what size lcd tv for family room 8.5' to 12.75' feet viewing

susanlynn2012

12 years ago

What size LCD TV for Family Room 8.5' to 12.75' feet viewing? The closest part of my sofa will be 8.5 feet away and the recliner will be 12.75 feet away from where the eyes will be on a person to the TV. I am thinking 40 to 42 inches? My sofa is very low (Natuzzi leather) and I am not quite 5 feet tall. Right now I have my TV on a 17 year old oak stand that is 26" tall and the 27" CRT TV is the right height for viewing.

So I really would like to know what size would be best, what height of a table, and what brands are good. I have been doing research but I am still confused. I have a Toshiba 32" LCD 720P in my bedroom but for my family room I would like 1080p and a bigger LCD.

I would like to put the TV on the wall but I do not think I will be able to see it from the sofa so I am thinking of a glass table but I keep finding heights of 20" or 30" and not in between for a 42" wide TV. There is not much more room in that spot for a wider stand unless I have it blocking some of the window and I need light in the room badly. When I have some time, I will take a picture. The TV stand is going to be diagonal from kitchen to the open family room since I put the sofa back on the wall to allow more walking room and to make the room look bigger.

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Comments (8)

Happyladi
12 years ago
I sit about that far away and I have a 42 inch LCD. It's okay but if I was buying one now I would get a big one, probably a 55 inch TV. If you don't have room for that size consider a 47 inch. A 47 inch TV isn't 47 inches wide. I suggest you measure your space and then take a tape measure with you when you shop.
cliff_and_joann
12 years ago
Our room is 14' wide, our soda sits across from the
tv. However, my chair where I spend 90% of my viewing time
is approximately 8 1/2 feet away.
We have a 52" tv.
You get sit close to the new flat screen tv's
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Sueb – Hmm. .we do have a finished basement. I prefer to be upstairs for tv, but maybe that will get used more in the years to come. Ha ! ‘whoever loses’ Daisey – I feel like I’m getting so old, lol. We don’t watch tv on anything other than the tv, but I’m sure that’s something that will change eventually here too. Mayflowers – but he comes from solid Scandinavian farm stock That made me chuckle. I think a sectional would work and give a two sitting spots while not going over the entrance like the current loveseat. I don’t know about an end table then. I don’t think there’d be room to the left (when facing the tv). With the current entertainment stand the tv viewing seats would be about the same. I’ve been working on some plans. I need to refine and clarify a few things, but I’ll be posting eventually asking for feedback. Melle – Nodding head yes. The couch and loveseat was the ONLY furniture I found IRL (traveled all over creation) that I liked. Didn’t measure anything. Then I went bonkers buying stuff off CL with no plan and no measurements. That’s how I ended up where I am today, lol. It’s been long enough now I can justify making some changes.I had to look up that chair. I never heard of it. Thanks! Mtnrd – An L shape sofa or section may be in the future. Ha, I already went to DH about knocking down walls or adding windows and after the bewildered look heard a no. Melis – We need to do something about our DVDs. We don’t have a lot, but I need some storage space. If we keep them I may end up putting them in a large holder and putting the cases in the attic. We think about getting Netflix on and off. I have a relative who loves it. Fori is not please – I love your name! Unfortunately I don't know if it would make a viewing difference the way the unit is made. It's also three sections. The whole thing is as long as my couch – 8’. Beanbags! Oh we have one! A big black one that’s in the basement family room. :) DH loves the thing. Roarah –I may end up getting some floor pillows in the future. Oh, I’ve love a fireplace! BBGalore – The entertainment stand is one of those things…I actually still like the piece itself. It is dated and that’s starting to bother me. It’s very solid, well made, and I like the storage. But I also think the whole room may benefit if I found it a new home. Crl – DS currently has his own chair that he likes, but he’s been on the furniture more lately. I’m looking forward to removing the chair actually! Just waiting…. Lynn – I think eventually here we’ll get a larger tv. I’m fine with a small one, but I think DH would be pleased with a larger one. Our gym has a very large tv that DH was happy to pick out, lol. Busy – you can angle the tv on a wall mount too... Yeeah, I realized after I typed that I think you can adjust the angle. “it has the corner that we could all (5) comfortably sit on it, with plenty of room to spare!” That’s good to hear. I never wanted a sectional because I don’t like that it’s all one large piece. I hog the loveseat to myself and DH the couch. Kitty – Thanks for sharing the story about your friend! I should bring that beanbag up. I bet DS would like it. Suzy – Pretty room!
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User
12 years ago
We got our new LCD in January and learned that the new tv's with 1080p do not hurt your eyes if you sit closer to them the way the older ones did. We got 52 inch as well, and our living room is only 12 feet wide and we sit about 8 feet from it as well.
susanlynn2012
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you happyladi, cliff and joann, and lukkiirish for your input! I may be able to fit a 46 or 47 inch TV in the spot so now I need to look at TV stands again to see if it is doable since the stand I liked was only for a 42 inch TV. I don't want to block the windows on one of the walls since that is the only wall with windows and the only place I feel comfortable putting the TV now that I rearranged the room. If I put the TV facing the big wall, I could go bigger but then the room will be made too look smaller and when I am in the kitchen I will be looking at the back of the sofa.

But it is good to know that I can go bigger and not have a problem if the TV will fit. I will measure my space and bring a tape measure also when I shop now that I have done a lot of research and read so many reviews of TVs and have an idea what feature does what and what is important. It looks like I should get 120 HZ and 1080P.
lisaj1354
12 years ago
No matter what you do, get a Samsung. I absolutely love mine and thing its way better than a Sony or any of the others.
User
12 years ago
When we were shopping for tvs, I did an extensive amount of research, Samsung & Panasonic were head to head in a lot of the areas and both had good reviews and high ratings by consumer groups. The consensus from the pro's was Samsung has a slightly sharper picture and Panasonic has a brighter picture w/more black. We ended up getting a Plasma instead of an LCD, a Panasonic Viera with 3D and so far it's been fabulous. You may want to check out the Plasma's, at first when my husband suggested them I was pretty apprehensive, but after owning one now for several months, I think they're much better than LCD.
forhgtv
12 years ago
Thought you might find this interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Choose TV Size
susanlynn2012
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you lisaj1354, lukkiirish and forhgtv for your links and advice. I have done more research and now I have decided to wait until the Labor Day sales due to a dental problem that came up that is costly since I have no dental insurance. But I have learned a lot from all the replies I got as well as my research and at least now I don't want to go smaller than 42" and will see if a 46 or 47" will fit on the wall and in my area. My problem is I don't want to block the only light that room gets from the one wall that has windows while the other walls have no windows which would make the 42" the preferred size. I am going to visit some neighbors with flat screen TVs and see what they have also to help me decide. It seems I want either an LED or a Plasma. Thank you!

what size lcd tv for family room 8.5' to 12.75' feet viewing

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what size lcd tv for family room 8.5' to 12.75' feet viewing

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