Ask the Experts: Should you Install a TV over a Fireplace?

With the fall-forward changing of the clocks and the long season of home hibernation already settled in for those of us who live in chillier climates, that question does take on added significance. Given that fireplaces are generally the focal point of any room they’re in and that TVs have gotten exponentially larger and omnipresent, both tend to draw lots of viewers this time of year.

The advent of contemporary linear gas fireplaces in the opening decade of the 2000s paved the way for a design element that’s become ubiquitous in recently constructed North American homes.

The elongated horizontal shape of linear fireplaces provides geometric symmetry with the rectangular profile of flat-screen TVs.

Some designers just don’t like the idea of stacking two major focal points in a room onto a single wall. For them, fireplaces are the heart and soul of the home, the place where family and friends gather to socialize, entertained by the warmth and drama of a flickering flame, not by dancing pixels on a TV screen.

In addition, she argues, given that most fireplaces are installed at a comfortable seated level, the placement of a TV above causes neck strain for viewers, a valid point is given that the agreed-upon recommended height for the center of the average screen is between 42″ and 48″. Staying with the functional angle, perhaps the most obvious question that comes up when discussing the topic is whether the heat produced by a fireplace will damage a TV.

To visualize this and other techniques to safely install a TV above your fireplace take a look at this helpful guide produced by European Home