Mounting a TV in the corner is a bit trickier compared to mounting it on a flat wall. And when not done right, the installation will not just look bad but will also hamper your TV viewing experience. However, putting in some time, thought, and effort into the process will save the day.
A TV can be mounted in the corner in multiple ways based on the mounting brackets used. For instance, it can be fixed in the corner. If you want some TV movement, use the tilting or slide mount. If you’d like a bit more flexibility, an articulating corner TV mount is what you should be looking at.
Compared to mounting a TV on a flat wall, mounting a TV where two adjacent walls meet is not entirely different. In fact, the mounting techniques used are quite similar. Continue reading to learn more about these corner-mounting techniques, a host of other things you should consider when mounting your TV in the corner, and lots more.
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Fixed Mounting
Like mounting a TV on a room’s regular walls, you may even set your TV in a fixed position in the corner. Though not a common corner-mounting technique, this mounting mechanism works for people who do not need to move their TVs upward and downward, at an angle, etc., when mounted.
If you don’t need access to the rear of your TV now and again, have got the TV installed at the optimal height for your room, and seating position on the couch, a fixed mount is recommended.
Since there are no moving parts associated with a fixed mount, it lends you a sense of confidence in relation to its build, which moving mounts may not offer. Not to mention, fixed mounts are slightly cheaper compared to the more docile variants.
Tilt-Mounting
If you have a fireplace in the corner of your room or you cannot position the TV at a comfortable angle by default, you’ll need to corner-mount your TV in a way that the orientation or angle of your TV is at your eye level. When the TV is not in use, you can move the TV back to its original position.
Kindly note, the range of tilt is limited – usually 5 to 15 degrees. Therefore, make sure you position your TV at a height from where you could make good use of the mount’s tilt functionality. If the TV is mounted too high, the tilt level may not be good enough or be of no use.
Articulating Corner-Mounting
An articulating corner TV mount, as the name suggests, is a mount that moves according to your needs or whims. The extension arms that it comes with lets you pull the TV toward you, push it to its side when not in use (for a cleaner aesthetic), etc. You can move the television in pretty much all possible directions (up to a certain limit) while it’s affixed to an articulating mount.
Such articulating mounts are ideal if there is no fixed seating position in the room and you would like to watch TV from pretty much any area or corner of the room. If window reflections and glares are an issue even with your TV mounted in the corner, a TV set on an articulating mount could be moved to fend off unwanted light.
Slide-Mounting
As the name suggests, slide-mounting is a corner-mounting technique that lets you move your TV up and down its stand to an extent. If you’re happy with your corner-mounted TV’s angle and aesthetics and are only seeking flexibility with its vertical positioning, slide-mounting is ideal.
This mounting technique comes in handy when kids are watching (the TV could be pushed down to fall in line with their eye level) or you are in a hurry and do not have the time to sit down and catch up on the news or match scores.
Using a TV Stand
Though technically not “mounting,” placing a TV on a table or a similar platform in the corner is also an option if you don’t want to put up with the measuring, drilling, screwing, bolting, etc. needed to corner-mount a TV. Using a TV stand is also a solid option if you’re not sure about your walls’ robustness or whether it will be able to hold a TV in place without cracking.
A TV stand is also an option if you’re considering placing your TV in the corner temporarily or if your house has some interior work pending. In such scenarios, corner-mounting a TV will be a waste of time and effort.
Tools Needed to Corner-Mount Your TV
Now that you know the different ways to corner-mount your TV, you may now be itching to relegate your flat-screen TV to the corner. If you are, the following are the tools you’ll need for the project:
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Cordless drill
- Adjustable wrench
- Wall level
- Drywall saw
- Stud finder
- Socket/ratchet set
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
Studs are usually 16 inches (40.6 cm) apart in the wall, but that is never a given. It’s, therefore, not recommended to assume things and measure the corners off. In other words, confirm the exact positioning of the studs before you proceed with marking the area and mounting your TV. A stud finder is, therefore, an essential tool for the project.
