So, you have a new LED flat screen TV, and you’re looking for the perfect place to mount it. You’re probably considering mounting your TV above the fireplace after seeing just about half of the people you know doing the same thing. If “TV above fireplace” is becoming a trend among household owners, why not do it, right? It is a cute look, after all! Especially when you’ve rearranged your furniture to make it the focal point of your living room or your bedroom. However, you likely have some reservations about this idea. And on top of that, the other half of the people you know probably have extreme feelings about it and are probably very adamant about the fact that mounting a TV above the fireplace is a bad idea. Now, here you are, perhaps even googling “Can you put a TV above a fireplace?” to get some answers…
Should you or should you not mount your TV above the fireplace?
To help you come up with the answers you need, here’s a pros and cons list to mounting a TV above the fireplace:
PROS
- The aesthetics
- You’ll be maximizing the space in your home
Because your TV will be hanging on the wall, you won’t need to worry about that bulky TV stand, entertainment centre, or media cabinet from getting in the way. Instead, you’ll be saving valuable floor space, thus giving you more room to move around, and more importantly, more than enough room to bring in additional furniture.
- It’ll be really cosy
Imagine snuggling on your couch or your bed and enjoying your favourite movie while the fire keeps the living room or your bedroom warm and toasty. Having your TV mounted right above the fireplace will give you the luxury of keeping yourself entertained while sitting close to the fire.
CONS
- Heat and electronics do not mix
Electronics, like televisions, are very delicate. Remember, heat rises. This means putting them right above a fireplace would mean exposing them to heat that could damage all the sensitive components inside. Furthermore, when smoke that comes from lighting firewood reaches the inside of electronics the soot, or black film, covering the components may cause it to overheat and prematurely fail.
- The height and angle could be a cause for neck pain
With most fireplaces and its mantel traditionally being around 60-72 inches high, mounting a TV unit above it would essentially be placing the TV outside the advisable viewing height of 56 inches from the ground. And because the TV is, for the lack of a better term, too high and far from eye level, this means you’ll be straining your neck a lot more just to find viewing angles that will allow you to see everything clearly.
Straining your neck too much may lead to a sore neck, shoulder pain, or worse, chronic pain (i.e. headache and neck pain).
- Bad viewing angles can ruin picture quality
When you’re using a flat screen TV, even more so an LED TV, awkward viewing angles are very likely to distort the pictures on your TV. Because an LED TV allows for very limited viewing angles, looking at it from anywhere that is too high, too low, or too much to the side could affect how you see the pictures.
- Fire can be distracting
Imagine watching something on TV while your fireplace is running right underneath it. There’s no denying that the sight of dancing flames can be quite captivating, and in effect, extremely distracting. You wouldn’t want to ruin your viewing experience, do you?
While this list of pros and cons may just be able to help you decide if your new TV should go right above your fireplace, here are some other things you should consider:
- How often will you use the fireplace?
If you don’t think you’ll be using the fireplace often, or ever at the same time as the TV, then maybe you can look into it and see if mounting is at all possible. Although this won’t guarantee total safety of your TV from any fireplace-related damage, this minimizes the chances of any damage from occurring.
- What kind of fireplace do you have?
Gel, natural gas, and electric fireplaces are less likely to emit smoke and soot, as compared to fireplaces that use wood fire. If you think your TV can handle the heat and smoke coming from your gel or natural gas fireplace, then you’re probably good to go!
- Will you have to rearrange a lot of furniture to make it work?
Your furniture arrangement will determine if putting the TV over your fireplace is going to work, aesthetically. So, if the answer is yes, then ask yourself, “Is all that work worth it?” At the end of the day, it will depend on how much work you’re willing to exert.
- Is the wall above your fireplace strong enough for mounting a TV?
Figure out if your wall is made of a material that can withstand the weight of a TV unit. Otherwise, mounting could only put your new TV at risk. So, be sure to find out what it is made of and then take the necessary precautions before proceeding with your mounting project.
As an additional precaution, use sturdy wall mounts to make sure that your TV is safe and secure.