Tech in Design: Where to Put Your Flat-Screen TV

It has been a month since I heard this will be the final season of Desperate Housewives, and I am still not finished it. After having suffered the loss of Monk, 24, Lie To Me, along with Brothers and Sisters, I was consoling myself with the fact that shortly it would be the time for Desperate Housewives, House, Modern Family — and oh , Castle. Now DH is going away, and I do not intend to miss a single minute of it.

In honor of this new TV season, I have all sorts of great info on where your wellbeing should proceed, how large it should be and how to not miss as much as an eyebrow lift from your favourite TV personality.

Hey, do not touch that dial! Read on for more ways to get your TV placement right.

Quezada Architecture

For optimal viewing, where if you place the TV?

Place the TV in eye-level. For the best viewing angle, then place the TV low to ensure if you are seated, your head is even with the middle of the screen. You’ll be comfortable if you can sit straight ahead, rather than up or down in the monitor.

If the TV go over the fireplace?

Not if you can help it, however, here’s what to do if you can not. I admit to completely hating the current trend of placing TV niches over the fireplace. Hate it, hate it, hate it. However, if you are stuck and that’s the only place your TV can proceed, place the TV on a wall mount or stand that will allow you to angle down the screen. That’s because the screen is best viewed straight on rather than from an angle.

If you are remodeling or building and still feel you must place your TV over the fireplace, consider a narrow, rectangular terrace positioned very near the ground, such as the one in the photograph above. It will allow you to have lower and much better positioning than placing your TV over a tall fireplace using a tall mantel.

Witt Construction

Will Not the TV be in a bad angle if it is to the side of the fireplace?

Not if it’s possible to angle it toward the audiences. The TV cupboard to the left of the fireplace provides more of a straight-on view.

Contemporary house architects

Give yourself some adjustability to get the best viewing angle. This little TV shelf slides forward, and I bet they could angle the TV toward the center of this space.

Lindy Donnelly

There are all sorts of mounting brackets for slender, flat panel TVs. You won’t miss a minute of your favorite show when you can angle the TV straight into a fantastic area, then turn it toward the dining area. If you’re going to eat and watch TV anyway, you can at least sit in the table rather than eating on the sofa.

See more of this house (and what’s behind this TV screen)

Elad Gonen

How large should the TV screen be?

Larger is better — pretty much.
Lots of people say they wish they had a larger TV, but have you ever heard anyone complain that their screen is too large? I didn’t think so.

The ideal size for your TV depends on how large the space is, what you are viewing (high def or not), just how far off you’re going to be sitting, and what you are able to afford. Add personal taste to the mixture and there’s no easy answer.

Here is a loose guideline on seeing distances I pulled together from several sources. The best distance for you and your TV may vary:

Display sizes and Basic viewing distances:
26″ screen = 3 to 5.5 feet32″ screen = 4 to 6.5 feet37″ screen = 4.5 to 7.5 feet40″ screen = 5 to 8.5 feet46″ screen = 6 to 9.5 feet52″ screen = 6.5 to 11 feet58″ screen = 7 to 12 feet65″ screen = 8 to 13.5 feet70″ screen = 9 to 15 ft

Gramophone

What’s the best seating arrangement for my home theater?

Place as many seats as possible looking straight at the screen, rather than fanning seats out to the sides.

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

This home theater was wide enough to add more seats to the side, but we left another row instead. At the pictures, everyone wants to sit at the center for the best opinion, and it is the same for TV.

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

We constructed a custom riser that curves around the rear of the front row so that the people in the spine can see above the heads of the front. The window is coated with black curtains with room-darkening lining.

Hint: Don’t forget the popcorn! That is a real popcorn machine within this home theater.

Amoroso Design

What if I do about windows?

Contemplate your window treatments carefully.
Notice how in the photograph above, we could view warmth from the window onto the TV screen. Notice also that they have fine, opaque and possibly room-darkening lined curtains to pay for the window. (Pulling the curtains closed also keeps nosy neighbors from understanding how many hours of TV you really watch.)

