Where to Put the TV in Your Living Room: 8 Options

8 Ideas for Placing a TV in a Living Room

1. Above the Fireplace

Placing a flat-screen TV above the fireplace is classic living room setup and with good reason. When you wall-mount a TV, you aren't taking up precious floor space, and this TV placement just looks great, whether you have a small or large TV. "Placing or mounting the TV on or above a fireplace is a very natural space to put a television," says Cameron Johnson.

Plus, when you watch TV, you won't have the inconvenience of seeing the wires hanging distractingly from the TV wall, as these can be hidden with trunking or run through the wall.

"If your living room has a fireplace, placing your TV above it can be a great way to create a cozy and warm ambiance. Make sure to hang the TV at the proper height so that it does not obstruct the view of the fireplace or cause neck strain when viewing," adds Mike Semegen.

2. A Media Wall

A media wall is a trendy feature piece where the TV (alongside any cables and satellite boxes) sits within the wall. This makes a great, modern focal point for watching TV. A TV wall is a great option if your living space is small, and you want your entertainment center to be one of the main features in your living room.

When it comes to placement, Jess Harrell advices, "Place the middle of the TV at your sitting eye height so you don't have to look up and strain your neck."

3. Off-Centre

In direct contrast to a media wall, placing a TV off-center is an effective way for a television to be present in your main room - without being the sole focal point of it — this can work well in a living room, where Lindsey Boney says, "Conversation trumps TV binging."

"A TV can be a focal point in a family room but shouldn't be the focus in the living room," adds Boney.

By placing your TV off-center, you can prioritize other features such as your furniture, artwork, and decor. Taking the onuss off the TV as the main focal point, also gives a room a more personable feel.

If you want to place your TV off-center, you could consider a TV mount that will swivel, so your TV can become a more prominent feature when you want to watch it. "Another favorite is placing the TV next to the fireplace built-in. This can help to keep the TV installed at a reasonable height, and not too high," adds Heather Mastrangeli.

4. Mounted on the Wall

Mounting your TV on the wall is a great way to save space in a small living room as you won't need to have a media console.

A great way to disguise a TV is to incorporate it into a gallery wall. This is a great way to really inject some personality into your living space. You might want to consider artwork placed in simple, understated black frames. Or you might want to inject some bursts of color and go for something a little more eye-catching. The choice is yours.

"This is a popular option as it saves floor space and creates a clean, modern look. A TV wall mount will often allow you to adjust the height of the TV to a comfortable viewing position, and you can also conceal the cords and wires," says Mike Semegen.

Pro tip: "My favorite trick is to mount the TV and create and art shelf under it so that large pieces of art can be moved to cover the TV when entertaining. This also works when creating a salon wall with a framed TV - you can hide it in the composition," says Christiane Lemieux.

5. In an Alcove

If you have some storage space going to waste in an alcove, if there's enough room (and an adequate viewing distance, given your TV's size), it could be the perfect location for a TV mount.

You can even create a bit of an entertainment center that is more discrete and less of a focal point overall. You can also consider decorating the alcove with paint or wallpaper that will wonderfully complement the area. Or if you don't want to draw attention to it, think about camouflage components, such as free-standing lamps or even a thin curtain that will minimize the TV.

6. In Front of the Couch

Opting for a modern and sleek TV unit, such as a slimline floating unit, will give the appearance of a bigger living area as it won't add lots of unnecessary bulk. These are also stylish and a modern option for placing your TV set.

"Generally, a natural place to put a TV in a living room is on a media stand placed directly in front of the main couch, sectional, or sofa," Cameron Johnson.

"Placing a tv on a media console provides storage space for your TV, as well as other media components, such as a gaming console, or sound system. An entertainment center can serve as a focal point in your living room, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere," adds Mike Semegen

"Alternatively, a TV should be placed above a media console. Either sat on the console itself or installed on the wall above," shares Heather Mastrangeli.

7. Tucked in a Corner

If you don't want your TV to be the center of attention in your living area, you can place a TV stand in the corner of the room.

While it works well with larger TVs, ultimately, it will suit a small television best. As corners tend to be darker areas of a room, this location will mean you are largely avoiding a lot of bothersome glare.

