MantelMount

When you think of television, the first thing you likely think of is the picture and how whatever show, movie, or sport you are watching looks in an aesthetic or visual way. However, the audio experience should not be neglected. When you are as immersed in a show or movie as you can be, it is probably due to — not taking the comfiness of your couch and blanket situation into consideration — both audio and visual elements.  What’s the deal, however, with people who have a surround sound system? Is it that much better than a sound bar or simply changing the tv settings on your television? We look into that here.  Best Sound Setup for Your TV We’ve all been there: you’re watching a quiet — or quieter — show and then BAM! You’re hit with the advertisement sound, or maybe it’s classified as noise, and you’re taken out of your tv watching or movie watching-induced trance that you had been in. Even when that happens, you’ll want the best tv sound setup, so despite the loud blasting sound that occasionally happens with ads, at least it’ll be a pleasing noise. We’ll lay out some of the best tv sound settings — including understanding what the best equalizer settings for movies or television might be — but here is a list of accessories that might just enhance the sound quality for your tv so you have the best picture quality and sound setup. Enhancing sound on your television can be costly or cost-effective; no decision is the best so you might want to ask yourself: what is the best kind of media experience I want out of my tv viewing? Surround Sound System Installing a surround sound system is far and away the most costly method to make your tv or movie watching experience more of a rounded experience. However, it can be a popular approach because once the system is installed, it’s easy enough to simply have a “set it and forget it” mentality. A surround sound system is likened to having a movie theater audio system setup in a residential home. With having multiple speakers create a surround sound effect, it usually costs at least $1,000 and sometimes closer to $2,000 if a proven system is wanted or needed. A surround sound system enhances the audio/visual experience by creating a more immersive experience for the viewer.  When it comes to placement of the speakers for your surround sound system, keep in mind the seating locations of you and your friends and family. Although you will undoubtedly want a centralized speaker placed near the screen, the fun part is next as you’ll be able to situate speakers to enhance the audio clarity and quality. Don’t have an open concept room where speakers can be placed in a semi-circle behind a couch or futon? Keep in mind about the placement of the speakers, the look of what the surround sound system will look — aesthetically — within the room, and take into consideration how the sound will bounce off furniture and the walls.  With regard to placement and the angles, speakers sometimes come with speaker placement recommendations, however, there’s usually a rule of thumb for the number of speakers (whether it’s 4, 6, or more) and the enhancement of the audio. Sound Bar Attachments Is a surround sound system too expensive or too complicated? A sound bar is an ideal way to enhance your tv’s audio and for you to experience an ideal tv sound setup in your home without shelling out more money than you’d want.  An advantage of purchasing a sound bar attachment is that they sound much better than the audio that emanates from the television on its own. Some sound bars even have features such as a compatibility with Dolby Atmos — and anyone who has seen a big-budget action film in a Dolby theater knows the experience is fulfilling.  If a sound bar attachment is high on your priority list, think about the MantelMount SBXL Sound Bar Adapter XL, which is compatible with our tv mounts like the MM540 Enhanced Mount and MM700 Premier Pulldown Mount. Although the MM340 Standard Mount does not include a sound bar attachment like the other MantelMount pulldown tv mounts, it also is compatible with the sound bar attachment.  What’s special about the MantelMount Sound Bar Adapter is that it is universal, fitting most flat and curved screen televisions, able to be placed below or above the tv, and accommodates larger sound bars that have wider spacing between the mounting holes.  TV Sound Settings Even if you’re unsure about investing in a surround sound system or utilizing a sound bar system, the next best bet is to ensure that your television’s sound settings are to your liking. Whether it’s figuring out the best equalizer settings for movies or enhancing the bass settings for the hard-hitting action in any sports match or game you might enjoy, making sure the correct tv sound setup is working for you is of utmost importance. We’ll look into figuring out the best tv sound settings for your tv’s audio next. Best TV Sound Settings Even if you do have a surround sound system or have your sound bar and its sound bar attachment set up to have a more theater-like experience at home, you’ll still want the best sound setup for your tv.  Your tv’s sound settings are simple enough to change, but so often they’re neglected. One of the more fun things about a tv’s sound settings is playing around with them. Want a more crisp sound with dialogue in a drama so clear that it’s like the actors are speaking to you in your living room? The settings is where you can customize your tv’s audio. Find the “Audio” section on your television (sometimes it can be called “Sound”) and that’s where you’ll want to pay most attention as within the selection there are further elements. If you’d like programmed audio solutions, then it’s more of a set and forget approach: standard, theater (this is likely the best equalizer setting for movies and television shows), music, and news (this option is good for news shows and tv shows with the bulk of the show that has crisp dialogue) are the most likely options with which you’ll be encountered. If you’d like a customized version of your tv sound setup, take into consideration what you usually watch: movies, comedy shows, dramas, or sports? Think about the treble and the bass of the in-show or in-game audio and the advertisements that might blow out the show or movie’s sound. Once you have that in mind, play around with the bass and the treble, if you want the sound to come through one or multiple stereos, or even if you want the audio to be in a digital format.

Houses and apartments come in many different shapes and sizes. From open concept floor plans to more traditional-style homes with walled off rooms, every layout presents a unique challenge for a homeowner. One particular challenge for homeowners and renters moving into a new place is where to put the tv. If you’re lucky, your home may have an obvious location against a wall without a window, but if you find yourself in a new apartment or home without obvious wall space for your tv, it can be difficult to discover the next best spot. As experts on the best distance, height, and angle for tv-viewing, we’ve guided homeowners through almost every scenario when it comes to tv placement. If you find yourself in a predicament where you have no wall space for your tv, don’t worry, we have some great solutions for you to try so you can create the optimal tv-viewing experience regardless of your home’s unique layout. Why It’s Important to Find the Right Location for Your TV Believe it or not, tv placement is a bit of a science. From using the 8:1 ratio to determine furniture placement to calculating the best distance between the bottom third of your screen and the floor (trust us, it’s a real thing), there are a lot of things to consider when picking the perfect place for the family tv. But why? As you can probably guess, the placement of your tv can make or break the picture quality and your comfort while viewing the tv. Consider this: when we walk into a movie theater, there’s a reason we take so much time to choose the perfect seat. Maybe you head straight to the back row or you find comfort closer to the screen. Either way, deciding where to sit in a movie theater is a critical component of watching a movie. We want to be comfortable. At home it should be no different—especially considering the average person in America watches 411 hours of tv per month and so much of that tv is consumed while binge-watching. Simple adjustments like finding the right height for your tv on the wall or the right distance from your furniture can improve tv picture quality, in some cases, by 200%. 3 Possible Scenarios When There’s No Wall Space You may have already identified your unique problem within this post, like an open concept room, or maybe a small living room in an apartment where the only available wall space sits above a fireplace, placing the tv too high. But here are some additional possibilities you may be facing and 3 viable tv solutions for no wall space.     Problem #1: Where to put a tv in a room with lots of windows. A home or apartment with a lot of windows is a great find. But a lot of windows can pose a problem for art placement and the placement of your tv. Some things to consider when choosing where to put a tv in a room with lots of windows is picking a spot that doesn’t create glare on the screen. Putting the tv’s back to a south-facing wall, if possible, will help reduce glare. But if you’re worried about squinting because you, the viewer, are facing the direction of the most sun, pick a western or eastern facing wall. There may be different times of day when your screen has a glare, but you can add blinds or a curtain if it becomes a problem during the day. The other issue you run into when choosing where to put a tv in a room with lots of windows is blocking a potential view. The truth is, sometimes you can’t avoid it. If you truly have no wall space for your tv, you may have to pick the best (worst) view to partially block. You can offset this by purchasing a tv on the smaller side or investing in a tv that lowers into a piece of furniture. The Solution: Place your tv in front of a south-facing window to reduce glare or choose an east or west-facing window, avoid a north-facing window. Purchase a smaller flat screen tv to minimize the obstruction of your view or invest in a tv lift or a tv that can lower into a piece of furniture, out of view.     Problem #2: Where to put a tv in a small living room. Another issue that homeowners and apartment-dwellers face is just not enough space. Period. If you live in a condo or a tight apartment in an urban environment, it’s not unusual to run into a situation in which the reason you have no wall space for a tv is simply because your living room is too small. The Solution: Sometimes, the fix for this problem occurs upstream with the purchase of the right tv for your space. If you already own the tv you intend to use, choosing a tv mount that can articulate and tilt can help you overcome the space issues you face in terms of square feet. MantelMount makes a great model for flat screen televisions of any size and the pull down motion and pivot capabilities make it possible to position your tv into the best spot while you’re watching and out of the way when you’re not.     Problem #3: Where to put a tv when you’re an art lover. If you love art, it can almost be soul-crushing to make room for a tv. But, if you love art to the point that you don’t have any free wall space, it might be time to thin out your collection. There’s is something to be said though, for those art lovers who figure out a clever way to incorporate a flat screen tv into their home. The Solution: The best thing to do, if you don’t want to sacrifice your art collection, is to incorporate your tv into the art. The Samsung Frame TV is a great option for the art lover if you can’t get away with forgoing a tv all together. What’s better is if you can recess your tv mount into the wall so the Frame sits flush with the wall. This will make your tv essentially disappear into the art in your living room. Of course, if you already have a high-def tv for your home, a MantelMount pull-down tv mount will allow you to position your tv into the perfect viewing-position—in front of your art collection—and up and away when you simply want to enjoy your art. Again, you can take your tv set up to the next level and recess your MantelMount so your tv protrudes just as far as the picture frames in your collection.