Avoid placing your TV in front of a window, or reverse a west-facing window. Glare or the difference in light from the windows and your screen can cause eye strain. The outfits they wear on Desperate Housewives cause sufficient eye strain by themselves!

Seura

If you adore night soaps, you know that in a split second, a sneaky sideways glance will tell you the two characters are having an affair, or even a tiny cough lets you know that someone has suddenly become terminally ill.

So what do you do in case you do not wish to miss a single minute?
Not an issue! Even a small flat panel TV could be built into a little niche in your cupboard so that you don’t miss anything when you are cooking.

Seura

Or, it can go in the backsplash so that you don’t miss out while rinsing a dish.

More ways to add a TV to your kitchen

Witt Construction

Or over the refrigerator so getting up to find a snack doesn’t leave you in the dark about the most recent plot twist.

Seura

Stay informed about the show while you’re cleaning your teeth or shaving.

Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. (CKD, CBD, CR)

Don’t miss a single romantic moment on The Bachelor while you soak in a bubble bath with candles, champagne and rose petals.

Seura

Watch Dancing With the Stars while you’re under the Actual stars!

Deep River Partners

Got you covered at bedtime.

La Scala

Are you currently an action enthusiast? Don’t miss a single explosion, car chase, or gun fight with numerous displays! The more actions the better!

Alright, I hope this helped you get all set up for the new shows for autumn along with your favorites that are coming backagain.

Inform usWhat show are you really excited to see, and where are you going to be seeing?

More: The Way to Put the TV When the Wall Will Not Work
Working a TV Into Your Inside Layout
14 Ways to Put a TV in Your Kitchen
Cool Trick for Hiding TV Cords
How to Move the TV Outdoor

Pictures: Read media room layouts

Products: TVs, stands, benches and much more

See related

Fall Fixes: Get Your Fireplace Cold-Weather Ready

Spending a crisp, autumn evening spent in front of a roaring fire is just one of life’s great delights. And nothing could ruin it quicker than a mechanical injury. Here to keep that from happening is Tom Parks of COASTROAD Hearth & Patio at Shallotte, North Carolina. Parks, certified by the National Fireplace Institute along with also a self-described”fireplace nerd,” provides us a notion of things to triple-check before starting up your fireplace to your holiday season.

Give a chimney a checkup using his tips under, or schedule a service call with a certified fireplace technician. If you think something may not be appropriate along with your fireplace, possess a professional technician come in to look at it it’s better to be safe than sorry.

More: Browse photographs of fireplace designs

Harrell Remodeling, Inc..

Basics: If there’s glass on front of your fireplace, then you’re likely going to have to clean it at least once a year. Parks suggests cleaning with a water-and-vinegar combination or a technical fireplace cleaning solution (prevent cleaners containing ammonia). If the glass is collecting soot, your fireplace should be adjusted to burn cleanly.

If your chimney has louvers or grilles on the front, it’s intended to circulate air around the combustion region. This implies that anything is in the air near the fireplace — such as dust, pet hair, what-have-you — will be dragged into that place. Clean this area frequently to maintain the fan working and to prevent dust from collecting. Parks advocates a shop vacuum or even a hose extension on a normal vacuum to get the job finished.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

Wood fireplaces: If you are using your wood-burning fireplace many times, you’ll need your chimney swept out roughly once per year. Employ a professional; you may find a certified chimney specialist at the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

Gas fireplaces: For gas stoves with a standing pilot light (one that is on all the time), ensure that your pilot has been serviced regularly. Fireplaces with no pilot light, or that are on just while something is burning, may be serviced less often.

“All unvented gas fireplaces and gas logs built in the last two decades have had an Oxygen Depletion Sensor pilot,” says Parks. “This should be cleaned every year to keep the machine from getting more sensitive and inducing bothersome shutdowns.” A can of compressed air may be used to clean out the pilot orifice (the opening where the gas comes out). In case your machine is 5 or more years old, then you may have to call a specialist.

