Have you ever found yourself shifting seats while watching TV, or trying to tilt it to get a clearer view? Sometimes, because of a TV’s location, you get a lot of glare, and the screen becomes very uncomfortable to look at.
This is the main reason why when people ask “Can you put a TV in front of a window?” the answer is generally no, it is not the best idea.
Let us talk about what you need to consider to make your TV setup as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Table of Contents
Why Shouldn’t You Put a TV in Front of a Window?
When setting up your TV, you need to consider lighting, ventilation, and where this appliance can perform best in your home.
1. Lighting and Glare
Putting a TV in front of a window can mean two things – the TV is facing the window, or the TV’s backside is to the window.
If the TV is facing a window, you will have a lot of natural light shining directly on the screen at certain times of the day. As a result, you will end up just staring at bright spots.
On the other hand, if the window is behind the TV, the sunshine that hits your eyes can be very uncomfortable and cause ocular fatigue.
2. UV Light, Heat, and Ventilation
It is not just your eye health and viewing comfort that we need to consider. Placing TV in front of window may be bad for this appliance too.
The ultraviolet rays in direct sunlight can damage the liquid crystal molecules that form images on your TV screen. With excessive exposure, your LCD display may lose brightness, contrast, and definition.
Moreover, the television is an appliance that generates heat. Aside from ensuring adequate ventilation, we must make sure we do not place it near items that can further raise its temperature. Overheating can affect the screen and even deform the plastic casing.
3. Sound Quality
If you mount the TV in window vicinity, you might also want to think about how this affects the speaker’s performance and sound quality.
Windows can let in a lot of outside noise that your appliance may not be able to compete with. Consider too that some speakers are located in the middle of the television rear or backside, supposedly to better spread the sound. There will be a difference in sound quality if the speakers are directed at a thin glass surface versus a full wall.
So if you want to put a TV in front of window living room, make sure it is not too noisy outside.
4. Risks to Window Placement
Setting up your TV near the window also puts your appliance at risk of exposure to the elements.
The back of your TV may be facing a leaky opening where drafts, moisture, or even rain can come in. Such positioning may allow dust and other particles from the outside to clog up the vents of the TV.
Lastly, should any damage come to that particular window, your TV will likely be damaged too. Imagine a tree branch smashing through the glass during a storm. Television would have no protection if placed in that location.
5. Other Practical Effects on Your Interior
If you put a TV stand in front of the window, this can block natural light. As a result, the room may look duller and somewhat sicklier. Interior decor that previously stood out and shone under illumination might just look drab in a shadowy room.
Secondly, you may end up not opening the window and using it for ventilation anymore. Because of concerns about protecting the TV or just the difficulty of moving the stand around, you will end up just keeping it shut.
Where Should You Place Your TV in a Room?
Aside from avoiding glare, heat, excessive noise, and exposure to rain, to choose the ideal location, we have to think about the design of a room and how a TV fits there. What locations give us maximum enjoyment of our television?
- Choose and Design an Appropriate Room
Sometimes, the size of your TV will dictate the best spot for it. A small TV in a big room or a big TV in a small room would both be problematic in terms of proportion and harmony.
Plan your interior design to match the television. You can have a custom cabinet made and positioned at a suitable viewing distance, a wall recess to mount the TV, and consider the location of light fixtures so they will not create glare on the screen.
- Is the TV the Focal Point of the Room?
If the TV is to be the focal point of a room, then it has to be set up where the seating can be arranged to face it.
Alternatively, set the television up on the far wall away from the entry and exit point of the room. Ideally, this angle would not catch direct light from or cover any windows.
At the same time, avoid high traffic areas in the house to make sure you won’t have people passing in front of the TV every so often.
You can also put a TV in a small bedroom. This kind of setup will allow you to enjoy the entertainment with limited distraction.
If the TV is meant to be a secondary attraction or accessory in a room, consider placing the device where it does not draw attention. You may put it in a TV cabinet or a sliding panel that can conceal it when not in use.
- Eye Level and Distance
Remember to select a spot where it will be comfortable for everyone to watch without having to crane and twist their neck.
The screen should be at eye level when people are seated, and you can choose the correct height of the TV stand, cabinet, or wall mount to achieve this.
Take care not to place the TV and seats too close together, or too far apart, both of which may lead to eye strain. The rule of thumb on viewing distance is 2.5 times the diagonal length of the TV.
If the TV is to be set up inside a bedroom, test the appropriate height and distance for watching while in bed.
- Power Strips
Ensure that your chosen location has accessible outlets. This is especially important if you have a full home theater system and other electronics to arrange near the TV.
This helps with keeping the setup neat and safe, without power cords extending over long distances.
- Window Treatments
Sometimes, you may find yourself forced to mount TV in front of window because of the existing house design or other limitations on where you can set up your entertainment corner.
Look into what window treatment options will work to control the light and glare. For example, having your TV in front of window curtains or blinds will help improve your viewing experience. Shades and tints will be excellent as well.
- Test and Consult
Often, it is not so easy to find the best location for your TV. The movement and direction of light can change throughout the day. A television may be on a wall perpendicular to a window yet still get a lot of glare.
You can try and test several locations and note your experience for each. You can even crowdsource input and suggestions from the internet!
Sites like Reddit or Quora let you post a question (even anonymously) with pictures of your planned TV room, and people will chime in with their ideas.
Conclusion
Can you put a TV in front of a window? Window glare, heat, noise, and risk of exposure to the elements are a few of the reasons that should discourage us from setting up a TV there.
Instead, we must find a spot that is safe for the appliance and comfortable for us to watch as well.
Take the time to test and plan for different areas in your home. Get ideas from other people. Don’t be afraid to use window treatments and TV mounts to make the most out of your chosen location.
Hi, I am Roseanne Jones, an aspiring home designer that wants to make you feel more at home with your new house.With nearly five years of redecorating old residents and arranging new ones, I am confident that I can give you the best advice on your lovely place.
