How to Decorate a Mantel With a TV — Without Sacrificing Style

Though designers, decorators and homeowners alike have spent years trying to find the best ways to camouflage TVs or hide them altogether, the reality is that sometimes the best spot for a TV is above your mantel. Luckily, with the invention of smart TVs, they are now lighter, have minimal wires to hide and many can double as art when not in use. Here are the best ways to decorate a mantel with a TV over it, no matter your home style (or the time of year).

Too many accessories on a mantel with a TV can feel cluttered and distracting. Instead of placing decor directly on your mantel, add interest to your fireplace with fun finishes and strategic pops of color. Sky blue tiles and shiplap walls tie into this home's beachy theme, while minimal teal taper candles add just the right amount of style. The watercolor painting cast on the smart TV ties the color palette together.

When styling a mantel with a TV, it's important to leave the screen unobstructed — but that doesn't mean you have to forego decorations. This room is full of personality-packed decor, including the top of the limestone mantel. A bunch of leafy branches (cleverly trimmed on one side), a pair of brass candlesticks and some low-profile vintage finds make this spot just as adorned as the rest of the room — without blocking the views.

Yes, a TV is essential in creating a cozy living room where you want to enjoy family movie nights or binge-watch your favorite show, but it doesn't have to be the center of attention. Carving out a niche, like architect Sarah Hayes did in her home, draws the focus away from technology and allows the room's design to shine. A smooth wood mantel creates a nice transition from the stone fireplace to the breezy, white shiplap.

Once ornate and grandiose, mantels can now do a lot with minimal material. A smooth white fireplace maintains the zen vibe of this modern, organic living room, while a slim wood mantel breaks up the monotony and adds a touch of warmth. A sleek Frame TV, featuring black-and-white art, is picture-perfect.

In Season 7 of Home Town, Ben and Erin Napier revamped a charming Craftsman by building a fireplace and mantel to connect the original built-ins. Erin decided to paint all of the cabinets and the mantel the same muted blue-green and hung a smart TV on top of the molding to further emphasize the room's Craftsman character. The color has a soothing effect and shows off the original brick hearth.

A perfectly symmetrical space, like this Scandinavian-style living room, distracts from having a TV above a mantel and is a treat for the eyes. Brass globe sconces, oak benches and extra logs mirror each other on either side of the fireplace — with visually-satisfying results. The tile surround and oak mantel add character while maintaining the room's bright and clean aesthetic.

A mantel that extends beyond the fireplace gives this living room a modern look and is the perfect perch for plants. If you plan to have a large TV, consider hanging your mantel lower, like this one, so you don't have to crane your neck while watching a movie or your fave show.

A tall vase filled with even taller billy balls on the right side of the mantel plays up the organic feel of this terra-cotta-colored fireplace. A large plant in a woven basket on the left side of the hearth balances everything out.

Rather than letting the placement of this TV break up her mural, artist Tess Davies created a digital piece of art that can be cast onto the screen and complete the image like a missing puzzle piece, giving the mural a 3D effect. A sleek black fireplace surround and mantel constrast the colorful mural and the collection of colored glass vases on the slim ledge.

Though the mantel in this Brooklyn, New York, brownstone is original, you can get the same look with one that is salvaged. Check architectural salvage yards or Facebook Marketplace for mantels saved from older homes. You can either place the mantel around an existing fireplace or on an empty wall and fill the center with books, plants or candles. It'll provide an anchor for your TV while adding historic charm.

Having a TV directly above your fireplace means there isn't always a lot of space to place decor on the mantel. Instead, take advantage of surrounding built-ins, hang floating shelves or invest in matching bookcases to place on either side of your fireplace. You can then fill them with frames, candles, tchotchkes and seasonal decor without blocking the TV.

In the case of this comtemporary living space, less really is more. Black metal gives the fireplace an edgy vibe while also providing a seamless backdrop for the TV and soundbar. The slim, black mantel blends with the metal fireplace surround while providing a perch for decor.

Designer Tiffany Brooks styled this traditional mantel with a single piece of statement-making decor: a vintage-style bust. Adorning a mantel with just one decoration — whether it's a sculpture, a plant or a piece of leaning art — brings attention to the architectural style, and it can be easily moved when it's time to settle in for a show.

If your mantel isn't wide enough or you have minimal real estate on either side of your TV, add decor on the floor. Place tall candlesticks, a chic fire tool set or big baskets filled with blankets on the hearth to give this spot a little pizzazz. Just make sure to move any flammable items out of the way before lighting a fire.

Large, coastal-inspired illustrations capped by two smaller prints draw the eye away from the TV and into the art-filled niches in this serene living room. If you have an extra-long mantel, try placing pieces of art directly on the mantel on either side of the TV or hang them all around for a gallery wall look.

The classic mantel/TV combo is just as effective outside. Cut stone carried all the way to the vaulted ceiling creates an eye-catching focal point in this outdoor living room, and a reclaimed wood mantel nods to the woodsy setting. When decorating a mantel outside, make sure to use heavier objects like iron lanterns or candlesticks that won't blow over on windy days.