The following are the materials required for the project:
- Corner mount for the TV
- Masking tape
- Lag bolts (if your TV’s mounting kit doesn’t have one)
A flat-screen TV product package usually comes with a mount. Though the mount may not be the best in class, it’s usually good enough for the job. However, these bundled-in mounts are generally made to wall-mount a TV on a flat surface and not at wall intersections. Long story short, you’ll need to buy a corner mount for your TV separately.
How to Corner-Mount a TV
The following steps should work for most kinds of corner TV mounts and TV sizes:
- Before rolling with the installation process, make sure the wall-mount bracket and other hardware you use are rated for your TV. A flat-screen television that weighs above 125 pounds (56.7 kg) would need a dual-arm bracket. A single-arm bracket should work fine for smaller TVs.
- Strictly adhere to the wall mount attaching instructions in the product manual. Your TV will come with a four-point mounting setup in its rear. The mounting bracket will connect to your TV at the four points after the screws or bolts have been removed from the TV’s back.
- If you’re dealing with drywall, find the studs using a stud finder. Without knowing where the studs are, you could be jamming your mount into a hollow space.
- Choose the preferred height for the mounting and mark the area with a pencil. Once done, bolt the bracket into the studs via the wall.
- Use wall level to ensure the bracket is parallel to the ground and your TV is not positioned at an unsightly angle. Even if your TV is a few millimeters or centimeters off, it would be significant enough to be an eyesore.
- After the wall markings are made, drill holes into the wall for the bracket. If the wall corners have no studs, use wall anchors. However, make sure the wall is built well enough to support your TV. Wood panels, for instance, are generally not robust enough to support a TV.
- Attach the bracket to the bolts. Once done, mount the TV to the bracket and fasten the bolts. You will need someone to hold the TV while you attach the bolts to its rear, or vice-versa.
- Adjust the television to the viewing angle of your choice by pivoting it on its mounting arms. The mount arms have a ball-and-socket setup that lets you turn your TV set.
Kindly note, you’ll need three people on site when corner-mounting a TV. Two individuals will be required to hold the TV and set it in the corner, and the third person will be judging or confirming the TV’s height and overall positioning.
Benefits of Corner-Mounting a TV
Corner-mounting a flat-screen TV is not the norm, but there are more than a handful of people who are mounting their TVs in the corner. If you’re contemplating the idea yourself but are not very sure, the following benefits of corner-mounting a TV will help you make up your mind.
No Window Glare
If your living room has multiple windows, it can be a sight to behold – especially with all the window adornments at work. However, the same windows could ruin your TV viewing experience if their reflections get cast on your TV. With flat wall-mounted or table-positioned TVs, glare and reflections can be a real problem. Thankfully with corner-mounted TVs, the likelihood of windows playing spoilsport is much lower.
Since a corner-mounted TV is likely to face the corner diagonally opposite it and not a window, window reflections are largely cut out. In other words, your corner-mounted TV is highly unlikely to be right before a window, unlike the chances that are with a wall-mounted TV set.
But if a window is close to the corners of the opposite wall intersection and the reflection image of the window makes its presence felt on your TV (fully or partially), go ahead and install some window treatments.
Opaque drapes come in quite handy, like the Deconovo Room Darkening Dark Grey Curtains for the purpose. Woven wood or Roman shades do the trick too. Make sure you choose the window treatment based on your room’s size and overall design scheme.
If you’d like to learn more about choosing window treatments for a room, watch this video:
No Fireplace in the Vicinity
The chances of a corner-mounted TV avoiding the fireplace or not going right over it is even more compared to it avoiding window reflections. This is unless you have a corner-positioned fireplace too.
Though there are benefits to positioning a fireplace in the corner of a room, and the idea is certainly gaining momentum, the chances of your house having a corner fireplace are little – mainly if the house was not built, renovated, or rehauled recently.
