How to place a fireplace and TV in the same room

One of the fashionable features when arranging modern interiors is a TV above the fireplace. In the United States, about 25% of homes have separate rooms with special electrical wiring installed in the walls above the fireplace. Many installers confirm that today's residential construction projects even include wires above the fireplace.

Harmonious combination of shades, furniture, fireplace and TV above it Source remontbp.com

Let's consider how safe it is to build a fireplace and hang a TV above it. Here we present all the design details and several options for solving the spatial problem. We will also give a number of examples of how to organically fit this pair into the interior - a fireplace with a characteristic portal and a TV with a modern design.

Installing a TV on a stand on a mantelpiece without embedding it in a niche or frame Source dizajn-gostinoj.com

Why is it so difficult

Historically, the hearth is the heart of the home. Then the functions of the hearth were divided - cooking went to the stove and moved to the kitchen. Warmth and contemplation settled in the fireplace in the living room. And whatever the style of the interior, if there is a fireplace in the room, it is the natural center of the space. Compositional, optical, spiritual, emotional, any; this is the point to which all objects and people in the room are faced and connected. It doesn’t matter that the fireplace has become more conventional, for example, electric - it still performs its central function. Since the middle of the last century, television has firmly entered every home. Nowadays, every living room has a television, which occupies a central place in the home life of most people.

The issue of having a TV and a fireplace in the same room worries many people, since an incorrect or thoughtless layout of the living room causes a feeling of tension , discomfort and dissatisfaction. It's like an out of focus image. A harmonious, balanced volumetric-spatial composition has one center. Read about this in the article “Laws of composition for small apartments”. It is in such an interior that a person is calm and comfortable . A composition with two centers is a more complex structure; it must be properly built, balanced, and organized. Not everyone succeeds in this. The beautiful photos that my readers send me, asking me to tell them how to do the same in their own home, are often simply confusing. This beauty was created by professional , often very famous, designers. Proportions, colors, lighting, details, perspective - everything speaks of considerable experience and excellent taste of the creator of such interiors. It is impossible to repeat. But you can implement a simpler composition and avoid serious mistakes .

Let's consider four options for placing a fireplace and TV in one room and the correct arrangement of furniture in all cases. They are good for medium and small living rooms, when it is not possible to create two separate compositional centers - by the fireplace and by the TV. What you cannot do is apply these schemes to a classic interior. And also to interiors in historical styles (Empire, Art Nouveau, Baroque, etc.) Read about styles in interiors in the article “Looking for style in your interior.” This is a taboo , if you decide to break it, use the services of a professional designer.

Choosing a living room style of 17 square meters. m.

Interior of a living room of 17 sq. m should not be too detailed so as not to overload the already modest space with small elements. That is why designers do not recommend decorating a hall of this size in a classical style, in which a lot of space is devoted to openwork decor, solemn and pompous decoration - stucco molding, gilding, carved plinths, draperies, etc. But you can get by with a couple of traditional items, then classicism is available in such a modest area.

Decorating in a modern style frees up space, allowing you to design it as comfortably as possible. Yes, here decorativeness gives way to the dominant role of function, but current stylish products are also beautiful in their own way.

Functionalism, like minimalist trends, is an ideal room in terms of practicality, in which literally everything has its own purpose, and the decorativeness of such details lies entirely in the plane of their functions. The design of such an environment is simple and intuitive. The colors here are pleasing to the eye and practical materials that are easy to care for.
The design of a guest room in minimalism is the same functional design, but in it simplicity, geometricity and practicality are sometimes exaggerated to the point that there is no hint of any decoration at all, since all expressive means are reduced to a minimum. Everything here - from decoration to furniture arrangement - is straightforward, clear and concise. This style is optimal for a room with 2 or more zones, since the zoning techniques will be as simple and clear as the entire design. And such solutions obviously save meters in a square room, as well as in a rectangular one, in an apartment of any size.
In high-tech, the design of the living room is usually characterized by an abundance of glass, metal, and other glossy and reflective surfaces. The shapes can be simple geometric, or streamlined, cosmic, or futuristic. Another recognizable difference of the hi-tech style is the lack of fittings on furniture, transformable models, and the unexpected use of quite familiar things.
If you are looking for a sophisticated solution - more comfortable than the detached modern trends, then the Provence style is suitable. It is less pompous than the openwork classic, but just as romantic and elegant. A pastel palette, simple household items - without unnecessary pretentiousness, natural materials - all this makes such an interior cozy, even romantic. A living room with a fireplace will also fit into a similar design. However, the hearth can be integrated into the composition in different styles.

