Mounting the TV Over the Fireplace: Some Advice | Rules of Renovation
If you’re looking to remodel a home, either with the intent to sell or with the intent to live in it, there are some rules of renovation that you should follow. One of these sets of rules applies to flatscreen TVs. While some people still use entertainment centers for their TV placement, it is becoming ever more common for homeowners to hang their TV on the wall.
What Does That Mean for You?
To begin with, you should remember that the most common places for a TV are the living room and the bedroom. These are also common places for a cozy fireplace detail. Now, not every fireplace has a TV hung above it, but for many people, this is an ideal location. If your fireplace is already the focal point of the room, it makes some sense to continue that by adding a TV above it.
What’s Wrong With That?
Aesthetically, hanging your TV above the fireplace can be a great choice. Even in terms of keeping warm in the winter, this can be a good idea, because you’ll automatically be facing the fire and keeping your body comfortably toasty. And if you have a newer fireplace, especially one without a functioning chimney above it, there is no problem. However, if your fireplace puts out a lot of heat, particularly to the space above it, you can be in for some trouble. After all, TVs are not built to be kept too warm! Too much heat can fry a TV permanently.
“I’m Selling; How Does this Affect Me?”
If you’re selling the home you’re renovating, you probably aren’t hanging a TV anywhere. You might, then, wonder why all of this discussion applies to you. The thing is, though, that even if you’re not hanging the TV, someone almost certainly will be, and you need to consider what they are going to want and what options you are giving them.
Where are they going to want their couches or bed? Is there more than one available spot on the wall to hang a TV? Is there an entertainment cabinet already installed in the room, or can they orient their furniture and living arrangements the way they see fit? And what, if any, are the problems you see as you’re removing or replacing walls, possibly adding that fireplace or storage space, and even choosing a color scheme?
If you’re forcing the design of a room to lay out in a specific manner, you may be setting yourself up for trouble–even if it’s something as simple as where there is space for a TV. Try to design your rooms so that homeowners can set up their TV where they want–be it above the fireplace (if there is one) or no!
As you consider the needs of your potential buyers and imagine what they will like and want, you will design better, more user friendly rooms that appeal to more people. And the more your rooms and your house appeal to people, the better deal you can get on selling the house! It’s a win for everyone!
