Is a TV over the chimneypiece a decorating faux pas or a hardheaded design strategy ? See why one expert is all for it .
Whether you should mount a tv set above yourfireplace mantelis an age - old disputation for designers . On one hand , a bombastic cover can perturb from the design aesthetic you ’ve worked to create . But on the other hand , this is unremarkably a pragmatic spot for a twist you might utilize every day .
Vyanca Soto , owner and master house decorator at Market Studio Interiors , opt a mantle without a television set aloft , but she get hold of a potpourri of considerations to mind when determining the right approach for her clients . “ When design spaces for our guest , I always consider balance , aesthetics , and function before making the call , ” she excuse .
Credit: David A Land
To help you make the most out of your living distance , she is sharing her take on the debate , as well as both ideas for making it work andsolutions for work around it — so you cancreate a stylish hearth mantelno thing where you stand on the topic .
Vyanca Soto is the possessor and principal designer atMarket Studio Interiorsin Fullerton , California .
Should You Hang a TV Above Your Mantel?
“ A hearth is an architectural linchpin in a outer space , design to draw the eye and fix the shade for the room , ” Soto says . “ Mounting a TV above it can interrupt this balance , creating a visually top - heavy composition that feel awkward and disproportional . ” But beyond looks , Soto says ergonomics can also fiddle a role . If your TV is place too in high spirits it can be uncomfortable for viewers , a problem that is particularly common in rooms with tall ceilings and therefore more probable to have more vertically fain mantle .
While she certainly sways more in favor of target a idiot box elsewhere in the room , Soto says it ’s still possible to make a television set above the mantle work if that ’s what her client are after . Like just about any design detail that ’s important to those who dwell in the place , creating a geographical zone that feels easy and livable will always be the most significant factors in creating a well - loved household .
Design Tips for Making It Work
More than anything , Soto says a home should be a reflection of the people that survive there — and that go for yourTV placementas well . “ If a TV above the mantel figure out for how [ you ] survive and entertain , then the key fruit is ensuring it ’s done in a way that keep design integrity , ” she sayss . Here she gives idea and option for hang a telly above a mantlepiece .
Choose a Sleek TV
If you ’re looking for a agency to make your TV both working and insure it does n’t dominate the room , Soto say asleek soma - way TVcan be a beautiful root , though you ’ll want to take peculiar upkeep when it come to installing . “ Many arrogate it ’s a completely wireless solution , but in reality , the Frame TV requires a connection box , ” she explain .
“ The idealistic setup involves recessing this box into the wall for a seamless , integrated look . ” If you do n’t be after right , you might end up having a TV that ride directly atop the mantel which would rule out all mansion of a clean esthetical . “ Thoughtful execution is fundamental to assure the design remain both refined and practical , ” she say .
Dedicate a Media Wall
If a TV is an important chemical element to some within your home , and others prefer the elegance of a standalone fireplace , Soto recommends doom a separate wall for the TV . Think about swivel seating room , ottoman , or other moveable seats idea that can allow for effortlessly change the view point between the fireplace or telly depending on the daytime , the season , or the hour .
Flank the Mantel with Built-Ins
For a slightly more pricy solution , Soto suggestscustom shelving or build - in cabinetryon either side of the fireplace . She says this can be the staring station to incorporate a TV , whether it ’s integrate or concealed .
Hide Your Electronics
If you really want to hide your screen , you may engage certain strategies to keep your media equipment completely out of view — but you ’ll likely compensate quite a bit more . “ Motorized lift or artwork that slides open to divulge a hidden screen extend a sleek , multifunctional approach , ” says Soto .
Use a Projector
“ In room where a video over the mantel seems unavoidable , a projector and hidden free fall - down screen can allow for a movie theater - similar experience without a lasting black boxwood disrupting the fireplace , ” the room decorator says . While it might not provide quite the same effect as a state of the artwork prostrate screen , it can help oneself allow a worthwhile solution in homes where this divisive debate has taken grip .
