But is bigger always better? Are there some instances where you should exercise restraint? And can a TV actually be too big for a given room?
If you’ve been debating upgrading your TV to a bigger and better model, you’ll definitely want to keep on reading down below. In this article, we’re going to find out once and for all whether a TV can be too big for a room, and how you can find out if any TV is too big for your home!
Can A TV Be Too Big For A Room?
Even if you can fit a larger TV in through the front door, it can still be far too big for a given room. While larger TVs are great for immersion, you still want to be able to take in the entire image, from corner to corner. Without having to crane your neck around into all kinds of unnatural positions.
If a TV is too big for a room, and the furniture of the space is not efficiently organised, then the TV-watching experience can quickly become uncomfortable. Too-large TVs can easily lead to neck pain, as well as eyestrain, as a result of awkward and unwieldy viewing angles.
Larger TVs are great for immersing yourself in your favourite content. But you need to be sure there’s enough space to take it in without straining your neck or eyes!
When you have a larger TV, there are a number of things that you need to consider to ensure that the viewing experience is comfortable and safe at all times.
Available Space In The Room
As we mentioned earlier, to make the most of a large TV, you’ll need to be sure that you can take in the entire image on the screen. After all, sitting too close to any screen quickly leads to a warped image that can easily pull you out of the experience.
Before buying a larger TV, you should make sure to carefully measure the room you want it to occupy. Make sure to also consider how you currently have the furniture arranged. You want to be sure that the comfiest spot on the sofa has a good view of the screen.
Luckily, finding the perfect TV size for a given space is actually incredibly easy! First, consider the size of the screen you are planning to buy. Measure from the bottom-left corner of the screen to the top-right corner of the screen. You’ll need these measurements to work out the perfect viewing distance!
Take the total screen size, and then multiply it by 1.5 to 2.5. This will result in a measurement that you can use to gauge how far away your furniture should be from the screen itself. For example, if you are working with a 70” screen size, you’ll need to view it from between 9 to 15 feet away!
If your chosen room does not have enough space to accommodate a specific viewing distance, you may have to scale the screen down for maximum comfort.
Screen Resolution
It’s also important to consider the total resolution of your dream TV when trying to find the right viewing distance. The benefit of 4K and 8K TVs is the increased pixel count. On such screens, it’s much harder to make out individual pixels, even while up close. As such, if you have a 4K or 8K TV, you can comfortably sit a little bit closer without having your immersion destroyed.
If you want a bigger TV, but you’re worried it may be difficult to find the right viewing distance, it may be worth opting for a higher-resolution model!
How Will The TV Be Mounted?
A larger TV is going to need a much bigger TV stand or another piece of furniture to stand on. Remarkably often, people buy a brand new 80-inch TV, only to find that the feet of the television don’t stand comfortably on top of their existing TV stand.
As you’re looking around for the right TV for your space, be sure to consider the feet that the TV stands on. Are they particularly lengthy? You’ll need a TV stand with enough space to keep the feet from jutting out awkwardly.
Larger TVs are also much heavier than smaller TVs. You’ll want to make sure that you have a truly heavy-duty TV stand that is built to last, even under significant weight. Lest you want the horror of the TV stand collapsing, and your brand-new screen hurtling toward the ground!
Weight is also important to consider if you are planning to wall mount your TV. Wall mounting your TV is a great option to save on floor space while also opening up potential viewing angles. But in order to take advantage of these benefits, you’ll need to be sure that you purchase a heavy-duty wall mounting bracket, and that you install it fully. TVs of all weight can be mounted, but not all walls can handle the strain. It’s best to have a professional assess your wall before attempting to fix your 90-inch screen to it!
Viewing Angle
When fitting a larger TV into a space, you’ll want to take viewing angles into account. How many sofas or armchairs do you have pointed toward the screen? What are your favourite spots to watch from?
Watching a TV from an odd angle can be very distracting. Not only will images appear warped, but certain parts of the screen may appear washed out. If you plan to have multiple people watching your TV from different parts of the room, it’s best to opt for a screen with wider viewing angles!
When considering viewing angles, you’ll also naturally end up considering the best height for your TV to be while watching. For your comfort, you should aim to have your TV around eye level from a seated position on the sofa. If your TV is mounted too high, it might lead to neck strain as you crane your head around to take the screen in. The same also applies to TVs that are mounted too low.
