one on Houzz does better room layouts.)

You may get by with a 55", but not larger. It will be too big so that defeats the future proofing. That small deep opening was made for the old TV's.

If you are going to eventually want a larger TV, I'd really look at furniture placement before you do anything. You could drywall the niche and hang art.

You can solve the niche issue by placing art over the opening. The center of the TV is best viewed at eye level when seated, about 42” above the floor.

> Post a sketch of the whole room, with dimensions for every wall, doorway, window. Houzz people may have a great solution for you.

> You can solve the niche issue by placing art over the opening. The center of the TV is best viewed at eye level when seated, about 42” above the floor.

Sure, I can share more about the room layout!

Below is the whole room:

Below is the current layout:

The only other logical layout, is perhaps:

In the third option, you’d need to enter the living space through a tight area in the bottom-left, which might feel cramped. I think this layout would also block flow between the kitchen and dining area, making it feel closed off and awkward to navigate.

We’re hoping to keep the room’s overall flow without centering everything around the TV. Any thoughts on the fireplace and niche setup? Thanks so much for your help!

Thanks, that's an interesting idea. We can try that!

If there area ideas for the fireplace, I'd still be interested to hear those too. Thank you!

Agree with BeverlyFLADeziner's layout (was just about to suggest it). This way it would allow for a larger TV as you mentioned you were going with the 65".

Thanks! I moved the furniture around and we’re trying out this new setup for a day or two. (Please excuse the mess!) Here’s how it looks now:

A few questions:

1. I’m still looking for ideas on the fireplace. I’d like to cover the niche, so this could be a chance to add something—maybe a bold paint color, an accent wallpaper, or something else? In this setup, what would you all suggest? The square trim pieces can also be removed, sanded, and repainted if needed. Perhaps add a simple mantle with similar crown molding to the celing.
2. With this arrangement, centering the coffee table with the fireplace makes it feel too far from the couch. Not sure if it’s a big issue, but it felt a bit off at first. Any thoughts?
3. Wall-mounting the TV seems straightforward, but I’d still need a solution for the soundbar, Roku, etc., like a shelf or console table. Any ideas on tackling this new challenge?

Thanks again for the help!

(P.S. anyone know how to get those kinks out of the back of the couch? 😅)

Have you tried a steamer on the couch? or ice cubes?

I got the kinks/dents out of a lampshade with a steamer on the outside and a child’s play ball on the inside to help with the curve.

The sectional doesn't work in this space. A sofa and 2 chairs would work much better.

What Debbi Washburn said : ) The look of the fire trim is a bit over the top for all the rest anyway

Are you in love with the sectional sofa? It seems very large and bulky in the room. You might consider a sofa and 2 chairs with a slimmer profile. Instead of having a sofa with its back to the kitchen, you could place the chairs there with a small table between them, and then have the sofa face the fireplace.

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FWIW there are TV mounts that enable the TV to hang vertically and then be pulled put and rotated horizontally

Sectional tragedy........

Make on long sofa

RE do the fire for the long haul......and that was OOPS on the sectional no matter where the tv goes.

Depends from which direction you want it to look good, Either way, I can't love the sofa walling off the kitchen

IMO a bigger piece of art and cover that whole thibg then whenever you sell the next guy can figure it out. No way does the TV work there iMO That bare wall is the prefect spot for the TV not sure what the issue and if a little jut out from a TV blacks the walkways then the sectional is too big

A couple different thoughts…
#1 least expensive- move sectional & put a pretty piece of art or mirror above the fireplace. Instead of studs & drywall to cover up niche, put mirror or Art on hinges & magnetic closure to make as a door to use for storage.
#2 If you want a bigger tv above the fireplace, it’s going to look too top heavy. I would take out the pillars & moulding & widen the whole thing. Build out the whole facade a little to cover up where the crown moulding & unfinished floor were. Put your big tv above, put black tile or black slab pieces to make the fireplace appear wider to balance out the wider tv above. Then finish the whole facade with stacked stone. DIY

Thank you all for the great ideas!

We did consider a more traditional sofa setup but found that a sectional works best for our family. We tried the alternate layout (thanks for the suggestion!), and while it does make sense for the TV, it closes off the kitchen and dining nook too much—it feels more TV-focused than social. I’m not a big fan of having a TV above the fireplace either, but it looks like that might be our best option long-term if we can find a cost-effective way to remove the vertical columns, trim and add a mantel.

Thanks again, and have a wonderful weekend! 😊

a large Frame TV hung vertically (rotate to horizontal for viewing) would be nice since it is such a prominent spot

What did you wind up doing?