If you are planning a new entertainment system or simply buying a new TV, you have the perfect opportunity to place your screen exactly where it needs to be for maximum clarity, brightness, and color. This is even more important these days as people start upgrading to 4K and OLED screens that benefit even more from careful home theater placement. To help out, here are four things to remember when choosing a TV spot.

 

Keep the Viewing Distance Appropriate to Your Seating

There's a simple formula used for this. Multiply the stated size of your screen (say, 60 inches) by both 1.5 and 2.5. This is the range in which people should be sitting while viewing your TV. Pretty simple, right? However, there are a few complications with newer models. For example, with 4K TVs, you only get the full impact of all those extra pixels if you sit close enough, so it's particularly important to be stingy with seating distances.

 

Also be careful when it comes to viewing angles. Today's screens tend to have very good viewing angles (unless they are curved), but you should still try to keep seats within around 170 degrees of the TV's center.

 

Mount at Eye Level When Possible

The very center of your screen should be at eye level if at all possible. This is often a sticky point with homeowners because living room TVs are often placed much higher – above fireplaces, for example. You can do this, but you will lose some viewing quality in the process. It can also invite long-term problems like neck strain if your seating is too close. A higher TV is a good choice for a "party" area where there will be a lot of people standing and moving around, while in a more quiet living room setting, screens should be at seated eye level to enjoy what's going on.

 

Don't Tilt Too Much

If you do want to place a TV higher on the wall but still focus on seating, you should tilt it downward...but not too much! Don't tilt a high-mounted TV more than 10 degrees if possible. Otherwise, the image will suffer.

 

Always Account for Lights and Windows

When light falls on today's large TVs, reflections can become a major issue. This includes both windows and indoor lights, so consider how light moves throughout the day and what lights you prefer to use. You can always cover up a window, but covering up a lamp or fireplace isn't possible, so try to avoid direct line of sight with these light sources.

 

For more information on where and how to install important home theater components – as well as the chance to get a free home estimate – contact Sevens Home Theater today!