Looks Novel
Though corner-mounting a TV is coming into vogue, it is still not the de facto method to mount a TV. In other words, corner-mounting a TV has a certain novelty that’ll stay for a few years at least.
It will take time for people to transition from flat walls to the corners of a room as people do not change their TVs for a few years at least. Even if they switch to a new TV, they are highly unlikely to change the TV’s position on their walls or uninstall the existing wall mount and move it to the corner of the room.
Choosing a Corner TV Mount
Corner TV mounts are different from the ones made for flat surfaces. When looking to buy one, make sure the mount you buy is sturdy, functional, and well-designed (for the purpose). Here are things to consider:
Know Your Requirements
Before buying a corner TV mount, have clarity on what you’re looking for in a mount. As mentioned before, there are different kinds of corner TV mounts, with each having certain unique attributes and functions. If you want your corner TV to tilt vertically or pivot in certain directions, look for a mount accordingly.
Perhaps the biggest consideration is the angle you would want your corner-mounted TV to be at. If, for instance, you want your corner-positioned TV to project or face you at a certain angle, a fixed corner mount won’t work.
Easy to Install
The mount should be straightforward to install. Easy installation not just means being able to fit the mount without a professional, but also the ability to adjust the mount while it’s installed.
There are corner mounts that can be fine-tuned or adjusted without having to uninstall them. This also means you need not drill additional holes in your walls. For a mount to be considered “user-friendly,” it should also be installable on any kind of wall corner.
Sturdy and Reliable
A sturdy, robust corner TV mount will prevent your television from falling and breaking, provided the installation is done right. Weak mounts or mounts made from inferior materials are the last things you would want to deal with when installing your TV.
Ideally, the mount should be made from heavy gauge steel. It should have been duly tested and rated to hold televisions of your TV’s size – preferably bigger and heavier than your TV. These details are usually provided on the product box or in the user manual.
The best flat-screen TV screen size range is 32 to 55 inches (81 to 139.7 cm) since TVs with those screen sizes are the most common.
Mounts usually come with a maximum weight-bearing capacity. Ensure the corner mount you pick for your TV can hold TVs that are at least a third heavier than your TV. That leeway ensures you’re not pushing the mount to the hilt.
Corner TV mounts can handle TVs that weigh up to 99 pounds and much beyond. Your TV’s weight will be mentioned in its product manual, as mentioned above. Check the same before heading out to buy a mount.
Two Major Considerations When Corner-Mounting a TV
Whether you’re installing the TV on a wall or in the corner, or even positioning it on a pedestal, the height of the TV and how far it is from your eyeballs are critical for the best TV watching experience.
At Eye Level
The TV must be at your eye level when seated. If the television has to be positioned higher, angle down the screen, so it’s on the same plane as your eyes.
Installing the TV at eye level means the exact center of the television screen should be at the same level as your eyes. Looking straight at the TV is any day more comfortable than looking up at it.
Viewing Distance
Another important element is the viewing distance. The TV should be the right size for the room. It should not look too big or small or shouldn’t dominate the décor or overall feel of a room. Cramming a large TV in an otherwise space won’t just look lousy design-wise, but it would also mean a not-so-pleasing viewing experience.
The minimum or ideal distance you should be from a TV depends on the TV’s size:
- Sit a minimum of 3 feet (91.5 cm) from a 26-inch (66 cm) screen TV.
- With a 40-inch (101.6 cm) screen television in the house, make sure you are seated at least 5 feet (152.4 cm) away.
- Position your couch at least 8 feet (243.8 cm) away from a 65-inch TV.
The bigger your TV, the longer should be your distance from the TV.
Conclusion
Though mounting a TV in the corner is not wholly different from setting up a TV on a flat wall, there still are subtle differences. Knowing those minor differences won’t just help corner-mount your TV skilfully and reliably, but you’ll also not need the services of a professional. Just be prepared because you’ll need to put in the necessary effort and time for the installation.