You might have many beautiful spaces in your home, but few get the attention as much as the wall that holds your TV. Try as you might to direct focus elsewhere, your television is always the main attraction in your living space. From Sunday football sessions to movie nights with the kids, your entertainment room is centered around the screen.
Continue reading to learn why your TV placement is important and how to make it work within the architecture and design of your room.
Why your TV wall matters
Your television is most likely the main attraction in your living room. That makes it an important aspect of your home’s overall design. The problem is, if your room has competing architectural features, your design and layout are affected.
TV Placement
The first thing to take into consideration when designing your living room is where the TV will go. This might not seem important in the overall scheme of things, but it can make or break your living space. You have a couple of options (namely a wall mount TV or TV stand), and both can work well in many home styles.
Here are some tips to follow to find the right place for your television:
- Location: Pay attention to where the windows and doors are. Ideally, you’ll want to place your TV away from high traffic areas.
- Glare: Avoid placing it across from windows that can cause a glare on your TV screen.
- Space: Choose a wall that is big enough to host your TV. Modern televisions are big and can take up a lot of space. It’s best to find a wall that won’t seem crowded or too small to fit the screen.
- Electric: It might seem obvious, but make sure to pick a wall that has ample power supply for the TV and any other extra systems that might need to be plugged in.
- Hide Wire Mess: It’s best for you and your designer to consult a professional to install your TV and sound equipment so that all wires are hidden discreetly, and everything works from the least amount of remotes.
TV Mounting Tips
With a TV that’s mounted to the wall, height is everything. Since you’ll be watching the TV while sitting on the sectional, you don’t want to strain your neck by looking too far up or down. The common rule is that a 42″ TV should be mounted about 56 inches from the floor to the center of the screen, a 55″ TV should be 61 inches, a 65″ and a 70″ should be about 67 inches and so on. Basically, the larger the screen, the higher the television needs to be placed on the wall.
TV Stand
If you don’t want to mount your television, then a TV stand is the solution for you. The entertainment center you choose should be wider than your TV. Your designer should offer you options based on the aesthetic of the room. It should hold the television at a comfortable height for viewing. Remember if placing it in a bedroom you will need to place it a bit higher so you can see over your covers and footboard.
Once your TV is placed or mounted, the wall design becomes the top priority, but how can you decorate a wall that is already dominated by a screen? Continue reading for TV wall ideas
Decorating your TV wall
When decorating your TV wall, you have many design options. You can choose to have the television be the main attraction or you can blend it into the room or minimize its presence. Use the following ideas as inspiration for your space:
Paint or Wallpaper an Accent Wall
Whether you want the TV to stand out or blend in, the color of your wall is a great place to start. To lessen the impact of the screen’s size, select a dark color like charcoal or navy blue. This can make the giant black screen seem less jarring.
Create a gallery wall
Arranging wall decor around your television can give the appearance that your flat screen is just another work of art. You can also pick out multiple prints or paintings to give an eclectic look, or choose simple, neutral pieces that harmonize the wall design. If you want to take this concept a step further, add a frame around your television. Samsung Frame TV is a great choice here as it displays an endless choice of images when it’s not on and has a wide variety of frames to further enhance the look.
Use your fireplace
If your home has a fireplace in your living room, it can be a great spot to hang your television above. By doing this, your seating orientation does not compete with either of these focal points. Then, use the mantle to adorn candles, books, pictures or any other home decor that can bring new life to your living room.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to decorating your TV wall, but there are still design mistakes that you should steer clear of.
Common TV wall design mistakes
A beautiful wall design can incorporate your TV perfectly and make the whole entertainment space cohesive. But, one bad decision can make your living room look cluttered or uncomfortable. Avoid these common TV wall design mistakes to ensure the space is ready for your next movie night.
Too much wall art
Putting art on the wall that holds your television is a great way to add color and interest to your living room but having too many pieces can make your space look overly busy. When hanging up paintings or pictures, it’s best to evenly space out each item and avoid mixing too many hues or patterns. Keep in mind that the TV should also have a few inches or more of space around the perimeter of its screen to avoid a design that looks cramped.
Tilted wall mount
As helpful as a wall-mounted TV is for viewing purposes, having a tilted screen can be very jarring. Using a swivel or a tilt mount is much better suited for a sports bar, not your beautiful living room. If you’re having trouble seeing your screen properly, try changing the height of the mount to be more suitable for your family.
Cornering your TV
Unless your living room was blessed with an ample amount of space, putting your TV in the corner of the room is generally not a great idea. As previously mentioned, your television is probably pretty big, and it needs adequate space for it not to look like an afterthought. Try placing the screen toward the center of a wall or above a fireplace to avoid messing with your room’s flow. On top of that, avoid putting your entertainment center in front of windows.
If you got stressed while looking through this list of design mistakes to avoid, maybe it’s time to reach out to an interior designer.
Still Unsure of What to Do?
We can help you come up with the best solution for your room that takes all these things into consideration. Call us to schedule a consultation today.
