To choose a TV unit with a fireplace, start with the size of your room and your television, then decide whether you want the fire mainly for heat or for atmosphere, check the heat output and the clearance above the fire, confirm where the nearest socket is, and pick a finish that suits the rest of your furniture. A TV unit with an integrated electric fire combines a focal point, storage and a home for the screen in one piece, but only if it is sized and positioned with care.
Our modern entertainment units UK sale range is a good place to begin, as many of these larger designs have the width and depth to accommodate a fire. For comparison, the wider collection of TV units and cabinets UK shows how fireplace designs sit alongside more conventional storage. What follows is a step by step approach to making the right choice for your room.
Many modern homes have no working chimney, and many older homes have had theirs blocked up. Yet a fire remains the natural focal point of a British living room. A TV unit with an electric fire brings that focus back without the need for a flue, a hearth or building work.
It also solves a familiar design problem. In rooms with a chimney breast, people often struggle to decide whether the television or the fireplace should take centre stage. Combining the two in one unit gives the room a single, clear focal wall, with the fire at the base and the screen above.
Fireplace TV units tend to be larger than standard units, so measuring carefully is essential. Note the full width of the wall you plan to use, and mark any doors, windows, radiators and sockets. Measure the depth available too, as the fire insert usually adds some depth to the unit compared with a simple media cabinet.
Think about proportion. A very wide unit on a short wall will look cramped, while a small unit on a long wall can look lost. As a rough guide, leave some clear wall on either side of the unit so it has room to breathe. If the wall is broken up by a chimney breast, measure the breast and the alcoves separately.
The unit should be wider than the television, so the screen does not overhang the edges. If the TV will stand on the unit, check that its feet or pedestal fit on the top surface and that the unit’s weight rating comfortably covers it.
Many people choose to wall mount the television above a fireplace unit instead. This keeps the screen clear of the warm air rising from the fire and gives more flexibility over height. If you go this way, a sturdy bracket is essential. Our wall TV brackets UK range includes fixed and tilting designs, and a tilting bracket is useful if the screen ends up slightly higher than eye level.
Electric fires in TV units vary in what they offer. Some are mainly decorative, with a flame effect and modest heat. Others can provide useful supplementary warmth. Consider how you will actually use it:
Most units allow the flame effect to run without heat, which is worth confirming if you plan to use it all year round.
Warm air rises, and electronics do not respond well to prolonged heat. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidance on the minimum distance between the fire and anything placed above it, including the television. Most fireplace TV units are designed with this in mind, but it still pays to check before you place a screen directly on top.
Other safety points to look for include overheat protection, a cool touch front and a stable, well supported structure. Keep the area in front of the fire clear of soft furnishings, and never cover the heater outlet. If you have young children or pets, a fire with a cool front glass is a sensible choice.
An electric fire needs a nearby socket, and so do the television and any devices. Check how many outlets you have on the wall and where they are. Avoid running the fire from an extension lead shared with several devices; where possible, give it its own socket and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Look for units with cable ports or channels so you can keep leads tidy. If you are planning new sockets, have them fitted by a qualified electrician before the unit arrives.
Fireplace TV units come in a wide range of styles, from high gloss and glass to wood effect and stone look finishes. The right choice depends on the rest of your room:
Consider how the fire looks when switched off, too. A dark glass panel can blend well with a dark finish, but it may look stark against a very pale unit.
The fire usually sits in the centre of the unit, which means storage is split between the sides. Check that the compartments are large enough for your devices and that the storage is well away from the heater outlet. Open shelves suit consoles and streaming boxes, while drawers and doors are better for remotes, games and everyday items.
A fireplace unit creates its own glow, but it works best alongside other light sources. A floor lamp beside the sofa or at one end of the unit adds a soft layer of light in the evening and balances the brightness of the screen. Our modern floor lamps UK collection includes slim designs that sit neatly beside a media wall without taking up much floor space.
A fireplace unit can still work in a compact living room if you choose a slimmer design and keep the rest of the wall simple. Our guide to TV units with fireplaces in small UK rooms looks at proportion, depth and placement in more detail.
If you are planning a larger feature wall around the unit, our article on planning a media wall on a UK budget explains where it is worth investing and where simpler choices will do. You can explore the rest of our living room collections at Furniture in Fashion.
One of the most common complaints about fireplace TV units is a television that sits too high. Because the fire occupies the lower part of the wall, it is tempting to mount the screen well above it, leaving viewers looking upwards for the whole evening. That can become uncomfortable over time.
The aim is to keep the screen as low as the manufacturer’s clearance guidance allows. Sit on your sofa, look straight ahead and note roughly where your eye line meets the wall. The centre of the screen should be close to that point, or only a little above it. If the fire unit is tall, this may be difficult, which is a good reason to choose a lower fireplace design when the television is going on the wall.
A tilting bracket helps when the screen has to sit higher than ideal, as angling it slightly downward improves the picture and reduces reflections from ceiling lights. Before drilling, tape a piece of card the size of your screen to the wall and live with it for a day. Watching an evening’s television with a card in place tells you more than any measurement.
It can be, provided you follow the manufacturer’s guidance on clearance. Many people wall mount the television slightly higher to keep it away from rising warm air.
Most electric fires in TV units offer a flame only setting, which lets you enjoy the look all year without warming the room. Check the product details to confirm.
Usually not. Most simply plug into a standard socket. If you need new sockets or wiring, a qualified electrician should install them.
It depends on your room. High gloss suits modern spaces, wood effects bring warmth, and dark finishes make the flames stand out. Choose one that complements your existing furniture.
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