TVs are getting bigger but living rooms aren't. Sometimes wall mounting is the only option if you don't have space for a hefty media unit.
The decrease in the cost of producing TVs 55 inches and larger means manufacturers now prefer them over smaller TVs. The ranges from LG , Panasonic , Samsung and Sony are dominated by big TVs.
Looking to upgrade to a new TV? Accept a wait at our all-time TVs for 2021 and skillful buying advice or view our full list of tested Boob tube reviews to compare models.
Video: how to install a TV wall mount
What sort of wall mount do you demand?
There are three basic types of subclass to cull from: fixed, tilt and full motion. Which one you choose depends on where y'all plan to gear up your TV and how much yous recollect y'all'll need to adapt information technology.
- Fixed The most basic mounts set your TV flush to wall. Once it's mounted you won't be able to motility the Idiot box at all.
- Tilt These mounts let you angle the screen a few degrees up or down. This is useful if the TV is going to exist high on the wall and you want to angle the screen downward towards the viewer.
- Full motion These mounts usually have a moveable arm that allows the TV to extend out from the wall and be angled towards the viewer. It'southward handy if you need to put the mount in a corner where the Television wouldn't be able to sit affluent or you just desire to have more than flexibility in how you arrange your living room.
To make the DIY a bit easier, you tin purchase mounts with built-in spirit levels. The last thing y'all want subsequently going through all the effort is a wonky television.
Once yous've chosen what type of wall mount volition work best, you need to make sure it's compatible with your Tv. Cheers to VESA this is a elementary process.
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What is VESA?
VESA is the Video Electronics Standards Clan, and it established a mounting interface standard then you can see easily whether a wall mount is the right fit for your Goggle box.
All VESA-compliant mounts have a measurement in millimetres that tells you whether the holes in the bracket will match up with the holes on the dorsum of your Television receiver. Y'all can check your TV's manual or a product list online to make up one's mind whether a mount is compatible.
Making sure your mount tin can take the weight
When you lot're shopping for a mountain, make certain it supports the size and weight of your Television set. Simply because the VESA measurements line upwards it doesn't necessarily mean that the mount tin handle your size of Tv, so information technology's worth checking.
You should also brand sure the mount is sturdy enough to cope with your TV'south weight. Newer TVs are thin and calorie-free, only if yours is a bit older and then it's probably heavier, too. Check our reviews or your Idiot box manual to run into how much information technology weighs.
How much should you spend on a wall mount?
The cost of wall mounts can vary enormously – prices tin can range from £twenty all the manner up to £160. Only if all are VESA-compliant and fit your TV'south size and weight, why pay more than?
Equally you lot might expect, full motion mounts price more than than stock-still ones and some pricier ones will mean in that location's less of a gap betwixt your Telly and the wall. Some more expensive brackets accept more than points of articulation, giving yous greater control over exactly how your TV is positioned.
If you get a lot of glare from a window and you know you'll often be adjusting the angle and position of your TV, information technology'due south probably worth heading to a shop and asking to try a bracket. If it's stiff and difficult to manipulate information technology may not be the best choice for yous, particularly given that it will merely go harder to motion when in that location's an 18kg Goggle box bolted to it.
What tools will you demand?
You've got your mountain and your Tv set. Now, most of what you demand you might have knocking around the house. Here are the tools required:
- Drill You lot'll need the correct drill bits: masonry ones if yous're mounting the TV onto brickwork and twist bits for anything else.
- Screwdriver Y'all'll need at least 1 screwdriver to fix the subclass to the back of your Television set.
- Spirit level You might non need 1 of these if there'south one in your wall mountain already, but information technology wouldn't hurt to take one handy anyway. You could always download a spirit level app onto your phone if you don't fancy ownership one.
- Stud finder The bolts in mounts go deep into your wall to brand sure your Idiot box is secure. Use this tool before you drill to make sure you drill into the wooden studs that back up hollow walls. You won't need this if you're mounting your TV onto brickwork. Most stud finders will find pipes and wiring, too.
- Tape measure You'll demand 1 of these to make sure the holes are the right distance apart and to measure how high you lot want the Idiot box to be on the wall.
