One of the first decisions to be made when planning your man cave is how far away to have the couch from the tv. The next important measurement is how high off the ground your tv will be mounted. Take it from someone who needed to drill multiple holes in newly painted sheetrock, you want to get this right.
The optimal distance between a couch a TV is 2.75 X the size of your TV (diagonally). The typical height of a seated viewer is 42-inches off the ground. This means it does not matter if you have a 45-inch television, 52-inch television, or 65-inch television, the center of your tv will want to be 42 inches from the ground for an optimal viewing angle.
I want to mention, these measurements and numbers are all just suggestions. Like I will go on to say, I didn”t even follow these suggestions completely.
While planning out your man cave, it is important to make the most of your space. These measurements help give a rough estimate of what you should expect. They provide a place to start, not a forced gold standard.
Things To Consider For Couch Distance:
After a bit of searching, I found that the optimal distance between seat and TV is 2.75 inches multiplied by the diagonal size of your TV. The diagonal size of a television is simply the number we usually refer to when talking televisions. The first time I did this calculation, I felt the distance was too far away.
I will say, I used this measurement scheme as a suggestion instead of a rule. I did not have enough room in my man cave. I have a 75-inch TV, which means I would ideally want 206.25 inches of space. That equals roughly 17 feet.
If you do not have space, I am here to reassure you, it will be okay. Just make sure you understand how big the TV is compared to your man cave, and how much space you will have to move your seating back.
In the end, the decision is yours. You decide how far back your seating needs to be. This 2.75 inches X the size of your tv is merely a suggestion. Put your TV up first, and then experiment with how far back you want your seating. It is easier to move the seat back then to mess around with where the TV is mounted…
Things To Consider For TV Height:
The typical height for a seated viewer is 42 inches. Depending on what you are planning to furnish your man cave with, this number may be different for you. Each man cave’s set up is unique, and that is why it is worth taking a closer look.
Will you be watching the TV from a barstool at a bar? From a super soft couch where you sink in? From a recliner where you are sitting higher? Your man cave is for you and those you ALLOW in. If you are a taller person, your height while sitting will probably be more than 42 inches.
Don’t be afraid to get specific. If you already have the seats and television picked out you have everything you need. Grab a measuring tape, take a seat, and measure from your eyes to the ground. That number (typically around 42 inches) is how high the center of your television should be off the ground.
Food For Thought…
I mentioned before that I spent a lot of time drilling multiple holes trying to get the tv mounted straight and at the right height. Although I can’t drill the holes for you, I do have one helpful trick to share that I wish I would have known before I started…
You have figured out how high off the ground you need the TV. Perfect. Now it’s time to mount it. If you have a larger TV, this can be… tough.
The biggest time saver I can give you is something I feel silly for not figuring out earlier. Go ahead and measure how tall your TV is. Take that number and divide it by two. This is the center of your screen. Now subtract the desired height by this number.
This is where the bottom of your TV will be resting. It is MUCH easier to keep track of where the bottom of your TV is instead of having to keep checking the center of your screen.
Until next time,