With the World Cup in full swing and a host of Christmas films starting to drop on our favourite streaming platforms, winter is officially prime television viewing season, and there’s nothing quite like snuggling up by the fire with a blanket and putting on some quality entertainment to see you through the cold, dark evenings in complete cosiness and satisfaction.
Whether you’re having a quiet night in alone or inviting friends over for champagne, canapes and everyone’s favourite Hollywood flick, the layout of your space and the equipment you use can both have a dramatic impact on your home TV viewing experience, and optimising sound and picture quality, amongst other things, can make all the difference.
Here, we take a look at some simple ways to elevate your viewing experience to all new heights, and best of all, it couldn’t be easier to make the switch.
1. Work with the space you have
When planning your entertainment space, you’ll first need to figure out how much space you have to work with, which can easily be done by taking some measurements and doing some quick calculations. Not only will you want to know how much space you have for the television to be positioned in, but you’ll also need to factor in how far away you and your guests will be seated when viewing begins, ensuring an optimal distance between your seating and the screen so that it can be seen clearly without straining the eyes, but isn’t so close that it feels uncomfortable.
It goes without saying that when it comes to TV screens, the bigger the better. If you’re working with a 50-inch or larger television screen then, as a general rule of thumb, your seating should be a minimum of six feet away, while for anything smaller, you can position it a little closer.
2. Minimalism is key
Once in place, your television will be the main focal point of the room, so avoid clutter around it, as this can quickly detract from the viewing experience. Opt for minimalistic furniture with clean lines, and ensure that any TV boxes and wires are well concealed. Put books, games and toys away so that there is nothing to distract you when settling in to watch your favourite series and allow it to do the talking alone.
This isn’t to say that some carefully chosen decorative elements can’t go a long way when placed elsewhere in the room, however – and you can still create a cosy, calming and stylish environment that feels welcoming to your guests – just keep it away from the surroundings of your screen.
3. Position your screen away from windows
When deciding where to put your TV screen within the space you have, it can be tempting to go for the most obvious large, free wall or corner – but it’s important to also factor in the locations of any windows, as they can have a dramatic effect on your viewing experience.
Glossy screens tend to reflect any natural light that pours in and this can distort the picture and make it difficult to see what’s going on on your screen clearly. While a matte screen helps to minimise glare, it isn’t a complete solution on its own, so if there are lots of windows around the room that can’t be avoided then it might be time to invest in some blackout curtains or some thicker, darker blinds.
If you’re unsure where to place your TV for optimal results, then try out a few different locations and see what works best. It’s going to vary based on the type of TV you get, and is often a case of trial and error.
4. Optimise your set-up
Many televisions nowadays come with a whole host of innovative smart features designed to help you get even more out of your viewing experience – however, they can also be overwhelming if you don’t know how to use them. So, while it might be tempting to simply place it on its TV stand and leave it at that, spending some time getting to know the various functions and features available and how to use them to your advantage will help to ensure you get the most out of them, and although the prospect of reading the manual might feel like a tedious one, you’ll be glad you did.
Getting your TV set up for success is essential, so if you’re paying for streaming apps, you’ll want to sign into all of them for easy access at any time. Download any additional apps that you might find useful, such as YouTube or Twitch, and ensure your television is receiving a strong Wi-Fi connection so there are no disruptions when settling in for the night.
5. Enjoy sharp and colourful content and great sound
The newest televisions out there not only offer 4K resolution for sharper viewing, but also come with advanced LED technology. Technology like QLED from Samsung delivers some of the best colour saturation available, making for a more vibrant experience all round.
While a lot of televisions have advanced picture quality, the majority of brands leave something to be desired in terms of sound, and investing in a sound bar is a great way to boost sound quality. Some are portable, so you can place it at different places around the room to ensure you find the perfect spot – get some ideas from VidaXL to help boost sound clarity and deliver an immersive experience that ticks all the right boxes for fantastic viewing every time.
