The focal point of most guys’ rooms is the flat panel TV.  Probably the most difficult decisions regarding decor for the flat panel TV are (1) whether to mount it and (2) how high to mount it.  For the most part, I am a fan of mounting the TV.  If you go through monoprice, the price is fairly reasonable and you gain the added benefit of obscuring most of the wires.  So for me, the answer to question 1 is fairly simple—mount the TV.  However, I think the answer to question 2 is a little more difficult.

When mounting a TV, you usually have a couple choices:  (1) mount it above a fireplace, (2) mount it at standing eye-level, or (3) mount it at sitting eye-level.

I rarely recommend choice 1, because mounting a TV above a fireplace is a lot more difficult then on a standard wall.  In addition, if you figure out how to mount it, you can often not easily obscure the wires which creates a pretty big eye-soar even with cord covers.  Often, if you have a home with a fireplace, I suggest using another wall to mount the TV or choosing a different room as the media room.

So, if you have moved past choice 1 you are left with choices 2 and 3.  You can either mount the TV at standing eye level or sitting eye level.  I think the choice between these two is a little more difficult.  The question I ask myself when making this decision is ‘how and where will I watch the TV?’.  This answer often depends on the layout of the room itself.  For a TV in a general room, with several viewing levels (e.g.: an open floor plan), I think it is often better to mount the TV at eye level.  Now, for tall guys, this doesn’t mean your eye-level, it means standard (or art) eye level.  Typically this is centered at 60″.  But, I usually put it a couple inches lower to accomodate for the size of the TV.  For media-specific rooms where everyone watches the tv from couch height, it might be better to mount the TV a little lower.  I would start at around 45″ and adjust to suite your taste.

Tip:  Don’t rush the process.  I recommend taking a piece of cardboard (possibly the box the TV came in) and cutting it the dimensions of the TV.  Then, put it on the wall for a few days at the height you are considering.  This will allow you to get an idea for how high the TV will be when it is up.

If you have any additional suggestions or considerations feel free to post them in the comments below.  Also, if you mount your TV and want to show off your setup, email us at guydecor@guydecor.com.

This entry was posted Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm and is filed under technology. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.