This guide will explain everything you need to know before choosing the perfect electric fires for media walls – from realistic flame technology and panoramic layouts to heat outputs, smart controls, and essential installation requirements. We’ll also cover the key features to look for, practical design tips to help you achieve a luxurious built-in finish, and the must-know considerations for pairing your electric fire with your TV, shelving, and wall materials. Essentially, we’ll offer full guidance on exactly how to create a show-stopping media wall that blends style, comfort, and modern functionality.
What is a media wall?
Media walls have become a popular standout design feature in many UK homes. They provide a fantastic way to combine your home entertainment setup with an integrated electric fire, bringing a focal point to your living space that’s both stylish and functional.
Media wall electric fires are the perfect choice for this home design feature, providing a perfect blend of visual appeal and controllable heating. Unlike traditional gas fireplaces, a built-in electric fire requires no chimney and is easy to install within a stud wall. This type of fire offers realistic, customisable LED flame effects that can be enjoyed throughout the year, with or without the heat.
If you’re ready to transform your home and complement your radiators with a stunning visual effect, this guide explores all you need to know about media wall fires so you can choose the best one for a luxurious interior look.
What to look for in a media wall electric fire
When shopping for a media wall fireplace in the UK, it’s essential to select the right electric fire to ensure you achieve a seamless, high-end aesthetic. Here are the main design and technical factors to help guide your decision…
Panoramic view: A wide electric fire (typically 1200mm-2400mm+) below the TV ensures a look that’s balanced and symmetrical that matches the cinematic scale of a wide-screen TV.
Realistic LED flame technology: LED flame effects create depth and movement and are often combined with log and crystal fuel beds for a stunning realistic look.
Flexible installation: High-end media wall electric fires allow you to choose a single front-facing view, a 2-sided corner view or a panoramic 3-sided view, making them a versatile option to perfectly suit the design of your stud wall.
Recessed installation: It’s crucial to choose a fully recessed electric fire for your media wall installation. This will sit flush with the wall for that clean, built-in look.
Smart controls: Media wall electric fires include a remote control, which allows you to easily adjust a range of settings such as the flame colours, heat output and ambient lighting.
Heat output: Most electric fires for media walls offer a 1000W or 2000W heat setting, which provides a boost of warmth for those cosy evenings.
Installation considerations for media wall electric fires
As with all forms of electric heating, to ensure a safe and professional finish, integrating an electric fire for wall installation requires careful planning. From stud wall framework to cable routing and ventilation, here are the key installation considerations for your media wall electric fire…
Stud wall framework: A media wall electric fire requires a custom stud wall framework built around it. It’s important to consult the fire’s manual for the recess depth and clearance measurements before building the wall.
Cable routing: Make sure to plan for the cable routing to conceal the TV, soundbar and electric fire cables within the framework. You’ll require a standard power outlet that’s accessible within the recess or in a nearby hidden compartment.
Ventilation: Electric fires require a small amount of ventilation above the fan heater outlet. You must also maintain the manufacturer’s minimum safe distance between the top of the fire and the bottom of the TV screen. This is straightforward as the heat from an electric fire will flow in a forward direction, not up.
Professional installation: Installing a complex built-in fire and custom stud wall is best left to a qualified builder or joiner to ensure the structural integrity and finish are of the highest standard.
Media wall fire style and design tips
Pairing with your TV: A rule of thumb is to choose a built-in fire that’s the same width or slightly wider than your TV to create a balanced look. For example, a 65” TV works well with a 1500mm-1800mm wide electric fire.
Textured finishes: cladding is a great way to elevate the look of your media wall. Think slatted wood panelling, marble or stone-effect tiles or a dark painted finish to frame your fire and TV.
Ambient lighting: for added luxury, integrate LED strips around the edges of the media wall, shelving niches or beneath floating shelves. Match the colour with the fire’s mood lighting to create a layered atmosphere and an eye-catching visual effect.
Storage: when designing your media wall make sure to include recesses for soundbars, set-top boxes and consoles, keeping everything tucked away for a minimalist look. You could also integrate illuminated shelving niches down each side of the media wall, so you can display decorative objects.
Explore electric fires for media walls from BestHeating
Choosing the right electric fire will determine the overall look of your media wall. The best options perfectly combine realistic flame effects, smart convenience and flexible installation to integrate with your home. At BestHeating, our recessed electric fires for media wall installations boast a superb range of features, including a stunning array of realistic flame and fuel bed colours, 24/7 scheduling, thermostatic control and great heat output, bringing a luxuriously cosy and inviting feel to your space.
Browse our media wall electric fires online and discover the perfect one to create your dream home look. And be sure to show off your stunning media wall electric fire features by reaching out to us on Instagram, Facebook or X.
John is a Research Specialist for the Best Heating Advice Centre, where for over nine years he has dedicated himself to demystifying home heating for our customers. He specialises in creating clear, data-driven guides and how-to articles by collaborating directly with our team of certified heating experts and product engineers.
His work, built on a foundation of journalistic research, has helped millions of readers make confident and informed decisions about their home heating. When he’s not breaking down the heat output differentials from radiators to heated towel rails, John fancies himself as a fine football and music connoisseur.
