Size Of TV Recommendations (Over the Fireplace)

Hey everyone,

I have had our 55" LED Samsung TV over our fireplace for about 7 years now and have had no issues with its height/location/heat. There is also no other location in the living room for such a TV based on the layout. Wanted to address that first. The TV is beginning to flicker slightly, so I am looking at getting a replacement. Of course with that, I want to take the time to go larger.

Where my question comes in is how much larger. I initially wanted to go with 75", but have some concerns with the size above the fireplace. The TV will be almost even with the mantel. I have mocked up a few photos for reference (current 55", mocked 65" and mocked 75"). Does the width and height seem OK or too large?

Let me know your thoughts!

55" (current)

65"

75"

75" (powered off)

 

How big is the room? How far are the seating options from the screen? If the room is large, like bigger than 12’ from seating options to TV, go as big as you like. A 75” will stick out in a small room though.

 

Measure how far (in inches) your couch sits from where your plan to place your TV and divide that number by 1.4. That's the TV size you should choose.

 

As mentioned look at the room size. If the room is large enough, I think both the 65 and 75 look fine if they don't overhang the fireplace.

 

I think 65" is the way to go. It doesn't overwhelm the fireplace and assuming you are taking the pictures from your couch that appears to be a good distance for that size.

 

From TV location on wall to the couch seat it is around 150in, which comes out to 107 per the above math.
The room is wider than it is deep. The shorter distance being the distance I measured above (13.5ft x 26ft roughly)

 

thats a rough/typical guide to use. most times, i think it assumes a square (or close to it) room. it all varies per home and preference obviously. some people have "keep up with the jones" mentality, and will make it work with projectors and all on a 10'x10' living room. others watch less tv, so they keep it smaller and modest and focus their walls on artwork, pictures, etc.
personally, i'd consider your mantle and go not much more than that and would have more pics/art to fill in empty spaces if needed/desired. i'm not a huge fan of making a TV the focal point of a room, although lots of people absolutely love it. to each their own obviously. if your current is 55", i'd personally say for the wall and everything i'm reading/seeing to utilize a 55" minimum to a 65" max.

 

I appreciate the feedback! While I am not trying to make it the focal point, I am thinking about the longevity of the purchase. My current TV was purchased in 2010 and lasted this long. If I am going to make another purchase of a TV, I plan to assume it will be 2036 before I replace it again

At my budget, I am stuck between an OLED 65" and a NeoQLED 75".

 

Inches matter

 

but there is a such thing as too big...?

 

The 75" is nicely symmetrical with your fireplace.

My living room isn't huge, but that didn't stop me from going with the great Costco sale deal on the Samsung QLED 82"

The hugeness always wears off a little in time.

When I was leaving Costco where they check your receipt a guy rolled up with a 75" on his cart, and I had a really hard time resisting the urge to go "Ohhhh, that's cute!"

 

Share a photo of it up in your room by chance?

 

I screwed up that math and just went with a 85”

 

Have you looked at a Samsung Frame TV? It can display artwork when not being used as a TV and they look great.

 

Well, I need to show this recommendation to my wife, because this puts us at an 85” TV. Currently we’re at 55”, and she keeps telling me I need glasses. I think this may be the real solution.

 

I have, and almost pulled the trigger on Prime Day, but whether it is art or a TV, i think the size issue stays the same. They are very nice looking for sure.

 

All I have on this computer is when I first hung it, with ugly wires and stuff.

It really doesn't look that big to me in these pics. I'm going off memory, but I think the wall the TV is on is 12' wide, and depth of living room is 17'

We previously had a 60" on a stand, the 82" is now on the wall with wires hidden.

I'll take some better pix when I go home for lunch in a couple hours.

 

No. I screwed up and only did 75". I still have lots more wall to go bigger, haha.

 

This looks good. And I think has convinced me to go 75" as it will be even with the mantel similar to your TV to stand.

 

I like ur style brother.

 

I’ve never heard anyone say their TV is too big.

 

I saw a 98” Oled Sony on Costco the other day and thought of you.

 

Atta' boy!!

 

For years, I had a side hustle installing home theater equipment. Haven't done it since covid. But a little bit of advice I have learned.........provided you have enough distance from the seating position to the television, it is very hard to go too large. Judging from your pictures, there isn't any furniture or wall hangings that would obstruct, you have ample space to still create a "border" around the tv (meaning there is enough wall space to center and not feel like it is cramping the mantle, ceiling or any surrounding structures) and it is a gas fireplace it seems. Sometimes when the "border" is thin it looks out of place and does tend to seem too large. The gas fireplace shouldn't heat the wall too much as the mantle does shield the rising hot air and typically blowers move the hot air into the room taking the heat away from the electronics. If heat is an issue with the newer technology TV's it will decrease the life expectancy but one way to mitigate is installing a usb powered fan on the back of the tv.......sometimes it can create unnecessary noise however. All in all, you shouldn't have an issue at all. Enjoy the larger tv in my opinion.

 

That's what I need!

 

Unfortunately the wife won't let me put real speakers in the living room.

 

I have that stupid cut out that limits me.

 

There are some pretty slick ideas vs conventional speakers. Sonos makes an in wall set that sounds very good even with how pricey they can get.
And if you haven’t seen the new lovesac furniture with built in speakers you should check it out. I will NEVER be able to afford it but if money were no object I would love to give it a try…..

 

Thanks for this info! Yes it is a gas fireplace. We have had the current over the mantel for 7 years no without any heat issues (the mantel does a good job pushing out any heat that does come from it). What you see in the photos (besides the chairs I used to hang my template) is what is always in the room. No other furniture or anything in the way.

So in your opinion after doing X amount of these, it is astatically pleasing to center the TV between the mantel and ceiling rather than have it "float" just above the mantel?

 

I'll have to look that up, sounds pretty cool.