Get the Right Size TV for Your Entertainment Space

 

We have come a long way from the big tube TVs that we had in the 1950s. TVs took up a lot of space with dial tuning and clunky rears. Since then, our TVs have become dramatically flatter, smarter, and more attractive. A myriad of technological advances now allow us to connect to the internet and watch TV with gorgeous, life-like images. But the same question remains: where do you put it? You may think about this after you've already bought your TV, but if you're planning on getting a new TV, here are a couple of questions to ask yourself so that you can have the best TV watching experience possible.

How Big Is Your Living Room?

This may seem like an obvious question but make sure to measure it. Also make sure that you're OK with moving furniture around to accommodate the TV, if necessary. Do make sure that you're not sold on just one TV size, too. You may be surprised that you may need to go smaller, or bigger.

How Far Away Will You Be Sitting?

Most people will mount their TV sets, but even if you don't, you should measure how far away the TV will be from where you will sit. Then depending on your TV's resolution, you can calculate how big your TV should be. For a 1080p TV, use a 2:1 ratio. For example, for a 50 inch screen TV, you should sit 100 inches, or around 8 feet away. If you get a TV with UHD/4K resolution, then you should sit closer, approximately 1-1.5 times the TV screen's size, so that puts you at 4 to 6 feet away.

Typically, people sit about 9 feet away from the TV, but you'll need to find your sweet spot. It'll take a little experimentation to find the perfect TV and its perfect place, but it's always better to have a TV that's bigger than smaller. With some measuring and guesswork, you can optimize your TV watching experience with the right TV size and viewing distance.