How to Mount a TV Above Your Fireplace (and Make It Look Good)

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There are a lot of strong feelings about TVs above fireplaces. Some people love the look, others swear it ruins both the TV and the room. Personally? I fall somewhere in the middle. In my own living room (and our family room too), the fireplace is the natural focal point, and the only logical spot for a TV. The trick isn’t to avoid it, but to hang it in a way that feels comfortable, looks intentional, and won’t fry your electronics.

This post isn’t about rules to scare you off. It’s a mix of design perspective and practical tips I’ve learned so you can decide if this setup works for your home – and if it does, how to make it look good.

Quick Answer (for the skimmers)

• Make it look intentional: choose the right TV size (roughly ⅔ to ⅞ the width of your mantel), go for a thin, flush TV, and hide the wires.
• Yes, you can mount a TV above a fireplace and still have it look good and be comfortable.
• Aim for comfort: keep the TV center under about 70″ from the floor; 2-4″ above the mantel is usually the sweet spot.
• Protect from heat: a mantel 6–12″ deep helps, and running a quick “thermometer test” before you commit is smart.

Why a TV Over the Fireplace Sometimes Makes the Most Sense

1. Real layouts, not showroom layouts

Let’s be honest – most of us don’t live in perfectly staged homes with giant blank walls for our TVs. Between windows, doors, and built-ins, the fireplace wall is often the only logical choice. That doesn’t make it “wrong”, it makes it practical.

2. One focal point > two competing ones

If you’ve ever tried having the fireplace on one wall and the TV on another, you know what I mean. It creates dueling focal points and usually leaves someone craning their neck on movie night. Putting them together gives your room a single, clear sightline.

3. Safety + kid-proofing

Wall-mounting keeps your TV out of reach from curious little hands (or rambunctious pets). And bonus – you don’t have to worry about tip-overs.

Bottom line: If this is your only good wall, you’re not committing a design crime. You’re just making the room livable.

When I Wouldn’t Do It

Even though I’m pro-TV-above-fireplace in the right situations, there are times I’d avoid it:

• If your fireplace is unusually tall, which would push the TV way above eye level.
• If you use a wood-burning fireplace heavily and don’t have a substantial mantel to block heat and smoke.
• If you already have a dedicated media room where the TV can be perfectly placed at eye level, then you don’t need to compromise here.

Getting the Height Right (Without Straining Your Neck)

The number one complaint I hear about TVs above fireplaces? Neck strain. Nobody wants to feel like they’re sitting in the front row of a movie theater every time they watch Netflix. The good news: if you hang it at the right height, you’ll be just fine.

Here’s what I aim for:

• Center height: Try to keep the middle of the screen around 65–70 inches from the floor. Personally, 65 inches is my sweet spot – it just feels natural.
• Above the mantel: 2–4 inches is usually the magic number. Any higher and it starts to look like the TV is floating away from the fireplace instead of being connected to it.
• Think about your seating. A deep, cozy sofa naturally leans you back a bit, which makes a slightly higher TV comfortable. But if you have upright seating, keep that TV as low as you can.
• Add a tilt if needed. A mount that angles down just a few degrees can make a higher TV so much easier to watch.

Quick trick: Sit in your usual spot, look straight ahead, and put a piece of painter’s tape on the wall at your eye level. Then tape where the middle of the TV would be. If the TV line is more than about 15° above your eye line, you’ll probably feel it in your neck after a while – so adjust your plan.

Real-life example from my home

In our family room, my TV is only two inches above the mantel. My contractor thought I was crazy – he wanted to center it between the mantel and the ceiling (because that’s what they’re trained to do). But keeping it low makes it look intentional, almost like art. And at 65 inches from the center of the screen to the floor, it’s super comfortable to watch, even with our 8’6″ ceilings.

Here’s where a lot of people go wrong: buying the biggest TV they can fit in their car and plopping it over the fireplace. A too-big screen completely dwarfs the mantel, while a too-small one looks like an afterthought.

The sweet spot is usually somewhere in between.

