A good media wall starts with the appliance and its installation instructions, not the plasterboard. Choosing the fire after the wall has been built can leave you with an opening that is too shallow, awkward cable access or a design that hides the very flame view you wanted.
Use this checklist before commissioning drawings or booking the finishing work. It is a planning guide, not a replacement for the installation manual.
1. Decide what the fire needs to do
Write down your priorities in order: flame appearance, occasional warmth, television placement, storage and overall budget. A fire chosen mainly for its visual effect does not automatically provide the heating your room needs.
For example, the Acantha Aspire 150 combines three-sided viewing with selectable 1kW and 2kW heat settings. Those are appliance outputs, not a promise that it will heat every room of a particular size. Ask your installer to consider the room and the role of your existing heating.
2. Tape out the design at full size
Mark the proposed fireplace, television and shelving on the wall using removable tape. Sit in your normal viewing position and check the proportions. A layout that looks balanced in a small drawing can put the television uncomfortably high in real life.
- Measure the full wall width and ceiling height.
- Note sockets, skirting, doors and furniture that affect the layout.
- Check the depth the finished wall will take out of the room.
- Decide whether you want a front-only view or exposed side glass.
3. Use the exact model's installation dimensions
The overall product width is not necessarily the required opening width. Give your installer the current manual for the exact model and configuration. Ask them to confirm the opening, clearances, ventilation and permitted finishing materials before construction begins.
Do not copy a clearance from a different fire or assume every panoramic model can be enclosed in the same way. The Aspire 150 is an inset appliance for which professional fitting is required.
4. Agree television and electrical arrangements
Check both the fire manufacturer's and television manufacturer's guidance before placing one above the other. There is no universal safe gap that suits every combination.
Ask the installer to identify the heat outlet, cable route, electrical connection and means of isolation. Agree how each will remain accessible once the wall is finished. Electrical alterations should be assessed by a suitably qualified electrician.
5. Plan for access, not just appearance
Ask a simple question: if a component needs attention, how will someone reach it? Avoid a design that assumes all maintenance can happen through a tiny opening unless the manufacturer confirms that arrangement.
Confirm the delivery route and who will move the appliance from its delivery point into the room. Keep the packaging and check the appliance before closing the wall or applying expensive finishes.
Your pre-build sign-off list
- Exact fire model and viewing configuration selected.
- Current manual reviewed by the installer.
- Opening, ventilation and clearances confirmed.
- TV position and electrical access agreed.
- Delivery, fitting and finishing responsibilities recorded.
Browse our media wall electric fires, then send the model and your plans through our contact page if you need help locating product information.
Product reference
Acantha Aspire 150 specifications and installation information. Always use the current appliance manual for the final installation design. The photograph shows this model, not a universal installation specification.