Oh, and the photos look like they are looking for votes, but that’s not the case! Here they are in case it’s better to view them this way:

That was smart of you to put the photos in comments. I have been having all kinds of glitches with the site lately, and was not able to enlarge your pics from the “vote” section.

Your tv plan seems great to me. You could get a long, low console - and mount the tv on the wall on an articulating arm, which would allow you to angle the tv.

The tv would not have to necessarily be centered on the console - asymmetry is fine for this.

ETA: It’s of course fine to place the tv in the area where your tape is.

Also, instead of a mirror, you could alternatively put art over the fireplace. However, keep in mind: In the view of art preservation circles, displaying paper/canvas art, over a fire/heat generating fireplace - is not the best idea. So it’s not the place for the actual Rembrandt... and or for the actual treasured painting done by a loved one, etc.

You can check Amazon for the tv mounts.

https://www.amazon.com/articulating-arm-mount/s?k=articulating+arm+mount

I would definitely mount the TV to the Right of the fireplace Close to the fireplace rather than centered on the wall. Remove the small furniture pieces flanking the fireplace. IF you need extra storage get something tall and narrow beside the fireplace.

Move the floor lamp to the inside corner. I wouldn't hang a mirror over the mantel, just something smaller, not crowded.

You could face the sofa toward the TV and add a closed sofa table/credenza behind the sofa separating it from the dining table. Spin the rug the long way centered on the fireplace and TV.

It looks like the perfect spot to put the TV. I also agree with Lyn regarding centering it with the conversation area rather than the wall. Artwork above the mantle will bring interest to the fireplace area and you'll have a mantle that is now free for holiday decor!

Hi @Lyn Nielson, I'm not understanding your ideas because my draft TV placement on the wall is actually centered in the conversation area. And I think that is also what you are suggesting? I'll add another photo below to help clarify the situation. I'll try to move the tall cabinet out of the way.

Imagine the tall cabinet removed from the space. It was where the TV markings are. It is probably a little too wide for the space to the right of the fireplace; it would hide part of the light switch.

I like having the tv on the wall as you've shown in your photos. I would want to face the sofa towards the tv. However, I'm not sure how much room you have if the front door enters into the room.

Would you mind adding photos that show the four "walls" of the room (I understand that there isn't a wall behind the sofa - but it would help to see a photo taken from standing in front of the fp aimed towards the sofa). Also, have a photo that shows the wall on the left side - it would be helpful to see the front door and how it opens into the room.

You could also make a sketch of the space - but maybe just adding the photos will be enough.

Second photo is taken from the center of the TV markings.

Thanks Dani, I attached more photos. Does this help?

@freedomplace1 has it shown in a great place, if you need to move it a bit to the corner that's okay too.

Eliminate all the little furniture pieces and add that big gray piece next to the TV if you need storage for the dining room stuff.

Just trying to get your fireplace and TV close together so you see both from your seating, it's the focal point in the room. Put the Ivy plant on the end of the mantel and get rid of all those small things.

Here’s the space with the sofa switching places with the chairs. The sofa seems to fit, but I think the end table sticks out too much… maybe that’s just me.

Photo taken standing in the middle of the front door:

Thanks Lyn. I do need some kind of storage… it’s a small cottage type house with very little closet space. With this new TV scenario, the only place in the room where that big gray cabinet would fit is to the left of the TV. (If placed to the right of the TV, it blocks the pathway into the conversation area.) If it is tight to the left corner, its right side would be 12” away from the TV. It is 22” deep so would stick out a bit. Not sure if that’s a particularly good look. I could have my contractor build something to match my farmhouse style.

Leave the t v (or new one) mounted over the fireplace, except you a drop down mount. It can be manual or remote.

Storage on either side of fireplace.

Buy another sofa, face the two and put the recliner wings facing the fireplace/t v.

Thanks for the ideas @oncape. I'll noodle on your creative suggestion for having a drop mount for the TV. The tradeoff would be that I wouldn't be able to have the gas fireplace turned on while watching TV, and it is a primary heat source in wintertime. So I'm not sure how practical that is for me. BUT... I like the clean lines of your images. I hadn't thought of tall storage on either side of the mantle.

I must be missing something .Put the TV on th wall where the blue dots are and rearrange the furniture so you can face the TV and enjoy the FP . Take the little table awy fro the right side of the FP get a nice low cabinet for below the TV and hang the TV at proper viewing height

Thanks Patricia, that’s pretty simple to do. You all are saying to position the furniture so that you can view both fireplace and TV… and I think what you’re getting at is that the angle of the recliner chairs is a problem. I see that and I agree.

For now I’ll have the chairs face forward directly at the TV, and to Lyn’s point, shift the TV a little left, towards the fireplace. Indeed, when I have the chairs straight on, the new TV placement as I have it is a little to the right/not exactly centered.

I’m thinking to actually get rid of the 2 wing back recliner chairs and buy something else to face the TV. The challenge is that the available space is 5 feet long. (The existing 6.5’ sofa looks better/fits better when facing the fireplace.) I do enjoy putting my feet up when watching tv or reading, so maybe a different style of slim recliner chairs?

And for storage, I’m thinking either 2 white bookcases with lower doors on either side of the fireplace - something like this but higher quality - https://www.livingspaces.com/pdp-westlawn-72-inch-white-bookcase-with-doors-320496 (what is the height that will look best in the room??)
OR
A low console underneath the TV. A big drawback is that it won’t have much storage or display space because it would need to be no higher than 28” (TV bottom edge will be at 31” high).

Finally, what do you think about the space in front of the bay window? It’s always been a troublesome spot… kind of weird to have that much space between the conversation area and the windows. For many years I’ve had that existing game table and chairs.

Thank you so much! Your ideas are so helpful.

la_la Girl, That makes sense and I think I'd like that look. What would you do for a coffee table or ottoman then? Anything different than what I have? Thank you!

The issue I see with having the sofa facing the FP and the TV on the wall as you've marked is:

I do enjoy putting my feet up when watching tv

I'm not a big recliner fan - most recliners that I've seen are not very attractive. I do like swivel chairs - however, I would want them to be where the sofa is instead of in the prime "TV viewing spot."

EDIT: I did a quick search - there are some recliners that are much more attractive available + some also have a swivel option. That would be a good solution. Otherwise, you'd need to have some type of small ottoman/footrest that you could use with your chairs in order to put your feet up while watching TV = too much stuff in the room.

FYI - I have two chairs in my family room - they face the FP. While I made sure to purchase comfortable chairs (reversible down wrapped seat and back cushions like my sofa + deeper/wider seat areas - but not wide like a chair and a half). They aren't used nearly as often as the sofa (empty nesters) - however, when my daughters + spouses are over to watch movies, I have two ottomans/footrests that I bring in from other rooms to use for raising their feet while sitting in the chairs. While there is room, I didn't want to have two ottomans/footrests always in front of those chairs.

As far as coffee table vs. ottomans - I have a LARGE ottoman in my family room - it can be used to make the sofa a chaise on either end. Also, we pull it towards the sofa for comfy movie nights (it is long enough that it covers a large portion of the sofa = everyone on the sofa has a comfy place for viewing movies).

However, it was difficult to not have a coffee table. So, I had a waterfall table made that has hidden coasters on the bottom of the waterfall sides in order to roll the table over whatever portion of the ottoman I want to use as a coffee table. It also can be used on it's own.

It's similar to the below (the one in the photo is a DIY one that someone posted):

I had mine made by someone on Etsy - it's made out of walnut + I could customize the exact dimensions that I wanted/needed for it. It addresses the "ottoman vs. coffee table" issue amazingly well.