Everyone is putting their tv above their fireplace mantel these days and well, most people still usually want a mantel for a little decorating.
However, it is hard to decorate because you really don’t want anything in front of the tv that obscures the view!
So, today I’m sharing some ideas and inspiration to help you figure out how to decorate your mantel if you have a tv above it.
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TV over mantel with decor
Here’s one of these situations on a recent project of mine. This tv was so big and the mantel wasn’t very deep.
This mantel decor works out perfectly, feeling balanced and yet adding interest without getting in the way of tv viewing. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
We used a small handmade tea set that the homeowner had purchased on a trip to Japan, arranged on one corner, and then a new large vase on the other. With some greenery that could sweep off to the side and not get in the way of the view, it worked out well.
The white vase blended into the white paneling and therefore didn’t seem too large or visually weighted on the end of the mantel there. I think it looks great!
A small handmade tea set from the homeowner’s collection, sits below and to the left of the big tv. It is discreet, yet interesting and doesn’t get in the way of tv viewing. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
The large white vase to the right of the tv is not visually heavy or distracting since it blends into the white paneling. The greenery adds a touch of life and doesn’t get in the way of tv viewing.| Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
TV over a dresser - Same decorating dilemma
Here’s a similar situation with a tv over a dresser in a bedroom in one of my projects. Same idea, and the surface to decorate is even deeper, so having nothing there would seem empty and boring.
A tray with low items and a taller orchid on the end helps add some decor and not get in the way of the view of the tv, as viewed from the bed.
A dresser with a tv above can be a problem to decorate without obscuring the tv. Keeping items low with stacked books, decorative boxes and trays can help the area seem homey and decorated without overwhelming the view of the tv. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
A tray with shorter decor items and stack of books keeps the decor low and out of the way of tv viewing. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
One single orchid is the tall item off to the side of this dresser top, with shorter decor placed in front of the tv. | Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
Keeping the decor low and minimal with maybe one tall item on one end, can help to make the mantel or surface in front of the tv not feel too overcrowded or the tv wall too busy.
I love these two examples above and hope they help you consider how you can decorate in situations like this. :-)
Shop The Decor
I’ve done some internet shopping here to help you come up with some good items to sit just under and to the side of your big flat screen tv on the mantel. They’re also good for a dresser or console you might have under a tv mounted on the wall.
These are mostly all shorter items, except for the few tall white vases down there, like the one I did on the mantel above.
See if there is anything there that would help you decorate while still having full view of the tv! Don’t forget to check the dimensions you have available with the item dimensions before you do any buying. :-)
And remember, it always helps to leave a little breathing room.
