Fireplace Mantel Decorating Ideas With Tv Above

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Placing a TV on the mantel or mounting it on the wall above the fireplace is a modern, stylish way to combine two focal points of a room. Before you do so, make sure to check the temperature above the mantel with a fire going, test the viewing angle, and plan where wires and cables from the TV will go. After you've verified that it's a good place to put the TV, decorate the mantel and walls around it to incorporate it into the room's decor.

1
Use a thermometer to test the temperature above the mantel with a fire going. Turn on your gas fire or build a wood fire to the size and temperature you normally have it at. Place a thermometer on the mantel or tape it to the wall above the mantel, roughly where you want the TV to go, and wait for the temperature to stop rising, then read the number and compare it with the TV manufacturer's maximum recommended temperature.^[1]
- The space above the mantel usually doesn't get too hot, as most of the heat is dispersed into the room and up the chimney, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
2
Choose to put the TV above the mantel if the temperature is under 125 °F (52 °C). Double-check your TV's owner's manual or do some research online for your specific model to find any special instructions about the maximum temperature it can handle. Most TVs can safely withstand temperatures of up to about 125 °F (52 °C).^[2]
- If the temperature above your mantel does appear to be too hot for the TV, consider putting it in a different spot to avoid damaging it.
3
Place the TV as close to eye level as possible. Set the TV on the mantel or have someone hold it up where you want to mount it on the wall. Sit down where you plan on viewing the TV from and see if you have to strain your neck to look at the screen.^[3]
- Many mantels are higher than eye level when seated. If this is the case for your mantel, consider putting the TV in a different location or get a wall mounting bracket or stand that lets you tilt the TV downwards to avoid hurting your neck when watching the TV.
4
Plan how you will feed cables to outlets or other electronics. Look at the nearest outlets for the power cable and where any other electronics that you need to connect wires from the TV to are. Plan the best way to feed the cables to where they need to go, make sure the cables can reach there, then decide how you will hide the cables if necessary.^[4]
- If it won't be easy to hide cables and decorate them in an attractive fashion, you might need to put the TV somewhere else. For example, if the nearest power outlet is on the complete opposite side of the room, it won't be practical or pretty to run the TV's power cable all the way over to it.
5
Set your TV on the mantel or mount it on the wall if everything looks good. Take the temperature, viewing angle, and cable locations into account before you make the final decision to put your TV above the mantel. Set it on the mantel using it's provided stand or mount it to the wall using a wall mount if everything points to the mantel being a good spot for the TV.^[5]
- If you're wall-mounting the TV, make sure you use a mounting bracket that is specified to handle the weight and size of your TV so it doesn't fall down.
Tip: If the only thing stopping you from putting your TV above the mantel is the lack of power or cable outlets, you can hire an electrician to come put some in nearby.

1
Choose decorations that match the decor in the room. Pick art and other items that draw from the same color palette as your furniture or other decorations in the room. This will bring everything together and ensure that the mantel decorations don't overshadow the decor elsewhere in the room.^[6]
- For example, if you have a gray couch with blue and yellow cushions in the room, you could place blue and yellow candles on the mantel and add pictures or artwork in frames that are various shades of gray.
2
Put short items underneath the TV and taller ones at the ends. Make sure there is space between the bottom of the TV and the items under it so the TV doesn't look too cluttered. Place taller items, such as vases or tall candlesticks, at either end of the mantel beside the TV.^[7]
- For instance, you could put small photo frames and decorative candles underneath the TV for a traditional look, then put matching glass or ceramic vases with some flowers in them on either side of the TV to add some color and partially frame the TV.
3
Mix and match different items to give the mantel an eclectic look. Combine things like bold, bright pieces of art with accessories like small statues, ceramics, and other knick knacks. Place items at different depths and overlap items to make the mantel stand out from the TV.^[8]
- For example, you could place something like a salvaged piece of barn wood at the very back and put several contemporary framed pieces of art along the mantel in front of it. You could add small knick knacks to the sides and in front of the artworks, such as elephant statues, antique cups, and glass candle holders.
4
Place a row of succulents on the mantel for a minimalist approach. Purchase at least 3 small succulents and put them in some nice contemporary pots. Line them up, equally spaced, along the mantel to give it a modern look without cluttering it.^[9]
- Small white ceramic pots with different geometric shapes are an example of contemporary pots for the succulents that look nice on a mantel. You could use 1 triangular pot, 1 circular pot, and 1 square pot.
Tip: Feel free to incorporate other decorations if you want more going on than just a row of plants. You could add something like a minimalist print with drawings of succulents on it behind the succulents themselves so that the decorations share a common theme.
5
Add visually appealing books to the mantel for a warm, comforting feel. Find some books that have attractive spines and lay them in stacks of 2-3 books. Stand some other books up and hold them in place using other decorations or by putting stacks of books on either side.^[10]
- If you can find the old style of books that have dark, solid-colored covers and gold lettering on the spines, these will look great on the mantel and give it an antique look.

1
Hang framed pictures and artwork on the wall around the TV to blend it in. Add multiple rectangularly-framed pieces of art, prints, or photographs to the wall around the TV so the TV is surrounded by approximately the same number of frames on each side. Make a symmetrical arrangement by putting an equal number of same-sized frames on each side or make an asymmetrical arrangement by combining frames of different sizes on each side and even above the TV.^[11]
- This will take the focus away from the black screen and integrate it with surrounding decorations.
2
Put an empty frame around the TV itself to make it look like art. Choose a rectangular frame that matches the style of the fireplace and the room. Hang it on the wall around the TV, so the TV screen is exactly in the middle, to turn the TV itself into a piece of art on the wall.^[12]
- For example, if you have an antique fireplace with lots of ornate engraved details, you could try to find a chunky, gaudy frame to put around the TV. If you have other works of art on the wall that have simple, modern frames, select a frame that is more understated and contemporary to put around the TV.
3
Put tall bookcases on either side of the fireplace to enclose the TV. Get two identical tall bookcases and place them to the left and right of the fireplace so that the TV is centered in the middle. This will frame the TV and enclose it in a recessed space to make it stand out less.^[13]
- You can fill the bookshelves with books, decorations, or a combination of the two in order to integrate the TV into the room's decor even more as well as take advantage of the extra storage space.
4
Paint the wall above the mantel to make it more of a focal point. Give the wall above the mantel and behind the TV a unique new paint job to make the TV placement look more purposeful. It will seem like you aren't trying to disguise the TV, but rather make the whole part of the room stand out even more.^[14]
- For example, you could paint a zig zag pattern or paint various shapes in different colors behind the TV to create a funky, artistic focal wall.
- Keep in mind that you need to do this before you mount the TV if you plan to mount it on the wall.
5
Have track-mounted art or mirror installed to hide the TV. Hire someone to install a track with rollers in the ceiling above the TV and mantel. Attach a large mirror or piece of art to the rollers that will cover up the TV when you aren't watching it.^[15]
- You can even get motorized rollers installed, so you can uncover or cover the TV at the click of a button.
Tip: You could also use something like a pair of old barn doors to hide the TV in a unique way. Have them mounted on a track so they meet exactly in the center of the TV screen when closed.
6
Hide cords with a sleeve of fabric the same color as the wall. Bunch all the cords coming out of the TV together and secure them with zip ties. Cut a fabric strip wide enough and long enough to wrap around the bunched cables, then put sticky Velcro pieces along the fabric to close it with. Wrap the fabric around the cords to make them blend into the wall above and around the mantel.^[16]
- Tuck the fabric with the bundled cords right up against the wall above the mantle to make it blend in with the wall more. You can put other decorations in front of it to make it even less obvious.

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