Choosing the right TV wall mount is more than making things look good; it’s key to getting the best out of your viewing experience and keeping your entertainment system secure. Our detailed guide takes you through the variety of TV wall mounts available, equipping you with all you need to know for a smart decision. Below you’ll find various mount types, ideas on what to look for when choosing a wall mount, and take into account UK homes’ unique building features and walls.
Understanding Different Types of TV Wall Mounts
Before you start mounting your TV, get familiar with the different kinds of wall mounts out there: fixed, tilting, full motion, and ceiling. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each type to help you choose one that fits how you like to watch TV and works with your room’s setup.
Fixed Wall Mounts
The simplest type is the fixed wall mount, designed to hold your TV flush against the wall. This option is ideal for those who seek a streamlined look and have no need to adjust the angle or position post-installation. For example, if you have an open-plan living space with a clear line-of-sight from all seating areas, a 55-inch LED screen would sit perfectly on this type of mount. However, note that accessing cables can be challenging once installed.
Tilting Wall Mounts
Next are tilting mounts, offering vertical angle adjustments—typically up to 15 degrees downward. They’re particularly useful in rooms where glare from windows may affect viewing or where the television must be mounted higher than eye level, such as above a fireplace. In these scenarios, imagine comfortably watching your favourite show on a 65-inch plasma screen without straining your neck or squinting against sunlight interference.
Full-Motion (Articulating) Wall Mounts
For ultimate flexibility, full-motion mounts provide both tilt and swivel capabilities; some even extend outward from the wall. These are suitable for corner installations or when multiple viewing positions are desired within a room—think articulating arm extending out so that you can watch an action-packed 70-inch UHD TV from either your cosy sofa or while dining in an adjacent space.
Ceiling Mounts
Lastly, come ceiling mounts – these excel in spaces where walls aren’t available for mounting or when you want to install multiple screens like sports bars often do with smaller monitors showing different games simultaneously at varied angles around their premises.
6 Key Features to Look For in a Wall Mount
When choosing a wall mount, it’s the little things that make all the difference. What does this mean? You want one that’s well-made and flexible enough to adjust as needed. It should have handy solutions for keeping cables tidy and be simple to put up on your own. The absolute must? It has to hold your TV’s weight without any trouble. Plus, don’t forget to check for UK safety certifications—it’s essential for peace of mind knowing it meets local regulations.
1. Build Quality
A robust build quality is vital for a wall mount. Materials such as high-grade steel provide durability and stability. For example, mounts constructed with heavy-gauge steel can better resist wear and tear over time, ensuring long-term support for your TV.
2. Adjustability
The ability to adjust the angle and position of your TV adds versatility to your viewing experience. Full-motion mounts offer swivel, tilt, and extend/retract functions; these allow you to watch from different angles or distances—ideal if you want flexibility in seating arrangements or need to avoid glare during certain times of the day.
3. Cable Management Options
A well-designed wall mount often includes solutions for cable management, which keep wires neat and out of sight, contributing not only to aesthetics but also reducing tripping hazards or potential damage to cables themselves.
4. Ease of Installation
Look for a wall mount that comes with clear instructions and necessary hardware suitable for various types of walls (drywall with studs, brickwork etc.). Some products feature built-in levels or templates that aid in achieving a precise installation—a boon, especially for DIY enthusiasts who appreciate simplicity.
5. Weight Capacity
It is imperative that the chosen mount supports more than just the weight of your TV; consider additional weight from cables and accessories attached to it too. For instance, if you have a 50-pound television set up with soundbars or gaming consoles connected directly below on an attached shelf system within the same unit—the collective weight needs consideration when determining capacity requirements.
6. UK Safety Certifications and Compliance With Local Standards
Ensuring compliance with UK standards like BS EN 62209-1:2016 indicates reliability regarding performance under specified conditions (such as maximum load). This certification means independent experts have tested the product against rigorous criteria concerning structural integrity, among other factors—offering peace of mind about its use in home environments where safety cannot be compromised.
