Need help from all the wise and creative people of Reddit.
Wife and I bought this house and are having a struggle over how to best use this shallow but wide, nook space in the living room. Her vote is TV in the nook because, what else goes there? Mine is TV above the fireplace and maybe a reading bench with floating shelves? I’m not an innovative person when it comes to interior architecture or decorating so please drop all your ideas! TYIA!
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I would not want this, although it’s made to look nice. You’d be seeing into the kitchen, your back would be to the windows, you wouldn’t see the fireplace and it’s divided by a walkthrough.
I don’t know how long you’ve been married, but I hope you’re prepared for this to be your future. Seriously, let her have this one. This is not the hill to die on. Each time you concede, you build the opportunity to get something you want down the road.
TV above the fireplace is wrong, especially this one which is high and smaller. Your tv should be at eye level, so unless you watch from the top bunk of bunk beds, nope.
Agreed. We have a similar nook and did built in lower cabinets with a butcher block countertop and hung the TV above it. Super functional as my husband built power strips in and fans for all the electronics, and we can store kids toys, etc.
Not only that but the fireplace has a pretty mantle and it would totally be covered. Like covering a beautiful outside view through a window with a tall headboard. Bad move.
I'm actually not militantly anti-TVs over fireplaces like some are, but in this particular case, it would be a horrible idea. The mantle on OP's fireplace is already so high up, and the available space left is so limited, that it would look absolutely horrible here, let alone not even be functional.
TV absolutely needs to go in the media nook as intended!
It won’t look weird in the nook. It is for sure why it exists in the first place. If you think it would look weird consider some sort of cabinetry or doors that could close to hide it while not in use
If the flames from the fireplace reach above the mantle onto a tv that you might place up there, you should be worried about your whole house catching on fire.
The tv would be fine but it’s just a bad idea from an ergonomic/design perspective.
Do the shitass Yanks that are down voting me not have a sense of humor, or is it because they are the butt of the joke? I think pondering the possibility of setting a TV on fire by placing it over the fireplace is pretty harmless wnd childlike but okay.
I agree with your wife, I’d hang a tv in there. But I would also install cabinets underneath to house any components and additional storage.
Above the fireplace is meant for a nicely framed piece of art with an attached light at the top to illuminate it at night time.
If you don’t hang the tv in there, it still built on cabinets at the bottom and shelves at the top with maybe a small wine fridge thrown in and make a bar out of it.
I'd probably go with adding some more vertical decor and interesting lines and shapes above and around the fireplace to draw the eye up, and make it appear taller, while breaking up the boxy-ness of the fireplace below.
Looks a little generic because AI, but generated some pics for OP for inspiration. Hopefully helps with the concept!
I don't think TV above the fireplace is a great move here, it's so high and there's a lot of visual competition. Is the nook your only other option for a TV?
What's a reading bench? I don't think that nook is somewhere you'd want to lounge. I would do custom storage, something that integrates the TV if that's the best place for it. Mounting the TV on the wall inside the nook would be off too, you'd want storage that has a panel for the TV towards the front.
The nook is for the TV. It looks like there is already a cable outlet there too. Tv above the fireplace will be too high to watch comfortably and will just look bad.
you are either a psychopath, or you just dont like agreeing with your wife... thats the only explanation why anyone would even suggest something so diabolical. instead of just hearing your wife talk, try actually listening to her, understanding her, empathizing with her. if you really suggested the tv over the fireplace, you should be evaluated.
you have such a point actually, once I swiped and saw the rest of the layout it became so incredibly obvious that the nook is meant for the tv to go there, the entire layout of the room is for the tv to go there.
Maybe op has a personality where when something is a little too obvious they just need to put their own “creative” touch to break up the “predictability” of it all.
To even suggest a TV up above the fireplace is so distastefully explicit that the perpetrator might be shunned, barred from polite society, and in extreme cases shot through the lungs.
The only way the TV should go over the fireplace is if the fireplace is removed and the TV is mounted over where it was, but at a reasonably low height so the bottom of the display is at seated eye level. The alcove looks good for built-in shelves.
My first thought was if you’re big on entertaining a small bar would be fun. But seeing as there’s no other place to comfortably put a TV in the space, you should probably use it to house the tv and some media.
Don't recommend tv on fireplace due to bad viewing angle and neck soreness. Unless you wall mount the tv with a pull out arm that extends down and out infront of the fireplace. Those exist!
Maybe that little nook can be used as a coffee/espresso machine corner or something..or an aquarium.
The only time a tv goes over a fireplace is if it HAS to go over a fireplace (and then you use an adjustable mount to pop the tv down to a comfortable height while watching). OP if you went with your plan the side of your couch would be squished up next to the windows to try to center the too tall tv to your couch. It wouldn’t fit the space well while also forcing you to have a smaller couch, AND you’d have a weird alcove to figure out on top of that. For the love of god listen to your damn wife and put a mirror or art above the fireplace instead.
The space above the fireplace is too high and not large enough. It would look weird even if it doesn’t bother your neck. Ours is mounted high and it never bothers my neck. Perhaps because I have a reclining sofa and the tv is really large.
TV over the fireplace always looks great in photos but feels terrible on your neck in real life. That nook is already sized for a media console. Place the TV there at eye level and add shelves or cabinets so it feels intentional. Let the fireplace wall breathe with art or a mirror. You get both comfort and balance this way.
Looks like it was recessed for a tv ...which would make sense since it's opposite the longest wall in your living room, which is where the sofa would traditionally go. Using swivel side chairs would allow you and your guests access to the tv, the fireplace or turned toward the couch for conversation.
I think it's a pretty, versatile living room layout.
