Mounting a TV above a fire has turn out to be a go-to characteristic in front room design, and it’s straightforward to see why. It brings two focal factors collectively, frees up ground area and provides the room a cleaner, extra intentional really feel.
That mentioned, it’s not all the time so simple as hanging the display and hoping for the most effective. Rising warmth, neck-straining angles and clunky proportions are just some of the pitfalls that may throw the stability off. Fortunately, with a little bit of planning and a few intelligent styling tips, you may make this setup each sensible and fashionable.
To assist, we’ve gathered perception from range and fireplace specialists, together with loads of inspiration to make sure your TV above hearth concepts really feel protected, snug and superbly put collectively.
1. Add a mantel beam for each type and security
A hearth beam is an effective way to melt the transition between an open fireplace or a log burner and the tv above it, serving to the wall really feel extra thought of and fewer like two separate options stacked collectively.
“Beams will be tailored to accommodate TV mounting, shelving or built-in lighting, and pair superbly with stone or brick,” explains Phil Wooden, UK managing director of Contura.
However the advantages of beams aren’t purely aesthetic. As Adam Oldfield, director at StovesAreUs, explains: “Warmth and electronics don’t combine, so you must all the time test your range’s warmth output and producer steering to make sure your TV is positioned a protected distance away. Putting in a mantel or hearth beam between the range and display will help deflect rising warmth and defend the TV.”
High tip: Most setups require at the very least 40–60cm of clearance above the range to keep away from warmth injury.

Phil is managing director of Contura Stoves (UK) Restricted. He has labored within the fireplaces, fires and stoves trade since 1985.
2. Flip your hearth into a press release furnishings piece
Not all TV above hearth concepts have to be wall-bound. This glamorous setup by Covet Home takes a completely totally different strategy, encasing the fireplace inside a placing console-style unit. With its metallic end and playful detailing, the piece feels extra like a bespoke merchandise of furnishings than a conventional hearth encompass.
Higher nonetheless, this setup leaves a snug hole between the flames and the tv display the place you’ll be able to layer ornamental objects and magnificence your hearth with character. Joanna Humphreys, fireplace and range specialist at Direct Stoves, explains:
“With regards to styling a mantle or beam, you have got an array of choices obtainable. For extra fashionable residing rooms, maintain it minimal with a curated number of items, however for extra conventional, basic houses you’ll be able to lean into any architectural or characterful particulars of the property and mirror this by your alternative of equipment to assist create that cosy, cottage really feel.”

Joanna Humphreys is a hearth and range skilled at Direct Stoves, a web based range retailer promoting an array of wooden burning, multi gasoline, fuel, and electrical stoves.
3. Float each your fireplace and tv for a light-weight, fashionable look
Floating each the fireplace and the TV offers a front room a lighter, extra fashionable contact. Elevating the fireplace off the ground retains the wall feeling open, whereas the slim ledge provides simply sufficient character with out weighing down the design.
On this instance from Direct Fireplaces, the fireplace is framed by a easy shelf that doubles as a warmth deflector, with the TV mounted neatly above. The impact is clear, minimal, and a sensible method to save valuable ground area in smaller terrace residing rooms.
4. Disguise your TV as artwork above the mantel
When the hearth mantel is the actual showpiece in a room, the very last thing you need is a black rectangle competing for consideration. That’s the place Body TVs come into their very own, doubling as paintings when not in use.
For instance, on this vibrant Wayfair front room, the pink marble mantel takes the lead, with the TV above displaying a floral print that slips simply into the scheme. The result’s a wall that feels thought of and curated, slightly than interrupted by a clean display.
To assist the setup mix in even additional, Adam Oldfield suggests rethinking the wall remedy: “Wooden panelling additionally makes an awesome backdrop for electrical fireplaces, whereas portray the wall behind the TV and fireplace a darkish color will help them mix in when turned off.”
