How to choose an electric fire for a media wall

What a media wall actually is

A media wall is a built-out wall that holds an electric fire, and often a television, cables, shelves or storage. It is not just a fire fixed to plasterboard. The recess, wall depth, cable route and finish all need to suit the fire you choose. That is why the best starting point is not the paint colour or the television. It is the fire.

Electric fires suit media walls because they do not need a chimney, flue or gas supply. They can work on a flat wall in homes that would never take a gas fire. You still need a sensible electrical route and a wall built to the product requirements, but the practical barriers are much lower.

Front, corner and panoramic flame views

Media wall fires are often described by how much of the flame you can see. A front-facing fire shows the flame through the main glass face only. A corner fire lets the flame wrap round one side, which can suit a wall seen from more than one part of the room. A panoramic fire shows the flame across the front and both sides, usually for a stronger feature wall.

Those choices are visual, but they also affect the build. The more glass you show, the more carefully the recess and side returns need to be planned. If you want the fire to sit below a television, also think about viewing height. A television that looks comfortable on paper can feel too high once the fire, hearth and seating are all in the room.

Planning the recess and television

The fire manufacturer sets the basic recess requirements. We do not guess those details. We help you choose a fire first, then plan the wall, stonework and finish around it. Bring photos of the wall, sockets, skirting and furniture positions into the showroom, or send them before you visit.

Cables are worth thinking about early. If the television is going above the fire, you need a clean route for power and any media cables. If shelves or cupboards are part of the wall, plan what will actually sit there. A media wall should make the room easier to use, not just hide wires.

Stone finish or plastered finish?

A plastered media wall gives a simple, painted finish and can suit a room where the fire is not meant to dominate. Stone changes the feel. It can frame the fire, add a hearth line, create a shelf, or make the wall feel more like a fireplace than a television unit. Because we make stonework in our own Midlands workshop, we can talk through those choices alongside the fire.

Stone is not always the answer for the whole wall. Sometimes a small trim or hearth gives enough weight. Sometimes a larger panel is right. The useful question is what the room needs: a quiet wall, a stronger focal point, or a fireplace feel without a chimney.

Useful links

Start with our electric fire range, compare Firez panoramic fires, and read how we work before you plan the wall. You can also see examples and stone samples at the Solihull showroom.