In our previous apartment, the distance that we placed the sofa from the tv was essentially a non issue — there was really only one spot that the placement of the screen worked and it dictated the overall size of the tv. The sofa just went across from it, utilizing as much space as was available, no more and no less. But now, in our new place, everything is negotiable.
The living room is now very open, allowing for quite a variance in sofa placement, and the new tv location does allow for a larger screen overall. Since moving in and setting up the room layout, my family has been (not so) casually mentioning that our tv is either too small for the current layout, or, to look at it a different way, that the sofa is too far away. I, who like both the tv and the layout just as it is, have been saying its 100% FINE :)
I decided to do a little internet research on the subject to find evidence to have on my side; hoping that conventional guidelines would say that it is perfect as is. What I found was formulas that suggest just the opposite.
We have a 32 inch tv and the sofa is about 9.5 feet (115 inches) from it. Here are three formulas for determining "optimum viewing distance":
3 x H : Place your sofa at a distance of three times the height of the screen (which in my case is 15 inches high). (Geeksugar) This put my sofa at an optimum distance of 45 inches from my TV - crazy close!
1.5 x Screen Size: Place your sofa at a distance of 1.5 times the diagonal measurement of the screen. (Dr Dave and Dee) This also put my sofa about 4 feet away - different formula, similar result - and way too close!
2.75 x Screen Size: Place your sofa at a distance of 2.75 inches away for each inch of diagonal screen size. (IKEA) This formula puts my sofa at 82.5 inches from my tv - much closer to what feels comfortable and not claustrophobic, but still much closer than the actual current distance.
Judging from these rules of thumb, a tv should be gigantic for our sofa to be placed more than 9 feet away or, in the alternative, we should be sitting practically on top of our current tv to view it comfortably — and neither of these options are at all appealing. So much for my attempt at using "one size fits all" guidelines to put this conversation to rest, because at this point it looks like round one is in danger of being called in favor of the tv salesmen...
Image: Janel Laban
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Janel: Gorgeous place! Those bookshelves!!! It all looks so amazing!
I think comfort needs to be considered more than the look. Your family is uncomfortable with the current arrangement, so you should probably move it closer.
I think it's really all about preference and what you have to work with, but we have a rather large TV (56"?) and our architect told us 20 ft was optimal. Sounds like a lot but it's perfect for us.
PS: Beautiful new place!
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There's no universal formula. It depends on your priorities. If you're a techno geek who wants to see all two million pixels on your brand new HDTV, then you need to sit up really close, so that your eyes can distinguish each pixel from its neighbor. That's what the 3 x H and 1.5 x screen size measurements are based on.
On the other hand, if you want a seating arrangement that makes some sort of aesthetic sense, then you need to give up the ability to see all of those pixels, buy a much bigger screen (with its own aesthetic issues), or use a video projector.
Does type of viewing matter?
Fans of sports and CSI need to see every excruciating detail up close.
Sitcom fans could perhaps sit father away without losing any important details.
American Idol fans can sit in a different room and come running when the judges start laughing.
Just to give you some specifics about your current sofa to TV distance. If you don't move the sofa, you would need about a 70" diagonal screen for your kids to see every individual pixel of their favorite PS3 game (which outputs the highest resolution HDTV signal - 1080p). On the other hand, most sports are broadcast in 720p format, so you could satisfy the football/baseball fans in your family with a smaller screen - about 50" would do.
You're place looks gorgeous! Don't change a thing. Offer binoculars for those that have poor design taste.
Heh heh heh
I'm about 8 ft from my 50" screen. It's just about the right distance. I also am a techno geek so there's that.
Another gamer here - my 32" tv is about 4' from my playing chair, and it's great for most of my games (although I think some of them purposely pick the least-legible fonts they can find...), but for general watching, that 7' number works just fine. And another "what a lovely room" vote!
Do whatever you want -- it's your home!!
That said, we have a 52" HDTV in the living room and sit about 6-8 feet away, depending on position on sofa. Our home theater has a 110" projection screen, and we probably sit about 10-12'. We HAVE a home theater because my partner is DEFINITELY a techno-geek and we watch a lot of sci-fi movies (etc.) there. If movie watching is a critical issue to your family, closer/bigger is better. If, as someone mentioned, the occasional sit-com is all you watch, it might not matter at all. If video gaming is an activity, ask the gamers.
I will add, though, that homes are for LIVING in, not just admiring the aesthetics of. So if sometimes you have to compromise the aesthetics to make the home more functional for those living in it, I say go for it!
Thank you for posting this lovely room-it has helped and inspired me. We are furnishing our 14' x 11' "tv area" right now. I have been debating over coffee tables- a white marble Saarinen or something rectangular/square and deciding on a rug. We have white walls, wood floors, and an off white sofa too. I am definitely going with the Saarinen coffee table and and going to look for a bright Moroccan rug to set it off.
Oh my goodness! I LOVE your place! SO Jealous! Who cares about the TV. I just want to curl up with a great book and a cup of tea!
I agree with the other posters that argue the factor of what you are viewing. For instance, a movie may be enjoyable from a greater distance but a movie with subtitles?
But I believe it's ultimately a question of how good is your vision. It's different if you have myopia, myopia WITH astigmatism, a perfect vision (sigh...) etc etc.
So I suppose when a lot of people are involved the only way to keep everyone happy is to add an armchair or two for those who want to be closer to the tv.
^ LOL ande2994!
We just discovered our tv is way too small when we moved into our new apartment. There is literally only one possible configuration, so the couch is at least 7-8 feet from our 28" tv. My husband has taken to sitting on an ottoman right in front of the tv to play video games (poor guy)! I've never been one for tech upgrades, but I have to admit defeat here.
p.s. swooning over your built-in bookshelves! Oh for a library...
talk about a completely irrelevant spam message...
OMG, what a lovely place! The bookshelves! The rug! The sofas!
I wouldn't change the layout -- it's perfect!
I do think a slightly larger TV would work better, but not that much larger. My studio couch is 6" away from my new 32" and it's perfect. There's a subjective element at work here: most people today see televisions as a "bigger is better" deal. A 46" is what would be recommended for 9-10 feet away. I like Crutchfield's chart:
http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/TV_placement.html
I should add here that I'm Deaf and rely on CC/Subtitles, so I have to see them clearly. My old 22" LCD wasn't enough from 6ft; my LED 32" is perfect. 40"-42" would be better, but I'm not interested in spending more.
I should add (before someone does) that a 46" would end up taking center stage in your beautiful living space. I'd go with 42" but I'm not a TV junkie :)
I heard it was 3 times the diagonal length, not height. So, if your TV is 32 inches diagonally, then the sofa would be about 8 feet away. Makes way more sense than the 3xH, even if it's not exactly the right position for your preference. At least it's a reasonable starting point.