Have you decided to go without a TV stand for your new flat screen, or do you simply want to change the decoration of your living room or bedroom? Hanging your TV on the wall is an interesting choice. 

Here are some tips to better understand the maneuver!

With thinner and lighter televisions, it has never been so fashionable to your TV installation on the wall: it is possible with all flat-screen TVs, Full HD or Ultra HD, so why deprive yourself? A decision that can be made for practical or aesthetic reasons, but beware: there are still some data to consider, precautions to take, and equipment to gather. 

Don’t panic, here is everything you need before you get started!

TV mount: know the wall well to secure it

If you want to mount your TV on the wall, it is probably to free yourself from a TV stand. This, therefore, means that your screen will be suspended, like a painting, at least several tens of centimeters from the ground. At this point, a fall would undoubtedly be very detrimental! It is, therefore, necessary to take the necessary precautions so that its installation is completely reliable.

The first step is therefore to study the wall on which you plan to mount your screen. What material is it made of?

A brick or concrete wall (solid wall) will easily support a TV, even if it is among the heaviest. In this case, you will need advanced tools (such as a drill) to install the bracket attachments.

On the other hand, a plaster or plasterboard partition (hollow wall), in addition to being brittle when drilling holes, could not support the weight of a heavy TV: not only would there be a risk of damaging your TV, but in addition, part of the wall could leave with it.

This does not mean that you cannot fix a TV on a plasterboard wall! You just have to choose the appropriate fixing and screws. The greater the weight of your TV, the more it will be necessary to opt for pegs with a large diameter (up to 6 mm for a weight of less than 20 kg, to more than 10 mm for more than 50 kg, but today, there are few TVs that weigh so much).

If the wall is made of brick or concrete, opt for wall plugs.

For a partition, choose Molly dowels, particularly well-suited for hollow walls because they lock onto the drywall.

Hide cables

When you hang a TV on the wall, the question of cables necessarily arises: should you leave them visible? Is there a way to hide them? There are several ways to do this! If the DIY enthusiasts can opt for wiring directly hidden in the wall – it is necessary, then, to make several holes to organize everything, which is not necessarily easy – in most cases, two other options are preferred:

The easiest way is to opt for ultra-flat cables, fix them to the wall using a suitable glue, then paint them in the same color as the wall. The second is to use cable covers to attach to the wall, to pass the various cables of the TV and the devices connected to it. There are different models, generally offered in white or black, but nothing prevents you from painting them the same color as your wall if you have a paint suitable for metal or plastic.

Note that Samsung has released single cable TVs for an almost invisible connection. In fact, the Samsung TV is connected to a box via a transparent optical cable and it is this remote box (One Connect) that is connected to all your devices. This allows you a simpler and more refined arrangement.

Choose the right TV support

It is only once you have clearly identified the nature of your wall that you can become interested in the TV stand that you are going to attach to it. Indeed, if the size of your screen is important in this process, the nature of your wall too: fixing an adjustable foot on a plasterboard wall is not what is most recommended. For example, because the installation will necessarily pull a little on the partition. It is, therefore, better to opt for a fixed, more stable support.

On a solid wall, the choice is very vast and it all depends on the size and weight of your screen: these are the two most important criteria to absolutely take into consideration when choosing. The next step is to determine whether you want your TV to be able to be oriented manually from left to right or even tilted slightly to change the angle of view – to avoid a reflection, for example, or adjust according to the size of the people sitting on your sofa or in the bed.

To fix a TV on a hollow wall, in addition to opting for Molly dowels, it is recommended to opt for choosing support that will not “pull” the TV from the wall too much.

Choose the ideal positioning of the TV

Now that you have the screws, the tools, and the mount, you’re ready to install! All you have to do is determine the ideal mounting height.

It is generally assumed that the ideal height allows the center of the screen to be at eye level when you are seated on your sofa. But not all family members are the same size! So, don’t hesitate to average and adjust accordingly. If you can opt for a tilting or adjustable stand, this can give you extra leeway.

If you are going from a TV stand to a wall mount, you can also trust the height of the screen when it was installed on the stand: was it the right size, a little too low, a little too high? Without the constraints of the furniture, you can refine your installation!

Finally, do not hesitate to use a pencil to mark marks on the wall, before drilling. This will allow you to perform a precise, straight and stable installation. Using a spirit level is a good solution to avoid unpleasant surprises!

Conclusion

All you have to do is take action and enjoy your new installation. Why not follow up with some changes in decoration? Up to you! These tips will help you get started with fixing your TV on the wall. The wall-mounted TV screen is a great idea to enjoy a big screen with your family in the comfort of your home. If you have any questions, ask our experts!

Frequently Asked Questions

15 FAQs to Read Before Wall-Mounting Your new TV

We all know how difficult it is to resist modern technology, and new flat-screen TV makes no exception. The days when you’d put the TV on a stand are long gone as people are always trying to save some space.

Wall mounting TV’s isn’t the most challenging project for many, but it’s better that you know some facts and FAQs before reaching for the screwdriver.

1. Why would you wall mount the TV?

The most obvious reason for which you should wall mount your new flat TV is saving space. With modern flat TVs being so thin, securing them to the wall isn’t difficult at all. Once installed, they barely stick out, so you no longer have to worry about using a stand or a table.

