Built-In Electric Fireplace Ideas: 10 Designs for Your Living Room

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

A built-in electric fireplace can anchor a feature wall, sit inside a traditional mantel, or tuck into a corner, and it needs no chimney. Below are ten ways to build one into a living room, with who each suits and what to confirm with the manufacturer before you frame the wall. If you want a shortlist matched to your room, get personalized fireplace recommendations.

Not sure how permanent the project should be? Compare recessed and wall-mounted fireplaces first.

Idea	Best for
Feature wall	A wide wall that needs a focal point
Mantel or beam	A traditional or rustic look without wood or soot
TV and fireplace on one wall	Rooms where both share a wall
Corner or three-sided	Rooms with no good flat wall
Media wall	Open-plan living rooms
Slim linear unit	Contemporary rooms and new builds
Built-in shelving	Alcoves or walls you can rebuild
Insert in an old opening	Homes with an unused fireplace

Top Built-In Electric Fireplace Ideas for Your Living Room

1. Turn It Into a Feature Wall

The first way to add a built-in electric fireplace to your living room is to make it the focal point of one wall. You can take it a step further and give that wall a different texture or color. A linear electric fireplace can emphasize a wide wall; mark out its actual dimensions before ordering.

Best for: a wide wall that needs a focal point. Confirm: the unit's exact dimensions, marked out on the wall.

2. Add a Mantel to Your Built-In Electric Fireplace

If you love the look of a traditional fireplace mantel but would rather skip the wood, coals, smoke and soot, you can replicate it with a built-in electric fireplace, and enjoy the flames in summer or winter. You can add the fireplace to an existing mantel or build a new one. A mantel that doubles as a shelf is a popular DIY project. See the Touchstone electric fireplaces for lower-budget mantel setups, our guide to the frame for an electric fireplace, and our installation cost guide to plan the costs.

Best for: a traditional look without wood or soot. Confirm: the model's mantel and finishing instructions.

3. Create an Unconventional Mantel

To modernize a traditional mantel, add a wooden beam above the fireplace. Because a built-in electric fireplace fits into many wall designs, you can pair the beam with a statement wall or a corner.

Modern Flames Redstone Built-In Series

Best for: a modern or rustic mantel alternative. Confirm: combustible-material clearances for that exact model.

4. Plan the TV and Fireplace on One Wall

A TV and fireplace can share a feature wall only when the arrangement meets both manufacturers' requirements. Front vents alone do not establish suitable TV clearance or temperature.

Confirm the heat-outlet location, clearances and TV mounting plan before construction. For example, the Spectrum Slimline manual's installation section specifies its own mantel clearances; do not transfer those dimensions to a different fireplace.

Find out what to consider when mounting a TV above an electric fireplace.

Best for: rooms where the TV and fireplace share a wall. Confirm: both manufacturers' clearance and temperature requirements.

5. Create a Traditional Illusion

Some electric models are designed to look very realistic. Traditional-style built-in fireboxes tend to be deeper than slim linear units, and with details such as logs they can look much like a real fireplace; check each model's depth before you frame the wall.

Dimplex Revillusion Series

Best for: buyers deciding between real and electric. Confirm: firebox depth and the finishing kit.

6. Add It to a Corner

A corner feature needs a model designed for the chosen viewing configuration. A three-sided fireplace and a see-through fireplace between rooms are different products, so confirm the drawing before designing the wall. In the store, look for 3-sided electric fireplaces or corner electric fireplaces.

Best for: rooms with no good flat wall. Confirm: that the model is built for corner or three-sided viewing.

7. Build a Media Wall Around It

A media wall puts the fireplace, TV and storage on one planned surface. Plan the fireplace first, since its dimensions and heat outlet set where the TV, shelves and panels can go. Our guide to the best electric fireplace for a media wall compares models for this layout.

Best for: open-plan living rooms. Confirm: heat-outlet location and the TV mounting plan.

8. Go Modern With a Slim Linear Unit

A slim linear electric fireplace set flush in a smooth plaster, stone or paneled wall reads as a modern, minimal feature. Modern Flames and the Sustainable Hearth range are good starting points for comparing linear built-in models (check each model's page for its installation type).

Best for: contemporary rooms and new builds. Confirm: the recess depth, framing and finishing requirements for the model you choose.

9. Frame It With Built-In Shelving

Flanking the fireplace with cabinets or open shelves turns it into part of the room's architecture. Choose the fireplace and the enclosure together, so the shelving, wall finish and service access all match the unit's installation drawing.

Best for: living rooms with an alcove or a wall you can rebuild. Confirm: service access and the minimum clearance to any shelf above.

10. Turn an Old Fireplace Opening Into an Electric One

An unused masonry or gas fireplace opening can often take an electric fireplace insert, which brings back the focal point without burning wood or gas. Check the opening's dimensions and the insert's manual first, and have an electrician confirm the circuit.

Best for: homes with an existing, unused fireplace. Confirm: opening size, insert depth and electrical supply.

If you are still choosing a format, compare built-in electric fireplaces with electric fireplace inserts, or browse Modern Flames and Dimplex for brands that fit these layouts.

Frequently asked questions

Can every electric fireplace be built into a wall?

No. Choose a model approved for the intended installation and use its current manual for the enclosure, electrical connection, and finishing requirements.

Can I put a television above a built-in electric fireplace?

Confirm the fireplace and TV manufacturers' requirements before fixing the layout. Front-facing vents alone do not establish safe clearance or suitable operating temperatures.

How should I plan a mantel or wooden beam?

Check the exact fireplace's mantel, combustible-material, and finishing instructions before designing it. A photograph or another model's clearance is not an installation specification.

Is a three-sided fireplace the same as a see-through fireplace?

No. Three-sided generally describes front-and-end views, while a see-through model provides views through a partition. Confirm the intended configuration in the product's drawings.

What should I choose before the wall is built?

Confirm the exact model, viewing configuration, installation documents, and electrical plan. Then coordinate the enclosure, finish materials, TV or mantel position, and service access.

What is a media wall with a fireplace?

A media wall is a planned wall that combines a fireplace, a TV and storage. Choose the fireplace first, because its dimensions and heat outlet decide where the TV and shelves can go.

Can I add an electric fireplace to an existing fireplace opening?

Often, with an electric insert made for that kind of opening. Confirm the opening's dimensions, the insert's manual and the electrical supply before ordering.

What is the difference between a linear and a traditional electric fireplace?

A linear unit is wide and shallow and suits a modern feature wall. A traditional unit is closer to a standard firebox. See our linear vs traditional guide for a full comparison.