In many homes, the TV is the focal point of the living room, and a constant in each bedroom (even if sleep experts don’t recommend it, but hey, we’re not here to dissuade you). Like it or not, the TV is an essential part of the modern home, and it’s here to stay. As a result, shoppers regularly ask our furniture and décor experts questions about TV size and placement. Especially when shopping for TV stands or consoles. The most common of these questions is “What size TV is right for my room?”
From movie nights and watching big games in the living room, to late-night binge-watching shows from the comfort of your own bedroom, it’s increasingly important to have the right size TV. Too big of a TV in too small of a space can be visually overwhelming, and can cause eye strain, headaches, and even nausea. Meanwhile, too small of a TV in too large of a space can leave you craning your neck just trying to see the details on-screen.
So, what size TV is the best fit for your space? Well, it depends on a couple key factors. Join us below for the answers so you can make the right TV purchase and decorating decision for your home!
How Far Is Your Seating from Your TV Stand or Console?
Typically, we’ll have shoppers come into our North Georgia and Atlanta area furniture stores asking specifically about what size TV for bedroom or living room. But the honest truth is that which room doesn’t really matter.
Whether living room, bedroom, bonus room, den, man-cave or she-shed, the same universal rules apply. In order to get a real sense of what size TV is right for your space, you’ll need to know the distance between your seating and where you plan to install/place the TV.
Wall-mounting a TV in your living room or den? Measure from the wall to the seat of your sectional, sofa, loveseat or recliner. Setting the TV on a stand, media console, or entertainment center? Measure the same way, but start from the center of your TV stand or console instead. In a bedroom where you’ll be sitting or lying in bed while watching TV, take the same measurement from the center of your media chest, dresser or TV stand to your headboard.
All of this is assuming that you haven’t bought your new TV yet. Just remember that the only other measurement that really matters here is your TV’s screen diameter.
[Editor’s Note: It’s important to remember that the consumer electronics industry measures TV screens diagonally from corner-to-corner. This diagonal measurement is also commonly known as the screen diameter or screen size.]
What Kind of TV Do You Have? (What Is Your TV’s Resolution?)
With modern, 4K ultra high-definition (UHD) TVs, viewers should ideally be 1 foot back for every 8 inches in screen diameter. Most of the TVs being manufactured today fall into this category. Just divide your screen’s diameter by 8, and that’s your ideal distance in feet.
For instance, you should be around 4 feet back from a small 32-inch screen, 5 feet back from a 40-inch, approximately 7 feet back from a 55-inch, around 8 feet back from a 65-inch, 10 feet back from an 80-inch, and so on.
Do you have a high-definition TV model with a resolution of 1080p? Perhaps an older TV that you’re planning on moving from another room? For “standard” HDTVs with 1080p resolution, we recommend that viewers sit 1 foot back for every 6 inches in screen diameter. Like above, simply divide your screen’s diameter by 6, and that will be your optimal distance from the TV in feet.
Using that math, you should be sitting just over 5 feet from a 32-inch, just under 7 feet from a 40-inch, 9 feet from a 55-inch, around 11 feet from a 65-inch, 13 feet from an 80-inch, etc.
So why is our recommendation different for 4K TVs and 1080p TVs? It all has to do with the density of the pixels in the screen. If you sit too close to the TV, you will see streaking, blurriness, pixelation, and your eyes will be unable to focus on the image. However, compared to 1080p TVs, 4K TV screens have even more pixels – the tiny, individual specks of light that make up the larger picture you see on screen – so you can sit closer without eye strain or losing focus.
So, What Size TV Is Right for Your Space?
The honest answer is, well, it depends. Please remember, this isn’t an exact science. After all, not every room or pair of eyeballs is the same! The above illustrations and rules-of-thumb are meant to give you a general idea of the distance you should allow between yourself and the TV in order to see the entire picture clearly, and to minimize eye strain. It is entirely possible to have a slightly larger or smaller TV in your space than this formula might suggest.
Ultimately, the decision on the right TV for you is up to your user preference, the size and shape of the room, and the physical space available on your TV stand, console, media chest, entertainment center or wall unit. However, with this new information, you’re now much better positioned to make an informed choice!
The Next Step: Picking The Right TV Stand or Console for You!
Speaking of media furniture, do you have questions about what TV stand will be right for your TV, or what size TV will fit your existing console? Be sure to read our companion article for measurements and formulas to help you figure it all out!
Lastly, do you already have an entertainment center or console picked out? If not, we’d love to help! Contact our experts with our convenient live web chat, browse our media furniture online, or pay us a visit today at our Rome, Dallas/Hiram or Acworth, GA furniture stores!