Additionally, wall-mounted TVs give a sleek and modern feel to any room. You may hide the wires so that you don’t trip over them and don’t have a clutter feel in the room.

2. Is it complicated to wall mount a TV?

Mounts and brackets are actually a lot easier to mount than you’d think. Typically, it takes you an hour to set it all up and attach your TV. More often than not, wall mounts come with a step-by-step guide, but there are plenty of tutorials online if you’re a visual type of customer.

3. Are there many types of wall mounts/brackets?

The market gives you various kinds of wall mounts, from the basic fixed models to the models with impressive flexibility.

What you’re planning to do with your TV (do you want to adjust the viewing position, alter the angle of the screen, or you plan to have it close to the wall) counts the most when selecting the mounts/brackets for your project.

4. Why would you go with a flat-mount?

Flat mounts are the top favorites, as they’re easy to install and affordable. They’re also widely available. When you want the TV to be really close to the wall (an inch away) and your budget is fixed, the flat-mount is the best choice. However, they don’t offer any tilting or angling options. Changing the cables isn’t easy either, so make sure flat mounts are what you truly need.

Flat mounts are effective for plasma TV as they present the broadest vertical and horizontal viewing angles.

5. When is the swivel/tilting mount a better choice?

If money isn’t an issue, and you’re keen to mount the TV right away, the tilting/swivel mount is a great choice. They allow you to modify the vertical angle of a screen, so you can watch TV even when laying on the floor.

The swivel/tilting mounts are the best for the rooms with several viewing spots. The downside is that they don’t sit close to the wall. They do look fantastic high up a bedroom wall or above a firewall.

6. Why buy an articulating/full-motion mount?

The articulating/full-motion mounts feature a foldable arm between the TV and the wall. They’re the most sophisticated yet versatile kind of mount, providing fantastic tilt/swivel flexibility. It’s possible for fold back the arm, placing the TV close to the wall when not in use. The arm allows an impressive range of motion, which seals the deal for many customers.

7. What’s the first thing to examine before buying the wall mount?

Location is the most crucial matter to check before selecting the wall mount. You need to pay attention to the viewing angle and the sun exposure, where you’re going to have the connected devices, but also the location of the nearest power outlet. Where are you going to put all the cables, as visible wires can ruin the feel of any room?

8. Why is planning so important?

Unless you want to wake up at the end of your project and realize you’re missing a valuable tool, it’s better that you check what you need for mounting. The drill, the accurately sized drill bit, a stud finder, and a screwdriver bit are fundamental. If you don’t use these tools on a regular base, you should give them a try first to see if they’re still working.

9. Do you need to check the walls too?

Wall mounting a TV isn’t rocket science, but it doesn’t mean that you can go ahead and drill a hole into the sheetrock, hanging the TV. The old drywall may not handle the weight of your new TV (no matter how light it is). And no, no anchor can solve the problem if the wall isn’t rugged enough.

Suffice it to say, and you have to find a stud for hanging the TV mount or look for a strong wall.

10. Can you wall mount the TV on brick walls?

Brick walls are proper for mounting any type or size of the TV. The mount should go right into the brick and not in the mortar. The brick will ensure a far more secure fitting. If your TV is huge, you should look for heavy-duty wall anchors that are specially made for brick and for supporting heavyweight items.

11. Do stud walls allow wall mounts?

It’s common for interior walls to present a wooden “stud” frame with a plasterboard connected to it. The wooden “stud” can hold the TV. If you intend to mount the TV right on the plasterboard, you need to buy special plasterboard fixings. Check to see if the TV weight isn’t more significant than the maximum weight of the fixing kit.

As for the stud walls with metal frames, you will need to mount the TV to the plasterboard so that the TV isn’t too heavy for the fixings.

12. What are you going to do with the cables?

Some people like to have numerous gadgets connected to the TV. Cable, boxes, game consoles, DVRs, and anything similar can result in a big mess right next to your TV. When you’re wall-mounting the TV, you need to solve the cable problem too. Installing floating shelving right under the TV is one way to do it.

Another solution is to mount a bookshelf right under the TV, so you store all the devices hooked to your TV.

13. Is a cord-concealing plan a better choice for your house?

You can totally ruin the sleek appearance of a wall-mounted TV with a big pile of cables next to it. Even if you don’t have many devices connected to your TV, you don’t want to see the long and black cord coming out of the wall socket.

There are several solutions, and installing the cords inside the wall (call the professionals!) is one. You can also connect a power outlet behind the TV so that the cable isn’t visible anymore (nor tangles). Some cord-hiders hide the cords for a clutter-free appearance.

14. How do professionals feel about wall mounting the TV above the fireplace?

In all fairness, professionals are still debating this one. For safety concerns (it’s electricity right above a fireplace, you know), many recommend that you play it safe and look for another location for wall mounting the TV.

15.  Are the ports still easy to access?

One thing you don’t want to skip when wall-mounting your TV is the ports. It’s essential that you know precisely where the ports are installed. For instance, you have to buy a wall mount with outward telescoping when the ports are on the back of your TV. It’s the type of mount that ensures straightforward access to the ports. It’s essential, especially if you like to hook up all kinds of devices to your TV. The last thing you want is to take down your TV every single time you need to hook up the game console or anything else.