It’s the age old conundrum; what to put above the fireplace? And these days, we’re spoilt for choice. In particular, there are two objects most people go for.
In times gone by, the decision was simple: you’d place an attractive or large mirror above the main heat source of the living room. Now, the TV has entered the ring with many preferring to place the most used of family entertainment devices where a mirror may otherwise hang.
In this post, we’re going to look at the battle between mirror vs TV and find out which one will work best above your fireplace.
The TV
Here’s 4 reasons a TV may be the best thing to put above your fireplace.
1. It’ll save space
The depth of modern TVs has reached a point where you rarely if ever need to consider it when deciding on placement. They’re getting taller and wider, though, and with such dimensions comes often awkward placement in a living room.
By putting your TV above your fireplace, you’ll free up a significant amount of space and make your living room feel even bigger.
2. It lends ‘theatre’ to your room
By elevating your TV and attaching it to the wall, you’ll create a sense of theatre. Every episode of Eastenders will therefore feel like a trip to the cinema. Kind of.
3. You can blend the TV into the room
As compact as TVs are theses days, they do often stick out like a sore thumb, yet if you attach them to a wall, they can quickly blend into the room when switched off.
A quick dab of matching paint or the addition of a couple of book shelves either side of the TV will enable it to further sink into the room’s surroundings unnoticed.
4. You can reduce neck strain
To achieve the best viewing angle for everyone in the room, you should hang your TV from the wall above your fireplace – simple. Get the height right, and you’ll reduce neck strain and give everyone a pleasurable viewing experience.
The Mirror
Here’s 4 reasons a mirror may be the best thing to put above your fireplace.
1. It’ll make the room feel bigger
Mirrors are magic: they make rooms feel bigger by reflecting the available natural light. By placing one above your fireplace, you’ll be setting it in one of the most prominent positions to do just that.
2. They’re a fabulous statement
Mirrors aren’t just functional. If you’re adventurous and pick a striking design or the biggest one you can find, you’ll create a statement within your living room few objects can match.
The best place for statements are above the focal point of your room, and with the fireplace usually occupying that role – you guessed it – they’re the best placement candidate for a mirror with which you wish to impress.
3. It’s practical
Placing a mirror above a fireplace will usually set it at a height which is perfect for those casual glances we all flick at ourselves as we move from room to room. Let’s be honest – we all do it, and it may as well be as easy a task as possible!
4. Mirrors aren’t adverse to heat
Placing a TV above a fireplace isn’t without risk; although most modern fireplaces dissipate heat in a way that won’t harm your expensive flat panel, opinion is divided on how safe it actually is to place a TV above a heat source.
Mirrors, on the other hand, don’t contain expensive inner workings. Largely speaking, they’ll sit happily above any fireplace (within reason, of course!).
Summary
We may have convinced you one way or another above, but the choice really is down to you. Both TVs and mirrors make great fireplace companions, and what works for you may not work for others. They can both be placed elsewhere, but consider which one you’d like to join the focal point of your living room and keep available space in mind.