FIVE top questions about TV placement answered
What are a Designer’s thoughts about TVs?
Read on to learn about the optimum screen height for comfortable viewing.
You’ll wisely decide against hanging the TV over the fireplace, or at any height suitable for watching TV while standing!
We’ll get to the technical calculations in a minute, but first, let’s talk about TV placement as it applies to your room design…
“A room layout doesn’t always allow you to choose, but if you can, place the TV on any wall OTHER than the one facing the door”
As an interior designer, I prefer that the TV is not the focal point of a design if there’s a choice.
If it’s possible, place the TV on the wall directly to your left or right when you enter the room. Tucked away out of the eye line when you first enter. Sometimes there’s no choice, and it has to be front and centre. In those cases, I’d recommend introducing an eye-catching diversion.
Tricks to take the focus off your TV
Use a large art piece to attract the eye. Think over-scaled and visually stimulating. Placed right next to the TV it will grab all of the attention, allowing your TV to fade into the background.
Buy a frame TV, so that you can enjoy your personal art exhibit or a mirror when you’re not watching.
If you have a larger budget, consider hiding it inside a piece of furniture, a bookshelf, or custom cabinetry. Yes, there is a TV behind those sliding doors.
Disguise your TV by painting the wall behind it a dark colour. Build custom joinery and use interesting lighting to distract the eye.
If my seating plan means the TV is in the centre of the wall, how can I style it?
Take the TV off its stand and hang it on the wall to create a sense of space and reduce clutter.
Make sure that the cords are concealed within the wall cavity or hidden behind a flat conduit painted the same colour as the wall.
Hide your media equipment behind cabinet doors and wall-mount your speakers.
How far away should my sofa be?
The best viewing distance depends on screen size and resolution. The appropriate viewing distance also depends on the content, the viewing environment, and your physical needs as the viewer.
Manufacturers recommend that we always view our TV from a suitable distance and take regular breaks.
What is a suitable distance?
A general rule of thumb
1.5 times the TV’s vertical screen size for a 4K model and
3 times the TV’s vertical screen size for a High Definition model.
From this distance, the naked eye cannot distinguish individual pixels. This means that pixels effectively disappear when viewing 4K images.
This creates the impression of watching TV pictures with the same level of detail and resolution as in real life.
1.5 times the television screen height is ideal distance to sit from a 4K television
3 times the television screen height is the ideal distance to watch a HD television
5. How high should I hang my TV?
Height and distance are the most important numbers to know.
For most people, the optimal TV viewing height is to position your eyes at the centre of the TV or slightly lower.
The angle can be adjusted to your preference, but staring up at a TV is like sitting in the front row of a movie theatre. It's not ideal, not comfortable, and not conducive to hours of binge-watching.
A good rule of thumb is that your eyes should be no higher than the middle of the screen.
If you prefer your TV to be slightly higher than that, line your eyes up with the bottom third of the screen.
My final thought is to watch out for glare and reflections. Make sure your room lighting includes dimmers and that lamps are positioned accordingly. Low light is better than no light to avoid eye strain.
PERFECT HEIGHT
This a comfortable height to watch TV
TOO HIGH
This height will give you a neck ache before too long.
