8 Tips on Wall-Mounting Your New HDTV Screen

So you have thought it through, researched what you want and finally your brand new shiny HDTV has arrived. It’s exciting but it is still in its box. Also, it’s pretty massive, where on earth are you going to put it?

If you have seen any of the shows about decorating and renovating, you will see that one of the sleekest and most modern looks for a living room is to mount your TV on a wall. This maximises the use of space as well as opening the room up and giving it a theatre feel.

So in order to get that screen up and showing your favourite DVD’s as soon as possible here are ukhdtv’s top tips for wall mounting. Some are commonsense, some are expert but all are crucial to doing the job right.

1. Ok so you want to start, but before you do ANYTHING make sure you check your insurance and see if you are covered! This seems obvious, installing your own HDTV while it can save you money can also be a dangerous business for your new TV and you’ll want to make sure that you are covered in case of the worst.

2. First things first, prepare yourself. This doesn’t just mean getting all your tools in the right place, it also means be prepared for the job to take a bit of time. A professional can have your HDTV up in about two hours, so make sure you allow yourself longer because you want to do it right. Give yourself an afternoon.

3. Two heads are better than one. And when installing your HDTV two pairs of hands are better than one. Make sure you have someone to help you out, because depending on screen size these things can be pretty hefty.

4. Check your tool box. These are the things you will need to do the job like a pro: A tape measure, power drill, a drywall saw and a stud finder. Stud finders locate the wooden framing within the walls that you’ll be screwing into. Without this, your HDTV won’t be secure so it’s crucial you use them.

5. Next, select the mount you want to use. Many companies will offer wall mounts with your TV and these can often be the best as they are specifically tailored to your television. The mount will set you back around £20 to £100 depending on the size of your model and quality of mount. You will need to choose between a straight wall mount and a tilted one that reduces glare.

6. When you are deciding where to mount the TV make sure to consider your choice thoroughly. Again, it may seem obvious but this is where your TV is going to live for a very long time. Many interior designers look for striking features in the room and use the HDTV to complement them, so if you have a fireplace, instead of mounting the TV away from it, try mounting it above. This can actually help detract attention from the size of the TV. Alternatively if you want to really feature your new telly, it will look fantastic mounted on a plain wall like a painting.

7. A rookie mistake when mounting your TV is to mount it too high on the wall. Always mount at a level that allows you to see it comfortably. This means eye level or slightly above. If you need to, for practical or design reasons, mount it higher, then make sure you invest in a tilted mount.

8. Last tip, and one that many people miss is to plug in all your cables before you mount. This will save you taking the TV off after all you hard work mounting it!

So now that you are done, sit back, watch something on your fantastic new HDTV!