Designers today consider eclecticism optimal, which is formed by simple modern interior items - a cozy corner sofa, a soft carpet, a hanging cabinet instead of a floor one, etc. They can be combined with a discreet color, a simple geometric shape, additional details, and lighting.

TV above the fireplace

The TV is located above the fireplace
. Let's start with the most difficult part. This is where the most copies are broken; most designers are categorically against this arrangement of the TV. All the pros and cons of this space arrangement are outlined in a separate article (“Is it possible to hang a TV above the fireplace”). But if trouble has already occurred and the TV needs to be placed above the fireplace, how to organize the space around the fireplace?

To mount the TV to the wall, choose a movable bracket that allows you to tilt the screen plane.
Do not use front speakers.
At the design stage, decide on the placement of additional equipment for the TV and the organization of hidden connections .
Place the sofa opposite the fireplace as far as possible. Choose a sofa model with an adjustable backrest and a built-in leg support mechanism. There must be an adjustable headrest .
Provide a cozy chair by the fireplace.
If there is a bio-fireplace in the room, the installation height of the TV may be small and adjustment of the viewing position will not be required.

Biofireplace and air conditioning.

“What if I want the bio-fireplace to be directly under the air conditioner?” Then you should take into account the parameters of the room and select a suitable fuel block, for example 500 mm long. In this case, the distance between the fire line and the air conditioner should be more than 1.5 meters.

And we don't recommend turning on the air conditioner and fireplace at the same time, as this can cause the flames to swirl due to a draft, and is generally a bit stupid.

TV in the corner

For a very small living room or living-dining room, you can choose the option of placing the TV in the corner on a bracket.

The TV is located in a free corner on a movable bracket

In this case, it is good to use a corner sectional sofa or a sofa and a couple of armchairs arranged at an angle. When the TV is not turned on, it is pressed against the wall. When the TV is turned on, it turns towards viewers located anywhere in the room. In this case, the bracket must have great mobility . The disadvantage of this layout is the small size of the TV. But for a small living room this is a reasonable solution.

Main types of fireplaces

Let's start with the fact that there are different types of fireplaces depending on their placement in the room. There are island (located in the middle of the room), built-in (located inside the walls) and wall fireplaces (corner and front).

Depending on the fuel hole, the following types of fireplaces are distinguished:

open type (the firebox is open, that is, nothing protects the room from fire in the fireplace, which is not very practical if it is located in a small and unventilated space);
closed type (the hole with the fire is closed with special glass doors that are resistant to fire. These types of fireplaces are very convenient for heating a room).

Tip: If you cannot choose the fireplace that best suits your needs, we recommend choosing a closed type fireplace, since it is very easy to convert it into an open fireplace by simply removing the doors whenever necessary.

Particular attention must be paid to the heat transfer of fireplaces. Depending on how much heat such installations emit, they are divided into one-, two- and three-sided

Single-sided fireplaces have the highest heat output, which is why they are the most practical when used in large rooms. Two- and three-sided fireplaces have low heat transfer and are used primarily for decorating the living room and other rooms.

It is also very important to decide on the type of fuel that the fireplace uses. Depending on this, the following types of fireplaces are distinguished:

wood;
gas;
electric fireplaces;
biofireplaces.

Wood-burning fireplaces are not suitable for use in apartments. But if you decide to use them when arranging a living room in a private house, think about fire safety in advance. Despite the fact that wood-burning fireplaces are very popular due to their naturalness, they have a number of features that reduce their practicality. Since such fireplaces use natural wood, it is necessary to take care of the chimney, and this is a rather difficult and costly procedure.

Attention! Don't forget that these fireplaces will require a significant supply of firewood and will also need regular cleaning, so plan in advance when and how you will do this. In addition, they will not provide sufficient heat transfer, so they will not be able to heat the entire room.

Gas fireplaces are considered a convenient alternative to wood fireplaces. Their main advantage is that they require an outlet, but do not require the creation of a chimney. In addition, gas fireplaces have greater heat output, and you can adjust the temperature to your liking.

But do not forget that such fireplaces are unsafe, so their installation requires special permission and supervision from relevant specialists.

The cheapest option is an electric fireplace. It does not require additional installations, perfectly heats the room, provides your interior with brightness and a comfortable environment. And its main advantage is that it is suitable for absolutely any style.

As for biofireplaces, they are not yet widespread enough, since they are a relatively new invention: the mechanism of their functioning is that the fire burns without smoke, soot and ash, which means that the installation of a chimney or hood is not required. Ethanol is used as fuel for such a fireplace, which gives it such unique properties. One of the advantages of a biofireplace is also its portability and ease of installation.