Not only do you need to make sure that you have the right viewing distance, but you should pair it with the right viewing angle. Your TV should always be at eye level, to avoid neck and eye strain!
Can A TV Be Too Small For A Room?
A TV that’s too small for a given space in your home will prove a bit disappointing! After all, why not go for a screen that you can actually immerse yourself in?
A TV that’s too small would make arranging all of your furniture a total hassle. Let’s say you purchased a small TV for your living room. You’d have to cramp all of your furniture together just to be able to provide everyone with a comfortable viewing angle.
This is why it is important to carefully consider the screen size of your dream TV. You don’t want anything too big that’s uncomfortable to watch, but you also don’t want anything so compact that it’s difficult to make anything out!
Can The Type Of Room Affect The Optimal TV Size?
Your TV-sizing needs may also be affected by the kind of space you are planning to situate it in. Some rooms, such as bedrooms, benefit more from smaller TVs. More social spaces like living rooms may instead benefit from a larger TV. Let’s take a look at how some of the most popular spaces in the home can affect total screen size.
Bedroom
Many people opt to have a smaller TV in their bedroom. Bedroom TVs are great for those that want to tune in to the daily news each morning, or that want to fall asleep to their favourite TV boxsets.
Much of the floor space of the average bedroom is taken up by the room’s namesake: the bed! As such, it’s always best to opt for a smaller TV that you can easily place on top of a cabinet. If your TV is too large, it can make navigating a bedroom cumbersome and tiresome. However, you’ll want to make sure that your favourite spot in bed offers you an adequate viewing angle and viewing distance. It might be worth going a little larger to ensure you can take everything in as you relax and recline!
Kitchen
Having a TV in the kitchen can be a great way to distract from the monotony of the day’s tasks. Simply tune into your favourite show, and soon drying the dishes will feel like less of a chore!
You’ll generally want to opt for a much smaller TV for your kitchen. A TV in the kitchen can absolutely be too big if it is taking up too much vital counter space. If you’re constantly competing with your TV just to find the space to cook, it will quickly become an annoyance.
You can also comfortably opt for a smaller TV for your kitchen as you won’t need to make use of 4K or 8K resolutions. After all, you’re not going to be watching the latest blockbusters from your kitchen TV!
Living Room
When it comes to the living room, it’s a lot easier for a TV to actually be too small for the space. Living rooms tend to be some of the largest in the home. As such, you can easily fit in a much larger screen over 60 inches while still having plenty of space for furniture.
A TV would only be too big for a living room if you have trouble arranging your furniture around it. Larger TVs need to be viewed from further away in order to take in their full image!
Other Smaller Rooms
If you’re considering a TV for other smaller rooms throughout the home, such as a study, or a family room, then you’ll want to grab a screen that is appropriate for the space. If you were to grab a huge TV that took up vital floorspace, and that you couldn’t comfortably watch, then it would be considered too big!
Be sure to always consider the best viewing distance for any TV, for maximum comfort at all times!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A TV Be Too Big For A Room?
Absolutely. While we often assume that “Bigger is better” when it comes to TV, it’s easy for a TV to be too big, and thus uncomfortable to watch. You want to make sure that there is adequate space from which to view a larger TV. If you watch a large TV from too close, you’ll not only develop eye and neck strain but also make out individual pixels on the screen!
How Big Is Too Big For A Bedroom TV?
A TV would also be too big for your bedroom if it makes it difficult to get around the space. A TV that is too large for your bedroom might jut out from your cabinet, creating the risk of sending the TV flying to the ground. If you also can’t comfortably watch your TV from the comfiest spot in bed, then it’s likely too big!
How Do You Arrange A Small Living Room With A Big TV?
It’s absolutely possible to arrange a smaller living room around a bigger TV. As long as there’s enough space to take in the screen from your favourite armchair, you can easily fit a larger screen into a smaller living room! You might also benefit from a higher resolution 4K or 8K TV, as these allow you to comfortably view from much closer.
Should You Have A Big TV In Your Bedroom?
Provided you have the space for it, it’s totally reasonable to have a big TV in your bedroom! However, you should make sure you aren’t sacrificing important floor space for a bigger TV. This will just make your bedroom feel cramped and uncomfortable. Make sure you can also watch the screen from the bed, for maximum comfort!
