The Eternal Question: Where Should I Put The TV?
- Posted on September 07, 2015
Once upon a time, TVs were fat bulky things that required you to have even bulkier furniture if you wanted to hide them away from view. Now that big tube TVs are a thing of the past, we have flat screens that fit easily into sleek, modern design styles. And with the invention of wall mounts, you don’t even need furniture to put it on.
But where should you put it? Though most people don’t mind having the TV visible, plenty of us don’t want it to be the center of attention in our home. Finding a spot that’s conducive to watching TV but keeps your TV from being the focal point can be difficult.
Here are some ideas we’ve collected to help you pick the right solution for your entertainment set-up.
A Swivel Mount
One simple solution is the swivel mount, which lets you place a tv out of the way—off to the side of the room, say, or near a corner—then swing it out from the wall to get the perfect angle.
Shelving
Nestling your TV into a larger shelving unit means there are plenty of things to keep the space unified and move the eye across the wall instead of getting stuck on the TV.
Surrounded by Art
Instead of surrounding the screen with shelves, you can create a gallery-style wall where the TV takes its place just like another work of art.
Tucked into a Corner
Placing the TV at an angle in a corner can keep it out of the way and allow you to make seating and conversation the real star of your room.
Custom Cabinetry
Having built-in cabinets can allow you to swivel and slide the tv back into the wall to be out of the way and invisible when you don’t need it.
Sliding Panels
Like an invisibility cloak, you can have panels that slide back and forth to cover the TV. Of course you can choose your material and decorate to fit your style so your vision for the room isn’t muddled by a big black screen.
No matter what room you’re in or how you do or don’t hide the screen, keep the following in mind.
- The TV should be relatively low on the wall. For the most comfortable viewing experience, you want the screen as close to eye-level as you can. Keeping it low also gives you plenty of wall space above for more interesting décor that will draw the eye when the TV isn’t on.
- Never put it directly in front of or opposite a window—or anywhere that will create glare on the screen. If light from windows is unavoidable, consider window treatments that can be closed to block enough light for optimal viewing.
There are also design solutions for putting a TV in every room in the house—literally. Whether it’s a bathroom, kitchen, outdoor patio, dining room, or bedroom—you name it, someone has thought of a beautiful and creative way to put a TV in it.