I used to be laying in mattress on a current wet evening, watching Love is Blind (so good), the hearth on low as I clicked in to get pleasure from Orlando’s new extremely private and pleasurable sub-stack, The Misplaced Arrow (have you ever subscribed to it but?). It was a relatively hilarious rant about his #1 design pet peeve. I laughed quite a bit (as a result of he’s a humorous and relatable author) even whereas he was pointedly speaking shit about my very family room and bed room. No, he wasn’t saying “Emily Henderson’s hearth is the worst,” in fact not, however he HATES TVs over fireplaces and makes a damning case in opposition to them. And you recognize what I hate? Once I’m instructed I ought to NEVER do one thing in terms of design. OOH that will get me riled up as a result of how we use our house is 100% as much as us, for our personal pleasure and pleasure (and normally comes with sure limitations). That’s why I’m right here to make a case in opposition to his excessive rule in opposition to a really factor that I get pleasure from. I believed it could be enjoyable to cross-examine and make a case, not essentially for TVs over fireplaces, however simply in protection of them and speak about when/why and how one can do it proper (he’ll disagree with the notion that it’s ever proper, however I’ve some fairly strong concepts). Let’s dance:)

Pay attention, I agree with him that in an ideal world, you don’t have a TV over a fire as a result of you have got a separate TV room, however even in that TV room you may additionally need or have already got a fire. The courtroom ought to observe that each situations are clearly privileged. We determined to forego a TV in our present front room as a result of I most well-liked artwork over TV, however principally as a result of we didn’t want it in right here as a result of we now have a separate room proper subsequent to it, devoted to TV. However what if we didn’t? Would placing a TV over the hearth be so dangerous? NO! Would placing the TV on the wall subsequent to the hearth be higher? In my view, no, it could seem like a rectangle subsequent to a chunky rectangle and possibly look even dumber.

My evaluation of his hatred for TVs over fireplaces is that A. He isn’t an enormous TV particular person (possibly?), B. He doesn’t have a fire in his front room or he has at all times had a simple structure for this case, C. He doesn’t presently have children, due to this fact has particular views in regards to the design of a house which may not be as livable to many people who’ve foregone some design pleasantries within the identify of practicality and livability, and D. He lives (principally) in Southern California the place fireplaces aren’t as a lot of a temper and warmth necessity as they’re in areas the place its chilly and darkish within the winter. What I discovered fascinating about his piece (once more, you must learn it right here) was that he likened a TV over the hearth to chrome steel home equipment and granite counter tops – a form of wealth signifier promoting level that was constructed into many new builds or McManions throughout a sure interval. This stuff are basically examples that these homes are high-end sufficient to have a flat-screen TV (which for some time have been so costly, however now under no circumstances). I believe he’s proper about that, which made me like my TV over my hearth much less, however I’m not right here to agree with my pal/opposing counsel, I’m right here to defend the TV over the hearth.

So when and why is a TV over a fire okay? Are you able to do it the place it doesn’t look dumb?

Purpose #1: When You Don’t Have Any Different Alternative And You Actually Need To Watch TV In This Room

I’m an enormous proponent of having fun with how you reside in your house first, and the design of the house ought to assist that enjoyment. Do I would like you to purchase large reclining sofas? Hmm, truthfully, I don’t actually care as a result of that’s your alternative. I’m not going to make that alternative as a result of there are nice choices which might be nearly as comfy which may not look so overwhelming, however I additionally admit that sitting on a La-Z-Boy couch will be great so that you do you! I lean to this point into consolation and practicality that lots of my former design pet peeves have been thrown out years in the past (Covid additionally confirmed my want for consolation and practicality). I believe design directives like this are good to have, however USING your property to your personal enjoyment ought to be your #1 precedence. I say this whereas understanding that I’ve some furnishings that’s higher to take a look at than to take a seat on, so I’m not a shining instance of this both (though in protection of myself, I wouldn’t purchase these items now, they’re a maintain over from years in the past once I didn’t prioritize consolation/practicality over type). Does each piece of furnishings have to be probably the most comfy? Nope. In some rooms, you don’t want that degree of consolation and a few lovely items are value having as a result of they shift the entire context of the room in a great way. So I’m not saying that we must always all reside in La-Z-Boys in each room, but when the room doesn’t meet the aim of you being in it since you’ve opted in opposition to one thing sensible, then that’s an issue to me. In truth, I’ve been identified to truly say to associates who don’t use their front room EVER, “are you certain you don’t desire a TV in right here?” as a result of not utilizing a room for worry of it not trying good with a TV in it’s the greater crime (once more, particularly due to good trying artwork TVs like The Body). Do I believe that Orlando is being a bit of snobby? In fact, and so am I about lots of issues. Possibly calling us “choosy” is what we’d want:) It’s the job of design influencers to assist information us to nice selections in order that we love our house extra, and his vehemence in opposition to the TV over the hearth is a noble one. I simply worry that it’s not at all times an choice until you sacrifice your consolation, practicality, and livability. It’s YOUR HOME, you do no matter you need in it in an effort to adore it and have it serve YOUR functions.