Placing your tv at the wrong angle or too high on the wall can have greater consequences than a skewed picture; it can cause eye strain and even neck pain! If you’re a tv aficionado looking to achieve manufacturer-level clarity and color quality, check out these tips for finding the perfect angle, height, and lighting settings for your tv. Can lighting affect the tv-viewing experience? Lighting can, indeed, affect your tv viewing. Whether that’s due to poor lighting around your tv or a setting on your tv, lighting is one of the key components to creating the perfect viewing angle tv experience.  For the television screen light, ensure that the brightness is turned down enough so you’re still able to clearly see the picture, but doing so won’t strain your eyes. Whether your furniture is positioned at the best angle for watching tv or not, having the tv screen light emit a more palatable glow will help ease eye strain. In addition to your tv’s settings, achieving the right atmospheric lighting can also be challenging, especially if you’re watching tv in an unconventional place like a patio or covered porch. Most experts recommend facing your tv north so southern exposure is always behind your tv screen. But if that’s not an option in your living, just make sure your tv isn’t in direct sunlight. Additionally, you can add bias lighting to the back of your tv. What is it, you ask? Bias lighting is a weak light source placed behind a screen or a projector to reduce perceived brightness. Incorporating bias lighting helps lessen eye fatigue because it offsets the brightness of the main light source, in the case the tv, and allows the eyes to focus more comfortably.  If bias lighting is chosen as part of a way to strengthen the viewers enjoyment in tv watching, consider a bulb that is around 6,500K. Another factor that puts a strain on the eyes, besides the lighting (or lack thereof!) in the tv’s room, is the viewing angle. Why is it best to place your tv at eye-level? As someone who has watched movies and tv before, you can probably list a dozen reasons why placing a screen at eye-level creates the best viewing experience. But did you know that proper tv height is actually a manufacturing recommendation, too?  For the highest quality tv picture, manufacturers suggest that the bottom third of your screen should sit below your eye-level. This is because when a tv screen sits too high above the eyeline this results in a 20% reduction in color depth and brightness, and a 200% reduction in contrast, making it much harder to see details on the screen. This is one of the most common issues when mounting a tv from a high position like above a mantel. Even when viewed from a standard distance, the typical height above a fireplace will be well above the manufacturer-suggested viewing height. By pulling your tv down towards eye-level with MantelMount, you’re assured a much finer picture color and clarity, as well as your greatest level of enjoyment.   So, what is the best tv-viewing angle? Once you’ve discovered the perfect lighting, consider the best angle for watching tv. The audio and visual entertainment company THX has stated that for the best tv viewing angle for watching a show, movie, or game, the viewer’s line of sight should be the center of the screen. If that’s not possible, for instance you’ve mounted your tv above a console table, they suggest a gradient above or below the center of the television at 15 degrees (or less).  While this suggestion comes from a highlight authoritative source, think about the last time you went to the movie theater a say slightly too close to the screen so you have to crane your neck back and look up to properly see. It can get exhausting and painful to hold your neck in that position for the duration of a film or a good Netflix binge. So we recommend being a little conservative with this 15 degree suggestion and opt for as close to placing the center of your screen at eye-level as possible—after all, we’re tv-viewing experts too! Not only are your eyes working overtime if the lighting on the tv is poor and the lighting in the room is poor, your eyes will strain with an unfavorable viewing angle due to the picture quality, including the clarity of the light emissions emanating from the tv itself. For a comparison of plasma versus led versus OLED and QLED televisions when it comes to the richness and quality of the picture, take a look at our blog for more insight. Using a tv mount to achieve the perfect viewing angle Although 15 degrees is the rule-of-thumb for stationary televisions, a wall mount tv angle can give you some leeway in terms of how high you place the center of your tv screen. Because tv wall mounts, like MantelMount’s MM540 Enhanced or MM700 Premier, allow for vertical and swivel adjustments, no matter if you’re sitting or standing, you can get a perfect height and angle every time. Even though you can achieve a variety of wall mount tv angles with a pull down mount, you can also manipulate the perfect tv-viewing angle with proper furniture placement. For wall-mounted televisions or for those on a media console or other viewing platform, there is a common ratio used for the distance placed in between the couch or seating area and the tv. Once you’ve achieved the perfect lighting and you’ve positioned your tv at just the right angle, you’re ready to kick back and enjoy your favorite shows and movies—uninterrupted by neck pain or tv glare.

So, you’ve just decided to up your tv-viewing game with a state-of-the-art curved tv — congratulations! It’s good to see it sitting pretty on the media console. Except, it does take up a lot of surface area, and the furniture holding it up limits where you can position it. As this beauty is a bit bulkier than the average flat-screen, you need a sturdier stand, a larger piece of furniture for supporting the extra weight. Could there be a better solution? Like a flat-screen television, can you wall mount a curved tv? Can You Easily Mount a Curved TV? The answer is emphatically, yes! With the right tv wall mount, there are no issues wall mounting a curved tv, just as you would a flat screen. After all, nothing is really different with the mounting holes; it’s merely the screen itself that’s curved! Do Curved TVs Need Special Mounts? Another simple answer, no. In fact, a MantelMount pull-down tv mount will likely work well for your curved tv! When speaking to compatibility, MantelMount’s models can support from 20 lbs to 125 lbs, depending on the model. Despite the larger size of the average curved tv (compared to regular flat-screens), wall mounting a curved tv will still be possible. One caveat once you mount a curved tv is that optimal viewing requires you, the viewer, to be centered with respect to the screen’s orientation. However, what if your curved television is placed in an open concept room or in your bedroom with a different layout? That’s when you’ll be glad for choosing a tv wall mount that provides a true full range of motion. MantelMount tv mounts can easily optimize your television viewing experience through changing the height and angle. Another technical specification that should be considered is lighting. The right tv wall mount can make a huge difference for your curved tv’s performance in swiveling, tilting, and, best of all, moving vertically to adapt to the ambient light conditions in your new home theater. Which TV Wall Mount Should You Get for Wall Mounting a Curved TV? We’ll have to say MantelMount, of course, and with good reason! The patented technology and features for our wall mounts set the bar for safety, ease of use, and providing an optimum viewing experience. If you have experienced issues with glare on the screen, or you’d simply prefer the best color, clarity, and picture quality from your television, you might want to consider any MantelMount tv wall mount for wall mounting a curved tv. With the ability to tilt, swivel, and, with vertical travel possible, regardless of if it’s the MM540 Enhanced Pull Down TV Mount or the MM700 Premier Pull Down TV Mount, these mounts will avoid screen reflection and give a better picture quality. With pull down tv mounts allowing for shows to be viewed with the manufacturer-suggested bottom third of the screen below eye level, our tv mounts can help you have an even more sublime experience — with crisper, cleaner, and better picture and color quality — than you thought you could have with your television viewing. The Best Way to Wall Mount a Curved TV As an example, let’s say you have a Samsung curved tv, and a curved sound bar from Samsung to match. Can you wall mount a curved tv and sound bar together? The tv installation is actually fairly straightforward — just check your wall material and stud positions, or lack of studs, and carefully follow the install manual of your chosen tv wall mount model. For the sound bar, you may need an extra piece — an L-bracket that is incorporated in most universal sound bar attachments and commonly purchased separately. Why do you need this? It has nothing to do with the curvature of your television. It’s because this particular sound bar, like a few others on the market from LG, Bose, Sonos, and the like, has the mounting holes on the base of the sound bar, rather than the back (the more common position). For another example, say you have a Curved LG Oled tv — does this change things? Yes, because of the vertical alignment of the mounting holes in the 200 x 300 x 120 pattern. Not to worry, though, as there are accessories on the market to accommodate non-standard VESA patterns. If you follow this advice and devise a plan before you tackle mounting your tv to the wall, you should have no problem mounting your curved tv!

