With a fireplace in the room, you have the perfect place for a screen. From the perspective of room design. No need to rearrange the room or seating to accommodate the screen.

Two things make placement of a projection screen near a fireplace less than ideal.

The one that would concern me the most is the smoke. Heat would also be a concern, although to a lesser extent. I will explain it later.

I have had a wood stove in my house for many years. With a nice big mirror above it. When we built an extension, the stove was removed. And also the mirror. What was left was a bright spot on the wall, where the mirror had been. The surrounding area was completely discolored.

That will also happen to your projection screen. Especially when you’re using the screen with the fire on. It’s a gradual process, of course, but over time, the projection screen fabric will no longer be white. At that time, your image will no longer be the best. But of course it is easily solved by buying a new screen. The second problem, heat, does not have to be important.

It all depends on how close the screen is to the fire. In other words, the intensity of the heat. In general, projection screens work better in a warm environment than in a cold one. I’ve seen more than a few screens that look awful when they come straight out of storage. After half an hour or so, they look great. That is when the fabric is at room temperature.

However, in intense heat, it’s a different story. The fabric will melt or warp. This should be avoided, because it is irreversible.

So how do you know if your projection screen will be at risk? Single, light a fire in the fireplace.

Then, after an hour or so, hold your hand in the position where the screen fabric will be. If you can hold your hand in that position comfortably, the fabric is secure.

Yes, I know. It’s not exactly science, but a simple way to keep your screen safe.

good luck,

otto