The prosecutor/plaintiff, Orlando admits that it may be difficult to discover a non-TV over hearth structure that is sensible and he gives for readers to ship him photographs of their room and he’ll re-lay it out for them, making certain that he can discover a solution to not have the TV above the hearth. I’d personally like to see how he does that as a result of in my expertise, splitting the focal factors could make a room really feel chaotic and inevitably somebody, a number of individuals truly, find yourself having a nasty viewing seat. Clearly, some rooms are completely arrange to do that naturally, however many are simply not. I believe that having it above the TV (hear, if I’m being trustworthy I’m speaking about Body TVs) seems to be completely effective for those who can placed on a pleasant piece of artwork when not in use. Would I relatively have precise artwork? In fact, however once more, it’s about having fun with your personal house and having it meet your wants.

Purpose #2: When It Can Be Low Sufficient Not To Harm Your Neck

Admittedly they are often too excessive in some homes, everyone knows this. On the mountain home, in our household room, ours was increased than I wished. That is normally resulting from firebox sizes and clearances. I want there have been extra that have been low and broad that weren’t so up to date trying (I don’t thoughts some linear ones, however I don’t love that they’re normally simply rocks as an alternative of fake logs). So to ensure that the hearth field to be scaled proper for the room they’re normally kinda massive, after which whenever you had the same old 12″ clearance above it and add a mantel, your TV will be fairly darn excessive. However I’ve discovered that in case your couch is deep sufficient to lounge in, it’s completely effective. A shallow couch generally is a downside in case you are pressured to take a seat upright, however for those who can lean again then your neck will be salvaged.

Purpose #3: A Excessive TV Over A Fire In A Bed room Is Truly A Good Factor

We knew that we’d need two TV choices in our house – one for teenagers and one for us, particularly when having individuals over. Throughout lockdown on the mountain home, we solely had one TV and infrequently needed to set the youngsters up of their room with the laptop computer if we wished to observe one thing much less acceptable – which was effective as a result of they have been 4 and 6, however we wished to ensure that for this home we had two choices for these Saturday nights when Brian and I truly need to watch an R rated film (we typically are so drained and go to mattress proper after them so until we carve out grownup TV time, we watch ZERO grown up reveals/films). So we put a TV over the hearth in our bed room and so they can watch their rubbish within the household room whereas we watch Severance. It ought to be famous that we’ve watched TV possibly 10 instances in our bed room since we moved in 6 months in the past – so not quite a bit, however I’m nonetheless glad we now have the choice. We’re each massive readers (not being pretentious, I actually learn romance novels) and barely watch TV anyway post-lockdown so possibly we didn’t want it in right here in spite of everything.

TVs in bedrooms are an entire different controversial debate which I’m not normally an enormous fan of, however once more as a result of it’s a Body, I don’t thoughts it. We thought lengthy and onerous about placing one in right here and once more solely did it as a result of we wished to have two TV viewing choices (we now have since put one in our visitor room as a result of we by chance purchased one too massive for our bed room wall whereas we lived within the rental home – earlier than the hearth wall was even designed). So if we now have lots of children over and need to shove them away all of them climb on the visitor mattress.

Now, again to my case if you find yourself mendacity down on a mattress it is advisable to just remember to can see over your toes. So in a bed room, you truly need your TV increased so you possibly can watch whereas mendacity down. And, FURTHERMORE ORLANDO, there may be good simplicity of getting each focal factors on the identical wall, permitting for symmetry subsequent to it (one thing I LOVE in a bed room).

Purpose #4: I Don’t Like Cut up Focal Factors, I Want Symmetry

In case your room has the proper structure then you possibly can loosen up, and have your TV on a distinct wall than your hearth, however most rooms don’t. I personally don’t love when you have got two competing focal factors – and each sq. containers. So in my thoughts, it truly seems to be higher to have a Body TV over your hearth than to have it awkwardly floating on a distinct wall. Orlando makes use of the above instance of how he’s achieved it, and this room is fortunate as a result of there’s a clean wall proper subsequent to the hearth so truthfully it’s a simple alternative, however what if there was a window there as an alternative? Would a Body TV above the hearth look that completely different than the oblong portray? No! It could look effective!

