Image Courtesty pinningaisha.posterous.com Stylish Black and White Gallery Wall
Merry Christmas to me, merry Christmas to me, after three whooping years I bought a TV. My 15 year old TV, a big, square, beast of a TV that measures front to back at least 2 feet and takes two to lift, is out — and my new 50″ flat screen, smart, lcd, led TV is in (see you Sunday Daryl Dixon).
Image Courtesy Houzz.com Rustic Console and Contemporary Glass Lamps
There isn’t a house that I go into when I am providing a home staging consultation that doesn’t have a TV, or two or three. TV’s are in family rooms, bedrooms, basements and kitchens and even sometimes the bathroom, often creating a design challenge.
Crosley 60” corner TV Stand comfortably keep your television and its accessories in a neat and organized way.
With that said this post will cover optimal placement of your Flat Screen TV so that it looks great not only in your living room design, but for marketing photos if you are getting ready to sell.
This line will work great in your renovated farm house or a smaller beach cottage get-away.
Flat Screen TV and Living Room Design Viewing Angle
The best viewing angle for comfort is to place the TV when seated at eye level and your head even with the middle of the screen. According to Architectural Graphic Standards, the sightline measurement of a seated adult is 44 inches (3′-8″) above the floor.
Image Courtesty turquoise-la.com. Another great gallery wall
When I was selecting the size of the TV for the size of my room I had to take a few things into consideration. The best size for the TV depended on my room size and how far away my furniture is placed and where I’d be sitting, and of course cost, too.
Image Courtesty Houzz.com Ceiling Medallions let your eye rest other than the TV
Flat Screen TV and Living Room Design Screen Size and Distance
There are a few sources that discuss optimum distance for screen size and distances, heres a few to help you, when buying a flat screen while keeping room size in mind:
- 26″ screen = 3 to 5.5 feet
- 32″ screen = 4 to 6.5 feet
- 37″ screen = 4.5 to 7.5 feet
- 40″ screen = 5 to 8.5 feet
- 46″ screen = 6 to 9.5 feet
- 52″ screen = 6.5 to 11 feet
- 58″ screen = 7 to 12 feet
- 65″ screen = 8 to 13.5 feet
- 70″ screen = 9 to 15 feet
Avoid eye strain by not placing the TV directly in front of a window or opposite a west facing window, to prevent glare. Manufacturers recommend not putting the flat screen above the fireplace.
The television in many homes becomes the centerpiece and can take away the focus of design and architecture, if done improperly. By installing the TV low on a wall directly at eye level it allows for the actual wall to remain the star.
Mounting your TV, along with artwork in a gallery style will give your eye plenty to look at other than a big black screen. If using a console that is wider than your TV, flank with tall lamps, objects of art or bookshelves, to incorporate the TV into your interior design.
When you have more than one focal point like a firelplace and windows your only alternative may be to tuck your TV into the corner on a wedge shaped cabinet. Don’t let your TV compete with your focal points, let your focal points shine and your TV play second fiddle to your architetural focal points.