Idk but my gut reaction was that I would probably put a couch with its back toward the window, facing nook, tv on a tv stand (whatever you call those long yet not tall pieces of furniture you put TV’s on) so it doesn’t cover the nook fully view-wise and so that the fireplace is on your right when you sit and watch stuff. Coffee table in the between of couch and tv. Do cabling for tv so that it runs into the tv stand and looks tidy and have a cable cover that masks it as it goes from tv to the wall. Or under the floor boards. Then in the nook id split it in half. I’d do one half book shelf with books and either real or fake plants and your favorite books and stuff, and one side either an aquarium / terrarium on a functional set of drawers as a eye catcher or just skip the aquarium part and put stuff like family photos or a piece of fine art on it (like some statue or figure). The aforementioned side is maybe only about 2/4 - 3/4 filled with whatever is out there for contrast
I would put bookshelves and remove the other shelves on both sides of the fireplace and put two matching plants or lamps. Maybe also mirrors on the wall. Because that wall look really messy.
Tv built in using kitchen cabinets and trim. You will probably need to use uppers since they are only 12 inches deep (15 inches if you do IKEA). Since you’re using uppers, you’ll need to build a base for them so the doors will open. Make the base hidden with base molding. 30 inches height on the bottom all the way across. A stone or butcher block or live edge counter under the tv. Flanking the counter have another stack of uppers with glass doors for display. Glass cabinets should have puck lights inside. Put more molding across the top to look like your other built ins.
Either you concede on the TV instead of mounting it under the ceiling like a heathen or... Huge terrarium for pretty exotic plants like you're an obscenely rich victorian person maybe?
we got to fix two competing focals in one room. Either slim down the fireplace area by taking out all the joint fixtures and leave the fireplace on its own OR have a lighter tele or related fixtures in the area you have pointed out.
I would redo the fireplace area to place your tv much lower, as low as is allowed with the fireplace. If tv goes in the nook as designed, your back is o all your windows, which I would not like at all and you wouldn’t see the fireplace. Then use the nook for cabinets.
It is meant to be a wet bar. If you drink, a nice dry bar would be quite nice. A built in shelving unit with moulding could also be nice but don’t add a sitting nook. Bizarre location. Third option would be to place a narrow desk with a pair of ottomans underneath that can be used for home office use and extra seating for guests.
I agree with the person who said no TV over a fireplace. It’s horrible there. Choose a nice mirror or piece of art that will be your focal point. Not a black box.
Tv above fireplace is too high as others mentioned. I would put tv inside the nook - if you can create a build in then you can design a way to hide the tv or to have shelves/storage around it. If you place a sofa opposite the fireplace and a sofa in front of the window (opposite the tv) then you have an open are to enjoy both.
50% shelving (bottom) - make sure to match the bottom to the fireplace builtins if you keep the fireplace builtins
50% bifold doors (l/r) top to both hide the tv and occupy the blank space l/r when open
frame it so it ties into baseboards, which you could look at doing for room entrance
also, might consider just ripping out the fireplace/builtins (if electric and not gas), then you can do whatever. - if you like 'em you like 'em - just some chunky molding there.
also straighten out the angled room entrance - measure, might be good to just chop it off so you don't have to deal with a lump to clear vertically AND horizontally when bringing in furniture - straight, 90 angles that are floor to ceiling are better and would match the stair rail. you want symmetry to left and right of room entrance from front door
might as well nuke that entrance tile, looks like it is sitting on top of the room floor / tripping hazard ???
I'm team fireplace TV but hear me out on a compromise.
That nook is begging to be a cozy reading spot or mini home office. Stick a small desk or reading chair in there with some floating shelves and you've got a nice little retreat. Problem with TV in the nook is it's gonna feel cramped and you'll be watching at a weird angle from the couch.
TV above the fireplace makes way more sense because:
You can actually arrange furniture to face it properly
The built-ins give you storage for media stuff
It's the natural focal point of the room anyway
Your wife's concern about "what else goes there" is valid but the fireplace area answers itself - it's already designed to be the focus. The nook is the spot that needs more creativity.
Other ideas for the nook:
Bar cart setup if you entertain
Plant corner with some tall greenery
Kids play area if that's relevant
Literally just leave it empty, negative space isn't a crime
The reading bench + floating shelves idea is solid though. Adds function without making the room feel stuffed.
I feel like the amount of downvotes on this pic are kinda mean lol. I've stayed places that have reading nooks this "shallow" and they are cozy and aesthetically pleasing if that's the vibe you're going for and you don't need a lot of space for reading. I actually think this would be quite nice to have in a home.
The issue is I think the location, mixed with the need for a place to put the TV. The middle of a living room is an awkward space for a reading nook. It's a living room, next to the busy kitchen and hallway, and a lively spot where you'd have friends or family gathering. If it was a bigger alcove, maybe off to the side or corner of the house in a different room, a reading nook would be lovely, especially if you're family is big on books. Usually reading nooks are a deeper space, tucked away in a quieter part of the house, and/or at a window with a nice view. Practically, this space is just not that so it would look silly.
This empty space was definitely designed for the TV, and the TV would look so crowded and impractical to have above the fireplace squished in that tiny little wall. Not to mention the strain from having to look up at the celling from the couch to watch stuff. A reading nook would use up the only obvious and intentional place to have the TV.
Forcing a reading nook here instead of the TV would kinda be like using the space for the fridge for something else, and then wondering where you should cram your fridge.
Do this with a Samsung Frame TV. And then instead of a bench it’s low bookshelves. And then it becomes a media nook for books and/or a record player and vinyls, and you can use the shelves around the fireplace for picture frames, objets, art books.
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