Today the average American home has more TVs than people. Over half of all homes have at least 3 or more sets. Even in homes of families considered below the poverty line, televisions are plentiful.
Big screen, flat screen, everywhere a screen screen. Those dang outlets are everywhere and such an eyesore when trying to present a property for sale. Not to mention the sets themselves.
Not everyone who buys a set takes into consideration how it looks and where it will look and fit best. They wing it and many times end up with something too large for the space or too awkwardly shaped to fit against the wall leaving an eyesore of exposed cables and wires.
TVs are even being substituted for or presented as art. I guess that's ok, I am not really of that mind but they certainly are more stylish than they used to be.
You will see them over fireplaces like this. Many times they are placed too high, a common mistake made with art pieces also. You need to crane your neck to view the screen. I am not a fan of this placement, as in this photo, I think it takes away from the lovely fireplace.
I think the TV would look nicer in the big empty hole to the left. If a TV is to be wall mounted, mount it as art at eye level. As a seller, I would want to have the prospective buyer notice the beautiful stonework that stays with the house, not the cool TV.
How many homes have you been in where the very first thing you see is the TV? Funny how house hunters are put off by this but have the same going on in their own homes most likely. I always tell sellers to pack em up, all but one. The horrified expressions are mind boggling. It's like you may have told someone to pack grandma off to the old folks home. TVs in bedrooms and bathrooms detract and are huge dust collectors.
Buyers do like to be able to visualize where their set or sets will go though. If the spot where the set sits is awkward and cumbersome, consider moving the outlet to an area that makes more sense. Builders choices and prior owners choices don't always make sense. Moving an outlet is not a huge cost.
The local cable company charges $19.95 to move an outlet to another wall or room and will put it on the regular cable bill. A small price to pay for better flow and function. The whole look and balance of a room could change on simply moving one outlet. this applys to lighting as well.
Many times it is hard to talk a client into these small but effective changes but it is worth the effort and result. As a seller, you don't want the buyer wondering if the house or your TVs are for sale!
AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on sight and on line. We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.
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Hi Ana, When we remodeled the lower level in our house (otherwise known as a basement), our contractor suggested constructing built-ins around the fireplace similar to those in the first photo in your post. It makes so much more sense for a t.v. to go in that empty space than above the fireplace as you suggest. Maybe the reason it ended up above the fireplace is that it is too large for the other space.