Reviewed by tech expert Dave TaylorOriginally Published on Sep 26, 2017 Updated on August 26th, 2022 I watch a lot of shows and movies on my 4K TV; there are so many good things to watch! Problem is, where to actually put the tv? I can have it on a tv stand but then it just sits. Boring. Instead, I opted to mount it above the mantel of my fireplace. It's a perfect spot and the contrasting wall color behind even makes the image pop.  But mounting a tv above a fire has one huge lurking danger: Heat! That's why I opted for a MantelMount MM540 tv mount. Attached to the wall, it lets me push my tv flush against the wall when not in use, and pull it out and down, then swivel it to get just the right viewing angle. Great! Better yet, the MantelMount tv fireplace mount has a heat reactive handle so it'll quickly alert you if your tv is being exposed to damaging heat, before the tv gets damaged. A must-have for any smart installation.  In this MantelMount MM540 review video, tech expert Dave Taylor of Ask Dave Taylor has the MantelMount MM540 installed and shows off its various features and capabilities. Watch the MM540 review below!

Flat-screen televisions have become an essential piece of household technology. However, whether your setup uses a tv without a stand or works best displayed on a console or tabletop, your flat screen and its hardware are fragile and need to be properly installed to ensure their longevity. If the decision is made to use a tv without a stand, then a pull down television mount might be best; but if a tv stand is wanted, there are some ways to, essentially, create a DIY tv stand mount. Also, these makeshift tv stands can be used if you’re still deciding on where to place a MantelMount tv mount, such as the MM540 Enhanced Mount. So until you can make the dream of having your television mounted above your fireplace — or maybe you’re simply unsure of where to place your tv when considering the size of the space you have then keep these DIY tv mount stand ideas in mind. DIY TV Stand Mounts and Other Alternative Ideas We’re all guilty of tossing out the accoutrement that comes with a new technology purchase. Whether you accidentally tossed out a charger container or something more substantial like the tv stand your tv originally came with, you have some options when it comes to finding a replacement or crafting your own solution. Thrift it. Rather than making a DIY tv stand mount right off the bat, thrifting for one second-hand might be an option to consider. Plus, if you’ve thrifted before, you may already have an idea of where to look, in which case, this may be the quickest option (and the most fun). Before you go thrifting, make sure you have a slip of paper or a note on your phone with the proper tv model number. This number is likely found on the product information label on the corner of the back of the flat-screen television and will allow you to better match any tv stands you may find to what your television requires. Despite having the tv model number and finding a stand match through thrifting, be careful with the quality of the stand as the condition of secondhand items can run the entire range from poor to excellent. Make a DIY tv stand. If you’re the creative type who likes to take on projects, this solution is right up your alley. A quick scroll through Pinterest, YouTube, or your favorite blog will show you a variety of ways to make a DIY tv mount stand.  These options also show a range of materials, from wood and tubes to reusable items, that you can grab around your house. This can be a really cost-effective and sustainable solution. If DIYing a tv stand is your preference, you will see that it provides a lot of freedom in how you build your homemade tv base. From old televisions consoles and furniture to easels and old metal frames, you can use whatever works best for your needs. Upgrade to a pull-down mount. If you’re searching for how to prop up a tv without a stand, the best way might be using a tv without a stand by choosing to go down the route of a pull-down tv mount. If you’ve been looking for a way to declutter the area around your television so your entertainment area is not as crowded, opt for a MantelMount tv mount. Before purchasing any wall mount, familiarize yourself with common bracket terminology you might read about when searching for a tv mount, in addition to understanding the VESA standards for your television. Types of TV Mounts Fixed-position wall mounts work as the name suggests: these mounts place your TV flat against the wall in a fixed place and position. Once fixed-position wall mounts are in place, they cannot be adjusted. Keep the factor of adjustability, and a pleasing viewing experience, in mind if you are looking for using a tv without a stand or are searching for wall mounts. Fixed tv mounts. Not only is the fixed bracket the most common type of tv mount, it’s also the easiest to install. Fixed brackets are a great option for those that want a low profile mount. However, if you are swayed on having one in your home, note that a downside to a fixed mount is that they do not allow for screen adjustment like a tilt or swivel mount. Tilting tv mounts. Unlike fixed TV mounts, tilting tv mounts offer a bit more flexibility to the viewer in terms of the entertainment experience. These also are mounted flat on the wall, but they allow for some viewing optimization since the tv can be tilted up or down, five to fifteen degrees on average. The ability to tilt the tv allows for some grievances to be resolved, like better tv angles. Depending on how high you are looking to mount the tv, such as you mount it over a fireplace mantel, a tilt mount might not be the best solution. Pull Down tv mounts. Pull down tv mounts are a popular type of mount due to their capacity of movement. They can be used to adjust your tv to the optimal height and viewing angle, providing a better picture quality and a more comfortable viewing experience. Pull down tv bracket mounts have a vertical travel movement, swivel capabilities, and the ability to tilt.  Full-Motion tv mount. Another option besides a tilting mount or an articulating mount, would be a full-motion television mount. Full-motion tv mounts would likely offer the best viewing experience after taking into consideration the pull-down, swivel, and tilt functionalities. The versatility of full-motion tv mounts make watching a tv without a stand a thing of the past. Through using a full-motion tv mount, not only does the height matter as the tv is more suited for those watching at eye-level, but the picture will be clearer.  Whether you are wanting to utilize your tv without a stand, investing in a pull-down tv mount, or getting creative by using a DIY tv stand mount, there are options to choose from when considering the best way to watch your favorite show or movie.