TV next to the fireplace

The TV is located next to the fireplace
If space allows, place the TV next to the fireplace on one wall. This arrangement has a number of advantages .

The TV can be placed at the correct height that is comfortable for viewing.
Under the TV you can place media furniture with additional equipment
there is space for mounting acoustic equipment
In a modern interior, furniture can combine two independent focal points of the composition.
It is possible to create a single installation, including a fireplace and a TV, made in the same style.

Upholstered furniture should be arranged so that the sofa backs do not block the view of the fireplace. Chairs should not block passages in the fireplace area. A large sofa is located in front of the TV, providing comfortable viewing conditions. Sitting on the sofa, it is pleasant to admire the fire in the fireplace. You can place an armchair by the fireplace.

A modern bio-fireplace is located next to the TV

I recommend using exactly this relative arrangement of equipment in the room. It is correct from a design point of view - two semantic focal points in the room; economical - one set of upholstered furniture is used; decoratively - many ideas for decorating a wall with a fireplace; Comfortable - position of the TV that is convenient for viewing. It is difficult to make serious mistakes in composition here - the right decor can correct them. Careful planning will help you avoid technical errors.

Biofireplace and children. How to protect children from fire?

Probably one of the most troubling questions among families is how we can install a bio-fireplace so that children cannot get to it and can’t set anything on fire. There are several options:

1. Children need an eye, yes an eye at normal times, and even more so when there is a burning fireplace nearby. You are constantly nearby.
2.Install a secure glass screen that will prevent your child from touching the fire
3. It is best to choose a model that can be built into the wall, so the fireplace will be less accessible to the child. And if you also add a glass screen, you will protect everyone 100%. The baby will not be able to throw toys into the fireplace and will not be able to get burned.
4.Do not allow children to play, run or jump near the bio-fireplace. Explain that there is a nursery for this purpose, and that the fireplace is a decorative element.

Fireplace and TV on different walls

The fireplace is located on the wall adjacent to the TV.
Placing a fireplace and TV on walls perpendicular to each other is a very smart layout. In one room there are two independent and very strong centers of the overall composition. In the area where the axes of these centers intersect there is a sofa group. Two sofas at an angle work best here. One is in front of the fireplace, the second is in front of the TV. The complexity of such a composition lies in the fact that it is necessary to offer an active element that visually unites these two centers. In the photo, the wood trim on the wall behind the TV flows into the beam on the ceiling above the fireplace. A very precise solution that sets the tone for the entire interior.

Fragment of a living room with a corner TV and fireplace

But here is a more subtle solution - despite the fact that the absolute center of the home theater is the TV, the glass of the fireplace cassette echoes the glass doors of the furniture under the TV. The fireplace plays a secondary role in the interior, but its visual connection with the TV is obvious.

Home theater interior with fireplace and TV

Photo of electric fireplace ideas in interior design

Note! Turquoise living room - 70 photos of the ideal color combination in the interior

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Do's and don'ts when planning a room with a fireplace

You need to plan the arrangement of all the furniture in advance.
Furniture should be arranged in such a way as to make it easier, not more difficult, to move in front of the fireplace.
Make sure the back of the sofa is not blocking the fire.
Tables, poufs, firewood racks are elements that will help create paths of movement in the fireplace area.
Carpets and rugs are not placed near the fireplace.
The chair by the fireplace should be in the style of the entire interior - this is a very important element.
The place above the fireplace is the most honorable and important place in the house. There might be a better painting here, a valuable mirror. Sometimes there is a TV there.

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Features and Benefits

Please note that electric fireplaces are not just decoration, but a real heater. Many models have a good fan heater built into them, which creates a hot effect.

In this case, an image of a living flame is displayed on the screen, which is indistinguishable from a natural one. TOP models with a 3D flame effect cannot be distinguished from stone fireplaces at all.

And the coolest thing is that you don’t need to chop and throw wood. Just take the remote control and select the desired program.

Among the advantages of an electric fireplace with a flame effect are the following:

Cool design. An electric fireplace in the living room interior is always relevant! It will be appropriate even in compact Khrushchev-era apartment buildings. Of course, you need to focus on design, but more on that below.
Safety. Even in a private home, a fireplace is a danger zone. It is especially unsafe for children and animals. An electric fireplace with the sound of burning wood is not dangerous, even if a heater is built-in.
Easy installation. There is no need for a chimney, air draft pipes, etc.
No care. Other than periodic cleaning with a damp cloth, no maintenance is required.