A flat screen TV whether an LCD, LED or plasma provides superior picture quality and looks good in any home. Due to its slim footprint, about 3-4 inches thick, a flat screen TV helps free up considerable space and can be displayed in several innovative ways.
Here are some ideas to integrate the TV screen harmoniously in your home décor;
• Wall mounted
• Put up on stands
• Housed in a wooden cabinet
• Recessed in the wall
• Mounted on the ceiling
Plan well beforehand
The living room is the most favored place to put up the TV. Plan carefully keeping in mind the overall seating arrangement, furniture, size of the room and the preferred viewing angles as the installation will be more or less permanent. Depending on viewing habits, ensure that the seating arrangement is flexible. This will let you enjoy TV viewing as well as use the room for any other purpose.
Screen size and room dimensions
Today plasma and LCD TV screens are available in a variety of sizes from standard 32 inch screens to giant displays 100 inches in length. The size of the TV screen however should be appropriate to the room dimensions.
Ideally the viewer should be at a distance of at least twice the length of the TV screen. So a 40 inch TV screen can be viewed from a distance of about 7-10 feet. The center of the screen should be at the viewer’s eye level making for comfortable viewing at all times.
Multi-purpose wall mounts
A variety of tv wall mounts are available which can be used imaginatively. Wall mounts that come with a tilt or swivel option enable you to watch the TV while reclining or moving about. So you can easily do flat screen TV installation,even in the bedroom or kitchen if need be.
A sleek and compact device
A major concern for Flat screen TV owners is the sight of cables and wires hanging about, more so if there are kids in the house.
Running the cables through the walls is the best option though suited more for dry walls. Brick walls are better served by decorative moldings that can conceal the wires inconspicuously and blend in with the room furnishings.
Unlike CRT TV sets, flat screen TVs can easily be hidden when not in use. Home decor connoisseurs can make use of sliding TV cabinets, wall recesses and dual wall mounts to display paintings over the space.
Installing a flat screen TV is a task which involves a fair amount of drilling, cutting and fastening and is best left to the professionals if one is not used to it.
What is your choice, the classical, neat and tidy or versatile look?
Over the Fireplace: A popular trend is to TV fireplace installation. This adds to the aesthetic look of the room though the height of the fireplace needs to be on the lesser side to avoid stiff necks.
On Racks: Floor stands or racks are perfect to accommodate the flat screen TV and additional components like DVD player, AV receiver, cable box, speakers and games console making for a neat and tidy look.
From the ceiling: Flat screen TVs can also be hung from the ceiling with the aid of a pole and swivel adaptors enabling viewing from different angles.
Flat screen TVs and home theaters
Place the TV in a spot away from windows so as to reduce glare. Decorate the room with drapes, carpets and blinds which will ensure better sound clarity. Put up lights that can be dimmed and you are good to recreate the theater experience at home.