Now that you have taken your new television out of the box, how do you plan to mount it on the wall? Before you immerse yourself in watching your favorite movies and shows, you’ll need to find the right place to mount the TV. But, there’s one tiny problem — you don’t have any studs to work with for the TV mount, or it could be that, if you’re renting an apartment, your landlord insists no drilling is allowed. But there’s no need to panic.  Whether you have a brick or uneven stone façade, or mounting a TV above a fireplace, mounting a TV can be tricky, but even more so when mounting a TV without studs. Even though drywall can support a TV up to 100 lbs., it’s still brittle and the mount can require additional support. If you want to create the perfect TV-viewing experience but you aren’t sure how to safely mount your TV on a wall without studs, check out these tips and get your TV up on the wall and in the perfect spot today. What Is a Stud? Before mounting your TV on a wall, you should always attempt to locate a stud or inspect the wall’s integrity. But it can be difficult to locate a stud if you don’t know what you’re looking for. A stud is a vertical framing device used to create a frame for a wall. It is commonplace to find either wood studs or metal studs. These wooden or metal reinforcements are evenly spaced within a wall and are typically used to create a framework for a wall consisting of drywall. Because many modern home interiors are constructed with drywall, not mason, there’s a good chance that you should be able to easily locate a stud within your home’s walls. If you live in a high rise, you likely have studs made out of metal. Similarly, commercial buildings often have metal framework as well that will require additional care if mounting a TV or appliances into a stud. 4 Simple Ways to Find Studs in the Wall Finding studs have a lot of uses beyond simply mounting your TV. Especially if you are a homeowner undergoing home improvement projects — if you want to hang a heavy picture, mount an appliance to the wall, do trim work in your home, or fix electrical outlets — it’s very useful to be aware of the location of the studs in your walls. The main question is: how do you accurately locate a stud, with or without a stud finder or a stud finder app? 1. Locate studs with a stud finder One of the easiest ways to do this is with a stud finder, a small handheld device that measures the density of drywall. The Spruce has a comprehensive list of options to buy online or at your local hardware store. Using a stud finder is simpler than finding the right one. All that is needed is to place the stud finder against the drywall and slowly drag it horizontally along the wall until it beeps. Beeping indicates that you’ve found a stud. You can estimate the center of the stud by running the stud finder over the location repeatedly until it stops beeping. Then, once you know where the stud is located in the wall, make a mark with a pencil. 2. Measure 16” from the corner Don’t have a stud finder or stud finder app? That’s okay! A go-to technique is to measure 16 inches from the corner of where the interior wall and the exterior wall meet to approximate where studs will be located throughout the room. Typically, studs are evenly spaced 16”-24” inches apart, so if you measure the total length of your wall, you should be able to approximate the location of each stud. Now, not every room is going to evenly divide by 16 or 24, but again, that’s okay. Follow up this measurement effort by knocking on the wall where you suspect the stud to be. Knocking on a stud will create a muffled sound while knocking directly next to the stud will create a hollow sound. 3. Check your trim If you aren’t handy with a tape measure or you don’t have access to a stud finder, another option for you are the other wall features: trim nails, electrical outlets, and light switches all indicate the location of a stud. 4. Use a powerful magnet If you’re having trouble locating studs, you may have better luck locating the metal that holds them in place. Commonly, studs are secured with metal fasteners spaced vertically about 12” apart. With a strong magnet, place it against the wall and move it slowly up and down until you feel it stick slightly. This will indicate that you’ve located a metal fastener and, therefore, a stud. How to Mount a TV Without Studs If you’ve done your due diligence to locate studs and you can’t find any, you discover the studs are metal, or there are no studs located in the area where you want to mount your TV, you do have options for mounting your TV with no studs. Whether you are looking for a little DIY action with mounting a TV or you merely are looking to gain knowledge and want to know what the handyman is doing while installing a TV mount, here, we can walk you through it all! 1. Mounting a TV with drywall anchors Expanding anchors or conical anchors are one of the simplest ways to mount a TV when studs aren’t available. The wing-like grooves lock into place behind the wall when a screw is screwed in and this can provide ample support for things like pictures with a heavy frame or a lightweight TV.  How does one do this? Simply drill a hole accordingly, insert the sleeve, and slide in the anchor piece. You can even pull it close to the wall with the disposable pull tool. The pulling motion locks the anchor in place, so it won’t loosen while you insert the screw. 2. Mounting a TV with anchors or molly bolts Toggle anchors and toggle bolts look like regular screws, but they come with a butterfly toggle at the end. When placed in the wall, the toggle anchors work by attaching to the back of the drywall. Pulling at the screw or applying some external force has little impact as the toggle causes the whole sheet of drywall to respond, rather than just the crumbly center. It’s the distinction between pulling the entire wall and removing a single screw. Mounting a TV with drywall anchors or bolts is a great option if you can’t drill into a stud. You’ll need to use a hollow wall anchor that looks similar to a regular screw, with a butterfly toggle at the end. Once they’re placed in the wall, they’ll attach to the back. These have proven to be extremely strong on their own when it comes to mounting a TV with no studs, but, as a general rule, it should not be paired with a full-motion mount. Mounting a TV without studs can be a safe and reliable solution if careful consideration is made about the limits of the wall and the toggles. Molly bolts are an interesting anchor for a no-studs TV mount. They combine the ease of installation with a lot of strength — a large molly bolt can hold up to 50 lbs. They are a little harder to use over other drywall anchors, but they are sturdy and well-suited for a medium to heavy load. They come in two variations: a pointed molly bolt will have a sharp tip that can be installed with a hammer, whereas a non-pointed molly bolt, which is better to use in plaster walls, requires that you cut out an installation hole first. Molly bolts stay thin when left untightened, but once tightened in your walls, the sleeves expand, creating an anchor to the back of your wall — a similar mechanism as toggle anchors. Once the molly bolt is securely anchored, you can remove the screw and replace it with the screws for your TV wall mount. 3. Mounting a TV with a mounting plate A mounting plate is a good choice when it comes to mounting a TV with no studs. Mounting plates help the anchors carry the tv weight with more ease and provide an opportunity to add more anchors, making it a more secure mount. Although the mounting plate doesn’t look that aesthetically appealing, you can always consider a mounting plate that is smaller than the TV and choose one in a color and style that works well with the look of your room, or paint over it. If you’re looking to go this route, both the MantelMount SSB40 Single Stud Wall Adapter and the WPC00 Wall Plate Covers can be used with the MantelMount MM340 Standard Pull Down TV Mount. Please note that our WPC00 Wall Plate Covers are included with the purchase of a MM540 Enhanced Pull Down TV Mount. Things to Keep in Mind Before Mounting a TV With No Studs Although anchors, toggle bolts, mounting bolts, and mounting plates are effective ways to keep TV wall mounts in place when mounting a TV with no studs, here are some other extraneous things to keep in mind. Be Aware of the TV’s Weight and the Condition of the Wall Whether mounting a TV with drywall anchors or with a mounting plate, or frankly, any other way, ensure that the anchor screws are rated to carry the television’s weight. TV weights vary from model to model, but an average 32’ television usually weighs about 25 to 30 lbs, which means that a larger screen will weigh more.  If the choice is mounting a TV with drywall anchors, check the load capacity for the selected anchors. It won’t make a difference if the strongest wall anchors are used if you live in an old house with a wall that can’t sustain the load. If the wall appears flimsy, it may bend under the weight of the TV and there is a chance that it could potentially break at some point, wrecking both the wall and your television. Use the Right Type of Mount for Your TV A standard pattern for wall mounts is to ensure that they will fit any TV. However, mounts are rated to fit specific television sizes and weights. A wall mount for a 32’ TV would not be able to support the weight and dimensions of a 40’ TV. Choosing the wrong mount, then, could potentially be dangerous for your TV. (Bonus hat tip: If you’re looking for a new television, make sure to take a look at our New TV Buying Guide, which highlights some possible questions you might be asking about details on TV types.) Whether the question is how to mount a TV to a wall without studs or if it’s more to the tune of how high to mount a flat screen TV, most of the anchor options for a wall with no studs work best with fixed and tilt mounts. Fixed mounts are static and set at a singular position, while pull down and articulating and tilting TV wall mounts allow you to change the angle of the mounted television.  Toggle bolts and other wall anchors should not be used with anything other than fixed mounts. Mounts which have arms and swivels that allow for complete angle adjustments, naturally add more weight. The constant movement that comes with adjusting your mounted TV can cause increased stress on your anchor points and the wall itself.

There comes a time when your neck has gotten perpetually sore from looking up at your tv that’s situated at a bad angle. Or maybe you’ve suffered through months of your tv sitting on the floor or a piece of furniture, slouching so you can see a clear picture. Whatever your setup may be, there comes a time to turn to the professionals and get your tv hung on the wall in the most optimal place for tv-viewing. If you’re ready to call in the cavalry or you’re preparing to go it alone, there are some key considerations to make about when to use a professional tv mounting service or if you can mount a tv by yourself.  Can You Mount a TV by Yourself? Although you can mount a tv by yourself, often it’s better to ask, do you want to? Many modern tv mounts are relatively easy to install. MantelMount Pull Down TV Mounts in particular come with very comprehensive install guides and videos that make the installation process easy enough that you can mount a tv by yourself. Whether you have purchased a MM340 Standard Pull Down TV Mount, the MM540 Enhanced, or the MM700 Premier, the installation instructions allow just about anyone to be able to mount a tv themselves rather than hiring someone to mount a tv. In most cases if you can mount a tv by yourself, there are a few items that are typically needed or useful to have on hand, including: A marking device such as a pencil and/or painter's tape A tape measure A stud finder A manual or electronic level A drill with its corresponding drill bits And your selected tv mount Once all of the necessary installation items are handy, you can get started mounting your tv to the wall. Start by marking the area on the wall where you intend to drill your pilot holes. If you aren’t sure how high to mount your tv, you can follow the 8:1 ratio rule. If you’re able to, secure your tv mount to studs in the wall or use a drywall anchor when studs aren’t available. Add washers to the end of your screws, and secure the bracket to the wall through the bracket slats. You may need an extra set of hands for the next step, which requires you to line up the tv mount on the back of the tv with the bracket against the wall. If you did not hire someone to mount your tv, but rather, you are installing the tv mount yourself and are using a MantelMount product, keep in mind that our friendly and knowledgeable customer service representatives are available to troubleshoot and guide you through the installation procedures. Hiring Someone To Mount a TV We understand, the steps to successfully install a flat screen in the perfect spot can be daunting. If you’re stuck staring at a blank wall or you don’t have the right tools for the job, it might be time to take someone up on professional tv mounting. Step 1. Match with professionals and compare quotes. The first step is to get a quote. You can easily get matched with a professional in your area using a service like Angi’s List or reach out to a friend or family member to refer someone. If you can’t seem to find a specialist in your area, you can always reach out to a general contractor and compare at least 3 quotes. Step 2. Read reviews diligently.  The last thing you want to have happen when hiring someone to mount your tv is for their work to cause damage or for them to overcharge you for their services. Once you’ve had a chance to review pricing, try Googling your professional’s name or searching for their LLC on Trustpilot or Yelp. While your instinct may be to go with the lowest quote, if the professional tv mounting services have received poor reviews online, you’ll want to avoid hiring them. Step 3. Call your professional. If after reading reviews and comparing prices you think you’ve found the one, give your prospective professional a call and speak to them on the phone. This conversation will give you a sense of their professionalism and capabilities. This phone call will also give you a chance to talk about any specifics of the project that may affect final project costs. How Much Does It Cost To Mount a TV? In addition to asking yourself how to find an expert to install your tv, you may also be asking yourself how much does it cost to mount a tv?  The overall cost for mounting a tv can vary depending on the material of your wall, the amount of labor required for the project, even where you live in the country—think, New York City compared to Little Rock. Generally speaking though, the average cost for mounting a tv on a wall is between $159 and $361, according to HomeAdvisor. More specifically, if you hire an electrician, HomeAdvisor says you can expect to pay between $50 to $100 per hour while a handyman can cost between $60 to $130 per hour. This should give you an idea about how you can expect to pay if you hire one of these professionals to install your flat screen.  

