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It’s really not a good idea to mount your TV over your fireplace. It might center your living room in a charming way, but it can do a lot more harm than good — especially if you watch a lot of TV, are prone to neck pain or actually use the fireplace. Yes, we know it seems like the logical place to stick a TV, but there are serious issues with such placement. (Mounting a TV in the bathroom isn’t much better, but it’s doable.)
If you’re considering above-the-fireplace mounting, I’ll presume you’ve already considered how you’re going to run power and signal (HDMI or wireless) to the TV, and how you’re mounting it to the brick or stone. These are concerns too, but easily fixable. There are bigger issues, though.
Read more: Mounting a TV on Your Deck? Not So Fast
Here’s why you should really think twice before mounting your TV over your fireplace.
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Why a TV should never be mounted over a fireplace
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1. Viewing angle: A TV over a fireplace is too high
Ever sit in the front row of a movie theater? Some people like it; most don’t. That sore neck you get from staring up at the screen? Imagine that every time you watch TV. Most people find staring up at something for long periods to be uncomfortable. Worse, it might seem fine at first, but then you develop a neck issue later.
Not surprisingly, one of the first Google autocomplete results after “TV over fireplace…” is “too high.” This isn’t a rare issue.
Imagine how far back your head would have to tilt to watch this TV from those seats.
Mint Images/Getty Images
Sure, this won’t be a problem in some rooms. The fireplace might be low, you might be reclining to watch TV, you might be far enough away that you’re just barely looking “up” at it. But if you’ve ever had neck issues, often from something work-related, this aspect is something to consider as it could make such an injury worse.
Most of us would much rather look slightly down at a TV. It’s a much more natural position (similar to what’s recommended by OSHA for monitors). Ideally you should be able to keep a neutral/relaxed neck position to watch your TV, which will vary depending on your sofa/seating position and so on.
2. Your TV will be off-axis
Mounting a TV above a fireplace is almost always a bad idea.
Chris Heinonen/Geoff Morrison
Nearly every TV on the market today is an LCD. There are higher-end models from LG, Sony, and Vizio that are OLED, but otherwise, regardless of the marketing name, it’s an LCD.
Most LCDs look significantly worse if you’re not looking at them straight on. Even a few degrees below their centerline, like you’d have sitting on a sofa looking up at the TV, can make the image look profoundly different than what it looks like directly on-axis.
This is fairly easy to fix, though you’ll need specific equipment. Some wall-mounting brackets let you pivot the TV downward, so it’s directly facing the seating area. Keep an eye out for models that do. Flat-mounting the TV on the wall (the cheapest solution) might make your TV look worse.
3. Heat and soot damage your TV
There is nothing worse for an electronics product than heat (OK, maybe water or kicking it could be worse, but you get my point). Increasing the operating temperature of the TV can shorten what should be a lively and reliably long life.
Worse, the soot from the fire can get into the TV’s innards, doing nothing good. Even worse, the damage will be slow and over time, not right away, so the TV will likely fail sooner than it would have otherwise, but still beyond the length of your warranty.
There is no best seat in this house, at least for watching TV.
Cavan Images/Getty Images
This won’t be an issue for everyone. If you don’t, or can’t, use your fireplace, then this won’t be a problem. A gas fireplace might not have soot, but if the wall above is warm to the touch, that heat is going to warm your TV too.
Read more
- Buying a New TV? Look for a 2021 Model Now, or Wait Until Fall, to Get the Best Price
- TV Sizes: How Big a Screen Do I Really Need?
- From 4K to UHD to 1080p: What You Should Know About TV Resolutions
- It Would Be Bad if Your New TV Fell Over
Bottom line
Though stylish and popular, mounting a TV above a fireplace probably isn’t the best option for you or your TV. Placement is a big issue, and location and TV height can be significant factors when it comes to picture quality.
For more TV tips and tricks, check out our recommendations for TV picture settings to change, why it’s usually not a good idea to increase your television’s sharpness control, and the best time to buy a TV. Plus, a fix for muffled TV dialogue and 7 solutions for hiding ugly TV wires.
As well as covering TV and other display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, airplane graveyards and more.
You can follow his exploits on Instagram and his travel video series on YouTube. He also wrote a bestselling sci-fi novel about city-sized submarines, along with a sequel.
