An electric fire turns a media wall from a smart place to hang the TV into the focal point of the room. It also shapes everything else about the build: how deep the wall needs to be, how wide it can go and where the TV sits. Choosing between media wall electric fires is easier once you know the main types, the sizes that suit each TV and the features worth paying for. This guide walks through each decision in the order you should make it, so the fire and the wall are planned together from the start.
Why the Fire Comes First
Most people choose the TV first and the fire second, but the fire is the part that sets the hard limits. Every fire needs a recess of a specific width, height and depth, plus any air gaps the manufacturer asks for. The media wall frame is then built around those numbers. Pick the fire before the wall is designed and the recess fits perfectly. Pick it afterwards and you can end up rebuilding the frame or settling for a fire that is too small for the space.
Types of Electric Fire for a Media Wall
Choosing a fireplace for media wall designs starts with the type. There are four main options, and each asks something different of the wall behind it.
Inset fires. An inset electric fire sits inside a recess so only the glass front shows, giving a clean, flush finish. This is the most popular choice for media walls, because it hides the body of the fire and leaves a neat frame of panelling around the flames. Some models are sold as a recessed electric fire, which means the same thing: the unit is set into the wall rather than hung on it.
Three-sided fires. A 3 sided electric fireplace has glass on the front and both ends, so you see the flames from across the room as well as straight on. It suits a media wall that steps forward from the main wall, where the open ends are on show. A 3 sided media wall fire needs the recess to stay open at both sides, so plan the frame with that in mind.
Panoramic fires. A panoramic electric fire is a wide, shallow-looking fire with a long letterbox of flames. Many have glass on three sides too. They work well under a large TV, because the long flame picture balances a wide screen.
Slimline fires. A slimline electric fire has a very shallow body, so it needs far less depth inside the wall. This is the type to choose if you want the media wall to come out as little as possible from the original wall, which helps in a narrow lounge.
How Deep Does the Media Wall Need to Be?
Depth is where most planning mistakes happen. A built in electric fire needs a recess at least as deep as its body, plus the clearance stated in its manual. Inset and three-sided models are usually the deepest, while slimline models need the least.
The depth of the fire largely decides how far the whole media wall projects into the room, because the frame must be deep enough to hide it. In a smaller room, every centimetre counts. Our guide to slimline media wall designs explains how to keep the build shallow, and the ideas in media walls for small living rooms show how a fire can work in a compact space. Always take the recess sizes from the manufacturer's installation manual, not the outer product dimensions.
Matching the Fire Size to Your TV
A fire that is roughly the same width as the TV, or slightly wider, usually looks most balanced. A fire that is much narrower than the screen can look lost underneath it.
Use the screen width rather than the inch size, which measures the diagonal:
| TV size | Approx. screen width | Fire width that usually balances |
|---|---|---|
| 50 inch | 1,110mm | 1,000 to 1,250mm |
| 55 inch | 1,220mm | 1,250 to 1,500mm |
| 65 inch | 1,440mm | 1,500mm |
| 75 inch | 1,660mm | 1,800mm |
| 85 inch | 1,880mm | 2,000mm |
The 1500mm fire is the most popular choice in UK media walls, because it suits the 55 and 65 inch TVs most homes have. Fires sold in inches are measured across the width, so a 60 inch fire for media wall use is about 1,520mm wide. In rooms wider than about 2 metres, an 1800 to 2000mm fire fills the wall better.
Leave a gap of at least 200 to 300mm between the top of the fire and the bottom of the TV, and check the fire manual for any minimum. Our guide on choosing the right TV size and layout covers viewing height in more detail.
Flame Effects and Realism
Flame technology has improved a great deal, and it is now the main difference between a budget fire and a realistic electric fire. Things to compare:
- Flame type. Standard LED flames are bright and reliable. Water vapour or mist effects create a more three-dimensional flame and are often seen as the most realistic, but they usually need a water tank topping up.
- Colour options. Many fires let you switch between classic orange flames and blue or multi-colour settings.
- Fuel bed. Logs, pebbles or crystals change the look completely. Crystals suit a modern wall, while logs feel more traditional.
- Brightness. Adjustable flame brightness stops the fire competing with the TV in the evening.
Heat, Power and Controls
Most media wall fires include a fan heater, typically up to around 2kW, and most can run on flame effect alone, so you can enjoy the look all year without the heat. Check where the warm air comes out. If it vents from the top, make sure it is not aimed at the TV above.
Many fires plug into a standard socket, but in a media wall that socket must be hidden inside the frame where the manufacturer recommends. Plan it before the boards go on, and have any new socket or spur fitted by a qualified electrician. Remote control is standard on most models, while thermostats, timers and app control are worth having if you plan to use the heater regularly.
Choosing the Best Fire for Your Wall
The best electric fires for media wall projects are the ones that suit the room, not simply the most expensive. As a quick guide:
- Choose an inset or slimline model for a clean, flush look in an average lounge.
- Choose a three-sided or panoramic model when the wall steps forward and the ends are on show.
- Choose a slimline model when depth is tight.
- Choose the width to suit the TV, using the table above.
When comparing models for the best inset electric fire, look at flame realism, recess depth, heat output and warranty side by side, then check that the recess dimensions work with your wall.
Media Walls with Fires at Aspin Collins
At Aspin Collins we design and build media walls in our Manchester workshop. Our Executive Elements media wall with fire comes with an iRange i1500e slimline fire built in, and you can see the full range in our media walls collection. For a sense of budget, our media wall cost guide breaks down typical prices. If you need a wall sized around a specific fire, call us on 0161 465 4007 or contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you put an electric fire in a media wall?
Yes. Electric fires need no chimney or flue, so they can be built into a stud-framed media wall. Build the recess to the manufacturer's sizes and include any air gaps the manual asks for.
2. What size electric fire is best for a media wall?
A 1500mm fire is the most popular choice, as it suits 55 and 65 inch TVs. For larger screens or rooms wider than about 2 metres, an 1800 to 2000mm fire usually looks better balanced.
3. Should the fire be bigger than the TV on a media wall?
Not necessarily, but it should be close. A fire about the same width as the screen, or slightly wider, looks most balanced. A much narrower fire tends to look lost under a large TV.
4. Do media wall fires give off heat?
Most do. Many include a fan heater of up to around 2kW and can also run on flame effect only. Check where the warm air vents so it is not directed at the TV above.
5. What size fireplace suits a 65 inch TV?
A 65 inch TV is about 1,440mm wide, so a 1500mm fire is the usual match. Leave at least 200 to 300mm between the top of the fire and the bottom of the TV.
6. Do electric fires in a media wall just plug in?
Many do, but the socket must be hidden inside the frame where the manufacturer recommends. Plan it before the wall is boarded, and have any new socket or spur installed by a qualified electrician.