Picture a spacious yet cozy living room, with comfortable couches, a coffee table, a toasty fireplace, and above it, as a finishing touch, the family flat-screen TV. For many households, coming together at the end of the day looks like hunkering down on the couch to watch a beloved show or movie. You may have an abundance of space in the living room and be able to display your TV on a console as part of an entertainment center or in a TV cabinet; but if space is a challenge — or your couch fits perfectly in front of your fireplace — mounting the TV over the mantel may be your best option.  This, of course, brings up the question of how to go about mounting a television above a fireplace.  Fireplaces can present some unique challenges when it comes to mounting your TV. For instance, mounting your TV into the fireplace may require you to drill into brick. Or you may be dealing with an uneven surface like stone. On the other hand, you may not know what type of material the wall is (Is it drywall? Is it plaster?) above your fireplace is made of. Whatever the challenge may be, we’ve compiled a complete guide filled with our recommendations for safely mounting your TV over your mantel. SELECTING THE RIGHT TV MOUNT FOR THE JOB The first step when mounting a TV above a fireplace is to choose a mount suited for over the mantel. Consider: the spot above your fireplace may position your tv too high for comfortable viewing.  This, in combination with a couch that sits just a little too close to the hearth, can create an uncomfortable TV-viewing experience — potentially even neck or back pain. MantelMount pull-down TV mounts are designed specifically for above-the-fireplace TV-viewing. Why? Because every MantelMount TV mount is built with counterbalance technology that gently guides your screen safely over your mantel and into a comfortable viewing position at the optimum eye-level. Ranging from our MM340 Standard and MM540 Enhanced to the MM700 Premier, each MantelMount is designed with patented gas pistons and lightweight alloys that make adjusting and positioning your TV seamless and enjoyable. Our latest TV mount, the MM815 Motorized Drop Down and Swivel TV Mount, is the most effective at allowing anyone — from child to adult — to enjoy their favorite show or movie, with the TV positioned at the best viewing angle for that person, all with the press of a button. MM815 Consumer Video D2C 03-10-23 from MantelMount on Vimeo. Using a MantelMount TV mount is one of the best ways to mount a TV over a fireplace because it’s precisely built for the space above your fireplace. There is flexibility with a TV mounted above a fireplace as it can be left in the stowed position when not watching, while also being able to adjust the height and angle when it’s TV-watching time. No more neck strain or eye strain. No more screen glare. The perfect TV picture color and clarity. What’s more, the MM540 Enhanced, the MM700 Premier, and the MM815 Motorized TV mounts are all designed with heat-sensing handles that turn red if the temperature above your fireplace exceeds a safe temperature, making you aware that you need to turn off the fireplace and/or raise your television to the stowed position. The temperature sensor is a visible alert to keep your TV’s delicate hardware safe from overheating with your subsequent actions to your fireplace or TV. Regardless of whether you have a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace, your family can feel safe and secure in the knowledge that installing a TV over a fireplace with a MantelMount TV mount will likely see through the lifespan of the TV, even with the fireplace heat below it. See what we mean about being built for the space above your fireplace? HOW TO MOUNT A TV ABOVE A FIREPLACE IF THE WALL IS MADE OF STONE OR BRICK When it comes to fireplaces, both stone fireplaces and brick fireplaces are commonplace in homes. Despite the fact that stone and brick can be tough materials to work with when mounting a TV above the fireplace, that doesn’t mean that you can’t mount a TV over your fireplace. If you’re asking yourself how to mount a TV above your fireplace and the wall is made of brick, we have this handy guide to make sure you don’t fear mounting a TV over your brick fireplace. On the other hand, if you are dealing with a stone wall and want to mount your TV, use our guide to get started. In any case, here are some of the tools you’ll need to get started: Painter’s tape Tape measure A level Concrete anchors and lag bolts — these items come in every MantelMount box Concrete screws and washers Drill with a hammer drill function Concrete drill bit Socket adapter, ratchet, or rubber mallet Our original accessories can also be added to achieve the correct look. For instance, if the stone or brick is part of a flimsy facade, you can simply purchase MantelMount’s AB40 Adapter to provide the necessary support needed. Are you a sound or audio nerd and want to enhance your TV watching to have the picture quality match with the audio quality? Try out our SKB00 Universal Sound Bar Adapter Kit to make what you watch really come to life. WHAT ABOUT MOUNTING A TV ABOVE THE FIREPLACE WHEN HEAT AND ELECTRONICS SHOULDN’T MIX? One of the most common concerns when mounting a TV over a fireplace is that heat and electronics should not mix. That includes not just the television, but also the attached wires and making certain that the wires are hidden away from the heat source.  A small amount of heat can damage items like entertainment and media cords and cables, so it’s likely that the TV isn’t the only thing on your mind with having a fireplace TV mount. However, televisions that are made today, for the most part, produce very little heat on their own. The concern, of course, is the extreme heat from the fireplace when it’s lit. One way that MantelMount TV mounts are unique is through the built-in, smart heat-sensing handles which turn red when a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or more is detected. Shop Our TV Mounts Made For Fireplaces THE BEST WAY TO MOUNT TV OVER A FIREPLACE WHEN THE MANTEL IS TALL The height of a fireplace mantel can certainly interfere with your home entertainment setup and overall enjoyment. If you already know how to mount a TV above a fireplace but are unsure of the height of where the TV should be, that’s something that should be addressed.  When mounting a TV above the fireplace, understand that it might be on a higher place on the wall to secure the TV further away from heat and if the mantel is tall. Watching television, however, is meant to be fun and a relaxing experience so make sure that you don’t end up installing a TV over the fireplace too high as to cause discomfort.  Additionally, as our MM815 Motorized TV Mount has two memory presets on the remote control that lowers and swivels the mount, there are options for finding the best focal point for the tall fireplace mantel. By taking these instructions to heart, mounting your TV over the fireplace won’t seem like such an insurmountable task, and it could actually be your best option!

