Where to put the TV

Deciding where to mount a flat screen TV can be a tricky issue. You need the perfect viewing angle and to assess its impact on decoration.

 

If you don't have a spare room that can be dedicated as a TV room, or an extra room to set up a home theater, chances are your TV will be installed in a living room. Choosing the perfect place to mount the TV depends on whether you want the TV to be a feature or to be more understated. From mounting the TV on a wall to concealing it inside a cupboard, today's flat screen TV's can easily slot into any living room scheme beautifully.

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For many, the TV is an integral part of a living room and they wouldn't think about putting it anywhere else. Home decorators actually plan the layout and decoration in a room specifically to accommodate the placement of a TV. 

A media console or TV unit - of adequate height - still remains the most popular way to display a TV in a home that has solid brick walls.

When decorating a room that incorporates a TV, interior designers need to consider several factors: the size of the TV, the distance from the TV to the location of seating, and the light in a room. All these factors play an important role in deciding where a TV should be mounted, but sometimes it's a case of function over style, or vice-versa.

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While the basic rule of thumb is that the centre of a TV screen should be at eye level - or around one metre above the floor, this isn't always possible if a fireplace or fitted feature doesn't allow for mounting in this location. In some instances a compromise has to be made and alternatives considered. Where possible, the TV should be mounted as low as possible above fittings, or be mounted in such a way that it can be angled downwards, or rather placed to the side - if there is space.

The launch of flat screen TV's gave rise to slim line console tables and media cabinets. This freed up space and allowed for airier, lighter rooms. And streamlined modern features for TVs made it more acceptable to keep them out in the open.

 

 

With the launch of high-definition, wraparound-screen and 3D TV's, the rules for setting up a TV for optimal viewing has become blurred. Screen sizes range from 32 centimetres up to 152 centimetres, which adds even more confusion as to the best place to mount a TV.

Ideally, you want a TV to be mounted so as to be comfortable to view from various angles. Whether this be on top of a media cabinet, or mounted above a fireplace. In a larger room, placing a TV above a fireplace shouldn't cause viewing to have to strain to comfortably view, but this is not the case in a smaller room.

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GOOD TO KNOW: Viewing angles are important consideration when mounting an HD-TV. Ideally, the TV should be placed parallel to your eyes, with no more than a 15-degree angle up or down and no more than a 40-degree angle to the left or right. If you are seated at a sharp angle to the TV, you may see negative images on the screen.

If the TV is to be mounted over a fireplace, lowering the screen might be necessary to ensure comfortable viewing for the entire family.

Before permanently mounting the TV to a wall, cut out a mock TV from a piece of cardboard and use this to determine the perfect position and height. The cardboard cutout can be secured onto the wall with Prestik and then viewed from at various seating angles.

A common problem with choosing the best place to mount a TV is glare from windows. If there are limited places to mount a TV for optimal viewing, hanging block-out blinds or sheers may need to be considered for daytime viewing.

Disguise a wall-mounted TV by surrounding it with a collection of artwork and frames so that it blends in with the rest of the décor.

A wall gallery of artwork or photos removed the attention from your TV and adds personality to a living room.

There was a time when surrounding a TV with artwork was considered taboo. Today, however, the TV can still have prime position without it being the most important feature in a room. In this type of setting the eye is drawn to surrounding artwork not just the TV.

At the end of the day, you decide the best place to mount your TV, based on whether it is a feature in the room or not. Whether it's for night time pleasure, or sport - sport - sport on weekends, choose the best position to sit back and enjoy! If you need assistance on how to mount a TV on a wall, you will find advice here.

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