The #1 mistake people make when mounting TVs in small living rooms is putting them way too high, like, crane-your-neck-to-watch-Netflix high (Why would you even do that?). Your TV isn't wall art to be admired from across the room. It's your gateway to relaxation, and for that to work, you need comfort, not chiropractor bills.

Mounting a TV on the wall is genuinely next-level. It frees up floor space, gives your room a clean, planned look, and keeps your expensive electronics safely out of harm's way. However, the thought of drilling into your wall, especially if you're renting, can be quite intimidating. What if you hit something you shouldn't? What if you create a constellation of holes trying to get it right? What if the whole thing comes crashing down and you ruin your expensive 55” TV?

Take a deep breath, it’s not as scary as it sounds. We're going to walk through this together, and by the end, you'll have a perfectly positioned TV that looks professionally installed and feels comfortable for hours of viewing.

How to Not Hurt Your Neck: Getting Height and Distance Right

Let's start with the most important decision you'll make: where exactly to put this thing. The golden rule that will save your neck and your mind is simple: the center of your TV screen should sit at your eye level when you're comfortably seated in your main viewing spot.

Now, how do you find that sweet spot? Sit down on your couch or favorite chair in your normal watching position. Look straight ahead at the wall where the TV will go. Where your eyes naturally land, that's your target (If you’ve got time, maintain that position for 30+ minutes). For most people, this magic number hovers around 42 inches from the floor to the center of the screen. Don't guess at this, and don’t take our word for it; grab a tape measure and a small piece of painter's tape to mark the spot.

FYI, Distance matters just as much as height. You want to be far enough back to take in the whole screen comfortably without your eyes darting around to catch the action. A good rule of thumb is to sit about 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal screen size away from your TV. So for a 55-inch TV, you'll want to be sitting roughly 7 to 11 feet away. Any closer and you'll feel like you're watching through a lens; any farther and you'll be squinting at the finer details.

Choosing Your Mount: Should It Be Fixed, Tilt, or Full-Motion?

TV mounts differ, and picking the wrong one is like buying a sports car when you actually need a pickup truck. It might look impressive, but it won't solve your actual problem.

A fixed mount is your basic, no-frills option. It holds the TV flat against the wall with no adjustment options. It's slim, affordable, and perfect if you've nailed the height and viewing angle from the start. But here's the problem: what you see is what you get. No tweaking is allowed once it's up.

A tilting mount is the middle ground that most people should consider (Like having a very sporty pickup truck). It lets you angle the screen down by 10 to 15 degrees, which is perfect for those situations where the TV ends up slightly higher than ideal (We’re looking at you, over-the-fireplace installations 👀). This small adjustment can make a huge difference in viewing comfort.

A full-motion articulating mount is like the Swiss Army knife of TV mounts. It pulls out from the wall, swivels left and right, and tilts up and down. It's perfect for corner installations, rooms with multiple seating areas, or anywhere you need maximum flexibility. Yes, it's more expensive and bulkier, but if you need the movement, nothing else will do.

Assessing Your Walls: Understanding What You're Working With

Before you even think about picking up a drill, you need to understand what's behind your wall, not just so you do the job right, but also so that you do it safely and save yourself any anguish.

Here’s your quick checklist:

• Stud walls are your best friend. These wooden or metal vertical supports are the skeleton of your wall, and they can easily handle the weight of even the largest TVs. Use a stud finder to locate them (they're typically spaced 16 or 24 inches apart), and you're golden. Mark the center of at least two studs, and you're ready to mount.
• Drywall without studs requires a different approach, but it's not very difficult. You'll need heavy-duty toggle bolts or snap toggles. These clever anchors expand behind the drywall to distribute weight across a larger area. Make sure they're rated for more than your TV weighs, and consider using a mounting plate to spread the load across multiple anchors for extra security.
• Masonry walls (brick or concrete) are incredibly strong but require special anchors and a hammer drill to create the holes. If you don't own a hammer drill, rent one for the day; it's worth it for the clean, precise holes you'll get (much better than the mess you’ll have otherwise).
• Plaster walls can be tricky because they're often brittle and hide their structure well. Take time to locate the studs carefully and use longer screws that can bite into the wood behind the plaster. If you’re ever in doubt, then it’s a good sign you need to call in a professional.

