Staging Debate: Should You Hang Your TV Above the Fireplace?

October 13, 2016

Toronto Home Staging

In our Toronto home staging consultations, we often encounter the debate about whether to place the TV over the fireplace. Some homeowners insist it there while others would rather have it in a less prominent space. So what works best when showcasing a home for sale?

As a home stager, my answer will depend on where the fireplace is. While it is perfectly fine to have the TV over the fireplace in the family room, having it in the formal living room is a big NO. A lovely artwork or a beautiful mirror above the fireplace is preferable in the main living room.  Here’s why; it is more aesthetically pleasing, it adds interest to the room, and artwork can serve as a jumping off point (when picking the right colour and accessories) in showcasing the rest of the house.

Your living room is the first room that will greet your buyers, this is first room that they will see upon entering your home, and achieving the perfect “wow moment” is crucial at this point. They need to be overwhelmed, and you need to sweep your buyers off their feet on their first few steps inside your home. And for most of the time, your huge dull TV will do the opposite.

Hanging Your TV Above the Fireplace Doesn’t Cut It

Your TV will stick out like a sore thumb and not add any interest to the room. If your fireplace is the focal point of the room, you want to enhance it with something appealing such as a colorful piece of artwork. Use a piece of art that repeats your room’s accent color at this level of the room.

Your TV may not be at the appropriate height and viewing level and distance. For safe and adequate viewing, experts recommend you view your TV at eye level or slightly below. If the TV is too high, it can look weird and a be a distraction to your buyers which can backfire during home showings.

Just think about the last time you were in a movie theatre when you had to look up at the screen for a few hours. Did you leave the theatre with a stiff neck?  Because of the position viewing the screen places your body in, you can’t stabilize your neck properly.  Consequently, you can not only suffer neck pain but headaches as well.

Bottom Line

When selling, your fireplace is supposed to exude warmth and ambiance rather than serve as a pedestal for your TV. When possible, it is always best to get rid of your television in your living room and replace it with a more interesting piece, an artwork or a beautiful mirror to help set the tone of the house.  Your TV will work best in your family room or basement. Keep your fireplace in your main living room TV free. Showcasing and staging your home for sale is all about small details, little things like this make a significant impact if you want to get the best offer for your home.

RED BARRINUEVO | Your Toronto HOme Stager

Is a Canadian Certified Staging Professional. His professional affiliations include the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and the CSP. He is the recipient of numerous home staging awards and was picked as RESA’s Top Professional Stager of Canada for 2016. He has worked with hundreds of Real Estate Brokers, Investors, Real Estate Agents, and has helped homeowners showcase their homes at its best when it is time to sell.

As President and Principal Stager of REDESIGN4MORE, Red provides home staging and interior redecorating services for both small and large-scale residential projects throughout Toronto and the GTA. Click here to learn more about Red and REDESIGN4MORE.

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