33 Smart Ways to Style Your TV Above the Fireplace Like a Pro
You’ve probably wrestled with this design dilemma: how do you make a TV mounted above your fireplace look intentional and stylish instead of like an afterthought?
The good news is that with the right approach, you can create a stunning focal point that combines entertainment and ambiance seamlessly.
Let’s dive into expert-approved strategies that will transform your fireplace-TV combo into the room’s most impressive feature.
01. Master the Mounting Basics
Credit: Morse Design
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You absolutely cannot skimp on your mounting system when dealing with heavy electronics above a heat source.
Invest in a high-quality mount rated for your TV’s weight and always use a reliable stud finder. This isn’t the time for guesswork—your expensive TV depends on getting this foundation right.
02. Know Your Fireplace Materials
Credit: Charbonneau Interiors
Every fireplace has unique structural requirements that affect how you can safely mount your TV.
Whether you’re working with brick, stone, or drywall, understanding these materials prevents costly damage. Consider consulting a professional who specializes in fireplace installations to ensure you’re approaching the project correctly.
03. Keep Heat Away From Electronics
Credit: Charlie Interior Design
Heat and electronics are natural enemies, so you need to maintain safe distance between your fireplace flames and TV screen.
Check your TV’s technical specifications for heat limits and ensure your fireplace has proper containment systems like glass doors or air-tight barriers.
04. Perfect Your Viewing Angle
Credit: Gray Space Interior Design
Nobody wants neck strain from watching TV mounted too high above their fireplace.
Look for adjustable mounting systems that let you tilt the screen downward for comfortable viewing. If your fireplace is exceptionally tall, consider relocating the TV to a more ergonomic position elsewhere in the room.
05. Plan Your Power Setup
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You’ll need reliable power access that won’t interfere with your fireplace’s heat output or create safety hazards.
Consider hiring an electrician to install proper outlets if your current setup puts cables too close to heat sources or open flames.
06. Clear Visual Distractions
Credit: Charbonneau Interiors
Your fireplace and TV combination will naturally become the room’s main focal point, so keep surrounding areas clean and uncluttered.
Skip the family photos or collectible displays on the mantel. Instead, let the architectural beauty of your fireplace and the sleek lines of your TV take center stage.
07. Incorporate Living Greenery
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Strategic plant placement around your fireplace adds natural color and life that balances the technological aspect of your TV.
Choose plants that can handle the room’s lighting conditions and won’t be affected by occasional heat from the fireplace. This creates visual harmony between natural and modern elements.
08. Balance With Colorful Accessories
Credit: Brexton Cole Interiors
Bright artwork, vibrant throw pillows, and cheerful accessories help offset the dark presence of a large TV screen.
These pops of color create visual interest when the TV is off and make the entire space feel more inviting and less dominated by technology.
09. Hide Behind Cabinet Doors
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Concealing your TV behind attractive cabinet doors gives you the best of both worlds—entertainment when you want it, elegant design when you don’t.
This solution works perfectly for formal living rooms where you want to maintain a sophisticated aesthetic while still having viewing options available.
10. Embrace High-Tech Solutions
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Motorized panels or hidden projector systems offer cutting-edge ways to completely conceal your entertainment setup.
With remote-controlled operation, you can reveal or hide your screen instantly, maintaining your room’s design integrity while enjoying modern convenience and impressive technological features.
11. Consider Lower Mantel Height
Credit: Unsplash / Dulcineia Dias
Contemporary fireplaces with lower mantels create better viewing angles and reduce neck strain significantly.
If you’re building new or renovating, plan for a lower fireplace profile that naturally accommodates a TV at a more comfortable eye level for everyday viewing.
12. Conceal All Wiring
Credit: D Burns Interiors
Dangling cables and visible wires instantly ruin the sophisticated look you’re trying to achieve with your fireplace-TV setup.
Invest in professional wire concealment behind the wall. This detail makes an enormous difference in creating a clean, intentional appearance that looks built-in rather than added later.
13. Choose Electric Fireplace Options
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Electric fireplaces offer visual appeal without requiring a chimney, making them perfect for TV pairing.
They provide gentle warmth and ambiance while eliminating concerns about heat damage to your electronics. Plus, you have complete control over both heat output and flame effects.
14. Design a Built-In Alcove
Credit: Gray Space Interior Design
Recessed TV alcoves create a custom, high-end appearance that looks intentionally designed rather than retrofitted.
If you can’t build from scratch, add floating shelves or cabinetry around your existing setup to create the illusion of built-in design while adding functional storage space.
15. Paint an Accent Wall
Credit: Gray Space Interior Design
The right paint color behind your fireplace and TV helps both elements work together as a cohesive design feature.
Neutral colors like soft white, warm beige, or gentle gray create a sophisticated backdrop that lets your fireplace remain the star while supporting your TV’s presence.
16. Add Modern Wall Treatments
Credit: Unsplash / Macauly Addesso
Board and batten walls instantly modernize dated fireplace structures without requiring major renovation work.
This architectural treatment creates visual interest and texture that helps your TV blend naturally into the wall design rather than appearing like an awkward addition to the space.
17. Try Asymmetrical Placement
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You don’t have to center your TV directly above the fireplace—sometimes off-center positioning works better for your space.