So, you’ve found the perfect flat screen tv for your space but you have no way to install it onto your wall. It’s time to look for a great tv wall mount, but where to start and what considerations should you make?  A great place to start, when searching for a new all mount, is to consider your tv room’s layout. Does your family have an open concept room where your tv is located so you need an articulating tv mount? Or do you have your tv in a bedroom so you are looking for a tilting tv mount? Before making a purchase, you may have simple questions like, “What is an articulating tv mount?”or “What is a tilting tv mount?” It’s also possible to have more in-depth questions regarding wall mounts and wall material like how to mount a tv into stone or brick. There are many different ways that a tv can mount to a wall ranging from tilting to panning and swiveling to rotating to articulating. Many tv mounts do just as their names suggest but to ensure descriptions are correct before shopping, we’re here to guide you through understanding what type of wall mounts are available. A panning tv mount is capable of panning the television left and right but is stationary in the action so it angles the tv. Similarly, a swivel tv mount also moves the television left and right but does so through moving in a horizontal motion — side to side — but does not angle the television.  A rotating mount, on the other hand, is not as popular of a tv mount due to its capability to rotate vertically and most tv-watchers desiring a horizontal viewing experience. A rotational mount, however, is useful for the fitness gurus out there that utilize a vertical experience with working out at home. Many at home tv viewers utilize a tilting tv mount or, especially due to its features, an articulating tv mount, but it is important to understand what they are before buying. What Is a Tilting TV Mount? A tilting tv mount is a fairly simple tv mount that tilts the screen. If you have ever used a camera that is fixed to a tripod, that camera does what a tilting tv mount does: moves up and down from the fulcrum. Although tilting a tv up so the tv is angled more towards a ceiling might not be useful — save for the instances in which there might be glare on the tv screen — tilting the tv downward can help create a better tv-viewing experience if you have to place your screen higher on the wall. When using a tilting tv mount, it is important to take into consideration how high on the wall your tv will be mounted. If the tv is mounted too low on the wall and it tilts down, it might lend to a worse angle than if it was a fixed tv that was not on a mount.  Tilting tv mounts are relatively common with simple technology. So what is an articulating tv mount and what are the disadvantages and advantages of each of the types of mounts? We’ll continue to look into that next. What Is an Articulating TV Mount? An articulating tv mount is a mount that combines the three aspects of panning, tilting, and swiveling; and as all movements are able to be used with these types of tv mounts, articulating mounts can also be referred to as full motion tv mounts. The flexibility of the range of movements in which the tv can be viewed when seated and standing are often attractive for those who own articulating tv mounts. One drawback, however, of an articulating mount is that there needs to be enough room for the movement of the mount for the user to be able to sufficiently utilize the mount to its fullest capabilities.  If you know what an articulating mount is, then you might think that you would need an articulated tv bracket. With an articulated tv bracket, a television viewer is able to take advantage of all of the ways that the articulating mount can be used rather than solely being able to utilize the panning or tilting aspects. An articulated tv bracket would be needed for a tv mount that does not include, in most cases, the panning capabilities to make the mount a full motion tv mount. Deciding Between an Articulating Vs Tilting Wall Mount Whether you’re waffling between an articulating vs tilting wall mount, or thinking about incorporating a different type of tv mount in the decision making process, it is important to take into account all of the factors including weight of the television, the wall material, the room layout and the size of the room that the mount will be in, the price, the lifespan of the mount, and even the ease of using the mount.  MantelMount is the choice for many tv owners who are seeking an enriched and relaxing time watching television while having options for tv placement including pulling down, tilting, and swiveling. With a MantelMount tv mount, a tv user can view their favorite shows, movies, or other programs with a mount that provides a vertical travel distance from anywhere between 26” to 30.5”, a swivel of up to 60 degrees in one way, and adjustable tilts. Whether you purchase a gateway tv mount like the MM340 Standard Pull Down TV Mount or a more advanced model like the MM540, MantelMount can help improve your tv-viewing experience. Whether you are deciding between an articulating vs tilting wall mount or your decision includes any other type of tv wall mount, if the verdict is to purchase a MantelMount tv wall mount, make sure to use the video guides and call our friendly and knowledgeable installers for any installation assistance.

There is something special and alluring about a rustic stone fireplace or stone accent wall. It’s eyecatching and it brings both ruggedness and warmth to any room whether that happens to be a den, living room, or a covered porch with a captivating view. In addition to adding a formidable architectural feature to any home, stone walls also can be massive — much taller than a typical 8-10 ft interior drywall. This can make an interior stone wall a fantastic place to display a giant entertainment center with a giant tv. If the decision is to create a tv-watching experience with an uneven stone wall as the backdrop in the home, there are some considerations to take on before adding a stone wall tv mount, including having the right tv mount and guaranteeing the want to have a tv mount on the stone wall is at 100 percent. What to Know Before Mounting a Tv on an Uneven Stone Wall Before mounting a tv on a wall of any material, there are quite a few items to consider before you start drilling and measuring. For one, you have to choose the right sized tv for your space, discover the right tv height for optimal viewing, and add any baby-proofing to hide wires. Another consideration to make, after you’ve found the perfect tv for your space and the correct hanging height, is to choose your tv mount. For a wall with surmountable height, like a grande stone wall in a large den, you may want to consider a mount with a moveable arm. MantelMount creates tv mounts that can stand up to walls of any size, shape, and material — including stone. For instance, the MM540 Enhanced Mount has a 30° swivel range, 9° tilt, and has a vertical travel span of 27”, making it a great option for large open concept rooms or a tv mounted high on the wall. If the stone wall in your home is actually a stone fireplace, there are additional considerations to make before you mount your tv. In this case, the first step is to identify if the working fireplace is gas or wood-burning. From there, discover if the fireplace’s material is truly stone or hollow. The thickness of the material will determine the best way to hang your tv.  How to Mount a Tv on an Uneven Stone Wall If you are looking to install a stone wall tv mount that does not have a fireplace, similar to installing a tv mount to a brick wall, it might take some patience and another set of hands. Stone, like brick, can have an uneven surface, making it less straightforward to secure your tv bracket than a smooth section of drywall. The first step is to prepare, gather all of the material you need before installation. You also need to ensure you have the correct size mount for your tv. If you’re installing a MantelMount wall mount, the installation steps and FAQ sheet can guide you through the basics. Whether you are learning how to mount a tv on an uneven stone wall in your living room or the exposed brick wall in your bedroom, there are some universal tools you will need for the job. What You’ll Need: An awl #2 Phillips screwdriver Electric drill Drill bit A set of Allen wrenches Bubble level Stud finder Open end/box end wrench Socket wrench  Now the tricky part, mounting your tv on an uneven stone wall or stone fireplace. It’s very important to proceed with installation carefully and methodically. If you’re installing a MantelMount tv mount specifically, you can reach out to anyone on our customer support line at 800-897-9755 x1, or contact us via email.  Stone Wall Tv Mount Tips & Common Questions Our friendly customer service team is always fielding questions about tv mounting best practices. So, we wanted to get one of our experts to weigh in on some of the most common questions and considerations that come up when our customers want to mount a tv into a wall made of unconventional material, like stone. Question 1: “What should I be aware of before buying a stone wall tv mount?” There are a handful of things to think about before a homeowner purchases a tv mount — for a stone wall, brick wall, or any other type of wall — but especially one for an uneven stone wall. Before buying an expensive tv mount, double check the integrity of the stone as the first step and determine whether it is a facade, veneer, or real stone. Usually, a facade or veneer stone wall will have studs behind it, which likely means simple lag bolts can be used for mounting through the wall to the studs. However, if the stone is real, a proper concrete anchor, sleeve anchor, or masonry anchor will be needed for the tv wall mount installation. Question 2: “Are there any special considerations to take into account with the mounting and installation process on an uneven stone wall?” When deciding on the type of mount, think of which would be best for your viewing experience. Although the most popular mounts are static mounts (which are the basic wall mounts), swivel mounts and articulating mounts that usually have a swing arm that travel outwards and move left to right and pull down mounts, such as the MantelMount tv mounts, might allow for better tv-watching. After figuring out which type of mount you prefer, another consideration to take into account is the structural support behind the stone wall. Is it concrete, studs, solid stone, or nothing?  In order to select the proper anchor, you must know what type of support is behind the wall. Once the type of mount and structural support are known, then you must discover the proper anchor type. You want to ensure that you have the correct anchor for your application whether it is a concrete, masonry, or sleeve anchor. Be aware that not all wall mounts come with the proper anchors for each style of application so make sure that the anchor is able to withstand the proper weight. Question 3: “What are some things I must know before mounting a tv on an uneven stone wall?” There are a few things to keep in mind prior to making the step of putting up a stone wall tv mount: Check, multiple times, the measurements for all of your mounting points to minimize mistakes of creating holes in stone. Ensure the integrity of the stone is in good shape and not crumbling. Make sure all of the proper tools and hardware are on hand including hammer, drill, proper anchors, and drill bits. Try to pick the most even part of the wall on the uneven stone wall while also having purchased a depth adjuster as a workaround. The easiest solution to working with the uneven stone wall would be to purchase hanger bolts, with some washers and nuts. Post-installation, the nuts can be used to adjust the wall mount to create a flatter or even plain. For more tv mounting tips and ideas, be sure to check back regularly with MantelMount’s blog or check out our customer gallery for inspiration before your next DIY project.

