Choose the right location to mount you TV.

In choosing the right location to mount your television consider the following:
Make sure that you have an existing electrical and cable outlet on the bottom of the wall. If you want to mount your tv over a fireplace make sure the electrical and cable outlets are to the bottom left or right of the fireplace. Also you should have a mantle to block the heat coming from the fireplace.

If there are existing outlets at the bottom of the wall or fireplace, consider placing a free standing furniture to place your components (cable box, DVD etc). If the existing outlets are 5ft high consider placing a wall mounted shelf to house your components.

Choose the right TV mount.

In choosing the right TV mount please consider the following:
Get a stud finder from you local hardware store and find the distance between the stud of where you want to mount your TV. Studs are usually 16in , 24in or 32in apart depending on the construction of the wall. Make sure you buy a TV mount that has wide enough wall plate so you can secure it on 2 studs. This becomes extremely important if you plan to buy a Full motion TV mount. Avoid buying flat tv mounts because you are going to have hard time connecting the cables to the back of the tv and you might damage the tv cable ports. A tilting TV mount is the best to use because it can tilt down or up to get rid of any glare that you might have and allow you easy access to the back of the TV. Use a 2 arm full motion TV mount if you plan to mount your TV in the corner or you watch TV from the right or left side of the room. I have found that 1 arm full motion TV mounts sag.

Choose how to conceal the cables between the TV and your components.

If you own your home or condo you have two options in concealing the wires between the TV and the components. You can either conceal the cables in the wall or conceal the cables in wire molding that will be placed on the surface of the wall. Concealing the cables in the wall looks best but it is more expensive and will depend of how your wall is constructed. Use again your stud finder and check to see if there are any fire blocks between the 2 studs that you have already found. If there are none then you can purchase a power bridge to conceal you cables in the wall and extend the electrical outlet right in the back of the TV. Use the power bridge manual to install it. If you find fire blocks between the studs then it will be best if you use wire molding to conceal the cables. If you rent use wire molding as the property owners might not want you to conceal cables in the wall.

Choose the right height to mount your TV

See this post of how high your TV should be mounted on the wall.  Once you find the height place a painters tape horizontally on that spot and between the 2 studs you have found. That is where the bottom of the tv mount wall plate should be.

Mount the TV on the wall

Use your stud finder and mark vertically with painters tape where the studs are. Place the TV mount wall plate above the horizontal and  over the vertical painters tape marks. Use a pencil to mark one of the holes of the tv mount wall plate. Remove the TV mount wall plate and use a drill to open a hole in one of the wood studs. Use a drill bit just smaller in diameter than the wood bolts that come with the TV mount. Place the TV mount wall plate on the wall and screw in the first bolt tight. Use a level to level the wall plate and then mark 3 more spots for the holes make sure the holes are marked on the wall studs vertical painters tape mark. Rotate the TV mount wall plate just enough  to expose the 3 new marks and drill the rest of the holes and then screw in the wood bolts using a socket wrench. If you have a power bridge place the top plate right under the TV mount wall bracket following the instruction that the power bridge manufacturer provides and fish your HDMI cables through.
Now place a blanket on the floor or on a table big enough for your TV,(make sure there in no tools  or other material under the blanket) and place the TV face down. Remove the plastic hole covers from the back of the TV and screw in the vertical hooks that are provided with your TV mount. (make sure the hooks are aligned. Finally once this is done have someone help you mount your TV on the wall bracket.

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