- Spanner Depending on the mount you have, you may need to secure some of the bolts with a spanner.
Step-past-stride guide to mounting your TV
Before you get-go, think almost whether you desire to hide your cables. If you want to put them through the wall, you'll probably need to make a hole before you mount the Television receiver to thread them through.
i. Check your wall can support your TV
They're getting thinner every year, but TVs aren't exactly lightweight. The average weight of a 55-inch TV in 2018 is 18kg.
Unless you're mounting your TV onto a brick wall yous'll need to find the studs. These vertical wooden support beams run along your walls and the gaps between them will either be hollow or packed with insulation, neither of which volition exist stiff plenty to concur up your Idiot box. A stud finder will tell you lot exactly where they are, then you lot tin be sure yous're drilling into something solid rather than empty infinite.
2. Figure out where yous desire the TV to continue your wall
Once you've got your TV fixed to the wall y'all aren't going to want to motility information technology again, then make sure you lot put it in exactly the right identify. Ideally, you want three people to do this: two to hold the Tv and a 3rd to lounge in an armchair to direct proceedings: 'College, lower, a bit to the left, perfect.'
Another option is to become a big sheet of paper and cut out the verbal shape and size of your Tv and agree that onto the wall instead.
When you're happy with the position, mark the edges and corners with a pencil or tape.
3. Ready the subclass to the wall
Hold the bracket to the wall and mark where the bolt holes are. When you make the holes ensure the bracket is directly using a spirit level.
When you're happy with the bracket's position and that your marks are in the right place you lot can beginning drilling. Start past making pilot holes and and so apply a drill bit that matches the size of the bolts that came with your mount to brand the holes.
4. Fit the subclass to your Goggle box
Wall mounts come in ii parts – you've already fitted ane to the wall and now you can prepare the other role to your Tv set.
Nearly mounts come with many different sizes of bolts for different TVs, so don't worry if the first few y'all endeavour don't fit. Once you have the correct ones, use them to attach the mount to the 4 holes on the back of your Telly. Some wall mounts too have fastening screws that help secure the Television once both parts of the subclass are connected. Fit those loosely; you'll tighten them further once the your Television's in position.
5. Mount the Television set on the wall
You lot're now set to put the TV on the wall. We'd recommend plugging all the cables you need into the back of the Goggle box before you do this next stride as space may exist tight once your TV is flush to wall.
Different mounts will have different mechanisms for attaching the 2 sections merely, more often than not, the Boob tube bracket will have hooks that slide backside the role of the bracket on your wall.
Information technology'southward good to have some assist here considering you lot don't desire to come up this far just to drop your Telly. Once the two parts are together, tighten the fastening screws to hold everything in identify.
Hiding your cables
The last affair you want after you've gone to all the effort of mounting your Telly on the wall is to have a slew of unsightly cables dangling downwards beneath it. There are a few options for hiding them and which you choose depends on personal preference, how many cables you take to hide and what wall y'all're mounting your Television receiver onto.
Trunking
If you only have a few cables, y'all can utilise trunking rather than threading them through your wall. Buy big enough trunking to fit all your wires through and try to get a colour that matches your wall. You tin e'er pigment trunking, too.
Trunking may be your simply option if you're mounting your Television directly onto masonry or brickwork.
Thread them through your wall
The other option requires a fleck more DIY, but information technology's useful if you take a lot of cables or you lot don't like the expect of trunking. Make a hole behind where the Idiot box will be mounted and thread all cables through it. Make another below it and pull the cables through. You lot can neaten the holes you've fabricated with cheap a plastic plumbing fixtures. If yous programme to do this, cut your holes to the right size for the fittings.
Buy cables that are longer than you doubtable you'll demand. Yous don't desire to pass the cables through only to realise they aren't long enough to reach your socket.
Go someone else to do it
If this all sounds a bit daunting you lot can always go a professional in to do it for you lot.
Employ our Trusted Traders website to observe a Which?-approved fitter to mountain your Boob tube.
Source: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/televisions/article/how-to-wall-mount-your-tv-ayG286D3R0cd