Since the beginning of time, humans have used different methods to lull themselves to sleep. From reading by candlelight to playing an ambient noise machine, getting into the right headspace to drift off to sleep is key to achieving the recommended 8 hours. Now, it’s true some sleep methods are better than others. For instance, you should not expose your eyes to the blue light of your phone or computer screen as you’re trying to wind down for the night. But this begs the question, should you have a TV in your bedroom and watch it before bed? Find out more about how TV before bed can affect your quality of sleep and whether or not you should place a TV in your bedroom. The Pros and Cons to Having a TV in Your Room It may come as a surprise, but having a TV in your room comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Whether some of these advantages are actually cons and vice versa are up to you, but it is wise to take all the factors into consideration before you decide if you should have a TV in your bedroom.  Disadvantages of Having a TV in Your Room We’ll save the best for last and start with some of the obvious disadvantages of having a TV in your bedroom. For one, it’s well-documented, at this point, that watching TV before bed can disrupt your sleep. If you fall asleep to the white noise of your favorite television show or sports game, studies have shown that insomnia is more likely to disrupt your late nights. What’s more, TV stimulates the mind and having this type of brain activity can cause vivid dreams, disrupting sleep again. But light isn’t the only contributing factor. Because the noise from TV shows and movies can fluctuate, your sleep is likely to be interrupted. When that happens, cognitive function is lessened throughout the day. This means that your mental acumen is not as sharp or clear as it can be if you did not have a TV in your bedroom. One could argue that you can still watch TV too close to bedtime if your TV is in the living room. This is true. However, the short transition time between shutting off the TV in your living room and getting ready for bed is a critical period for your mind to wind down. You can even assist the process further by dimming lights or using light bulbs that cast a warm light to simulate the sun going down, which brings us to another disadvantage. Often, the bright artificial light of a television screen playing in a dark room can have a poor impact on circadian rhythms. This can then disrupt your melatonin levels and cause you to take a long time to fall asleep and have trouble staying asleep. Advantages of Having a TV in Your Room If you already have a TV in your room, you might be wondering if you should watch TV before bed. Well, we’re happy to say, you do not need to go out and rip your TV off the bedroom wall - there are actually some benefits to having a TV in your bedroom. For one, watching TV is a popular way to de-stress after a long day. Lives are often full of stressors and one way to relax is to watch TV while in bed. Meanwhile, other people prefer to have a TV on — usually at the lowest volume — for a bit of white noise instead of a ceiling fan or white noise machine. If you are interested in having a TV situated in your bedroom, be mindful of how high the TV is mounted as you would most likely be laying down or in an otherwise relaxed position instead of sitting completely upright. Also, keep in mind that a bed is often in a higher fixed position than a couch so the right mount would be needed for optimal viewing. Mounting a TV in Your Bedroom If you decide to put a TV in your bedroom, there are a couple of things in terms of TV height and distance from the bed that you should consider. MantelMount has a useful guide for choosing the right-sized TV for the size of your room and how far away to place your furniture. Although we can’t tell you definitively whether or not you should put a TV in your bedroom, if you decide to mount a TV in your bedroom, MantelMount pull down wall mounts can provide you with the best TV-viewing experience before your head hits the pillow and it’s lights out. Due to its patented construction combining high-quality automotive pistons with lightweight alloys and state-of-the-art counterbalance technology, you can easily pull down a large flat screen TV off the wall with a MantelMount wall mount (like the most popular model, the MM540 Enhanced Pull Down), suspend it at eye-level, swivel it left or right, and then simply raise if back up to the stowed position when not watching, if you so choose. Contact our friendly installers to learn about the installation process and to discover which world-class wall mount and TV accessories are right for your set up in whichever room that might be.

  If the kitchen is the heart of the home, it’s our personal opinion that the living room is the soul. From holiday celebrations to lazy Football Sundays, your living room is likely the hub of everyday life, and for that reason, it’s important that every aspect of your living room functions the way it's supposed to. One of the key components of any family room or living room is the entertainment center: the TV. And after you’ve picked the right-sized TV for your space, proper installation comes next. We’ve written extensively about TV mounting for any circumstance: mounting into brick, exterior walls to create outdoor living spaces, etc. We even have comprehensive install manuals for all of our world-class pull-down TV mounts. But what happens if after installation, you notice your mounted TV looks crooked? Well, don’t worry, as TV-mounting experts, we have the solution so you can fix a crooked TV yourself! Possible Reasons for a Crooked TV The first step to fixing your crooked TV is to identify the specific problem. There are many reasons why a TV might look off center and each one requires its own fix. For example, a TV might look crooked because the mount itself was installed crookedly. In this instance, you would need to fully remove the mount and reinstall it. Or your TV might look crooked because the ceiling is slightly crooked, which might occur in an older home or apartment, in which case, you can trick the eye with decor pieces or a paint color to offset ceilings, trim, or an old mantel that is slightly below straight. Here are some other top reasons your mounted TV looks crooked after installation. The mount’s base is crookedly installed on the wall The mount’s base — also known as the mounting plate — is installed crooked on the wall. If the mounting plate is installed crooked, everything else installed from the mount, including the TV, will also be crooked. The vertical hooks are not aligned properly The issue with your crooked TV may not be the mount’s base, however. This is when you can check the vertical hooks. There are vertical hooks that usually attach to the back of a television through the TV’s VESA holes. (If you need a refresher on VESA hole standards, take a peek at this MantelMount blog.) If those vertical hooks are not properly aligned, the television will also sit crooked once it is hung on the mount. Your mount’s hardware is loose Double check to make sure that all the necessary hardware is tightly secured on the mount. Additionally, you will want to make sure the wall does not have a slant or have some crooked parts to it. Surprisingly, there are many times little items, such as a loose bolt, will cause a TV to be crooked. Fixing a Crooked TV Once you’ve identified the problem, you can fix it with confidence, or reach out to the right professional to get a quote and repair it quickly. If you’re experiencing any of the issues above, here are some of our fix solutions you can try at home to straighten your crooked TV.  Make sure everything is level The most important aspect, when installing anything on a wall, whether we are talking a TV wall mount or a painting on a canvas, is to ensure everything is level. To do so, you must use a leveling tool. Using a good quality level throughout the entire installation will be helpful, but especially during the part of the process when attaching the mounting plate to the wall. By guaranteeing the mounting plate is level and straight, you will be setting the foundation up to be as straight as possible. Troubleshoot a post-installation level adjustment You will find that in most cases, mounts do have a failsafe for fixing or leveling a crooked TV. Say you find that your TV is crooked once you have finished your installation. If that should happen, there should be a post-installation level adjustment that comes with the mount. This type of adjustment is either a pair of screws or a knob that will allow for clockwise and counterclockwise adjustments. Secure your mount’s hardware Double check, and possibly even triple check, your installation. Even many seasoned TV-mounting veterans have to check that all the installation instructions were followed properly. Checking your installation work is important because, for instance, you might think that a mount is defective, but there might be one or two small and easy adjustments needed to fix the issue, like fully tightening a bolt at the very beginning of the installation process. Post-Level Adjusting Your MantelMount Pull-Down TV Wall Mount As wall mount experts with our own, word-class line of pull down articulating mounts and accessories, we specialize in TV installation and mounting best practices — particularly, when it comes to working out the rare kinks of a MantelMount wall mount installation. Whether you’re an owner of our Standard MM340 Pull Down Wall Mount or the MM540 Enhanced Pull Down Wall Mount, each one of our wall mounts comes with features like adjustable stops and patented auto-straightening to provide the best TV-viewing experience. If however, you finish installing your MantelMount in its desired location and notice your TV is slightly crooked, we recommend post-level adjusting your TV: Place a level on top of your TV while it’s in the up position. If the TV isn’t level, begin by loosening the leveling screws. Rotate the TV until it’s level. Tighten all the screws. Performing a post-level adjustment should straighten your TV before you finally tighten the screws, but if your mounted TV still looks crooked after the post-leveling, the bracket may need to be reinstalled. To troubleshoot any potential problems, we have a highly detailed and comprehensive FAQ page that can guide you through common installation issues, intricate troubleshooting tips in our installation manuals (in the MM540 manual, see pages 21 and 22), or reach out to a friendly member of our customer service team for more information.

