Speaker Placement

I have a dilemma: recently we finished a remodel of our family room. I would now like to purchase a 2 channel system. The trouble is, the furniture in the room takes up virtually all the space. The only place that i see that I could place speakers is on top of an entertainment credenza on either side of an LCD. The amount of space there is 6-7 inches on each side. I was hoping to fit some totem model ones there, but I wonder: is it a waste of $ to put these fine speakers so close together and on top of the same piece of furniture? In other words, is this kind of p[placement so degrading to the sound that I might as well just go for cheap speakers and a cheap receiver?