Many of us these days have TV’s over a mantel that is located in a family room
or in my case, what we call our media room.
A place where we retreat to when there are more than just the two of us watching TV.
Where there is very large sofa and chairs to accommodate a crowd.
Staging a mantel with a TV mounted over it can be a challenge.
Being careful that you do not obstruct or detract from the TV viewing.
So using some things that I already had and some vintage items I recently purchased,
I began to create a new “TV Mantelscape”
A couple months ago I found these great vintage Charles Dickens books
in one of my favorite antique malls in Pennsylvania.
The vintage white ceramic insulators were purchased from my favorite antique shop.
She had them displayed as bookends . . . thought it was a great idea!
While creating the mantelscape, I thought that I also needed to address the hearth.
I remembered that I had purchased an adorable child’s (or salesman’s sample) drop leaf table
while shopping with the owner of my favorite antique shop and my friend Merry.
We were at the Chartreuse Barn sale in Maryland.
I am not quite certain if this very small table is truly a child’s table
or possibly a salesman’s sample. I found it on a large table at the barn sale.
They were using it as a pretty lift as part of the tablescape. I got a great deal on it!!
I originally thought that I would paint it and use it for a plant stand.
However, I thought it would look great paired with my antique child’s rocker.
I originally had a plant on the table;
however, it made sense to gather some of my vintage games, perfect for this table
and just in time for summer . . . let the games begin.
I have my American vintage/antique pieces
that I have collected over the years, mainly in this room.
I think I accomplished creating a bit of interest to the mantel
without compromising the integrity of TV viewing. Trying to keep it simple.
Well as simple as I get!
Have a great day! . . . I am preparing my home for a Summer Tour coming in a couple of weeks.
I will be giving you lots of sneak peeks!
That looks nice and I’m sure decorating around a t.v. above a mantel is a challenge.
Hi Shirley, Looks great!! Love the Dickens books and the table below is a perfect idea.
T.V. mantel decorating is a challenge, but you gave it a nice look!!
Have a great week.
CM
Oh,Shirley, you don’t know how timely this post is. We have our television over the mantel, but the xnmx cable box is there, TOO!!! Our cable company claims it has to be there. Unfortunately, we don’t have a cabinet beside the fireplace where the box can be hidden. There are a zillion wires, but none are long enough to reach the cable box if we moved it, and there’s no place to move it. Drives. Me. Crazy.
I love the books and the childs table and chair are perfect.
Looks wonderful Shirley. I think J has some of those insulators in his electrical memorabilia, packed away somewhere. I might have to keep an eye out for them. Bookends would great for our tv room.
That looks amazing! Love the little table in front of the fireplace, too.
Have a happy day!
Love the little table and child’s rocker in front of the fireplace for summer. It’s too bad we don’t have any little ones anymore to sit there!
It all looks fabulous:) I love that jug!!!! Holy cow:D I need one of those!
It looks great Shirley, I often use books as a source for bookends. Love the small table and child’s rocker treasures for sure. fondly ~lynne~
The mantel looks great! I love the vintage Dickens books.
Looks great!!!! The little child’s table is so adorable….I love the vintage games you added too!
~Des
Perfect Shirley. My problem for our TV is, we have a sound bar that’s in the middle. I love it being there but I can’t block it because then it’s difficult to turn on. Ours is tricky. I’m working on ideas just have to find what works
Cindy
I love the way you have surrounded the tv with molding. My husband wants to put a large tv above our fireplace but I would have to move my huge picture of the lavender fields in Provence. That would be a “no” for me 🙂
It looks great!! I never knew that those things were called insulators, they make fabulous book ends. I am going to go look at “your favorite antiqie shop” and see where it is. I love that you have built ins next to every fireplace! Jealous:):)
Great job Shirley! I like how the tv is recessed in and all the pretty molding that’s around it.
That looks so nice. What a great idea to have the little table and rocking chair right on the fireplace hearth. It’s a beautiful room.
Tiddely Winks! I used to have so much fun playing that, hours and hours of fun. I haven’t thought about that fun game in 50 years. Great reminder of our childhood.
Great tips for decorating around the TV! I love the way you styled it, and how you added whimsy in there, too! Love the games!
Great tips for the mantle. Love playing games with the kids. However, most of the kids are into technology and don’t even know what fun games are out there. So sad for them.
Have a great week and don’t work to hard on your Summer Tour. Looking forward to taking the tour via your posts.
Mary
I really like how you added darker tones to your mantel and fireplace hearth…gives a great contrast to the beautiful molding around your tv. Very nicely done…as always!!
Mary Alice
It can be a challange working around that big black box we love so much! Looks great Shirley…as always!
Blessings,
Cindy
Shirley, you have created a lovely Summer mantel! I love the idea of using Summer games for your theme. Your table and chair are a wonderful accent to your hearth! You have so many fantastic vintage pieces; you have such a great eye for collecting! The surround around your tv is fantastic!
I love your children’s pieces, Shirley! Your updated mantel and hearth look great. Can’t wait to see upcoming photos of your summer home tour.
I love the little table! So appealing and I’m sure useful in many spaces and many uses in your home. Happy Tuesday!
It looks great Shirley. I had a tv above a mantel in our last house so I know how difficult it can be to decorate around it.
Love your sweet table and vintage Tidley Winks game Shirley!
I have tried unsuccessfully, to convince my husband that you can hang a TV over a fireplace. He thinks the heat will hurt the TV. Does it?
Hi Shirley,
I love the table and little rocker together. Your mantle looks great.
Kris
oh boy, aren’t you the clever one. love that change up…for now I am sure. is that Pottery Barn light hanging
Adorable!! that little table and rocker looks just adorable together!!
What a lovely mantel and those vintage books add a special touch…
Simple, yes, but just right for in front of a TV. Two thumbs up!
Between just watching MadMen and seeing tiddely winks in this post, I’m suddenly feeling nostalgic.
TV’s above a mantel are always a decorating challenge. Adding the molding helps to add elegance to the area and give it presence (in a good way). Having said that, I miss the days when TV’s were in armoires. There I go feeling nostalgic again ;).