Consider diagonal or side placement that accommodates your room’s unique layout and furniture arrangement while maintaining good viewing angles for everyone.
18. Highlight Existing Architecture
Credit: Unsplash / Charles Deluvio
Brick walls and natural stone features provide beautiful, ready-made backdrops that complement modern TV technology.
These materials offer inherent texture and warmth that can be painted or stained to match your decor while providing the perfect foundation for your entertainment setup.
19. Use Dark Wall Colors
Credit: Kate Marker Interiors
Deep, earthy paint colors help flat-screen TVs disappear into the background when they’re not in use.
Rich olive, charcoal, or navy tones create sophisticated backdrops that make your TV less noticeable while highlighting your fireplace’s architectural details and surrounding decor elements.
20. Combine With Reclaimed Wood
Credit: Michelle Berwick Design
Rustic reclaimed wood walls create stunning contrast against sleek, modern flat-screen televisions.
This combination of old and new textures adds character and warmth to your space while giving your TV a more integrated, intentional appearance within the overall design scheme.
21. Install Bold Wallpaper
Credit: Lauren Ashley Experiences
Eye-catching wallpaper patterns draw attention away from your TV screen and create visual interest throughout the space.
Choose designs with colors and motifs that complement your room’s decor while providing enough pattern density to make your TV feel like part of the overall design composition.
22. Mount on Shiplap Walls
Credit: Becca Interiors
Classic shiplap creates timeless texture and visual interest that makes your TV feel more integrated into the wall design.
This traditional wall treatment adds architectural character while providing a neutral backdrop that works with both modern and farmhouse decorating styles beautifully.
23. Go Bold With Navy
Credit: Brexton Cole Interiors
Dark navy or midnight blue paint helps camouflage black TV screens while creating a sophisticated, dramatic backdrop.
These rich colors work especially well in open-plan spaces where you want to define the fireplace area while maintaining flow with adjacent rooms and living areas.
24. Create Outdoor Entertainment
Credit: Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
Outdoor fireplace and TV combinations transform patios into year-round entertainment destinations.
Weather-resistant mounting systems and outdoor-rated electronics let you enjoy movies and games outside while staying cozy around the fire during cooler evenings and extending your living space outdoors.
25. Add Patterned Tile Details
Credit: Brophy Interiors
Decorative tile inserts create sophisticated, polished backdrops that elevate both your fireplace and TV setup.
Recessed niches with beautiful tile work give your entertainment area a custom, high-end appearance that looks professionally designed rather than like a DIY afterthought.
26. Size for Perfect Proportions
Credit: Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography
Choosing a TV width that closely matches your fireplace creates a tailored, intentional appearance.
Frame TVs work particularly well for this approach since they can display artwork when not in use, making the sizing relationship between fireplace and screen even more important for overall visual balance.
27. Coordinate With Black Accents
Credit: Mindy Gayer Design Co. / Photo by Vanessa Lentine
Painting your firebox black creates visual coordination with your dark TV screen.
This simple trick ensures your television isn’t the only black rectangle in the room, helping it blend more naturally with your fireplace’s design while creating a more intentional, cohesive look.
28. Choose Modest Screen Sizes
Credit: Chelius House of Design
Smaller TVs often create better proportional relationships with fireplace mantels and don’t overwhelm the space.
Resist the urge to go as large as possible—sometimes a more modest screen size creates better visual balance and maintains your fireplace as the room’s primary focal point.
29. Build Flush Custom Inserts
Custom-built inserts allow your flat screen to sit flush with the wall for a seamless, built-in appearance.
This approach creates the most polished, intentional look possible and works especially well in modern farmhouse and contemporary spaces where clean lines are important design elements.
30. Design Corner Focal Points
Credit: Design by Mary Patton Design / Photo by Molly Culver
Corner fireplaces with mounted TVs create unique focal points that maximize space in multipurpose rooms.
This arrangement works particularly well in outdoor spaces or finished basements where you want to incorporate multiple functions without overwhelming the room’s overall design and flow.
31. Maximize Low Ceiling Spaces
Credit: Michelle Berwick Design
In rooms with lower ceilings, position your TV close to the ceiling line to fill the space above the mantel effectively.
Add chunky wood mantels or architectural details that create visual separation between fireplace and TV while maintaining proportions that work well in more compact spaces.
32. Create Bold Contrast
Credit: Brophy Interiors
Black and white color schemes integrate TVs naturally while creating striking, contemporary design statements.
Clean lines on both fireplace and surrounding built-ins maintain cohesive styling that makes your TV feel like an intentional part of the overall architectural design rather than an addition.
33. Layer Mantel Artwork
Credit: Erin Williamson Design
Arrange artwork on either side of your TV to create balanced visual interest and give you something attractive to look at when the screen is dark.
This layered approach works especially well on wide mantels where you have space to create thoughtful vignettes that complement rather than compete with your TV.
Final Thoughts
Creating a beautiful TV and fireplace combination doesn’t have to feel like an impossible design challenge.
With careful planning, proper mounting techniques, and thoughtful styling choices, you can achieve a sophisticated look that serves both your entertainment needs and aesthetic goals.
Remember that the key is making everything look intentional—from wire management to color coordination, every detail matters in creating a space you’ll love spending time in.
