Muskoka Living
If you read my last Life Lately post, you might recall that over the Christmas break we placed our TV on a console table in front of the living room fireplace. A few readers asked about that setup, so this article is a response to those questions.
In most of the homes we’ve lived in, we intentionally keep the TV out of the main living room. For us, the living room functions as a conversation-focused space rather than a dedicated entertainment room, especially because the area flows openly into other parts of the house. That said, we enjoy watching movies and playing games together during family gatherings. Usually those activities happen downstairs, but this year our basement was occupied with work projects, so we brought the TV upstairs for the holidays.
Having the TV upstairs over the holidays made me reconsider the idea of placing a television above the fireplace. My instinct has often been to avoid that arrangement because it can sit uncomfortably high, but in our current home the ceilings are more modest, so the placement felt more balanced. I collected inspiration photos of living rooms that feature a TV and built-ins, and I’m beginning to warm to the idea—especially when attractive built-ins make the installation look deliberate and integrated.
Below are several inspirational living room layouts where a television is incorporated thoughtfully into the fireplace wall or surrounding cabinetry. Notice how built-ins, floating shelves, and careful styling help the TV feel like a considered part of the room rather than an afterthought.
Lauren Liess
Studio McGee – Windsong Project
Sita Montgomery Interiors
Crisp Architects
Studio McGee
Muskoka Living
The Glitter Guide
Colors and Craft
Sarah Sherman Samuel
PS. A clever solution is hiding a TV behind a framed map or artwork to keep the room feeling cohesive while still having the option for screen time.
Do you have a TV in your main living room or do you keep it in a separate family or media room? There are strong arguments for both approaches: keeping the TV separate preserves the living room as a quieter conversation space, while integrating the TV can make the room more flexible for gatherings and family movie nights. Thoughtful design—built-ins, balanced proportions, and careful styling—can help the television feel like a natural part of the room rather than an intrusion.
Related Posts:
- My White Painted Fireplace Makeover
- Fireplace Makeover in My Previous Home
- 7 Clever and Charming Built-Ins