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If you have a TV sitting on a stand beside your fireplace and it’s never quite looked right… you’re in very good company.
This is one of the most common layout challenges I see—and most people assume the only solution is custom millwork or a renovation.
In today’s makeover, I’m showing you how we made this exact setup feel balanced and finished using decorating alone.
Instead of spending thousands building around the TV, we asked a different question:
How far can decorating take us first?
If you watched Cynthia and Greg’s living room makeover, you already know this couple had originally planned bigger renovations for their home before life shifted and trips to Australia to visit their grandson became the priority.
So once again, instead of renovating, we worked with what was already there.
The challenge in this room was balance.
A comfortable chocolate brown leather sofa with art they loved but the frames were a little too heavy. A taupe leather chair along with TV placement that wasn’t going anywhere.
So rather than trying to “hide” the TV, the goal became making the entire room feel layered, warm, and finished around it.
And honestly? This is one of the most common layout problems I see.
Today I’m sharing the before & afters (for those of you who want to dissect the details, along with a video for those of you who want the deep dive into how it all came together!
You’ll see exactly how we transformed this family room without custom millwork or renovation.
Similar Ceiling Fan Here & Here
Let me know if you’re inspired to make your TV look better! Because the TV-on-a-stand-beside-the-fireplace situation is not going away anytime soon!
Related posts:
They Skipped a $15K Renovation; Here’s what Happened Instead
OMG!! I have total faith in you but I had my doubts about how you could fix this room. Boy was I wrong!! You blew this one out of the park! One of the best makeovers yet! LOVE IT!
Thanks Lisa I appreciate your comment! xo
What an amazing result from this challenging project! The art itself is beautiful, and your placement completely distracts from the tv. I am so glad you moved the barometer from its original position in the room, and Cynthia removed the canvas from the heavy frame. The no fuss faux plant in the corner is perfectly wispy and colorful and so much prettier and open than the white tiered shelves that were there before. This lovely couple has made their home even more beautiful with your help!
Wispy and the perfect hit of green is exactly how I described it too! Thanks for your comment! Maria
We solved the problem by getting rid of the TV. Life is so much better!
Was there a reason the tv couldn’t go over the fireplace. I am not a big fan of that but I think it would have been better in this case. I love the room makeover except for the tv still in the corner. I absolutely hate that. Sorry. Just my opinion.
Honestly, I think we’ve all gotten used to fantasy makeover shows where walls move and TVs magically disappear 😊 This show is really about how far decorating can take you in a real home with real constraints. In this room, the TV-over-the-fireplace option didn’t work well for viewing, so we focused on making the room feel warm, balanced and resolved around what was staying. Thanks for your comment!
If you want your TV to be ergonomically positioned you do not mount it above a fireplace. It forces you to always tilt your head up to watch (unless you are laying on the sofa or reclining way back) and can cause neck pain. Ideally the TV should be at or near eye height like how Maria placed this TV.
Another reason for not mounting over a fireplace is if the fireplace is functional, you do not want to put expensive electronics above it due to heat output.
Thank you 😊 And yes, for everyone asking, the TV placement already existed before the makeover. My job was decorating around a very common real-life layout challenge and making the room feel as resolved as possible without construction.
The room looks much better. I love it. But……that TV still messes up what good was done. Sorry. I have to be honest! I don’t like to disagree or be different. It’s like the elephant in the room but to each their own. Thank goodness I don’t have a fireplace to worry with. I do however need guidance with doing a gallery wall behind my TV! So we all have our little problems I guess.
What a great transformation!
But just as in the living room, I was surprised to see two large pieces of art (that are not the same size) put side by side. For me, everything about them together works, especially when utilizing pieces already owned, except the size difference. Maybe it’s my OCD rearing its ugly head. So I was thrilled to see the art resized when discussing changing the frame color. Is that possible IRL?
The redo does look much better, but where are the cats going to sleep and look out the window?