• Rule of thumb: Aim for a TV that’s about two-thirds to seven-eighths the width of your mantel.
• Don’t trust the diagonal number. TV sizes are measured corner to corner, but what matters here is the actual width. Always check the specs before you buy.
• Think about your seating distance. If you sit close, a smaller screen feels better. If your sofa is farther back, you can size up without it feeling overwhelming.

How it works in my home

Family room: My mantel is 71 inches wide, so I went with a 55″ TV, which measures just under 50 inches across. That lands right around two-thirds the mantel width – the perfect balance.

Living room: The mantel is the same width, but the room itself is smaller and the ceilings are a full foot lower. A huge TV here would practically touch the ceiling, which would look ridiculous. Instead, I used the trim between the sconces as my visual boundary and chose a 42″ TV to fit that space. It’s scaled to the room, not just the mantel, which makes the whole wall feel more balanced.

Bonus tip: Always leave some breathing room. TVs that fill every inch of wall space just feel heavy. A little space around the screen gives the eye a place to rest – and makes your styling shine.

Heat & Safety: The Part No One Wants to Talk About

Here’s the truth: TVs and heat don’t mix. If your fireplace wall gets too hot, your TV will not thank you. But before you panic, there’s an easy way to find out if you’re in the safe zone.

I call it the low-tech thermometer test:

1. Tape a basic thermometer to the wall right where the top of your TV would be.
2. Light a fire the way you normally would and let it run for about an hour.
3. Check the reading.

Most TVs are fine up to around 100°F (but double-check your manual). If you’re under that, you’re likely good to go. If it’s hotter, you’ll need a little extra protection.

How to Keep the Heat Away From Your TV

• Add (or keep) a mantel. A mantel at least 6–12 inches deep acts like a little roof, pushing heat out and away from your TV.
• Look for a blower. Many gas inserts have them – they direct the warmth outward into the room instead of straight up the wall. (That’s what we use in our home.)
• Check the manuals. Both your fireplace and TV will have clearance guidelines, and ignoring them can sometimes void your warranty.

And if you’re working with a wood-burning fireplace? That’s the hottest and smokiest option. If you use it all the time, I’d be cautious. A beefy mantel is non-negotiable, and I’d re-run the thermometer test after every change you make. If you only light a wood fire occasionally, you may be fine, but it’s worth testing.

Making It Look Intentional

This is the part that makes all the difference. A TV can either look like a random black box plopped over your fireplace, or it can feel like a natural extension of the design. Here’s how to land in the second camp:

• Go for an art-style TV. I love The Frame TV for this – it sits flush against the wall and doubles as artwork when it’s off. Suddenly your fireplace wall looks curated, not compromised.
• Blend the finishes. If your fireplace surround is light and your TV is dark, the contrast can make the TV scream for attention. Painting or plastering the surround in a deeper tone helps the screen visually disappear.
• Balance with built-ins. Cabinets or shelves on either side of the fireplace keep the whole wall from feeling top-heavy, and they give you a place to tuck away all the cords, boxes, and gadgets.
• Hide the wires (seriously). Nothing kills the look faster than a dangling black cord. A recessed outlet or a hidden chase down into cabinetry makes the install look polished. If you can, call in an electrician – it’s worth every penny.
• Keep the mantel simple. This is not the place for twenty little tchotchkes. A couple of thoughtful pieces styled with breathing room lets the fireplace and TV shine together as the focal point.

My rule of thumb? If the TV looks like it belongs there, you won’t think twice about it. It should feel like part of the design, not like it was forced on the wall because you didn’t have another option.

My Verdict (And What We Do in My Home)

In both of our main living spaces, the TV lives above the fireplace. Not because I was dying to follow a trend, but because it was the only layout that made sense. And you know what? I don’t regret it one bit.

When the TV is hung at the right height, with a mantel to protect it and some thoughtful styling around it, it doesn’t just “work” – it actually looks good. It feels intentional, like part of the room design, instead of a compromise.

So if you’re staring at your fireplace wall wondering if it’s “allowed,” my advice is this: don’t let the internet scare you into thinking you’re doing it wrong. Sometimes the fireplace wall really is the best (or only) option. And if that’s true in your home, you absolutely can make it both functional and beautiful.

FAQs About TVs Over Fireplaces