Used to be, a flat-screen TV was a sign of wealth. And knowledge of Japanese company names. But mostly wealth.
It was mounted on the wall, given a place of prominence, and treated like a piece of fine art.
If you had one, you ONLY had one (unless you were filthy rich, and then you had one in every room, all with coverage of you accepting your MVP award or your MTV award or your Academy Award playing on a loop), and it was in the main living space, where everyone could gather around.
And everyone did.
But that was so 2006, when a 42-inch plasma cost the better part of two grand; (in 2013, you could get a quality 50-inch flat screen for about a quarter of that price.) And as prices have declined, size, resolution, and popularity have grown.
Now, a flat-screen isn't so much a status symbol as it is a necessity (truthfully, if we had to choose between an oven and a flat screen for the bedroom it would be a very hard choice. Plus we make a mean microwave pizza.) "Price pressures pegged to a range of factors have turned the flat-panel television from a luxury good to a commodity," said Investor Place.
And they're not kidding. When a flat screen costs less than a pair of winter boots (32-inch flat screen were less than a hundred bucks on Black Friday 2013) its no wonder today's consumers are able (and very clearly willing) to purchase multiple flat screens for every part of their home.
The Living Room
Having a flat screen in your living room is every bit as important today as it was when flat screens first started popping up in homes. And, today, placement and design are more important than ever.
Frankly, we're still fans of putting your TV above the fireplace, as long it's not so high you get neck strain. But we seem to be on a short list (just do a quick Google search of "best places to put your flat-screen TV" and feel the rage). So where do you put it if you're trying to maximize usable space and create a focal point?
Houzz has a bunch of ideas for how to place your flat screen in the room. And if you'd like a large flat screen but don't want it to detract from your décor, check out these ingenious ideas, also from Houzz, for hiding your TV in the name of design. Like this room in which "a stunning fieldstone fireplace dominates the interior of this relaxing cabin. To make sure it doesn't compete with the TV, the screen was hidden beside the chimney."
Kitchen
Why crane your neck to see the TV in the living room while you're in the kitchen doing dishes? Mount a flat-screen TV on a wall, under a cabinet, or even inset a waterproof TV into your tile behind the sink (to match your backsplash even!), so you can flip on the Food Network and follow along with Rachel Ray. Or, catch up with the latest reality stars while you're cooking breakfast, if that's your speed.
Check out some of these ideas from Houzz for integrating a flat-screen into your kitchen.
Bathroom
Because why should you be deprived of the opportunity to relax in the tub with a glass of wine, surrounded by bubbles, listening to the soothing sounds of Nascar. Or Days of Our Lives. Or C-SPAN. Whatever your pleasure, today's flat-screens for the bathroom make watching the morning news while you get ready for work a pretty, and practical, option. Just make sure you choose something waterproof, like this LUXURITE LCD that can be installed anywhere water and steam are involved.
Bedrooms
There's an old adage that TVs shouldn't be brought into the bedroom. But whoever said that has never fallen asleep to Jimmy Fallon.
The trick to adding a TV to your bedroom décor is making sure it's not the center of attention. "Comfort is the number one consideration when incorporating media into your bedroom. A television--and its supportive cabinetry--should be as unobtrusive as possible," said Better Homes and Gardens. Click here to check out their useful solutions for tastefully incorporating a TV in your bedroom.
Home Theatre
It's no long necessary to get a projector for your media room. As the size of flat screens expands and resolution gets better, they are now the go-to for home theatres. Unsure of what size you need for your media space? Heed this handy guide from Houzz: "Bigger is better — pretty much. Lots of people say they wish they had a bigger TV, but have you ever heard anyone complain that their screen is too big? I didn't think so."
Houzz's screen sizes and general viewing distances:
- 26" screen = 3 to 5.5 feet
- 32" screen = 4 to 6.5 feet
- 37" screen = 4.5 to 7.5 feet
- 40" screen = 5 to 8.5 feet
- 46" screen = 6 to 9.5 feet
- 52" screen = 6.5 to 11 feet
- 58" screen = 7 to 12 feet
- 65" screen = 8 to 13.5 feet
- 70" screen = 9 to 15 feet
Outside
The great outdoors no longer means a trek through the wilderness. Today it means having an outdoor space that is every bit as welcoming as your indoor space. Covered patios, outdoor fireplaces, pools, and outdoor living rooms are all part of the trend. And no well-designed outdoor space today is complete without an outdoor flat-screen TV.
Check out Apartment Therapy for some great options for outdoor flat screens. Or, go for broke and buy "the world's biggest flat screen for your backyard," featured on Born Rich (of course).