Picture this: You’re outside enjoying lovely weather after a long day of work, sitting underneath a covered patio on a comfortable sofa with a refreshing drink in hand — away from bugs and mosquitoes, of course, watching your favorite show or sporting event on the television. The idea of creating an outdoor entertainment area may have crossed your mind. Our lives have changed greatly over the last few years, and in many ways, people are creating spaces in their homes that can be enjoyed for both entertaining and for family use. One such way that households are transforming their outdoor space is to enhance it with a TV. But, you might be asking, how do you make an indoor TV an outdoor TV? Or, a question you might be wondering is a screened in porch with a TV is any different to a TV on a patio that’s more open to the elements. Or you may have asked thought to yourself if you need a special TV for the outdoors, or if you can simply put an outdoor TV under a covered patio for added protection.  We answer all of these questions and more so you can build the perfect outdoor set up for your entertainment needs. Do You Need a Special Weatherized TV for Outdoors? How Do You Make An Indoor TV An Outdoor TV? Although there are methods on how to make an indoor TV an outdoor TV, it’s not recommended by television manufacturers. This is due to variables like exposure to both water and wind, a rogue backyard ballgame element, and gardening tools that can all badly damage a TV. This piece from the New York Times spells out why you might be more susceptible to considering purchasing a weatherized TV rather than chance your indoor TV outside. Looking to go the route of going for an indoor TV? Regardless of whether you have a screened in porch with a TV or the television is more exposed to the outdoor elements, purchasing a protective covering for your TV screen, like a screen protector with an IP55 grade rating, is an option. What’s more, to protect your TV that’s on a patio, reinforce wires with conduit or a drip loop to protect against water damage. But your best bet for placing a non-weather resistant TV outside is to place it in a TV cabinet or install it underneath some kind of structure like a covered patio. On the other hand, a weatherized TV comes with some level of protection from the elements and would likely perform well in a backyard or under a covered patio. These special TVs, like ones from SunBrite that are capable of having full sun, partial sun, or shaded exposure, are built to withstand extreme temperature changes and can act as more of a permanent solution than running out the clock on an indoor TV holding up to a harsh environment. Additionally, a weatherized TV typically has a brighter display than a normal TV. This makes it possible to watch TV outside even in bright, direct sunlight if you don’t have the luxury of a covered deck or a screened in porch with a TV. To put a bow on the question of if you need a special TV for outdoors, the answer is, yes; if you want to create the best outdoor-viewing experience and don’t want to do constant repairs and maintenance having a weatherized TV is vital. How To Weatherproof A TV Whether you choose to purchase a weatherized TV with an IP54 rating, or you drag an old TV outside, you are going to want to create some level of weatherproofing to give whichever TV you place outside its best chance for surviving through temperature changes and exposure to the elements. One option is to build a weatherized TV cabinet. These can be a great project for the experienced DIYer and provide a level of protection similar to a covered patio, if it’s built correctly. One useful solution to a cabinet or alcove is with MantelMount’s AB40 horizontal adapter that works with certain MantelMount TV mount models.  Although having a cabinet as a structure isn’t necessarily the answer to figuring out how to weatherproof a TV, it is one solution to further make your television safe, secure, and away from the outdoor elements.  If you prefer to have a more slimline approach to your covered patio outdoor TV, a TV case to make your outdoor covered patio lounging setup look a bit more like your indoor living room.  Do none of those options suit your fancy? At MantelMount, we have just the solution: WeatherMounts by MantelMount. Combining a weatherized TV with our Marine Grade 316 stainless steel TV mount will enhance your outdoor entertainment experience so much that you may never want to nip inside.   Invest in a WeatherMount for your outdoor entertaining   Why You Need To Invest In A WeatherMount By MantelMount and Weatherized TV For those intrigued by the idea of having a TV on your patio, mounted with a weatherproof TV mount, there is nowhere else to look than MantelMount. With our WeatherMounts by MantelMount, before going on the market, our team rigorously tested to ensure the outdoor mounts — wherever they are placed in an outdoor entertainment environment — would be sturdy, proven, and long lasting. So, how did we do it? Well, first off, imagine you live on the coast, whether that is in San Diego, Seattle, Miami, or Virginia Beach. In any of those locations, besides sand, what do you get with beachside or oceanside living? Salt. Because salt corrodes metal, we knew that our WeatherMounts had to be exposed to harsh environments, from any coast, that any San Diegan, Seattleite, Miamian, or Virginian knows far too well.  Now that you have the picture of why it was important to test our WeatherMounts, here’s how we did it. We conducted a 720-hour salt spray test that incorporated UV light exposure and 24-hour thermal cycling between 60 degrees and 100 degrees.  In addition to that, the mounts use Marine Grade 316 stainless steel. Why is that noteworthy? That type of stainless steel is known for being corrosion resistant, lending to our mounts being sturdier and more long lasting in an outdoor environment than other non-weatherized TV mounts. Other Ways You Can Use MantelMount For Outdoor-TV Watching If you’ve taken the necessary steps and precautions, such as placing your TV under a covered patio, setting up a weatherized TV cabinet, purchasing a TV case or cover, and buying MantelMount products, like our WeatherMounts by MantelMount, all of those factors make it possible to place your TV at the best height for a comfortable outdoor viewing experience. Whether you’re deciding to use a weatherized TV, a weatherized cabinet, purchasing a weather resistant TV along with a WeatherMount, or are hoping for the best and winging it, MantelMount is here to help guide you through TV mounting with helpful and friendly experts. And that’s for inside and outside TV-watching.

Although purchasing a MantelMount pull down TV mount or drop down and swivel TV mount will enhance your TV viewing experience, there are other factors at play, including lighting, comfortability with furniture — and understanding just how far away from the TV you should sit with couches or chairs — as well as knowing what the ideal TV viewing distance is and taking advantage of that. There are a number of articles talking about the optimum distance between you and your TV, so we’ve filtered through a number of them to cull the best advice. Recommended Viewing Distance The process can be a bit tricky. If you’re a TV watcher that tends to sit back far, the risk is there to lose the sharp detail that you paid for when you bought your HDTV in the first place (if you have a 4K TV or 8K TV, then you spent even more money for more detail).  However, if you’re someone who might sit a little too close, the individual pixels start to become visible and, ultimately, distracting. Furthermore, there are health factors when a viewing angle is so close including audio distortion and eye strain. Ultimately, you have to find that happy medium. Here, we break down the best viewing distance for your living room’s TV screen size. First, the concept of the science behind picture quality. Pixels, Standard Definition, High Resolution TVs, and All That In Between When understanding the best TV viewing range, one of the first things to understand is the concept of pixels. Every digital image is made up of a grid of colored dots or squares called pixels.  For instance, a 1080p HDTV has 1080 rows of 1920 pixels each. That’s a grand total of 2,073,600 pixels; it doesn’t matter whether the TV size is a 43-inch TV, a 55-inch TV, or a larger TV (think 100 inches wide), the number of pixels remains constant. What does change, however, is the size of the pixels; the bigger the TV screen, the easier it is to see them — which is not ideal since pixels should be too small to see. THX — the company founded by legendary filmmaker George Lucas, which develops high-fidelity, audio/visual reproduction standards for movie theaters, immersive experience screening rooms, and home theaters — offers a simple formula for calculating the closest you can get to an HDTV without seeing the pixels: Divide the advertised TV size by 0.84. However, there are opposing points of view. In a TechHive article, the writer notes, “The speaker manufacturer Aperion Audio recommends that you not sit closer than six and a half feet from a 50-inch 1080p set. Aperion also recommends you sit no farther than 9 feet 9 inches for the best viewing experience.” TV Size Viewing Distance Range Via the THX calculation, figure one foot of distance for every 10 inches of screen size. Keep in mind that the viewing distance formula does not take into consideration the field of view from your couch or any glare or external factor which might require a change is your seating preferences while watching TV. For the following TV screen sizes, this should be the viewing distance: 43-inch TV: At least 4.3 feet away 55-inch TV: At least 5.5 feet away 65-inch TV: At least 6.5 feet away 75-inch TV: At least 7.5 feet away 4K TVs and 8K TVs, however, present a different issue. Because of the high-definition screen with the high resolution picture quality that they come with, as well as the advanced clarity and sharpness, you can sit closer, but that will cause audio issues. Our advice? Move a little bit closer, maybe 6 inches to a foot. Are you looking for even more data around viewing distance and TV screen size? This piece from The Home Cinema Guide delves into more of the nitty gritty of how far away from the TV should you sit, in addition to having a distance calculator. Interested in understanding more about the science behind screen size and viewing distance? The following video should give insight into the decisions behind how close you should be sitting from a TV, which includes information from the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (or SMPTE) and the standards for audio and visual experiences. Video via Linus Tech Tips How a Mount Helps in the Optimal Viewing Distance for your TV Watching For a television mount, a pull down mount helps to optimize the viewing experience for anyone — those wanting a more home movie theater experience to those playing video games on the TV — and for any TV screen size. Ultimately, it’s about your own watching TV seating preferences, in which nothing is set in stone. However, by utilizing a pull down TV mount or drop down and swivel TV mount, in addition to understanding the optimal viewing distance for TV preferences, the experience will be that much more enhanced. So whether you are having a big family movie night with people scattered about the living room on couches, chairs, and on the floor, or you are enjoying laying down playing a game, with a pillow propping up your neck, the combination of knowing how far away from the TV you should sit and a TV mount will get you to that sweet spot of your ideal TV viewing distance.