If you’re concerned about freeing up space, or just about having the best viewing experience, then wall mounting your TV is definitely something that you should consider. However, like a lot of DIY projects, it’s not as simple to mount a TV on a wall as it may appear. There are a lot of things to consider before you go ahead with the project. Therefore, we’ve decided to provide you with this guide on wall mounting, so that you can avoid any potential mistakes.
Before you start
Before you proceed with your project, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything you need. In case you’re not sure on exactly what those things are, we’ve put together a list for you:
- TV Bracket
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Drill
- Spirit Level
- Wall Plugs
- If it’s a large TV, consider asking someone to help you
Finding the Appropriate Mounting Bracket
Finding the right mounting bracket for you should be simple. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) have guidelines in place that allow you to match TV’s to their correct wall mounts by measuring the distance between the holes that appear on the back of your TV. To work out the VESA dimension of your TV you need to:
- Measure the distance between the horizontal holes
- Measure the distance between the vertical holes
Once you have those two measurements (in millimetres), then you have your VESA dimension. For example, if the horizontal distance is 400mm, and the vertical distance is 300mm, then your VESA dimension is VESA 400×300. However, often your VESA dimension can be found in the manual for your TV, so if you still have that, then it might be worth having a look at it before you start measuring.
Note: Some TV manufacturers don’t follow VESA standards. If you have a TV that doesn’t, then you’ll need a universal mounting bracket
Attaching the Bracket
Every TV bracket has two parts, one that’s designed to attach to your TV, and one that’s designed to attach to the wall. It is advisable to attach the part of the bracket that goes on your TV first. To do this, all you need to do is line it up with the correct holes and screw it in.
Note: Keep the TV upright when you do this rather than laying it down
Now, you’re going to want to attach the other part of the bracket to the wall. Get your pencil, and mark on the wall where you intend to place the bottom of the bracket. Then, get the part of the bracket that goes on the wall, and line it up with this marking. With your pencil, mark where the appropriate drill holes are on your wall. Finally, once you’ve drilled the holes and put your wall plugs in them, you can line up the bracket again and screw it into place.
Mounting the TV
Connect all the cables that you need to attach to your TV, then lift the TV into place and attach the two parts of the bracket together with your screwdriver. Now your TV should be mounted, fully operational, and ready to use.
