Mounting a TV in your bedroom can be a great endeavor. After all, who doesn’t like falling asleep watching their favorite shows?
That being said, your experience watching TV in bed can be easily ruined if you don’t mount it properly.
Quick Summary
In this post, we will outline the pitfalls you must avoid to ensure your TV is at the ideal height for viewing from your bed.
We will also discuss the factors you must think about that will help you determine the ideal height for your TV.
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
The Perfect Height for a TV in the Bedroom
Similar to when mounting a TV in any other room, there are certain factors that can help you determine the best height for your TV in the bedroom.
However, when mounting a flat-screen TV where you sleep, there are additional pitfalls you need to be aware of.
Let’s get started with the factors you must think about:
The Size of Your TV
The ideal mounting height for a TV differs based on its size.
Bear in mind that when we talk about the “size” of a TV, we are talking about its diagonal viewing area. Technically, the size of a TV refers to the dimensions of a TV screen in a diagonal.
This refers to the diagonal length of the television that can project an image for your viewing pleasure.
Secondly, when we consider a television’s height from the floor, we don’t consider the length from the floor to the TV’s top or bottom.
Rather, we consider the length from the floor to the center of the TV.
Depending on the size of the television, you can determine the ideal height from the floor to the TV.
For example:
- A 42-inch television must be mounted 56 inches from the floor to the center of it.
- A 55-inch television must be mounted 61 inches<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> from the floor to the center of it.
- A 65-inch television must be mounted 65 inches<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> from the floor to the center of it.
- A 70-inch television must be mounted 67 inches<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> from the floor to the center of it.
Viewing Angle
We’ve talked about the viewing angle of TV mounts in a previous post in which we were discussing TV mount heights in general.
When it comes to mounting a TV in your bedroom, the rules of adjusting the height according to the viewing angle are the same.
However, there’s one thing you must keep in mind:
When watching TV in your bedroom, you will most likely be lying in bed and not sitting on a couch as you would be in your living room.
Hence, your television should be mounted at a proper height:
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) has stated that the viewing angle should be no more than 30 degrees.
While the average person doesn’t go above 10 or 15 degrees when they’re sitting on a couch, this may not be the case when they’re lying in bed.
Thus, take note of what position you lie in bed when you’d like to view something. Observe the angle you’re most comfortable at and then adjust your TV mount’s height accordingly.
Do you lie at an angle? Do you look straight ahead when lying in bed?
These are the questions that you must ask yourself and based on the answers, you’ll be able to get a rough estimate of where the TV mount should be placed.
Viewing Distance
When it comes to viewing distance, the rules that apply are the same.
You can find the ideal viewing distance for your particular TV by dividing its size by 0.55.
So, for example, a 42-inch TV would have an ideal viewing distance of 76 inches.
The viewing distance is especially important to keep in mind when mounting a television in the bedroom.
This is because as opposed to living rooms, bedrooms are often smaller. Hence, you may not have the space to achieve the ideal viewing distance if you have a bigger TV.
Definitely keep this in mind.
If you don’t have the space to achieve the ideal viewing distance for a bigger TV, then maybe you should opt for a smaller one.
Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality
While it’s true that everyone wants to have the optimal mounting height, this may not be entirely achievable in certain bedrooms.
For example, you may find that the spot where you can achieve the ideal height and viewing distance is occupied by cabinets or a mirror.
In other cases, there may be furniture in your bedroom that would obstruct the television itself.
Hence, you must find the spot that is closest to the ideal height and viewing distance. Ensure that it’s not causing any obstruction and that you are able to clearly see the entirety of the screen.
The wall at the front of the foot of your bed may seem like the most logical choice in most cases. However, this is not always ideal.
In many cases, the best position for your television will depend on the size and shape of your room as well as the furniture in it.
Make Compromises if the Television is not the Focal Point
While televisions are often the focal areas in most rooms, sometimes that may not be the case.
For example, your bedroom may have a window with a spectacular view. In that case, you’d want to make the focal point of the room and thus, would want it in front of the foot of your bed.
Hence, you would compromise on the best position of your television and place it in the next best position.
Obviously, this is subjective.
Some people may not value the view as much as they value being able to watch television comfortably.
Consult The Manual
One thing that you need to make sure of when mounting a TV in your bedroom, is to consult the instruction manual that comes along with the TV. The manual provides you with a recommended height you should wall mount the TV based on the TV size, screen resolution, room dimensions, and recommended viewing distance.
How will it help?
Although the decision to follow the manual lies completely with you and your personal preference, having an idea of what the vertical height optimally should me, will make the decision easier for you.
Additionally, the optimal height provided in the manual is for most common seating postures when watching a TV. If you are looking to set the TV up in your bedroom, it is highly likely that you would be viewing it while laying down.
The furniture arrangement of your room will also play an important role in deciding upon the height before you mount the TV.