Pssssssss! Before we move to mounting, if you have a small living room, then these small living room with TV ideas will help you make the most out of your TV.

The Step-by-Step Mount Process: Making It Happen

Alright, the planning phase is complete. If you've found your perfect spot, chosen your mount, and assessed your wall, then it’s time for the main event. And here's some friendly advice: get someone to help… you’ll need an extra pair of hands.

Step 1: Mark Your Spot. Using your mount's wall plate as a template, hold it against the wall at your marked center point. Use a level to ensure it's perfectly horizontal (a crooked TV will slowly drive you insane), then mark your drill holes with a pencil. If you're mounting into studs, make sure your marks line up with the stud centers.

Step 2: Drill Away (No chainsaw man moves though). Start with pilot holes slightly smaller than your mounting bolts. This makes the final installation easier and prevents wood splitting. For stud mounting, drill your pilots and drive in the lag bolts with a socket wrench. For drywall anchors, follow the specific instructions for your toggle bolts (each type has its own installation method).

Step 3: Prepare Your TV. While those extra hands hold the mount steady, attach the mounting brackets to the back of your TV using the screws provided in your mount kit. These screw into the VESA mounting points (those four threaded holes arranged in a rectangle on the back of every TV). Make sure these are snug but don't overtighten and strip the threads.

Step 4: The Grand Finale. This is where your helper becomes indispensable. Together, lift the TV and carefully align the brackets with the wall mount. Most mounts have a hook-and-hang system or locking mechanism, so you should hear or feel a satisfying click when everything seats properly. Give the TV a gentle shake to ensure it's secure before letting go completely.

Making the Cords Disappear: Cable Management for Minimalism

Nothing ruins a clean TV installation like a tangle of cables hanging down the wall like some Matrix move. The good news is that hiding cables doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.

The simplest solution is a cable raceway, using a plastic channel that sticks to your wall and hides the wires inside. You can paint these to match your wall color, and they're completely renter-friendly since they attach with removable adhesive. For about $15 and thirty minutes of work, you get a clean, professional look.

For a truly seamless appearance, consider an in-wall cable management kit. These systems let you route cables safely through the wall from behind the TV down to your components below. You'll need to cut two small rectangular holes in the drywall, but the result is worth it, as you’ll have no visible wires at the end. These kits are designed to meet electrical codes and include everything you need for a safe installation.

If you want to go all-out, having an electrician install a recessed power outlet directly behind your TV creates the ultimate clean look (like a final boss). It's more of an investment, but if you're planning to stay put for a while, it's the gold standard of TV installations.

Special Situations: When Standard Rules Don't Apply

Real life rarely follows the textbook, so let's talk about some common curveballs you might encounter.

• Mounting a TV on a corner wall can actually be brilliant in small spaces, but it requires a full-motion articulating mount. You'll typically anchor the mount to the stud closest to the corner, then use the arm to position the TV at the right angle for your seating. Make sure the arm extends far enough to clear the adjacent wall when you swivel the TV.
• Mounting a TV over a fireplace is probably my least favorite TV placement, and I'll tell you why: it's almost always too high for comfortable viewing, and the heat exposure isn't great for electronics (Saviour here talking, hi!). If it's your only option, use a tilting or pull-down mount to bring the screen closer to eye level, and make sure your mantel provides adequate heat deflection.
• Apartment living doesn't mean you can't mount a TV, just be smart about it. Read your lease first (seriously, always do this!), then use the smallest anchors that will safely do the job. When you move out, a little spackle and touch-up paint will make those holes disappear like they were never there.
• Corner mounting works beautifully when you need to serve multiple seating areas. An articulating mount lets you swing the TV toward wherever the action is. Just remember to leave enough clearance so the mount doesn't hit the adjacent walls when fully extended.
• Mounting a TV in an RV and other mobile homes requires special consideration for vibration and movement. Use mounts specifically designed for mobile applications, and make sure all your cable connections are secure; nothing loose that can rattle around while driving.

