How To Wall Mount Your Television

Here is our guide of factors to consider before installing a wall mounted television.

Bracket:

A wall mount is essential to hang your television. Only buy a wall mount from the experts; this is NOT where you save money, you need it to be strong. Some wall brackets can be tilted, which makes televisions which are mounted quite highly easier to watch. But whichever type you choose, buy your wall bracket from a reputable dealer for peace of mind. Choose a mount which is strong enough to hold a lot more than the weight of the television; 4 times this amount seems excessive but may be best. It will give you extra leeway if a child leans on or hangs off the TV, or if something or someone knocks it.

Wires:

Think about how you want your TV wired. Wires can be cleverly disguised without making holes in your wall, such as by hiding them behind curtains or using a cabinet or other piece of furniture on the floor below the TV. This can house your DVD player and Sky/Freeview box, and ornaments on the top can further disguise wires.

Hiding wires is perhaps the most difficult problem with wall-mounted TVs, but you have several options.

- Cover the wires with a prefabricated decorative covering. Boxing can be painted the same colour of the wall, but still does not completely hide wiring.

- Wires can be run up or down the walls (concealed with decorative covering or not), and then concealed behind skirting boards. This is not advised because it is fiddly, the wires will still be visible until they reach your skirting board, and their concealment can pose a threat if they are forgotten about and drilled or sawed through.

- If you consider your DIY skills to be reasonable, or are getting the experts in, you could conceal wires for your flat screen television inside the wall. This is by far the cleanest and most modern option. A modular wall plate can be drilled in behind the television, and at the end of their course near a power source, at the same time as when the mount being installed. This method works best for hollow drywalls, rather than solid concrete or brick walls, which are difficult to drill though. Choosing an internal wall will also be easier than an external wall, which hide insulation and a larger number of other wires.

If you use this method in any wall you will need to check for existing wires which may be in the wall before you start drilling. Whichever method you are using make sure you buy wires which are long enough, and a little extra in case. HD wires lose picture quality the longer they are. Therefore, HD users may find it best to run wires neatly through the wall to a tidy modular wall plate (similar to a plug socket) at the base of the wall below the TV. Purchase your modular wall plates and tools beforehand so you are prepared. You will also need to enlist the help of someone strong to help you to lift your television once your wiring and mount are in place.