Wall mounting a TV has become increasingly popular in recent years with the advent of flat-screen televisions. Whether you’re creating a dedicated home cinema, or simply want to stick with a minimalist aesthetic, it’s important to learn how to wall mount a TV properly.
This simple guide to wall mounting a TV will cover the eight steps you need to follow to properly wall mount your TV, as well as some of the mistakes to avoid if you’re doing it yourself.
It might seem intimidating, but wall mounting a TV is straightforward once you know what you’re doing. Of course, if you don’t have the tools or the confidence to do it yourself, we recommend getting an expert to help. Here’s how to wall mount a TV in eight simple steps.
First things first: choose the right wall mount for your TV. The wall mount has to be able to bear the weight of your TV, so pick one that’s good quality and rated for your TV’s specifications. There are lots of options out there but they’re not all suited to every TV model, so do your research and consult an expert before you splash out.
It sounds silly, but it’s important to make sure you’re happy with the wall you choose for the TV. Unlike a TV in a cabinet, a wall mounted TV is a lot more time consuming to move. Think about where the light comes into the room and how you want your furniture configured. Also ensure the wall has the structural integrity required to hold the weight of the TV.
Once you’ve chosen the wall for the TV, use an electronic stud finder to locate the wall studs and mark their position with a pencil. Wall studs are the vertical sections of wall frame that sit behind the drywall to provide stability. Because TVs are heavy, it’s essential you mount the bracket to the studs and not just the drywall. If you don’t have an electronic stud finder, you can also locate the studs by tapping the wall—the sound will change when you hit a stud.
Carefully measure the height you want the TV to sit at, and mark this spot on the wall. Then mark out the position of the wall mount bracket. If your wall bracket includes an in-built spirit level you can do this by holding the bracket up to the wall. Alternatively, use a spirit level to mark the correct position and the location for your holes.
To attach the wall mount bracket all you need to do is drill a small pilot hole for your screws, then attach the bracket with bolts. Before tightening the bolts, sit back and check you’re happy with the position of the brackets and adjust as needed.
Lots of people come to us asking ‘how to mount tv on wall without wires showing’. If you’re after a truly professional finish, hiding the cables in the wall is the way to go, but it’s not essential. It’s also the most difficult part so it can be a good idea to get an electrician to help with this step.
The best method to hide cables is to cut space in the drywall and insert cable plates—one for where the cables will run out of the TV, and one closer to the power outlet. Once the cable plates are installed, you simply run the wires through them behind the wall.
Once everything’s mounted to the wall, it’s time to attach the hanging brackets to your TV. To avoid damaging your television, always make sure to read the instructions.
If you’ve come this far you’re good to go! Simply mount the TV to the wall by slotting the TV brackets into the wall mount. Do a final check to make sure all of the screws are tight and the brackets are secure.
If you’re on the fence about whether to wall mount your TV it might be helpful to consider the following advantages. Specifically, wall mounting your TV can:
If you decide to wall mount your TV yourself, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid. These include:
Measure and mark the height before attaching the TV to the wall. To help you find the perfect height, tape or Blutack a large sheet of cardboard to the spot you want the television, and then see how it looks when you’re sitting on the couch. That way, you can adjust the height before you put any screws in the wall.
There’s nothing worse than mounting the TV only to find it’s sitting at an odd angle. Always use a spirit level to ensure the wall mount brackets are 100% level before you drill into the wall, and carefully measure the position of the brackets on the back of the TV.
A common mistake in TV wall mounting is to mount too far from the cable outputs. While extension lines can fix the problem, they can leave you with unsightly cables running through your entertainment space, so it’s best to know where the cables need to go before committing to cutting the drywall.
TVs are large and they can transfer a lot of force through a wall mount. To prevent the mount from tearing out the wall, always double check you’re attaching the mount to the wall studs, and make sure you know what’s behind the wall before you screw in your wall mount!
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