By styling the mantel with vegetation, vases or collected treasures, you’ll be able to draw the attention to your show first, leaving the TV to fade quietly into the background till it’s time to observe.
5. Soften a contemporary fireplace with mild curves
Media partitions can typically lean a little bit too closely on sharp edges and straight strains, however introduce a curve or two and the entire temper of the room shifts. Right here, the sweep of an arched encompass softens the wall, pushing the TV into the background and letting the fireplace beneath take the highlight.
The thought is echoed within the alcoves on both facet, the place marble-effect panels carry simply sufficient drama with out overwhelming the minimalist front room. It’s proof that repeating shapes — an arch right here, a curve there, perhaps even a rounded mild becoming — can actually pull a scheme collectively.
6. Introduce LED backlighting for a cinema-style glow
A recessed wall with refined LED lighting takes a easy TV-and-fireplace setup into home-cinema territory. Right here, a slim band of blue mild frames the display towards the darkish wall, whereas the fireplace beneath provides its personal heat glow.
To make the setup sensible in addition to fashionable, Joanna Humphreys gives a reminder: “Don’t overlook ergonomics. For snug viewing, the centre of your TV display must be at eye stage if you find yourself seated. Contemplating that with a range, you’ll want to ensure the TV is mounted at a protected distance, it may find yourself positioned too excessive – forcing you to crane your neck upwards. This could result in neck pressure and a sub-optimal viewing expertise.”
You possibly can recreate this have a look at residence with the Aclorol USB LED Strip Mild Package from Amazon UK. It’s straightforward to put in and sits neatly behind the display, including a glow that transforms movie nights.
7. Body your fireplace and TV with built-in shelving
TV and hearth setups nearly all the time really feel extra thought of when they’re framed with built-in front room storage or shelving. On this design by Caffe Latte Dwelling, timber alcoves sit both facet of the marble-effect fireplace encompass, bringing stability and symmetry to what may in any other case be a stark characteristic wall.
Adam Oldfield suggests taking the concept one step additional: “You would additionally go for a built-in tv to create a full media wall, the place cables are hidden for a smooth, built-in look. A slim-framed TV appears to be like extra refined, and recessing it into the wall can improve the built-in impact.”
FAQs
Ought to I select the fireplace or the TV first?
“Earlier than you choose a hearth or TV, it is important to precisely measure the complete dimensions of your room and the wall space designated for the media wall,” explains Joanna Humphreys from Direct Stoves. “This preliminary step offers you the utmost width and top parameters.
The following process is to decide on the fireplace that fits your area. This can function the anchor to your media wall. As soon as you’ve got discovered the appropriate fireplace, you’ll be able to construct the remainder of the encircling design.”
Your alternative of tv wants the identical stage of consideration. “Your viewing distance from the display additionally impacts which measurement TV you choose,” Joanna provides. “The optimum viewing space falls inside a 40-degree field of regard, permitting your eyes to soak up the entire image comfortably with out extreme head turning. Examine the space out of your prime seating spot to the place the TV will dangle and match it to the beneficial measurement vary.”
How are you going to be sure the fireplace and TV look balanced?
Joanna Humphreys advises beginning with a plan: “Sketch the wall to scale on graph paper, noting any home windows, doorways, or present built-ins. This blueprint will help in inserting the fireplace and TV in proportion to the area and guarantee you have got adequate ground area clearance for site visitors circulation and furnishings preparations.”
It’s a easy step that makes all of the distinction. By plotting every thing out to scale before you purchase, you’ll have a transparent thought of what sizes will work and the way the fireplace and TV will sit collectively visually. This helps keep away from widespread pitfalls, like an outsized display dwarfing a smaller hearth, or a hearth that feels misplaced on a large wall.
If a TV above the hearth isn’t fairly your type, there are many different chimney breast concepts to discover. And if you happen to’re eager about eradicating the fireplace altogether, our information to fuel fireplace removing covers every thing you might want to know to do it safely