The TV has a special place in most homes, sitting as the centre of entertainment and a part of family life. Given the importance that we place on our televisions, it is worth spending a bit of time to make sure that they’re in the right place to give you the best viewing experience.
In this guide, we’ll take you through all of the placement options, and look at how you can get it in the best spot for your home.
Distance
There’s an ideal distance from your main viewing area for your TV to be placed. The distance is based on the size and resolution of your television. For a 4K TV, the ideal viewing distance is 1.5 times the vertical height of your TV. For example, a 55in TV is best viewed from 1 metre away. This distance gives you the best viewing quality and detail.
If you have a Full HD television, the distance is three times the vertical height. For a 50in TV, that’s 1.9 metres away. Sony has a guide to help you judge distance.
Following these rules exactly can be hard, as your television and furniture has to go against a wall, but it’s still a good rule to know, particularly if you’re thinking about upgrading television.
Height
The general rule here is that your eyes should fall roughly one-third of the way down your TV’s screen from the top. That’s typically where the action takes place, with people’s heads usually shown in this portion of the screen.
Practicalities mean that you may need to put your TV a little higher or lower than this, but avoid placing your TV too high. Avoid using a wall bracket to mount your TV above a fireplace: it may seem like convenient wall space to use, but you’ll end up craning your neck to watch. Similarly, if you are using a console table or similar, your TV will probably be too high.
Viewing angle
Of course, television is best watched straight on, as this will give you the best picture quality. If you have multiple seats to deal with, such as multiple sofas, try and place the TV where it’s at an equal angle to all.
Avoid placing your TV at sharp angles, as you’ll get diminished image quality, not to mention the fact that it will be uncomfortable to watch.