Mark English Architects, AIA

Electric fireplaces: There’s usually not a great deal of maintenance involved in electrical fireplaces, but if you would like to decrease the likelihood of your fire going out in the middle of a celebration, Parks indicates replacing your light bulbs before the holiday season gets underway.

COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

More resources: when you have questions about how to look after your chimney, you may download operations manuals for current models from most manufacturers’ web sites. If your operations manual is not available online, you can contact a trader through the company’s site; they should be able to assist you. You could also find a fireplace specialist through the National Fireplace Institute.

More: 16 Stunningly Beautiful Fireplaces
Browse more photographs of fireplace designs

See related

Houzz Tour: Kay Loves Vintage

If the thought of living on the outskirts of Amsterdam, collecting gorgeous Mid-Century furniture and (in my head at least) pedaling around on a bike with a basket full of tulips sounds nice for you, then this Houzz Tour ought to be right up your alley. Okay, so I don’t really know if bike rides and freshly-picked flowers are routine at the life span of Kay from the blog Kaylovesvintage, but the furniture and location gathering most definitely are. She offered us a peek into the enchanting house she shares with her husband, daughter and four cats.

Kaylovesvintage

The two-bedroom house the family shares was constructed in 1901 and sits at a little village a few kilometers outside of Amsterdam. Both Kay and her husband are avid Mid-Century Modern collectors, so naturally their little home is filled with treasures in the period.

Kaylovesvintage

Kay works as a personal vintage and classic shopper (dream job!) , and on the side conducts an Etsy shop selling many of the pieces she finds on her hunts.

Kaylovesvintage

Because space is at a premium in the family’s house, they attempt to stick to a single principle:”For every item that comes in, something else must go.”

Kaylovesvintage

Kaylovesvintage

They also now attempt to concentrate their collecting smaller things in the’50s and’60s, rather than large furniture.

Kaylovesvintage

Kay has the ideal idea: She places her favorite finds in the living space, as it’s where the family spends all their time.

Kaylovesvintage

The collection continues out with retro patio seats and servingware.

Kaylovesvintage

In addition to scouring flea markets and yard sales, the family travels to England, Denmark and Germany once or twice a year to search for interesting pieces.

Kaylovesvintage

A classic Ericofon peeks out from behind the family’s modern media installment.

Kaylovesvintage

Interested in starting your own MCM collection? Kay has some good advice. Most significant,”If you don’t enjoy the hunt, don’t start collecting unless you’ve got a massive budget.” Furniture in the’50s and’60s is very popular right now, so you have got to actually put in the sweat work to find something you like at a fantastic cost.

Kaylovesvintage

Getting a good cost works twofold: Not only is it easy in your pocket, but if your tastes change down the street, you will probably be able to market it for what you’ve have it for.

Kaylovesvintage

You may need to wait some time to get what you’re looking for in your budget. As Kay points out, “. . .you will always find an item for the ideal price if you’re patient enough. Realize that rates are moving up and down quickly. Some hot thing that’ll cost you a fortune could be rather cheap in a couple of years “

Kaylovesvintage

Kay now has her eye out for a radio — preferably a Tesla 308U Talisman or even Nordmende Transita. Her husband? A CH28 sawhorse chair by Hans Wegner.

Kaylovesvintage

“Also, learn about the big MCM designers and the things they created,” she says. “We spent hours reading books and browsing the web for information. This is also great for creating your taste in design.”

Kaylovesvintage

An assortment of hyacinth vases and classic cameras.

Kaylovesvintage

Kay stores many of her pieces upstairs, but daughter Nila’s area is available for a view. An Eames rocker retains court close to a wall of modern prints.

Kaylovesvintage

A vintage garden bench in the 1950s makes for a cozy spot to enjoy the garden.

Kaylovesvintage

Thank you for giving us a peek in your house, Kay!

You can follow Kay’s collecting adventures at her blog, Kaylovesvintage.

More Houzz Tours:
’70s Condo Gets Extreme Makeover
Abbey’s Aesthetic Outburst
Lauren Liess’s Pure Style

See related