you be sleeping in the dog house. Give it a go and see if you like it or not. No harm will be done. Of course the other solution would be to get some other speakers.
I just bought a home theater - Onkyo HT240 speaker package and Yamaha RX-V550 receiver. The female authority of the house dictates that the front speakers be shelved in an entertainment center. Problem is, the left and right speakers are too tall to stand in any of the shelves. Is there any major problem with laying them on their sides? That way I can place them at about ear level, although the center channel speaker will have to sit above the television.

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