Now that flat screen televisions are becoming more and more popular, there are many new TV owners looking to learn how to mount it on the wall. As flat screens have been getting slimmer and gaining in popularity, big entertainment centres that take up so much room in your living room are declining in popularity. By mounting your TV to the wall, you save space and can give your living room a sleeker, more open look. If you mount your flat screen to the wall in your bedroom, it also leaves more room and less clutter. Here at Selby Acoustics, we are here to help guide you when you want to mount your flat screen television on the wall.
Tips for Wall Mounting your TV
Mounting your flat screen TV on the wall is something that you can take on as a DIY project. However, it is important to follow these 5 tips for wall mounting your flat screen TV. Please remember that your screen is expensive (likely heavy) and requires a strong, solid support. If you unsure about mounting it at any time during the process, we recommend that you hire a pro to hang it for you. They do this every day, so will be quick and accurate, saving you lots of time and stress.
- Read the Instructions: The instructions that come with your wall mount are there for a reason. You might ignore the instructions for some, smaller tasks like a child’s toy, but when it comes to supporting one of the most expensive pieces of technology in your home, do your due diligence, and read the instructions; twice if possible. If you don’t read the instructions, you may not get the most out of your mount; but even worse, you might miss an important step or aspect of the mount and it could fall during or after the process.
- Do Not Try to Mount the TV By Yourself: Even if your flat screen TV is not heavy, you will still need a second set of hands to help you mount it. You will need someone to help you position the mount, drill the brackets in, and hold up the television level while you mount it and position it correctly.
- Always Know What Is In Your Wall: What’s behind your wall? This is important to find out before you decide where you are placing the television mount. Is there plasterboard is timber, bricks or steel framework? This will not only affect your choice of wall fastener but also the placement of the screen. If it is timber or steel frame you will need a stud finder to work out where it is going to hang. You will also need to sort out if there are any hidden power cables in the area you are planning to mount so you can be sure to miss them as well. The results could be disastrous if you drill into live cables.
- Always Use a Spirit Level: This is where things can go very wrong for this DIY project. You must use a level because it is almost impossible to get the television screen level without one. Although it sounds very obvious, it happens a lot more than you would think. If you skip this step, you will regret it every time you watch your beautiful, crooked flat screen TV.
- Do Not Hang the TV too High: A common mistake is to centre the television on the big empty wall you are putting it on. This is a common mistake because the TV screen should be positioned lower on the wall so that when you are sitting down to watch, the eyes of the characters are level with yours. Luckily most directors go with a rule of thirds, so this can make it easier for you to figure out. If you were to divide your screen horizontally into three, the top line of the two should be at your eye height when sitting in your viewing position. A few centimetres each way won’t make a big difference, but don’t be tempted to raise it when you are mounting it. It may feel low when you are standing up looking at it, but once you have settled back in your comfy chair it will be perfect.
Choosing the Type of Mount You Want
Once you have gone through our 5 tips and checked everything off of the list, then you should choose the type of TV brackets you will need. There are four different types to choose from:
- Fixed or Slim
This is a low-profile, fixed bracket which essentially mounts your TV like a photo frame. There is usually no movement, but some models do allow for a small 5-degree forwards tilt.
- Tilting
These brackets allow a forwards tilt of up to 15 degrees, which is ideal if you need to adjust the face of the screen to compensate for glare from a window or light source. The ability to tilt your television can also be helpful when watching TV in bed or sitting on the couch, or if you choose to mount your screen higher on the wall. Many tilting brackets also tilt upwards, which can make it a lot easier to plug in cables.
- Full Motion
These brackets have an arm or arms, allowing you to extend the bracket away from the wall and swivel it left/right. This is handy for pointing the screen towards your viewing position. Most full motion brackets also include the option of forwards tilt.
- Corner Brackets
The perfect option if you want to mount your TV in a corner, which is a popular choice for people who don’t have wall space available due to a doorway, window, fireplace or other obstacle. These brackets typically come with a longer single arm, which is designed to be positioned in the corner of the room. A corner bracket should not be pulled in and out frequently, but rather the arm is used to get the perfect viewing position for your screen and then left in that position.