Guide ยท Electric fire design
Planning a media wall around an electric fire
Choose the exact electric fire before the media wall is built. Its enclosure dimensions, ventilation, heat outlet, electrical supply, clearances and service access shape the structure. The television and other equipment then need their own safe positions and cable routes.
Updated 22 August 2026
Do not design around a generic fire opening
Electric fires that look similar can have different installation requirements. Use the current instructions for the chosen model to set the opening, support, recess depth, permitted materials, airflow and finishing detail.
Allow access to the components and connections the manufacturer says may need inspection or service. A wall that can only be repaired by destroying the finished surface is not a considered installation.
Plan heat and ventilation before the television position
Identify where the fire takes in air and where heated air leaves the appliance. Blocking or crowding those paths can affect performance and may conflict with the product requirements.
The television manufacturer instructions matter as well. A decorative shelf is not automatically a tested heat shield, and a visual gap cannot prove that electronics will remain within their permitted operating conditions.
Give the electrical design its own drawing
Confirm the supply, isolation and connection arrangement with a competent electrical installer. Include the television, sound equipment, lighting, network cables and any control equipment rather than adding extension leads inside a closed cavity later.
Cable routes should avoid heat and remain accessible where needed. If devices rely on wireless signals or infrared controls, test that the proposed recess and doors do not prevent normal operation.
Finish with proportions, not a template
Set the viewing height from the seating position and the room, not from an online fashion photograph. The fire width, screen width, side returns and storage can then be balanced around comfortable use.
Ask the Lichfield showroom which electric-fire options are currently available to consider as part of a room design. Product availability and the final building and electrical scope should be confirmed before construction starts.
Common questions
Can the television sit directly above an electric fire?
Only if both product instructions and the completed design allow it. Check the fire heat outlet, required clearances, television operating limits and ventilation.
Should the media wall be built before the fire arrives?
Final construction should be based on the exact current model and instructions. Building from an assumed opening risks poor fit, blocked airflow or lost service access.
Does every electric fire use a normal socket?
Do not assume so. Confirm the supply and isolation requirements for the exact model and have the electrical arrangement completed by a competent person.
Can a media wall include cupboards and sound equipment?
Yes where the layout preserves product airflow, heat limits, access and cable safety. Each device adds requirements that should be resolved before framing.
Turn the research into a property-specific plan
Bring your questions to the Lichfield showroom, or ask us to assess the room, chimney and proposed appliance at home before anything is ordered.
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