Flat screen TV mounted above fireplace - yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

Some snobs will think you're middle class for having it in a living room at all. If it's in a family room that's better, but you may still be judged a bit for having it over the fireplace. If you don't care, then all the better for you!

[Anonymous]

Nay. It will hurt your neck always looking up at the T.V.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some snobs will think you're middle class for having it in a living room at all. If it's in a family room that's better, but you may still be judged a bit for having it over the fireplace. If you don't care, then all the better for you!

Some houses have the fireplace in the family room, not the living room. Psych!

[Anonymous]

PP here who mounted it over the fireplace because my room is all windows. It is the family room. The fireplace in the living room has the "required" mirror, although we had ours custom built so it's a little more interesting. Our architect designed it. If people want to judge me because I have a tv over the fireplace in our family room (along with the big cushy sectional to sink into so you are not bothered by the height), then I probably should not invite those people over...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some snobs will think you're middle class for having it in a living room at all. If it's in a family room that's better, but you may still be judged a bit for having it over the fireplace. If you don't care, then all the better for you!

Some houses have the fireplace in the family room, not the living room. Psych!

some have multiple fireplaces so ..........................

[Anonymous]

we just bought a house and the renovation that was done (by the contractor / seller) has the cable wire leading to right above the fireplace. They clearly though that was the obvious place for it. Other than that we have one wall of full windows and a back wall is opposite the fireplace (meaning it can't go there, otherwise the couch would have to be placed in front of fireplace (not an option) so we don't see much of a choice at all. We don't really want it there. We don't have a separate family / living room in our home so that's where it goes, I'm afraid.

So a reluctant "yay" from me. (I would be interested in different ways that folks find to conceal or at least downplay the "TV as central attention piece" aspect).

[Anonymous]

We have ours mounted above our fireplace (gas fireplace that we never use) as well.

Unless your husband or you are really handy, I would get a professional to install it.

[Anonymous]

I don't like it. WHy have a tv on main floor anyway? Can you put in the basement instead and make that the hang out/tv place? I prefer the main floor to be not oriented towards tv in anyway. Same for master bedroom.

[Anonymous]

nay. just nay.

[Anonymous]

The nays may not have one to hang, just a guess. We have a fine time with ours in the FR over the (never used) FP. There are different kits, or use the recommended installers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like it. WHy have a tv on main floor anyway? Can you put in the basement instead and make that the hang out/tv place? I prefer the main floor to be not oriented towards tv in anyway. Same for master bedroom.

In theory I agree with you. Before I moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) I did not own a television and can't say I ever watched much of it. When we first started living together, I wanted to hide the teevees. I always wanted a house that had a "living room" where we'd hang out as a family and then a "family room" or "den" where the teevee could live. In a perfect world I'd have this, but in reality, we don't have that many rooms in our home and when we do watch teevee we want to be comfy. The comfiest rooms in our house is the master bedroom and the living room, so that's where we have our televisions.

Likewise, I used to resist having a teevee in the bedroom, but I go to bed much earlier than my husband does, and I also like to read in bed. Instead of me coming up to read and DH staying downstairs to watch a little bit of teevee, we come up and talk together for a while and then I read or go to bed and he watches teevee beside me. Even though we're not having deep conversations, we're touching and snuggling and it's valuable together time.

Anyway, I've come to feel a little bit differently about the television, even though I would still say that I personally only watch about an hour a week, tops (and even that is usually over the top of a book or a magazine...) Now, having it above the fireplace? I'd say if there's another spot, that's preferable. But if the layout of your room demands this positioning (as ours basically does) go for it.

I agree that anyone who would actually JUDGE you for putting it there is wack!

[Anonymous]

Ghetto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The nays may not have one to hang, just a guess. We have a fine time with ours in the FR over the (never used) FP. There are different kits, or use the recommended installers.

Ditto the posters who think it's ghetto or hopelessly middle class. Glad you have a fine time with yours!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like it. WHy have a tv on main floor anyway? Can you put in the basement instead and make that the hang out/tv place? I prefer the main floor to be not oriented towards tv in anyway. Same for master bedroom.

The BIG TV is a vital part of one of the prongs of the Trinity they worship: Money, Money, Money.

[Anonymous]

"we just bought a house and the renovation that was done (by the contractor / seller) has the cable wire leading to right above the fireplace. They clearly though that was the obvious place for it. "

So what?