Assessing Your TV and Room Requirements
To pick the perfect wall mount for your TV, start by looking at its specs. We’ll show you how to make sure it fits just right by considering things like size, weight, and the VESA pattern. Plus, we’ll help you take a good look at your room—measuring up the space, figuring out where to put your furniture—and find a mount that works best with what you’ve got. And if you’re in the UK dealing with special features like plasterboard walls or tight spots, don’t worry—we’ve got tips for those situations too.
Before selecting any mount type mentioned above:
- Check compatibility – Ensure that size (measured diagonally) and weight specifications fall within what’s supported by the mount—disregarding this could lead not only to damage but also to potential injury.
- VESA pattern – Look at the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) pattern on your TV back panel—defined by four screw holes arranged in square patterns like 200x200mm, indicating compatibility with corresponding brackets.
- Room layout and seating arrangement – Measure distances between potential mounting points and seating areas considering optimal height levels, ensuring comfortable viewability without strain.
- Plasterboard walls and space constraints – UK homes might present unique challenges, such as non-brick walls requiring special fixings like toggle bolts ensuring secure installation despite hollow sections behind drywall surfaces; likewise small rooms demand more thoughtful placement maximising perceived screen sizes through strategic angling facilitated by certain mount types over others.
Where to Buy and What to Expect Price-Wise
When searching for the perfect TV wall mount, it’s just as important to buy from a reliable seller, as well as suiting your needs. In the UK, established retailers like John Lewis, Currys PC World, and Argos are renowned for their wide range of high-quality TV wall mounts. These retailers offer products from leading brands such as Sanus, Vogel’s, and Flexson, with customer service teams available to assist in making an informed choice.
Price-wise, expect basic fixed mounts to be the most economical option; they typically range from £15 to £50. Tilting mounts provide more flexibility by allowing vertical angle adjustments, which can help reduce glare—these are priced slightly higher at around £20 to £100. Full-motion or articulating wall mounts offer the greatest versatility with both tilt and swivel capabilities—perfect for corner installations or rooms where viewing angles vary frequently. They command a premium price ranging from £45 up to even £300 for advanced models with additional features like arm extension or motorisation.
Avoiding Common Mistakes in Wall Mount Selection and Installation
Ponder over longevity and durability. A cheap mount might save money initially but could lead to greater expense if it fails under the weight of your television or lacks corrosion resistance – a common issue in humid environments.
Now let’s touch upon installation mishaps that many encounter:
- Incorrect mount size – Ensure that you buy a mount compatible with your TV’s VESA size (the standard used for mounting holes on the back of TVs) and weight specifications.
- Improper wall assessment – Not all walls are created equal; some may have stud spacing incompatible with your chosen mount or might not be robust enough (like drywall without studs), requiring specific anchors.
- Levelling issues – To get that professional look at home, use spirit levels during installation rather than eyeballing it—this will guarantee horizontal alignment so your screen doesn’t end up crooked.
- Inadequate tools – Before starting installation, make sure you have all the necessary tools at hand, including drills suitable for brickwork if dealing with masonry walls commonly found in older UK homes.
- Ignoring cable management – Consider how you’ll manage cables before installing—some mounts come equipped with cable management systems built-in, whilst others may necessitate separate solutions like trunking which should be factored into overall aesthetics and cost considerations.
- Damaging walls unnecessarily – Be mindful when drilling into walls especially those in older properties where plaster might crumble easily; using pilot holes smaller than needed screws prevents cracking while ensuring secure fitting without over-tightening which can strip threads out rendering fixing points useless risking damage to both TV set and décor alike!
All of these mistakes are usually what drives people to ditch doing it themselves and hire handymen to mount their TV. After all, damage to the TV or property comes at a more bitter price.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, this guide has given you all the info you need to confidently choose a TV wall mount. It’s more than just a practical add-on; it actually improves how you watch TV and keeps it safe. When looking at your choices, keep in mind that the best wall mount will fit your TV into your room as if it was always meant to be there, making for a more pleasant and cohesive space.