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Giant leaps in display technology made it possible to transition from big, heavy CRT tube TVs to huge, high-definition flatscreens over the past 15 years.
Bigger TVs offer a more immersive experience when watching movies or playing video games, but they do take up a lot of space. If you’re in an apartment, or don’t like having to set up an entire entertainment console just to watch your favorite shows, you should consider getting a TV wall mount.
TV wall mounts come in two pieces: a pair of brackets that get attached to the back of your set (the screw holes are very discreet, so you wouldn’t notice them until you were looking), and a slim wall plate that needs to be screwed into your wall.
The wall plate needs to be screwed into studs behind your wall to support the weight of the TV, so you may need a powered drill to get them in tightly. Once the wall plate is attached, you slide a hook built into both brackets behind its top lip to securely fasten your TV.
This may sound complicated, but I’ve installed a TV wall mount, and it only took about 10 minutes. Be sure to mark the spots where you’re going to drill the wall plate before you begin, to ensure you hit the right mark.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a TV Mount
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right TV mount for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
Maximum Size and Weight: All TV wall mounts are designed to handle TVs of different sizes and weight classes, so make sure you look yours up before picking one.
The options in our guide can support TVs from 23 inches to 70 inches, and have a maximum weight limit of either 115 or 132 pounds. Chances are, your TV will fit within those ranges, but again, it’s always good to check.
Tilt:We know that a lot of TVs are set up in a living room or bedroom with windows on the opposite side, which produce glare on your screen when it’s sunny. If you don’t have blackout curtains, this can make watching the TV very annoying. We chose TV wall mounts that allow you to swivel your set up and down to give you some control over how it’s oriented. It’s not much, but you may be able to keep the glare from appearing in the center of your screen.
Swivel:If the TV you want to attach to a wall mount is in a common area like an open kitchen, you may want a wall mount that swivels outward, so you can orient it to face many different directions. The best swiveling wall mounts also give you easy access to the ports and cables behind your TV, which makes connecting and disconnecting gadgets significantly easier.
