Ask Joshua - Off-centered fireplace creating problems in living room?

Hi Joshua,

My fireplace is not centered in the wall so I'm having a hard time trying to find symmetry. What do you suggest for the sides of this fireplace? I'm not sure if I like the TV over the fireplace either.

Carla - Queenstown, MD

Transitional style living room. Image created using AI via Canva

Hi Carla,

Thank you for writing in for some advice with your fireplace wall and TV situation. I took a moment to review the photo you sent and I can see the challenges you mention (the TV above the fireplace is a classic and common problem spot) but I do have ideas for your situation!

My first recommendation is in regards to the furniture arrangement that will help with with a feeling of balance for your fireplace wall. The loveseat is too bulky and is dominating the right side of the living room, throwing it off balance. I’d recommend replacing the loveseat with a pair of accent chairs, in a similar idea to the picture that I’ve shown above. That will help open up the space and balance the overall living room look. If you have some extra space between the right side of the fireplace and accent chairs - you can add a 48” (estimated) wide sideboard or console table with a larger rectangular mirror above it since that small round mirror isn’t scaled properly for the size of the wall. Lastly, I see that you already have a plant with a stand on the left side of the fireplace. The plant is beautiful but it’s too small for this space so I’d recommend you to move the plant to either the new sideboard or console table or somewhere in the house and get taller potted tree for this spot to help balance the fireplace wall look.

For the TV, due the way your living room is set up with limited wall space, you don’t really have another option to where to place the TV that is going to look right. Keep the current TV location above the fireplace but you can switch it to a Samsung Frame TV that looks like art when it is not in use. This will camouflage the fact that you have a TV there and make the space more stylish; you can change out the art displayed as frequently as you want to give the space a different feel. You can learn more about the Frame TV in my other blog post, Whoa! Is that a TV or art?!?

I hope you find this helpful for your situation. If you need additional assistance for your living room please reach out and get in touch with me.

Best of luck,

Joshua

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