We’re officially Samsung Frame TV fans — we have a 55″ Frame TV over our living room fireplace and another Frame TV in the bedroom. Choosing the right TV size, especially for mounting above a fireplace, can be tricky. How do you pick the right size, and when is a TV too big for the space?
After publishing this originally, we sold our house with the Frame TVs included and bought two more for our new home.
See our summery house tour for more photos.
How To Decide What Size TV Over A Fireplace?
Wherever you mount your TV, a simple and effective guideline is to make the television about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it. When placing a TV above a fireplace, measure the mantel and choose a TV roughly two-thirds of that mantel width.
General guidelines to consider when picking a TV size for above a fireplace or elsewhere:
- When the TV sits over a mantel or media cabinet, aim for the two-thirds rule. For example, a 75″ wide console pairs best with a 55″ or 65″ TV rather than a TV that matches the console width exactly.
- Don’t match the TV width to the furniture’s full width. Leave at least 6″ of space on each side; decorative elements like sconces can increase that side spacing.
- TV size is the diagonal measurement, not the actual width. Always check the TV’s width specification before deciding.
- If the TV is wall-mounted and not above furniture, a quick rule of thumb is to divide the viewing distance in inches by two to get a maximum TV size. For example, if you sit 120″ away, a 65″ TV is a reasonable upper limit.
2022 Frame TV Sizes
The 2022 Samsung Frame TV models come in several sizes. Below are the diagonal sizes with their approximate widths and heights (measurements are without a stand). Width is the most important figure when planning placement.
- 32″ — 28.7″ W x 16.5″ H
- 43″ — 38.2″ W x 22″ H
- 50″ — 44.3″ W x 25.4″ H
- 55″ — 48.7″ W x 27.9″ H
- 65″ — 57.4″ W x 32.8″ H
- 75″ — 66.2″ W x 37.8″ H
- 85″ — 75″ W x 42.7″ H
55″ Frame TV: Choosing A Size When Size Matters
We fell in love with the Frame TV after trying the 2019 model in our bedroom. The Frame looks like art when it’s off and blends into the room better than a traditional TV.
Our mantel measures 78″ wide. Two-thirds of that is 52″, so we installed a 55″ Frame TV above the fireplace — a 55″ has approximately 49″ width. A 65″ (about 57″ wide) could have worked too, but we wanted extra room for wall lighting.
Both 55″ and 65″ would have looked good from a design perspective, but the 55″ allowed space for sconces and visual breathing room on either side.
Our Measurements For Our 55″ Frame TV
Notes from our installation that might help you if you’re choosing between a 55″ and a 65″ above a fireplace:
- The shiplap section across our fireplace is 87″ wide.
- The mantel itself is 78″ wide.
- We left about 15″ of space on each side of the TV to accommodate sconces and visual balance.
We used blue painter’s tape on the wall to simulate the larger TV before deciding. The 65″ would have fit the mantel alone, but with sconces and wiring, the 55″ made more sense for keeping space around the TV.
We added a white customizable magnetic bezel around the TV to enhance the art-like appearance and installed two wall sconces for symmetry and lighting.
Mounting The Samsung Frame TV Over A Fireplace
In an open-concept home, a large, plain black TV can feel dominant from many angles. The Frame TV solves that by displaying artwork when it’s idle, transforming the visual impact of the space.
The Frame ships with the No Gap Wall Mount so the TV sits nearly flush against the wall and looks like a framed piece of art. It also includes a single cable that connects to the One Connect Box, which centralizes your connections.
You can mount the Frame yourself if you’re comfortable with basic DIY. To hide the cable and One Connect Box, we drilled a small hole in a cabinet to route the cable through the empty fireplace cavity and place the box out of sight. The TV automatically connects to Wi-Fi and finds streaming services, so setup was straightforward.
The Frame completely changed how our living room feels. Instead of an obvious black screen dominating the wall, the TV displays art and becomes a cohesive part of the decor.
We no longer regret placing a TV over the fireplace — the Frame makes it feel intentional and beautiful.
Final Thoughts
I once regretted designing a home that forced the TV to sit so prominently over the fireplace. Replacing the old black screen with the Samsung Frame TV changed that for us. The Frame blends function and style, and when sized and positioned correctly, it feels like thoughtful decor rather than a necessary eyesore.
You will also enjoy reading more about our experience with the Frame TV and our home tours.
