No media room is complete without the pièce de résistance, the television. Say what you want about it, but the television is still the supreme way we entertain ourselves in the American home. In fact, more than 1.7 billion households have televisions, and the number is steadily rising.
The television has evolved into a device that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Unlike older floor model televisions that were their own piece of furniture altogether, the televisions of today are paper-thin and much less of an eyesore.
However, the fact that a television is still a large electronic piece of equipment can make it difficult to fit it into the stylistic decor of any room. If you get it right, your television only commands attention when it is on. When it’s not in use, it should blend into the background, allowing other aspects of design to take center stage.
The most important part of keeping your television aesthetically pleasing is how you store it. Whether you choose to mount your television or use a stand, your television will either be an obtrusive eyesore or an understated part of your general decor.
At Modloft, our architects build pieces with functionality in mind. Whether you decide to mount your television on a wall or use a stand, we’ve got the solutions you need to keep your space looking cohesive and to help you build a beautiful style.
Here’s everything you need to know about mounting a tv or using a tv stand to house your television.
To Mount or to Stand
If you’ve decided on the wall where you will house your tv, you may not have decided on whether or not to mount the tv on the wall or use a stand. Here are some considerations to help you make the decision.
Electrical Outlets and Cable Access
Possibly the biggest determining factor of how you’ll store your television is whether or not you have available electrical access and/or cable access. In fact, it’s likely one of the reasons that helped you decide where to place your television in your room.
Mounting a television requires cable and electrical access at television viewing height. If your house is older, there’s an unlikely chance that those plugs will be located in the center of the wall. Even newer construction may not have an appropriate outlet.
In this case, you have three options:
- Relocate the wall outlet. This requires a significant degree of skill and familiarity with electrical work. If you’re a novice and don’t have access to the appropriate tools, this is not a good option.
- Use a cord cover strip. If you really want a wall-mounted television but don’t have a mid-level electrical outlet or cable access, you can still mount the tv and buy a cord cover strip.
These strips are designed to cover the electric and cable cords that hang down from your television to the outlet, making them less noticeable. Despite their neutral color and best attempts, these covers are still ostentatious.
- Use a television stand. If you can’t mount your television, you can opt for a television stand. Because they’re available in numerous different sizes, you’ll still be able to have your television located at eye level.
Space for a Stand
In some cases, you may not have an option to use a television stand. If you plan, for instance, to have your television mounted above an existing piece of furniture like a fireplace or mantle, using a television stand won’t be an option.
Even if there is no furniture under the wall space where the television should be placed, your room may be too small to accommodate another piece of furniture (like a tv stand). When placing furniture, a good rule of thumb is to allow at least 30” of space between pieces of furniture you need to walk around.
Visibility
Whether or not you choose to mount your television or use a stand, your television will need to be visible by all the seats in your room. This may mean that mounting is the only viable option so that all seated persons can see.
Keep in mind that some pieces of furniture will be angled or have multiple seats. Just because the television is easily visible from the far end of the sofa doesn’t mean it is easily visible from the end nearest the tv. It may be too close to allow comfortable viewing.
TV Mount Pros and Cons
If you have the option to mount or use a TV stand, perhaps a list of pros and cons of both can help you make your decision.
Pros of TV Mounts
Tv mounts are devices that hold televisions on a wall. Ideally, a tv mount screws into the studs on your wall and attaches to your television, making your television look similar to a hanging portrait.
Here are some of the pros of wall-mounting your television.
- Minimalist design. Mounting your television on the wall is a great way to use space and doesn’t require furniture for television storage, allowing for a minimal and modern look.
Keep in mind, if you see the wires hanging from the television, your minimalist design will be ruined. - Practical. Using a tv mount, you can easily add a television to any space, even your laundry room or garage.
- Safe. Mounting your television may sound risky, but as long as you use the correct mount and have it safely mounted to your wall, it’s one of the safest ways to keep your television away from small hands or animals.
- Wall mounts can be used along with television stands and media consoles. You can always opt to mount your television over top of your media console for a cleaner look and to increase your storage space.
Using a wall mount is a great option, but here are some wall mount pitfalls to consider before drilling into your drywall.
- Wall outlets and cables. If you insist on wall mounting your television without appropriate outlet space, you will have cables that hang from the wall, which is always unattractive.
- It can be a complicated process. It can be difficult to mount a television if you aren’t incredibly handy. Even following a step-by-step tutorial, expect there to be some mistakes. It’s a lot harder to wall mount a television than it is to simply sit it atop a piece of furniture.
- No additional storage. If you need storage, you simply won’t have it with a wall-mounted television.
Pros and Cons of a TV Stand
When you think of a TV stand, you probably think of the same type of stand you had in college; a bargain basement specially crafted from cheap aluminum or particleboard. Thankfully, media consoles have increased in beauty and design and are great options for keeping your television stored along with other media-related items.
Here are some pros you can enjoy when using a tv stand:
- Decor. A gorgeous media console is a standalone piece of furniture that compliments any room. Far from the college dorm days, your media console can be made from solid wood or even unexpected materials like cement for an even more modern look.
A tv stand also provides extra space to add more decorative touches like pictures or ceramics. - Additional storage. Naturally, you’ll have other media-related materials that you need to store with your television. Surround sound or speakers, cables, DVDs, or vintage VHS tapes (and the archaic machines to play them) all need a home. A media console is a great place for them to live.
- Safe. If safety is a concern, remember that most all large furniture pieces can be anchored to the wall, including the television that sits atop it.
- Wall outlets aren’t a big concern. Even if you don’t have a wall outlet or cable access on one wall, you can always conceal an extension cord under the carpet. If you use a tv stand, you won’t have to worry about dangling, distasteful cords.
TV stands aren’t without their own issues. Here are some downfalls to selecting a tv stand instead of using a wall mount.
- Limited viewing. If your TV stand is low, it may be more difficult for everyone in the room to view the television.
- Space has to be a consideration. You’ll have to consider space when you want to use a TV stand. Remember the 30” rule around the perimeter.
The Takeaway
Both a tv mount and a tv stand are great options for storing your television. However, a media console will offer you the benefit of storage and the flexibility to locate your television wherever you like.
For media consoles that add understated style to your space, trust Modloft.
Sources:
TV households worldwide | Statistica
How to Move an Electrical Plug Up a Finished Wall | SF Gate
How to Arrange Furniture in Every Room | Better Homes & Gardens