Wall Mount or TV Stand? How To Make The Right Decision

Wall Mount vs. TV Stand?

It’s not one of life’s big decisions but is still worth thinking about. There are numerous benefits and disadvantages to having either a TV stand or Wall mount, so here are some insights into which one might be best suit you and your television.

Is it better to wall mount a TV or put it on a stand?

Without a doubt, plonking your TV onto a stand is easier; so long as it is the correct height for you to comfortably view your favorite shows whilst sitting on the sofa then it’s a case of job done. In fact, many televisions come with a TV stand built-in; particularly flat-screen TVs, whether OLED, Plasma, or LED. You can move it to the desired distance away from the back wall, and could even move it to another room if you were wanting to decorate the room in question.

How do I choose a TV stand?

You should choose a TV stand if you want to have more cable storage access in and around your TV. For example, if you or people in your household are into their gaming consoles, soundbar, or Blu Ray player, it really helps to have regular access to ports at the rear of your TV. You can also move your TV around; for instance, during a sports event like the Superbowl of World Series, to accommodate a larger gathering.

Disadvantages?

One clear disadvantage of TV stands is that they actually take up square footage within your living room, thus reducing the net amount of space available for other things; sofa, La-Z-boy, coffee table, bookcase, aquarium, etc. You also need to choose a stand with quite a large surface area, given the substantial size of flat-screen TVs these days. Another minus is the level of the TV, which will be dependent on the height of the stand – non-negotiable. A final worry is the lack of stability that is inherent in a large piece of technology perching on a movable piece of furniture, ie. the fear of it accidentally falling over due to your dog and/or your children fooling around. The possibilities of that scenario ought not to be dwelled upon. Even if no one were hurt, you still might need to replace this very expensive piece of tech.

Can you get a stand for a wall mounted TV?

Mounting a TV on a wall is not a particularly easy thing to do; nowhere near as easy as just placing it on a piece of wooden furniture. You might be better off getting a professional to help you, especially with the trickier elements of wiring and electrical connections. Many companies will offer this service for free, although you’ll still need to wait for them to turn up and there could be complications due to your home’s infrastructure. You can of course decide that you’d rather revert to the option of using a TV stand after all. This is really the easier of the two options, which doesn’t require any technical know-how, other than the ability to use a tape measure.

Then why do it?

You save a lot of floor space by having your TV wall mounted (ensure you have your extension cable handy), and also save money on purchasing a stand that is big enough and suits the décor of your living room. You also have no limit on how big a flat screen you can have installed, other than the size of your wall! In terms of your eye-line, you can have it exactly where you want, no longer bound by the height of your stand. It also just looks pretty cool and cutting-edge, less clunky and old-school than the trusty TV stand which is something your parents may have had, or still have.

Disadvantages?

You really ought to get it professionally installed, which can add waiting time and money if the installation wasn’t included in the original purchase price. It allows for almost no space between your wall and TV, which might make connecting cables, such as HDMI cable or additional consoles or applications tricky and slightly annoying to slot into place. If you’re into Blu Ray, gaming, or other streaming devices, you might need an additional table in any case, which kind of defeats the purpose of saving space through wall mounting. A more traditional TV stand can aesthetically shield all of those devices within the stand itself or behind the TV’s girth.

If you are going to go ahead with the wall mounted option, then be aware of the different types currently on the market:

• Flat mount (the standard type)
• Hook mount (can be removed when needed)
• Tilt/ swivel mount (the screen’s angle can be adjusted)
• Full-motion mount (more sophisticated angling options)
• Extending arm (can ‘telescope’ from the wall, back and forth)

Hopefully, you will find the right option and position for your TV. Whatever you end up choosing, you certainly have far more options that your parents and grandparents ever had.