best position for a TV

The Best Position For A TV | How To Maximise Your Viewing Pleasure

Tips and Advice

Televisions are one of the most used electronics in the home, and often a focal point for the room. This means that finding the perfect spot for your TV isn’t quite as simple as just picking an empty wall.

 

To make sure you maximise the viewing experience on your next movie night, we’ve put together a quick guide on the best position for a TV.

Power sources

It sounds obvious but placing your TV near a suitable plug socket is hugely important, especially if you plan on adding other electronics to use alongside it, such as soundbars or gaming consoles.

 

Plan around where your wall sockets are and avoid the need for unsightly extension cords or, worse, having to rearrange the whole room!

Aim for eye level

While it’s tempting to mount a TV high on a wall or on a mantlepiece, keeping your TV at seated eye level is a much better option. This can help minimise the strain on your neck and back.

 

A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can see the middle of the screen without tilting your head up significantly.

Keep your distance

There’s nothing quite like watching the latest blockbuster on the biggest screen possible, but your eyes won’t thank you if you sit too close. We spend a lot of time looking at screens, whether that’s a TV, computer monitor, or phone, so minimising the risk of eye strain and fatigue is important. You might not be worried about the square eyes your mum said you’d get from sitting too close, but eye strain is definitely something you want to watch out for!

 

Ideally you want the distance between your TV and seating area to be between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diagonal length of the screen.

 

If you’re still shopping around for a TV, it’s a good idea to measure your space before committing to a specific size. This will give you a pretty good indication of the largest size you can fit in the room while still maintaining a comfortable distance.

 

It’s not just about protecting your eyesight either! Keeping a bit of distance between yourself and your TV means you can enjoy it with the best picture possible – exactly as the manufacturers intended.

Avoid direct light

We all love natural light in our homes, but those glorious sunbeams aren’t exactly helpful if you’re trying to watch TV during the day. Try placing your TV in a spot away from direct sunlight, lamps, and other light sources to avoid glare and reflection.

 

If you can’t avoid direct sunlight, try using curtains or other window furnishings to minimise the amount of light in the room.

Give yourself options

Mounting your TV on an arm or bracket, or placing it on a moveable unit can give you a little bit more freedom with your positioning. Move it to avoid sun at certain times of the day, or change the angle if you’re finding it a little uncomfortable – just take care with the wires!

Test it out

Before committing to a position, test out a few spots using a piece of cardboard cut to the same size as your television. This is especially useful if you’re going big with your new TV – it’s much easier to move around a cardboard cut-out than the real thing!

Remember, it’s your TV!

Of course, all the advice in the world can’t take away from the fact that it’s your house and your TV, so it’s important to work out what’s best for you.

 

You might like to sit closer so you can hear better or read subtitles with ease. Your space might be limited, or natural light might be unavoidable during the day. You may be planning for a future upgrade and want to have the space set up and ready to go.

 

Figure out what’s most important to you, experiment with the space, and feel free to seek professional advice if you need it!

 

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