What is a media wall?
A media wall is a purpose-built feature that integrates all your favourite tech (usually, a TV, speakers, and other audiovisual equipment) into one custom structure. Below, you’ll often find a recessed electric fireplace.
To conceal cables and consoles, it typically requires the construction of a shallow stud or ‘false’ wall within the recesses, sized to accommodate the screen and any other bits of equipment you might use.
What are the benefits of a media wall?
A media wall brings all the best parts of your lounge into one, centralised area.
Rather than having a TV on one wall and a fireplace or entertainment unit elsewhere, a media wall consolidates all of your media, wiring, shelving, and heating into a single integrated feature.
Concealing the electrics makes for a much tidier look, and with many setups incorporating shelves or hidden compartments, it means you can organise things like consoles, games, remotes, or DVDs.
Best of all, using an electric fire within the wall means you don’t need a chimney or flue (which is great for new builds or homes without an existing fireplace). The beauty of media walls is that they’re also easily customisable.
The fire, the finish, the wall itself: if anything isn’t to your liking or sticks out like a sore thumb, you can change it.
Can you install a fire in a media wall?
Yes – if you didn’t, it wouldn’t be a media wall!
Electric fires are the recommended choice for media walls. Most models have a 1–2kW heat output, so they will provide a good amount of heat without damaging your electronics (consoles, TV, audio equipment, etc.).
Homeowners can even shop for media wall fires, which are manufactured specifically for this kind of ‘hole-in-the-wall’ or panoramic configuration. British Fires, Onyx Fires and Solus are just a handful of the brands that now offer media wall appliances.
What size TV and electric fire do I need for a media wall?
Every media wall installation is unique, so we recommend that homeowners seek professional advice before tackling a construction project of this size (especially if you have no previous DIY experience!) In fact, it’s better to call professionals from the very start.
A team of electricians, joiners and construction workers should be able to bring your vision to life safely. However, if you’re still in the buying stage, and you’re looking for some guidelines on TV sizes and electric fires, here are some rough guidelines:
TV size (diagonal in inches) | Fire width (recommended) |
32” | 85cm |
40” | 110cm |
43” | 110cm |
50” | 135cm |
55” | 135cm |
60” | 135cm |
65” | 150cm |
70” | 195cm |
75” | 195cm |
80” | 195cm |
85” | 195cm |
When looking at these numbers, keep in mind that TV sizes are measured diagonally. Measuring from one corner to the opposite gives a single number that reflects the general ‘size’ of the screen.
If you already have a TV and want to match its dimensions to a fireplace, simply place one end of a tape measure at one corner of the visible screen area (not the bezel/frame).
Stretch it across to the opposite corner (bottom right) and record that length in inches (or centimetres). In most media wall configurations, the TV is typically centred within a stud wall, potentially surrounded by storage shelves, drawers or even speakers.
As such, you’ll only have a certain amount of space to work with. Plus, if you know that, in the future, you plan to upgrade to a bigger TV, it might be easier (and more cost-effective) to do this before constructing your media wall.
Do you need a chimney for a media wall?
No, you don’t need a chimney for a media wall (especially for all electric fires).
Electric fires don’t burn fuel or produce smoke, so they don’t require a flue or chimney to vent combustion gases. If your room already has a chimney or traditional fireplace, you can choose to close it off or build your media wall around it; however, this is not essential.
Is it easy to install an electric fire?
It depends on the type of fire you’re installing.
Wall-mounted or plug-in models deliver instant heat: all you need is a bracket/mounting plate or hook the fire unit into place. But more built-in, recessed installations (or those where you want the power socket concealed) may require help from professionals.
You may need to build a surround or niche, run wiring (or hire an electrician to hard-wire it), and have someone verify that the wall structure (studs, masonry, etc.) can support the fire’s weight.
How to hide the cables in a media wall?
To conceal cables in a media wall, you’ll need to plan the routing and structure carefully.
Options include building a cavity behind the media wall (or within the wall studs) through which you run the cables. Within that cavity, you can use cable sleeves to protect the wires.
For configurations where this is impractical, you can hide them using surface-mounted cable raceways that stick (or screw) to the wall. Many are even paintable.
How much do media walls cost?
Media walls aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, the cost will vary according to the size of the set-up, size, complexity, materials, labour, and what features (fireplace, lighting, shelving, concealed wiring, etc.) you include.
What fire should I put in my media wall?
At Fires2U, we have a blog for everything! Our guide, What fire should I put in my media wall? covers our top five recommendations for electric media wall fires.
Where to buy a media wall electric fire: Fires2U!
Why wait to create a custom media wall? Start your search today with Fires2U. In our collection, you’ll find incredible deals on industry-leading manufacturers, like Celsi, Gazco, and DRU.
With remote control operation (and even in-app control), you can get instant heat at the touch of a button. But what about flame operation? Well, our models offer the best in electric flame technology, with a range of modes for realistic flame pictures.