The Reality Check: Time, Tools, and Expectations

Let's be honest about what you're signing up for. If this is your first TV mounting project, block out an entire afternoon. Plan for about 2 to 3 hours from start to finish (possibly 4), including cable management. That might sound like a lot, but most of that time is measuring, marking, and double-checking, not the actual drilling and mounting.

You'll need a basic toolkit: stud finder, drill with bits, level, measuring tape, pencil, and socket wrenches or screwdrivers. Most mount kits include the necessary hardware, but having a few extra screws and anchors on hand never hurts. And remember, there's no prize for speed here; it’s not a contest. Take your time, measure twice, and drill once.

If you've done this before, you can probably knock it out in under an hour. But even experienced DIYers know that every wall has its surprises, so building in some buffer time keeps the project stress-free.

Troubleshooting the "Oops" Moments

Even with careful planning, sometimes things don't go exactly as expected. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:

• The TV looks crooked even though you used a level. This usually means the mount itself got slightly skewed during installation. Double-check that the wall plate is level and adjust if needed. Some mounts have fine-tuning screws that let you make small adjustments without remounting.
• Cables are still visible despite your best efforts. Don't fuss, this is easily fixed. A simple cord cover or additional raceway section can clean up any stray wires you missed the first time around.
• The mount feels loose or wobbly. Stop everything and investigate immediately. Check that all bolts are properly tightened and that you're anchored into solid material. If you used drywall anchors, make sure they're rated for your TV's weight and properly installed.
• You can't find studs where you need them. Consider using a mounting plate, which is a piece of plywood that spans multiple studs and gives you more flexibility in TV placement. Secure the plate to at least two studs, then mount your TV bracket to the plate.

Room-by-Room TV Placement Strategy

Different rooms have different needs, and what works in your living room might be completely wrong for your bedroom or kitchen.

• Living rooms are where the classic rules apply most directly. Eye-level mounting, comfortable viewing distance, and clean cable management create the perfect entertainment hub. Consider the room's lighting too, you want to avoid placing the TV where glare from windows will wash out the screen during daytime viewing.
• Bedrooms often call for slightly higher mounting since you'll be viewing from a reclined position. The center of the screen might sit 4 to 6 inches higher than the living room standard. A tilting mount is almost essential here to angle the screen down toward the bed.
• Kitchens and other casual viewing areas can handle more flexible placement (We remembered to add the kitchen because Favour watches TV literally every hour). Maybe it's mounted higher on a wall or in a corner where it won't interfere with cooking or dining activities. Just remember that these TVs are often viewed while standing or moving around, so positioning is less critical than in dedicated watching spaces.
• For those working with tight quarters or unique layouts, this is exactly the kind of challenge we're solving with All Things Snug's upcoming 3D room visualization feature. Imagine being able to see exactly how different mounting heights and positions will look in your actual space before you drill a single hole. Ready to experience this? Join our waitlist and we'll let you know.

Go Easy

Mounting a TV successfully isn't about being handy with tools or having years of experience, but about understanding the principles, taking your time, and not being afraid to adjust your plan when reality doesn't match the textbook. The reward is always worth the hassle.

We know that every room is different, every wall has its quirks, and every family has unique viewing habits. So, what matters most isn't following a rigid set of rules but creating a setup that works for your lifestyle and home. Whether that's a simple fixed mount in a rental apartment or an elaborate articulating system in a custom media room, go for what appeals the most to you.

And speaking of making your space work better for your lifestyle, we're building something special at All Things Snug that's going to change how you approach every room design decision. Imagine having a tool that lets you visualize your exact TV placement options, experiment with different mount types, and even see how cable management solutions will look in your specific space. You'll be able to virtually "try before you buy" and know with confidence that your choices will work perfectly in your room.

Ready to be among the first to experience this? Join our waitlist and we'll let you know the moment we're ready to shake up interior design.