# Would we regret it if we mounted our TV above the fireplace? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947 "2015-03-25T16:11:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/21 "2015-03-26T21:14:49Z")
One drawback with wall mounting is that it’s hard to see/reach back there to plug in cords if you add a component or need to switch things around. If you don’t use the fireplace anyway, you could set up the TV on a low cabinet in front of it. If you do use the fireplace it’s probably a bigger source of risk for your kid than the TV. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/22 "2015-03-26T22:09:58Z")
I noticed, even if others didn’t, that your walls are plaster. That means it’s very hard to install outlets behind the set on the wall without major work. If you aren’t using the fireplace for heating, why not get it covered up? That way you can arrange for cables and outlets to be placed where you need them and you will be able to get the height right for viewing and still have the cords and clutter out of reach of the infants. That may not be practical for you though. My preference is definitely against mounting the set too high. If you are using the TV as your main home entertainment, you really need to make sure it is comfortable to look at as the primary criterion for placing it, and I feel the same pain in the neck as others do when looking up at the screen for any amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/23 "2015-03-26T22:17:14Z")
back when tv was in a console or on a low table, later an entertainment center; this put it at a comfortable height. i think wall mounts are too high. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/24 "2015-03-26T23:36:43Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > Over the fireplace is where people who don’t particularly value watching TV put their TVs. That is not necessarily a bad thing; there are more important things in life than TV, after all, and if you like the room better that way, it’s certainly positive that it’s a net benefit. (Though, I don’t actually like it from a room design point of view either, but that’s obviously much more YMMV.) I did it because it was a very small space, and the most logical location. The height wasn’t a big deal; I’m 5’9", and the middle of the screen was about at 5 feet (I’m doing a SWAG mental measurement based on my height). I didn’t find it uncomfortable, nor did my mum or fiance’. All of us are tall, though. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/25 "2015-03-27T01:00:46Z")
For those complaining about height, how close were you to your TVs? In my setup, I’ve never had any discomfort, but I’m also at least 12 feet away from the screen (my easy chair) or 18 feet at most (the love seat). For me, at least, never any kind of neck strain. In fact, I find it much more comfortable than the TV on a stand in the living room which is at eye level (when seated). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/26 "2015-03-27T13:43:11Z")
Oh, good point - we’re much closer. I’d guess, I dunno, 8 feet? 10 feet? Our living room is small enough that I couldn’t use a Kinect. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/27 "2015-03-27T13:49:07Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > i think wall mounts are too high. When we bought our house we made sure the walls ran all the way down to the floors so we could wall mount and have the TV at eye level. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/28 "2015-03-27T14:18:03Z")
Our options for wall mount are fireplace or, um, windows. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/29 "2015-03-27T15:26:50Z")
I’m starting to feel like no one actually reads the posts other people put down…Maybe it’s just me. **Zsofia** , You’ll probably be OK with the tv over the fireplace as long as it doesn’t force you to crane your neck up as noted above… ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/30 "2015-04-01T22:18:27Z")
Since you don’t run your fireplace very often, it’ll be a non-issue. Just be sure to put something on the top of the mantle to deflect heat if you do happen to use it. It can be something temporary. We mounted ours on top of the fireplace because our other options were to put it on the only full wall (where the full length couch currently sits) or above the fireplace. So we put it above the fireplace. It works great when you recline, not so much if you want to lie flat. ---
**Author:** ![analogqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@analogqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/analogqueen)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/31 "2015-04-03T05:37:06Z")
Placing your TV above the fireplace makes it a focal point. Adding the couches/chairs in a semi-circle for the proper viewing angle make it a pew for TV gods. Make the fireplace it_self_ the focal point and put the TV somewhere else. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/32 "2015-04-03T10:34:46Z")
> [@analogqueen](#): > > Placing your TV above the fireplace makes it a focal point. Adding the couches/chairs in a semi-circle for the proper viewing angle make it a pew for TV gods. Make the fireplace it_self_ the focal point and put the TV somewhere else. > [@zsofia](#): > > Our options for wall mount are fireplace or, um, windows. > [@zsofia](#): > > …the only place we could really conveniently mount the TV to the wall is above the fireplace. There IS no other place to put it. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/33 "2015-04-03T11:51:55Z")
I don’t really see the need to wall mount the TV as a child-proofing measure. TVs have been at kid level since day 1. They don’t really mess with it. The remotes on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/34 "2015-04-03T13:26:09Z")
TVs are different than they used to be. Much more tippy. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/35 "2015-04-03T19:11:23Z")
Speaking for myself, we didn’t worry about the TV at all. Ours sat on a stand with shelves for components below. It wasn’t the TV but the VCR/DVD that I didn’t want the kid to get at. So I made a lockable door for the bottom half, and problem solved. I made the door out of white board so we could write and draw on it. Our child never fiddled with the TV at all. Frankly, I could not stand having a TV up high on a wall. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/36 "2015-04-03T19:22:41Z")
It’s a legit concern. > **[Secure your TVs to keep kids from harm - Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/02/secure-your-tvs-to-keep-kids-from-harm/index.htm)** > > Lots of folks bought a new TV in time to enjoy the Super Bowl and often the old TV winds up in a bedroom. It's crucial to ensure that any TV in your home is installed in a way that... > [@Consumer Reports](#): > > Televisions were involved in furniture tip-over accidents that killed 206 children ages 8 and younger in the United States during the years 2000 to 2011, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And in the years 2009-2011 alone, 12,700 children under age 10 were brought to hospital emergency departments due to injuries involving TV tip-overs, the CPSC reported. The problem involves both older tube TVs and newer flat-screen models. Fortunately, with either type of TV, such tragedies are easily prevented. > \ > Flat-screen TVs are safest when properly mounted on a wall. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947/37 "2015-04-03T19:26:52Z")
> [@analogqueen](#): > > Placing your TV above the fireplace makes it a focal point. Adding the couches/chairs in a semi-circle for the proper viewing angle make it a pew for TV gods. Make the fireplace it_self_ the focal point and put the TV somewhere else. This is part of why I use a projector. The projection screen can be easily rolled up out of the way if I want a nice focal point. (Not that I have actually done that in three years, but I _could_.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-regret-it-if-we-mounted-our-tv-above-the-fireplace/715947.md?page=1)