May 5, 2021 - You just bought that new 4K TV. You're excited to play games on your PS5 and Xbox Series X, watch movies at their highest fidelity, and awe in the bright colors your new TV has to offer. We get it because that's exactly how we feel. But you're probably asking yourself: should I wall mount my TV? The answer is yes! But what TV wall mount is the right one for your home? It's a question we see all the time, so here are some HIDEit tips to help you choose which TV mount works best for your dream setup.
THE BASICS
When considering wall mounting a TV, take into consideration your wall space, location and the material you're mounting into. Drywall mounting is one of the most common ways to mount, but we recommend using at least one stud for support. It's always better to be safe than sorry! If you're mounting into another building material, be sure to have the appropriate hardware.
You'll also want to find the mount that fits the size of your TV. TV mounts are rated for a size range -- 32'' to 55'' TVs or 55'' to 85'' TVs, for example. Make sure you plan accordingly.
You'll want to make sure it can hold the weight of your TV, too. Thinner TVs are the new normal, but that doesn't always translate to a lighter one. You want to make sure whichever mount you pick can support the weight. You can find out how heavy your TV is in the owner's guide and how much the mount can support typically on the box or install instructions.
With that out of the way, what's next? Choosing the right mount type for your setup.
TO DISPLAY YOUR DEVICES
If you're looking to DISPLAYit, getting a fixed TV wall mount is the perfect solution.
As the name suggests, a fixed mount doesn't allow for movement of the TV once it's on the wall, which is the best option if you're looking to save space. It keeps your TV as flush to the wall as possible. Fixed mounts are also budget-friendly, so if you're looking to save some cash, start here!
Something to keep in mind: since the mount doesn't move, make sure you place the TV at the correct height. Typically you'll want the TV to be eye level with where you're sitting.
There are a few downsides to a fixed mount. The biggest downside is you're only able to display your devices instead of being able to hide them! Since the TV is flush with the wall, there isn't much space to place your favorite gaming consoles or cable boxes behind it. And in some cases, you might not have the space for cables or wires.
You'll also want to think about where your connections are with a fixed TV mount. If the TV doesn't have HDMI ports on the side, you might struggle to get the cables connected correctly. There's more planning to these than you might think!
TO HIDE YOUR DEVICES
When you want to HIDEit, choose a tilt TV wall mount!
A tilt mount is the next step up from a fixed mount. A tilt mount looks and functions similarly to a fixed mount but has a degree of tilt motion. Most tilt mounts provide you a 5-10 degree movement up or down, which is usually enough to help reduce glare. This also gives you more freedom when planning your setup, so you don't have to worry as much about the TV being at eye level.
A tilt mount gives you a small amount of space behind the TV to hide a few devices, such as an Apple TV 4K or your Spectrum cable box. If your TV's connection ports are behind the TV, having a tilt mount means you'll have an easier time getting access to them as well.
FOR FULL CONTROL
If you want to DISPLAYit, HIDEit or BOTH choose a full-motion TV wall mount!
A full-motion mount, commonly called an articulating TV mount, gives you the freedom to move your TV away from the wall (up to 20 inches for most mounts), swivel left and right, and allow you to tilt for a better viewing angle. You'll be able to easily store a larger device like a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
This amount of movement gives you more options for how and where you mount your TV and is perfect if you have multiple viewing spots.
We recommend picking up a full-motion mount if you want complete control of your setup. The extra space behind the TV is valuable for storage and ease of access, plus you can essentially customize your setup for the best viewing experience in mind.
While we don't have anything to announce fully, keep your eye out for HIDEit's solution to a full-motion mount, we might have been working on something
Hopefully, that helps answer some of your questions about which TV mount to pick. Before purchasing, you'll want to make sure you buy a TV mount that fits the size screen and weight, but you'll also want to think about where you're watching TV and if you want to store anything behind the screen (which you should!).
