Mounting a TV above a fireplace has become a go-to feature in living room design, and it’s easy to see why. It brings two focal points together, frees up floor space and gives the room a cleaner, more intentional feel.
That said, it’s not always as simple as hanging the screen and hoping for the best. Rising heat, neck-straining angles and clunky proportions are just a few of the pitfalls that can throw the balance off. Thankfully, with a bit of planning and some clever styling tricks, you can make this setup both practical and stylish.
To help, we’ve gathered insight from stove and fire specialists, along with plenty of inspiration to ensure your TV above fireplace ideas feel safe, comfortable and beautifully put together.
1. Add a mantel beam for both style and safety
A fireplace beam is a great way to soften the transition between an open fire or a log burner and the television above it, helping the wall feel more considered and less like two separate features stacked together.
“Beams can be adapted to accommodate TV mounting, shelving or integrated lighting, and pair beautifully with stone or brick,” explains Phil Wood, UK managing director of Contura.
But the benefits of beams aren’t purely aesthetic. As Adam Oldfield, director at StovesAreUs, explains: “Heat and electronics don’t mix, so you should always check your stove’s heat output and manufacturer guidance to ensure your TV is positioned a safe distance away. Installing a mantel or fireplace beam between the stove and screen can help deflect rising heat and protect the TV."
Top tip: Most setups require at least 40–60cm of clearance above the stove to avoid heat damage.
The mantel beam is easy to install, supplied with all the necessary hardware, and doubles as a display surface for accessories – from vases and candles to treasured photos.
Phil is managing director of Contura Stoves (UK) Limited. He has worked in the fireplaces, fires and stoves industry since 1985.
2. Turn your fireplace into a statement furniture piece
Not all TV above fireplace ideas need to be wall-bound. This glamorous setup by Covet House takes an entirely different approach, encasing the fire within a striking console-style unit. With its metallic finish and playful detailing, the piece feels more like a bespoke item of furniture than a traditional fireplace surround.
Better still, this setup leaves a comfortable gap between the flames and the television screen where you can layer decorative objects and style your fireplace with personality. Joanna Humphreys, fire and stove specialist at Direct Stoves, explains:
“When it comes to styling a mantle or beam, you have an array of options available. For more modern living rooms, keep it minimal with a curated selection of pieces, but for more traditional, classic homes you can lean into any architectural or characterful details of the property and mirror this through your choice of accessories to help create that cosy, cottage feel.”
Joanna Humphreys is a fire and stove expert at Direct Stoves, an online stove retailer selling an array of wood burning, multi fuel, gas, and electric stoves.
3. Float both your fire and television for a light, modern look
Floating both the fire and the TV gives a living room a lighter, more modern touch. Raising the fire off the floor keeps the wall feeling open, while the slim ledge adds just enough character without weighing down the design.
In this example from Direct Fireplaces, the fire is framed by a simple shelf that doubles as a heat deflector, with the TV mounted neatly above. The effect is clean, minimal, and a smart way to save precious floor space in smaller terrace living rooms.
4. Disguise your TV as art above the mantel
When the fireplace mantel is the real showpiece in a room, the last thing you want is a black rectangle competing for attention. That’s where Frame TVs come into their own, doubling as artwork when not in use.
For example, in this colourful Wayfair living room, the pink marble mantel takes the lead, with the TV above showing a floral print that slips easily into the scheme. The result is a wall that feels considered and curated, rather than interrupted by a blank screen.
To help the setup blend in even further, Adam Oldfield suggests rethinking the wall treatment: “Wood panelling also makes a great backdrop for electric fireplaces, while painting the wall behind the TV and fire a dark colour can help them blend in when turned off.”
By styling the mantel with plants, vases or collected treasures, you can draw the eye to your display first, leaving the TV to fade quietly into the background until it’s time to watch.
The 32” Frame TV combines entertainment with art, working as a glare-free QLED display or a gallery for photos. By day it delivers a crisp, bright picture; by night it turns into artwork.
5. Soften a modern fire with gentle curves
Media walls can sometimes lean a little too heavily on sharp edges and straight lines, but introduce a curve or two and the whole mood of the room shifts. Here, the sweep of an arched surround softens the wall, pushing the TV into the background and letting the fire below take the spotlight.
The idea is echoed in the alcoves on either side, where marble-effect panels bring just enough drama without overwhelming the minimalist living room. It’s proof that repeating shapes — an arch here, a curve there, maybe even a rounded light fitting — can really pull a scheme together.
6. Introduce LED backlighting for a cinema-style glow
A recessed wall with subtle LED lighting takes a simple TV-and-fireplace setup into home-cinema territory. Here, a slim band of blue light frames the screen against the dark wall, while the fire below adds its own warm glow.
To make the setup practical as well as stylish, Joanna Humphreys offers a reminder: "Don’t forget ergonomics. For comfortable viewing, the centre of your TV screen should be at eye level when you are seated. Considering that with a stove, you’ll need to make sure the TV is mounted at a safe distance, it could end up positioned too high – forcing you to crane your neck upwards. This can lead to neck strain and a sub-optimal viewing experience.”
You can recreate this look at home with the Aclorol USB LED Strip Light Kit from Amazon UK. It’s easy to install and sits neatly behind the screen, adding a glow that transforms film nights.
7. Frame your fire and TV with built-in shelving
TV and fireplace setups almost always feel more considered when they are framed with built-in living room storage or shelving. In this design by Caffe Latte Home, timber alcoves sit either side of the marble-effect fire surround, bringing balance and symmetry to what could otherwise be a stark feature wall.
Adam Oldfield suggests taking the idea one step further: “You could also opt for a built-in television to create a full media wall, where cables are hidden for a sleek, integrated look. A slim-framed TV looks more subtle, and recessing it into the wall can enhance the built-in effect.”
FAQs
Should I choose the fire or the TV first?
“Before you select a fire or TV, it's essential to accurately measure the full dimensions of your room and the wall area designated for the media wall,” explains Joanna Humphreys from Direct Stoves. “This initial step gives you the maximum width and height parameters.
The next task is to choose the fire that suits your space. This will serve as the anchor for your media wall. Once you've found the right fire, you can build the rest of the surrounding design.”
Your choice of television needs the same level of consideration. “Your viewing distance from the screen also affects which size TV you pick,” Joanna adds. “The optimal viewing area falls within a 40-degree field of vision, allowing your eyes to take in the whole picture comfortably without excessive head turning. Check the distance from your prime seating spot to where the TV will hang and match it to the recommended size range.”
How can you make sure the fire and TV look balanced?
Joanna Humphreys advises starting with a plan: “Sketch the wall to scale on graph paper, noting any windows, doors, or existing built-ins. This blueprint will assist in placing the fire and TV in proportion to the space and ensure you have sufficient floor space clearance for traffic flow and furniture arrangements.”
It’s a simple step that makes all the difference. By plotting everything out to scale before you buy, you’ll have a clear idea of what sizes will work and how the fire and TV will sit together visually. This helps avoid common pitfalls, like an oversized screen dwarfing a smaller fireplace, or a fire that feels lost on a wide wall.
If a TV above the fireplace isn’t quite your style, there are plenty of other chimney breast ideas to explore. And if you’re thinking about removing the fire altogether, our guide to gas fire removal covers everything you need to know to do it safely
