TV Above Fireplace Ideas for a Stone Fireplace

A TV above a stone fireplace can work well, but only if you sort out four things first: what the stone is hiding behind it, how high the screen ends up, how hot the wall gets, and where the cables go. Get those right and the styling is the easy part.

It's a common setup, especially in open-plan rooms where wall space is limited, so don't feel guilty about wanting it. Below are the ideas I'd work through, in the order I'd work through them.

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Find out what kind of stone you have

Solid masonry and stone veneer over a wood frame are very different things to mount on. With solid masonry, you can use masonry anchors rated for the weight. With veneer, the stone is only a skin of cement and rock over drywall or lath, so it can't carry a TV. The mount has to reach the framing behind it.

A stud finder won't read through a couple of inches of jagged stone. Clues like the edges of the firebox, the chase framing or nearby vents help you guess where the framing runs. If you can't confirm it, bring in a licensed contractor or AV installer rather than guessing. A wrong bolt in a chimney wall is expensive to repair.

How to mount a TV above a stone fireplace on uneven stone

Ledge stone, fieldstone and stacked stone are bumpy, and a flat mounting plate will rock on them. Standoffs or spacers let the bracket sit plumb while the fasteners reach solid material. Don't overtighten against thin stone pieces, because they can crack. For a step-by-step on drilling and hardware, see our guide to mounting a TV on a stone fireplace.

Is the TV above the fireplace too high?

Often, yes. Most mantels sit well above seated eye level, and a screen placed on top of one makes you look up for the whole movie. A comfortable target is for the center of the screen to land close to eye level when you're seated, commonly around 42-48 inches off the floor. Above a mantel it is usually much higher.

You have a few ways to reduce the problem:

• Use a tilting mount so the screen faces down toward the seats.
• Use a pull-down mount that lowers the TV in front of the mantel when you watch.
• Move the seating back. A common rule is to sit about 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen's diagonal away, so a 65-inch TV suits roughly 8-13 feet.
• Choose a smaller screen if the room is short.

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As an architect, I'd treat a high TV as a last resort. If you can lower the mantel or move the screen to the side, you'll be more comfortable for years.

Will the heat damage the TV?

It can. Heat rises, and so do smoke and soot, which leave residue on the screen and clog vents. Check your TV's manual for its maximum operating temperature and the fireplace maker's guidance on clearances. A simple test is to tape a thermometer where the bottom of the TV would sit, run the fire for an hour and compare the reading to the manual.

A deep mantle helps by deflecting rising heat away from the screen. As a rule of thumb, I'd make it clearly deeper than the TV plus its bracket. If you burn wood daily, I'd think hard about another location. Gas and electric fireplaces are usually gentler, but follow their manufacturer's clearances. Anything involving flues or gas lines is a job for a licensed professional.

How do you hide the cables?

Dangling cords are the quickest way to make the whole thing look like an afterthought. These are your options, from easiest to most involved:

1. Run a paintable conduit along the grout lines and color it to match the mortar.
2. Use a TV with a thin single-cable connection to a media box in a nearby cabinet, so only one slim line needs tucking into the stone.
3. Have an electrician run power and low-voltage lines inside the wall, which is cleaner but may mean opening the wall or the stone.

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Any new outlet or in-wall wiring should be done by a licensed electrician and follow local code.

How do you make a TV above a fireplace look nice?

Give it a mantel with weight

A mantel is the bridge between rough stone and a sleek black screen. On heavy stone, a thin shelf disappears, so pick a chunky beam or a cast concrete piece. Make it wider than the TV, ideally extending several inches past each side, and thick enough to balance the dark rectangle above it. Fix it to the framing, not just the veneer. If you have a cat that likes high perches, the mantel needs to hold a jump.

Soften the black rectangle

A TV with an art or ambient mode looks like a framed picture when it's off, which suits stone well. If yours doesn't have one, a slim frame-style cover or a screensaver with a quiet image helps. If you want the screen out of sight completely, hidden TV above fireplace ideas include cabinet doors that slide or fold over it, or a mirror-style cover, both of which need extra depth and planning.

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Add softness around it

Stone and glass are both hard and cool, so the surroundings need texture. Flank the fireplace with a tall floor plant, a woven basket of blankets nearby and a floor lamp or picture light to reduce the glare of a bright screen in a dark room. If you have pets, check any plant against the ASPCA's toxic plant list or ask your vet before bringing it home. Lilies and sago palms are two to avoid.

Need ideas for the walls on either side? Our guides to decorating walls beside a fireplace and the quick step guide cover that.

Other layouts if the stone is a poor fit

If the checks above go badly, there are alternatives. Put the TV on an adjacent wall and let the fireplace remain the focal point. Build an alcove or recessed niche beside the chimney breast. Or lower the mantel and mount the screen just above it. Seating placement matters in all of these, and arranging living room furniture around a fireplace and TV shows how to balance the two. For a lighter backdrop, take a look at white stone fireplace ideas.

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Quick checklist before you drill

• You know whether the fireplace is solid masonry or veneer over framing.
• The mount reaches studs or is rated for your masonry, with spacers for uneven stone.
• The viewing height is acceptable, or you've chosen a tilting or pull-down mount.
• The mantel is deeper than the TV and bracket, and the heat test passed.
• The cable route is planned and any wiring is done by a licensed pro.
• The mantel is wider than the screen and anchored well enough for a climbing pet.

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