Apartment Therapy Unplugged | Good Questions; What Screen Size Should I Get???

First of all, you also mentioned that: "I'm not an avid TV watcher, but would like to have a decent sized TV for when guests come over for movie night; my media cabinet is pushed up against a 20 ft. wall and there is nothing on either side, except speakers on stands; and most importantly, I'm more concerned with having a well proportioned livingroom, than having a killer home theatre set up."
From what you say here, it sounds like your tv stand is against the long wall which gives you more options as far as size. You have also chosen a range of TV sizes that are not too far apart from each other so you have a higher chance of success.

Now a factor which you may not have been considering: viewing distance. The chart on the left describes optimum viewing distances that apply to different TV sizes. You haven't mentioned how far away you will be sitting, but that may change over the life of the TV anyway (moving furniture around and so forth.) Using this as a guide, you will want the larger TV since it will just suffice for an estimated 8' viewing distance and wont quite be enough for a 10'. HA! Rules... Who needs 'em? This is part of how manufacturers get you to spend more but you have more considerations to factor in...

A word on proportions: Your cabinet is 77" wide so the TV is going to have at least 17.5 inches on either side, no matter what you buy. It wont overpower your room because the stand itself will be more imposing. In the end your proportions of table to stand will be this (this is a proportionally correct Photoshopping of the actual stand and TV):

Advice: 42" DO IT!

Related Links:

I just got a 42" Sharp Aquos tv (just like the one in the pic) and I love it! It's currently in a room too small for it (a bedroom) but it'd be a great size for a living room. Get it!

posted by adorninc.wordpress.com on 2008-04-29 15:37:26
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I have several HDTV's dispersed around my place and bought them based on viewing distance. A 61" is the mother ship in a loft area with a home theatre set up (the room is really big). A 40" in the bedroom on a 150 degree articulating wall arm that makes it watchable from anywhere in the room. Finally my pick: a 46" in the den on a media cabinet that is 9' from the seating.

posted by Chris - Annapolis on 2008-04-29 16:36:51
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Sold! Thank you all so much for your advice. Especially Peter for the great information and photoshop pic. Fantastic! I can't wait to get my 42" pop some corn and settle in for a fun movie night!

posted by Lourdes on 2008-04-29 21:24:39
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You could do what I did. I measured the external dimensions of the TV's I was considering (not just the screen size) and then cut out a piece of cardboard to match. I hung up the cardboard where I was putting to TV to make sure it didn't seem out of place.

posted by chundered on 2008-04-30 08:01:06
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thanks chundered, I did that very thing last night with newspaper, as well as measure the viewing distance. the 42", which actually has the external width of approximately 39", looks good and doesn't seem to dominate the space. plus, the viewing distance is approximately 8", which falls into the recommended category. all in all, i feel very comfortable going for the 42". it's a big purchase though, so i'm glad to have everyone's advice.

posted by Lourdes on 2008-04-30 10:31:26
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Start with the smallest you can live with. Prices are only going to continue to drop and the premium you pay on larger screens will be the quickest to fall. This also makes it much easier to move the tv to another, smaller room (say, the bedroom) when you are ready to upgrade. I went with a 40" Samsung and have been very happy.

posted by RichardinLA on 2008-05-01 02:13:33
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Glad to see you have committed to a TV! I hope you enjoy it so much that you cant stop smiling.

posted by Peter_Unplggd on 2008-05-01 12:04:51
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