As the manual and the television engineers who designed it, do not take into consideration the type and location of your furniture, this is something you will have to figure out for yourself.
Have Adequate Lighting
Your bedroom is one place, besides virtually every other room, where you can go extremely creative with the lightings and direct the entire focus of the lights in a particular direction.
This is why it is important for you to consider the lighting your room is going to have before you set up the TV. Before you start worrying about the reclining angle of the TV, you first have to understand which area of the room will have the best lighting to have a TV installed.
What if the location has extremely low light?
If the location where you have installed the TV, extremely dark, you will end up with extreme visual fatigue if you view the TV over an extended period of time. Similarly, if the area you have the TV is too well-lit, you will have a hard time telling what’s going on with your favorite show.
This is why, you require perfectly dim lighting to ensure the best viewing experience, without putting any sort of strain on your eyes, or compromising on the quality of the viewing experience.
Once you have located that area, get the wall bracket ready, and you should be able to mount the TV in the perfect location in any bedroom layout.
Check Out The Sounds
What good does an amazing show does, without the proper sound system to go along with it. The best location and height for you to install your TV in your bedroom is the one that not only complements the picture quality of the TV but also enhances the sound experience.
However, this part does depend upon the sound hardware you have opted for. If you have wireless headphones as your go-to sound system, you don’t really have to consider the location for optimal sounds.
But if you are using external speakers to enhance the sound quality and develop a surround sound experience, you might need to put a little more thought into it.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to try out external speakers with a handheld device and find the location of the room that has the least amount of echo and provides the crisper sound. That should be the ideal distance and location for you to install your TV in.
The Eye Levels Aren’t Important
When it comes to mounting your TV, we understand that eye levels are an important consideration, however, that is not the case when it comes to your bedroom.
This is because in other rooms, most people will be viewing the TV will casual sitting, however, in the case of the bedroom, most of the viewing is done while laying down.
In this case, the general rule of having the TV’s center directly on the level with the eye’s level would not be feasible because that would be too low and could hinder the arrangement of other furniture in the room. Talk about an interior designer’s worst nightmare.
This is why, when it comes to the installation of a TV in a bedroom, we suggest that you use a rotating bracket, or a full-motion mount so that when you have installed the TV at a higher height than usual, you would be able to adjust the viewing angle based on the screen’s size, your posture, and the TV sizes.
So ultimately, the installation of the TV in your bedroom depends upon the reference distance, the size of the new TV, and so much more than just the eye levels.
Benefits Of Mounting A TV In Your Bedroom
Although the decision to mount a TV in your bedroom seems like a tough one, it is not without its fair share of advantages. Not only will you be able to have the delight of watching TV while laying down comfortably, but it also comes with a lot more benefits.
So if you have all the necessary tools prepared, and are just looking for that one last push towards the decision of mounting a TV in your bedroom, read on.
Comfortability
The first benefit of installing a TV in your bedroom would be the viewing comfortability that you get by installing the TV in your bedroom.
It is a well-known fact that watching TV while laying down in your bed is a lot more comfortable than sitting on a sofa. If you are someone who spends most of their time in the bedroom rather than the hall, or living area, installing a TV in your bedroom might be the best decision you can make.
Aesthetic
A TV is a focal point that brings the entire aesthetic of your room together. This is why it is a good idea to have them installed in your bedroom as it would act as a live portrait, able to bring the whole room together.
Additionally, a flat-screen TV provides a very nice and classy aesthetic to your room and gives it a little more finesse and visual appeal.
Especially, with a tilt bracket or a rotating mount, where you are able to adjust the angle of your TV to suit your viewing pleasures.
A Good Icebreaker
Having a TV set up in your bedroom will make for an amazing icebreaker for you and your spouse after a tough day at work.
TVs can serve as a perfect social meeting point which will give you and your partner something to talk about.
This will help you enhance your relationship as you would constantly have something to talk about during your time together.
Keeping Up With The World
Another huge benefit of having a TV in your bedroom is that you will be able to keep up with what’s going on around you in the world as soon as you wake up.
Especially in the world that is riddled with a pandemic, where anything can go wrong, or right, at any given moment. This is why it is important to keep up with all the important news and a TV in your bedroom provides you with that.
Additionally, you will be able to keep up with the weather situation and the traffic conditions in your city with the help of a TV in the bedroom.
How High To Mount TV in Bedroom - Conclusion
So, that’s how you figure out the best height to mount a television in your bedroom.
As long as you think carefully about the factors we have listed above, we’re confident you’ll definitely be able to find the correct height for yourself.
If you have any more questions about mounting a TV in your bedroom, let us know in the comments below.
Adam F.
A/V and Home Theater Expert that focuses on providing clear as well as concise reviews for anything and everything Audio Visual. From TV's, TV Mounts, Soundbars, and Wiring, my focus is to provide expertise in everything Audio Visual focused.