Purpose #5: If You’ve Opted For Home windows As an alternative Of Wall Area

That is the problem we now have confronted each single time – the place we now have designed the home with the window and door plan, choosing extra home windows and negating the proper wall place to have a TV and fireside be separate. Now we have achieved this in our household room on the mountain home, our bed room on the farm, and in addition in Ken/Katie’s future front room. We consciously made this alternative of prioritizing home windows and pure gentle OVER the power to separate the TV and fireside. Now, I’ll say that in case you are constructing new or doing an entire transform my favourite mixture (ought to or not it’s acceptable) is what we did in our present household/television room – to place a stove-style hearth NEXT to the TV, thus sharing the identical focal wall, not being two massive containers subsequent to one another and but you possibly can get pleasure from taking a look at each the identical time. The explanation we didn’t do that in Ken/Katie’s future front room is as a result of the peak/scale of the room is much too excessive/massive for a small range hearth. We additionally wished to have the ability to see the TV from the kitchen whereas cooking/hanging so it must be massive and better than Orlando would possible need it to be. When your couch is again far sufficient, a better TV is FINE.

So If We Need Each A TV And A Fire In The Identical Room (And View Them At The Identical Time) What Ought to We Do??

I’ve considered this A LOT and I’ve some strong options. By the way in which, I do know that lots of you’ll make the case AGAINST having a fire in any respect, and it’s one which I need to agree with in idea, however lengthy darkish, moist, winters are onerous sufficient to get via. A fire that creates ambiance, and warmth, and helps your temper which is a superb factor. In case you don’t desire a hearth, don’t have one. I actually don’t have a automobile as a result of I don’t like driving (however sadly it’s changing into extraordinarily obvious that I do in actual fact want one which I’m bummed about) – all of us have our issues that we get pleasure from and improve our lives whereas right here on earth. There are various of us who recognize fireplaces immensely for ambiance, warmth, and a mandatory winter temper increase. Do I believe you want one in LA? Nope. However up right here, it will get used a ton and loved when it’s chilly, moist, and darkish. And naturally, you aren’t allowed to place in wooden ones in lots of states, so we opted for a direct-vent fuel range in our household room. I’m additionally very very excited to see how the electrical hearth know-how advances (it’s getting higher yearly). However immediately we’re not speaking in regards to the professionals and cons of fireplaces. As an alternative, we’re addressing IF you choose for a fireside and TV how do you design it to look one of the best?

1. Put your TV over the hearth, make it as little as attainable, and go darkish with the entire hearth (ought to that make sense). The explanation we did a brick hearth in our bed room was to color all of it one darkish coloration and have the firebox and TV disappear extra. It’s my private choice that new fuel fireplaces (which for probably the most half is your solely choice for those who’re constructing new) look higher on darkish fireplaces as a result of they’re black metallic and glass.
2. Design your TV/hearth wall to have a shared focus, however do a stove-style hearth as an alternative. Once more, that is what we did right here in our present TV room and it’s a GREAT mixture IMHO. It’s a shared focal wall however they’re completely different shapes. The TV will be decrease, making Orlando’s neck extra comfy ought to he come over to observe Love is Blind with you.
3. Put your TV over your hearth, however design the hearth to be much less formal, i.e extra acceptable for a TV. Regardless that we may have designed the mountain home household room to have fewer home windows (we most likely didn’t want any or each) and we may have achieved the stove-style hearth + TV mixture I spoke of above, I believe that the plaster therapy lent itself simply to an informal household room. I believe what bugs Orlando (and myself) is an excellent formal-looking hearth encompass and mantel with an enormous cumbersome TV on prime. However once more, if it’s a Body TV I don’t assume it’s an enormous deal.

In the end I believe my pal Orlando and I agree that there are actually some much less good methods to mix a TV and a fire, however simply to say unequivocably that TVs over fireplaces are at all times horrible is what I discovered hilariously incorrect and deserving of this rebuttal.

I believe what we’d each agree on is that in an ideal world, you’d have a separate TV room, the place the TV is at eye degree, sharing the focal wall with a fire that you just use – like my pal’s basement that we designed final yr. But when that isn’t your life/home, I’m right here to let you know that it’s OK and there are methods to do it the place you possibly can proceed to get pleasure from your personal house, with out feeling such as you’ve dedicated a design crime. 🙂

**We’ll be making an attempt out a brand new remark coverage immediately, resulting from the truth that posts like this may be actually controversial, with statements that somebody may really feel offended by, or one may need to assault these of us for even having a fire – one thing that we all know to inherently not be nice for the setting. So we’ll monitor feedback and publish something contributing to this dialog, and never publish something that creates negativity, environmental evangelism, or frankly saying something destructive about my pal, Orlando. 🙂 In case you don’t like him or me, merely don’t learn 🙂

Opening Picture Credit: Photograph by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Mountain Home Reveal: How We Designed Our Tremendous Child-Pleasant Household Room