Things to Consider When Placing a TV in a Living Room

Before placing a TV in your living space, there are some things you will need to consider. These include: 

• The living room layout
• The furniture you have 
• And, of course, the television itself

Let's discuss each of these in a bit more detail below. 

1. The Room

It's important to think about the layout of your living area. This is one of the major considerations that will ultimately help you decide where your television is best placed. Think about your walls, doors, and windows and where they lie.

"When choosing the placement of your TV, ensure the sun won't cause glare on the screen. When placed in a spot where the sun will be shining brightly, it will be useless until the sun goes down, which is fine if you don't plan on watching TV during the day," adds Jess Harrell, owner of The Styled Domicile.

Another think to think about is how much you actually use your TV. "Consider how you use your TV on a daily basis. Is it on all the time or rarely? That will determine where it should be placed," advises Christiane Lemieux.

You also need to think about the flow of your room and how people will move through it. "When planning the location for a TV in the living room, we first consider the flow, where people sit, and what they should focus on," explains Lindsey Boney of architecture and interior design firm Tecta. "A TV should not be placed opposite a fireplace or a window wall. You're never sure where to look; it shouldn't be in the way," adds Boney.

"When planning the location for a TV in the living room, we first consider the flow, where people sit, and what they should focus on."

"One of the most important factors when considering TV placement is the anticipated viewing angles," says Cameron Johnson. "TVs are meant to be watched versus simply seen so choosing a location that allows for clear sight lines and desirable viewing angles is ideal."

2. Your Furniture

Ask yourself if you want your television to be the central focal point of your family room or whether you want it to subtly compliment its surroundings in the background.

The way you arrange sofas, tables, and chairs will influence whether or not you, your family members, and your guests' attention is focused on the TV or not. "Depending on the size and function of the room, not all of the seating needs to be optimal for viewing the TV," explains Harrell. "I like to place one or two chairs facing the sofa. This placement creates a nice conversation setup and adds function when the TV isn't on. Now the room isn't just for watching TV."‍

3. The Television

As we briefly spoke about at the top, TVs certainly aren't the bulky items they once were. Therefore, you have lots more space to play around with.

The screen size will often influence the best location for the TV placement. This could be as part of an entertainment center, or you could think about a wall-mounted television sitting above your fire. "Choose the right TV size for your room," advises Jason Reynolds, co-owner of Eagle TV Mounting. "This will ensure that it fits comfortably in the space and doesn't dominate the room."

Another consideration you should think about is that your intended focal point makes for clear TV viewing from all angles. Ensure that the TV placement means the viewing quality isn't diminished from certain areas of your living room. If you have an open-concept floor plan, for example, test each seated area to ensure that the television can be seen clearly.

"Maintaining an appropriate viewing distance and height can help prevent eye strain and enhance your viewing experience. Sitting too close or far from the screen can negatively impact your experience," adds Reynolds.

"Generally speaking, the closer the viewers are to the television the lower and closer the television should be to eye level. It is also important to consider circulation patterns in the room to avoid the TV being inadvertently blocked for extended periods. Glare and backlight are two other factors to consider before selecting final placement as they will make the television more difficult to view," says Cameron Johnson.

FAQs

Should a TV be in the corner of the living room?

Placing a TV in the corner of a living area is great if you don't want your television set to be the central focus of your room. It can free up lots of space in your room and could even offer you extra storage. For even more storage, opt for a TV unit that has built-in shelves, so you can store cable boxes.

Where is the best position for a TV in a living room?

Where you place your TV in a living area largely depends on your taste, as well as where your windows and doors sit to avoid glare and family members walking past, which will interrupt your viewing. However, there are other considerations, such as the size of your room, the space available to you, and the positioning of your furniture.

Which wall should a TV go on?

A TV should be placed on walls which aren't high traffic areas and away from windows which can cause a glare on the screen. You should also think about the height you place a TV on a wall, as you don't want yourself or your guests suffering from neck strain.

How do you arrange a living room with a TV in the corner?

Ensure your TV is at eye level for comfortable viewing. You might want to use TV mounts to hang the television on the wall. Or, presuming you have the space, you could use a TV stand. Keeping your TV in the corner of your living area is ideal for those who don't want their TV standing out yet still require a space with good viewing when they do wish to watch TV.