Before adding a custom entertainment unit to a room, one of the most important questions you’ll have to ask yourself is, “How high off the floor should my TV screen be?”
TV position matters for more than just aesthetic reasons. It’s about comfort, too.
Consider the last time you sat in the front row of a movie theatre. Were you very comfortable? Probably not. That’s because you were forced to look up to watch the movie, and this can cause soreness after a while.
For comfortable viewing, the middle of your TV screen when located in your entertainment unit should be at eye level or slightly below.
This means that you’ll have to calculate eye level (with a tape measure) by sitting on your sofa or recliner.
Measure the distance from the floor to your eyes while in a seated position, and keep in mind other people in your house who are taller or shorter.
Measurements don’t have to be exact, so if your spouse is a different height, you can either calculate the average or measure the eye level for the tallest person in the house.
Once you know how high the middle of your TV screen should be, measure the height of your TV and subtract that number by half. Then subtract the TV’s base height to determine the ideal measurements for your custom entertainment centre.
Again, you don’t have to 100% exact, but this will give you a good idea of the most comfortable viewing position. If you need to, position the screen a little lower than your ideal viewing height, rather than higher.
Keep in mind that certain sitting positions, like reclining, can affect eye level, and you might prefer your TV in a higher position, such as above the fireplace.
In the end, it’s all about what feels most comfortable to you and what height provides the most enjoyable viewing experience.