Wall mounts are not a "fad"... it's a matter of what works better for your space. Our TV is huge and the space that it is in doesn't have appropriate support to mount it, otherwise I would love to!

I don't understand why people put the TV above a fireplace. It's too high. Neck strain. Buy a bench (we got one that is 60" long and 16" high) and we have a 55" TV that is on a stand of about 8"). We finished it to a honey brown to match our decor. It looks nice and it's the right height when we're sitting on our couch. We bought it online and it has a shelf on the bottom that holds components.

Anonymous wrote:Two competing focal points -- fire and TV. Inherently flawed design.

People hung tv sbove fireplace all the time?

Two competing focal points -- fire and TV. Inherently flawed design.

I recommend against a stand if you have small and/or active children.

Do what's easier. If wall mounting makes more sense, do that.

looks like the wall-mount fad has subsided and TV stands are back, though smaller than before - or more accurately, TVs are getting bigger while the stands are not.

saw something at HD the other day - a fireplace/tv stand combo, and thought they don't look too bad at all, even though they are large and bulky.

anyone have those at home? any regrets? tks!