While it’s not recommended to install a TV over an open wood burning fireplace, many choose to install a TV and electric fireplace on the same wall to create a focal point for a room, through features such as an entertainment center.
So why can an electric fireplace be put on the same wall (with the TV typically above) while you can’t install a TV over a real open fireplace?
Electric fireplaces work differently to other types of fireplaces (such as wood burning and gas) because there’s no real fire inside. This gives more flexibility when it comes to installing an electric fireplace in a home, including being able to install a TV close by.
We’ve explained how an electric fireplace works in more detail here but the flames are typically created by reflecting light off rotating mirrors onto a screen, while the heat is generated by a heater component inside the fireplace.