How To Find The Right TV Position For Your Living Room

Finding A Perfect Spot For Your TV

If you have never put much thought into where to position your living room TV, now is the time to give it some closer consideration. After all, in many households, the television is the focal point of the room, so you want to make sure that you get its location right. As well as offering easy viewing to everyone in the room, it should also not have a negative impact on the overall décor of the space. Thankfully, many modern devices are sleek and stylish, so they will not end up having a detrimental effect on your sense of style. To give you a further helping hand, here is some advice to help you find the right positive for your TV.

Is It Better To Look Up Or Down At A TV?

Ideally, you want your TV to remain at eye level to ensure that you are not straining your neck up or down too much. Keeping screens at eye level is also a good rule of thumb in the office. However, if you are in a straight choice between having to tilt your head up or down, it is better that you are looking down at your television. With regards to your TV positioning, you are not likely to strain your eyes too badly unless the angle is particularly acute, especially if you’re wearing contact lenses or glasses so you don’t have to worry too much.

How Far Away From The TV Should You Sit?

The distance away from the screen that you should sit depends on the size of your TV. Obviously, the bigger the television, the further back you can sit. Take a measure of the diagonal length of your TV screen. You can then arrange your seating between 1.5 and 2.5 times the distance away that you have measured. Between this range, it is a matter of personal preference, so do some experimenting to work out the distance that you prefer. Another factor that can have an impact is the type of TV you own. You can sit closer to an HDTV as the clarity is much greater and you will not see the individual pixels.

How Should You Mount Your TV?

There are several different options when it comes to choosing how to mount your TV. You could simply put it on top of a pre-built stand. Or if space is at a premium, you could always put it on some pre-built shelving or mount it to the wall. Modern flatscreen TVs are lightweight and increasingly versatile, so you have a lot more options than the old-fashioned bulky televisions. However, if you are planning on mounting your TV on a wall, it looks better if it is against a dark backdrop where it can add some texture rather than a background that is too pale.

Where Should A TV Be Placed Without Wall Space?

There are several different factors that can impact where to put your TV if you don’t have any wall space.

• Locate Your Power Sources – While you can technically put your TV anywhere thanks to long extension cords & surge protectors, the easiest location is nearby to a power source. Also, if you are using an aerial, you will need to choose a place that is nearby to this. Once you have found your power sources, you essentially have a shortlist of places that you can put your TV.
• Spacing Issues – Wherever you choose to put your TV, it should be a place that is comfortable for the viewer. So, as we discussed earlier, it needs to be an appropriate distance off the ground, as well as far enough away from your sofa to not create an uncomfortable viewing experience. If you are in the process of buying a new television, you may be tempted to simply go for the biggest one you can afford, but if you only have a small room, this may not be the best choice as it will dominate the space too much.
• Don’t Forget About The Sun – One of the biggest problems when it comes to choosing a good TV position is the glare caused by the sun. So, don’t choose a place that catches the light badly. Otherwise, you are going to have to constantly close the drapes to enjoy TV time.
• Look For A Creative Solution – If you lack the wall space for a TV, it is time to be a little more creative to find space for it. For example, you could place it inside a pre-existing cabinet or up on a mantle. The modern flatscreen TVs provide you with ample options as they don’t take up so much space and are much more discreet.

Choosing the right position and deciding whether to mount your TV or put it on a stand takes a bit of time, but in the end, it is worth the effort.