Dear Jean and Richard: In a recent column, you talked about big screen TVs, and it was my impression you hold them in disdain. Yet they are a fact of life for a lot of people, including me. How would you integrate one into your designs? -Ted, Fairview
Jean: Hi Ted. I used the phrase “ginormous TV” in one column when talking about style, but I never meant to imply a disdain for flat screen or big screen televisions. You are right—they are now part of the roomscape, and we have had several installations where an oversized screen was featured. These first began appearing in media rooms as a private home theater, but the new HD technology has made them popular throughout the house.
Richard: Well, let’s first establish what we mean by “big.” What’s big in the bathroom (and yes, we’ve seen three in a bathroom) might be tiny in the great room. The rule of thumb for viewing proportion is 1/3—that is to say, the TV’s size should equal one third of the viewing distance. If your chair or sofa were, say 9 feet away from the TV, and ideal screen size would be 36”.
Jean: So, Richard, do you have a flat screen in your bathroom?
Richard: Are you kidding? I don’t even have a flat wall in my bath.
Jean: I’ve seen them behind mirrors—could you do that?
Richard: I wouldn’t, but I admit the image staring back would be easier to look at. Some people do build them into a wall, and that is sometimes a good option. If you decide to do that, make sure it has plenty of ventilation and there’s a way to get behind it. If there is a cutout allowing the TV to sit backed into a closet or accessible space, use a simple black frame around the screen. Don’t use cutesy frames or try to disguise it, and make sure your remote can see the receiving “eye.”
Jean: If you don’t recess the TV, but instead mount it, choose a bracket arrangement that allows you to tilt the TV or swivel it. Mounts featuring swing-arm brackets are wonderful, but make absolutely certain its connection to the wall is secure. There can be a lot of leveraged weight swinging around.
Richard: Especially if you watch too much TV and don’t get enough exercise.
Jean: Yeah, and if you use your arm to leverage in some buttered popcorn. In most cases the wall around the screen will work better when painted in a darker color—not only does it tone down the screen when it’s off, but it enhances the viewing when it’s on.
Richard: Another nice treatment is to blend the TV into a setting surrounded by other objects of similar depth, such as recessing it into wall shelves surrounded by books. This way, you’re not trying to hide it, but it doesn’t look out of place, either.
Jean: And if you simply rest the TV’s base on a piece of furniture, make sure the new set does not protrude beyond the cabinet’s sides. If it does, it might look “too big” regardless of size. We’re back to proportion again.
Richard: And too much popcorn can make you protrude, too. Of course, if you don’t like what you see in the bathroom mirror, you can always turn on the TV behind it.