The living room is the heart of the home - the place where the whole family comes together. Very often, the TV becomes the focal point of this space, which means any mistakes in arranging the TV area are especially noticeable.
Small oversights can quickly ruin everyday comfort. From placing the screen at the wrong height to dealing with messy cables, these mistakes can spoil the home cinema experience and even affect your health. To make sure watching your favourite films, series, and TV programmes is always a pleasure, it is worth planning your TV setup carefully from the start.
In this guide, we will look at five common mistakes people make when mounting a TV in the living room - and explain how to avoid them with reliable, stylish solutions.
1. You are worried about mounting the TV too high
One of the most common mistakes is installing the TV too high. Many people place the screen based on the available wall space rather than the actual viewing position. As a result, your neck gets tired quickly, and watching TV becomes less comfortable.
The key rule is simple: the centre of the screen should be roughly at the eye level of a seated viewer. For more details on the best TV height, read our article: TV in the Bedroom: How to Position the Screen for Comfortable Viewing.
Alternatives to a fixed wall mount:
-
If you plan to mount the screen on the wall, tilting TV wall mounts are a great choice. For example, the ONKRON TM6-B mount allows you to adjust the tilt angle up to 12° and securely position even heavy screens at a comfortable viewing angle.
-
If you want precise adjustment without wall mounting, consider a floor TV stand. It allows you to change the screen height and position without drilling into the wall.
-
If you need the simplest no-drill solution, a tabletop TV stand is a practical option. For example, the PT2-B stand helps position the screen correctly without wall installation and is a smart choice for using free space on a sideboard or TV cabinet.
2. You do not want the TV to look like a “black hole” in the room
Another common mistake is installing the TV in a way that makes it look disconnected from the rest of the living room design. This disrupts the visual balance, and the screen starts to look like a dark, heavy spot in the room.
To avoid this, the TV should not simply be placed in the room - it should be integrated into the overall composition. You can either make it look more subtle or turn it into a deliberate part of the interior design.
-
ONKRON wall mounts help install the TV with minimal clearance from the wall and maintain a clean, streamlined look. For example, the slim profile of the FM5-B fixed TV mount allows the screen to sit as close to the wall as possible.
-
Designer TV stands can also become a stylish interior feature. The TS1220-B tripod TV stand allows more precise screen positioning and becomes part of the room’s design thanks to its elegant look and solid beech wood elements.
3. You are worried that cables will ruin the look
Another frequent mistake is failing to plan cable management in advance. As a result, wires remain visible and pile up behind the TV, creating visual clutter and making even a well-designed living room look untidy.
The solution is to organise cable routing from the start.
-
For example, the TS1571-B mobile TV stand allows you to hide cables neatly inside the column and avoid tangled wires.
-
Full-motion wall mounts also make it easier to connect devices and arrange cables more neatly. You can choose the M4-W TV wall mount which offers an adjustable distance from the wall.
With well-planned cable management, the TV area looks cleaner, more harmonious and complete.
4. You are afraid to drill into the wall
Not every wall is suitable for mounting a TV. Sometimes you simply do not want to drill into concrete, tiles, or decorative wall finishes. In other cases, the issue is not even the wall itself, but uncertainty: what if you want to move the TV to another place in a month?
The mistake here is choosing a solution that is too rigid and leaves no room for change.
If you are not sure that wall mounting is the best option, consider alternatives:
-
A TV stand that can be placed in the desired area and moved when needed. Choose mobile options: the wheels on the TS1871-B TV cart are safe for flooring and make it easy to move the screen around the room.
-
A tabletop TV stand for a dresser or cabinet if you want the simplest possible setup.
These solutions are especially convenient for rented accommodation, temporary interiors, offices, presentation areas, and rooms where the layout may change.
5. You focus on only one viewing point
A common mistake when setting up a TV in the living room is choosing a fixed screen position directly opposite the sofa. With this setup, watching TV from an armchair, dining area in an open-plan kitchen-living room, or another part of the space becomes less convenient. This limits viewing options and makes the room less functional.
To avoid this, it is better to choose a swivel TV mount or a solution that allows the screen to be moved.
-
ONKRON full-motion TV mounts allow you to change the viewing angle and adjust the screen position for different areas of the living room.
-
Rolling TV stands with tilt and swivel adjustment make it easy to change the TV position depending on how the space is being used.
This way, the TV remains comfortable to watch from different points in the living room, while the lounge area becomes more practical and thoughtfully arranged.
Quick Guide: Which Solution to Choose for Your Living Room TV Area
-
If you need compact wall installation, choose fixed or tilting TV mounts with a slim profile.
-
If you need the screen to swivel and want to watch TV from different parts of the room, consider full-motion mounts or mobile TV stands.
-
If you do not want to drill into the wall, consider designer TV stands and tabletop stands.
-
If mobility is important, choose TV stands on wheels.
-
If you want to use the space on a cabinet, choose tabletop TV stands.
FAQ
1. How should I mount a TV in the living room?
It is best to position the TV so that the centre of the screen is roughly at eye level when you are seated. You should also consider the distance from the sofa, the viewing angle, and possible glare from windows.
2. What is the best height to mount a TV on the wall?
There is no universal height, but in most cases, the best reference point is eye level when sitting down. Mounting the TV too high makes viewing less comfortable and increases strain on the neck.
To learn more about installing a TV on the wall, read our article: "How to Install a TV Wall Bracket".
3. How can I hide the TV wires?
It is best to plan cable routing in advance. Use mounts and stands with cable management features that allow you to organise wires neatly behind the screen and keep them out of sight. This makes the TV area look cleaner, tidier, and more polished.
To Sum Up
Installing a TV correctly is a matter of comfort, aesthetics and everyday convenience. Mistakes made at this stage are hard to ignore later: the screen is too high, cables are visible, or your favourite content is comfortable to watch from only one spot in the living room.
To avoid this, choose a solution that matches your viewing habits, room layout, and interior style. This way, your TV will work for your comfort and fit naturally into the space.
Browse the ONKRON catalogue and find a reliable solution that fits your TV size, weight and VESA standard.
