TV Wall Mounting: What You Need to Know Before You Start

Wall-mounted TVs look sleek and save space, but getting it wrong can damage your walls, your TV, or both. There's more to it than finding a stud and drilling holes. Let's walk through what you need to consider before you start, and why professional installation can save you time and money.

What type of wall do you have?

Not all walls are created equal. If you've got a brick or blockwork wall, installation is straightforward — the masonry is solid and will support heavy weight. Plasterboard (dry lining) is trickier. It's weaker than brick, so you need to screw into the wooden studs behind it or use proper cavity fixings designed for hollow walls. Stud walls are common in modern homes, and you'll get a much better result if you find where the studs run. Use a stud finder to locate them — they're usually spaced 16 inches apart. Get this wrong and your TV could come crashing down.

Choosing the right bracket

There are three main types of brackets. Fixed brackets are the cheapest and most secure — they hold the TV flush to the wall but you can't adjust the angle. Tilting brackets let you angle the TV up or down, which is useful if you're mounting higher than eye level. Full-motion brackets are the most flexible, swinging left and right and tilting up and down — but they're pricier and require more robust mounting. The type you need depends on your wall type and how the TV will be used. Always check the bracket's weight rating matches your TV.

Cable management matters

A wall-mounted TV with cables hanging down looks messy and is a safety risk. You've got a few options. Run cables inside the wall through a conduit — that's the cleanest solution but needs to be done before you mount the TV. Use cable covers that blend with your wall color. Or run cables behind a floating shelf that sits below the TV, which hides everything neatly. Think about where your sockets are before you start.

Getting the height right

Mount your TV too high and your neck will ache after 20 minutes. The center of the screen should be roughly at eye level when you're sitting down watching. For most living rooms, that's around 1.2 to 1.5 meters from the floor. Measure it out before you drill — it's easy to get wrong and hard to fix if you do. Also consider viewing distance. If you're sitting close to the TV, you'll need a smaller screen or to sit farther back. If you're far away, you might want to go bigger.

Weight limits and safety

Your bracket will have a maximum weight rating. Your TV will have a weight. Make sure the bracket is rated for more than the TV weighs — don't cut it close. The wall itself also matters. A single screw into plasterboard won't hold a 50-inch TV. You need the right number of fixings in the right places. This is where mistakes happen, and why professional fitting is worth doing.

Why call a professional

It might seem simple, but finding studs, calculating weight distribution, routing cables, and getting the height perfect takes knowledge and the right tools. Get it wrong and you're either left with a dodgy installation that worries you every time you watch TV, or a wall full of holes that need patching. We can have it mounted securely, cables hidden, and the height perfect in a couple of hours. It costs less than you'd think and you won't spend a weekend on it yourself.

A well-mounted TV transforms a room and genuinely improves how you enjoy your space. It's worth doing properly the first time. Whether you're a confident DIYer or prefer to leave it to us, the key is thinking through the details before you commit to drilling holes.