When you prepare to hang a flat screen TV on a wall there are a few things you’ll want to consider when selecting the type of TV wall mount to use. That said… generally speaking there are a few general styles of mounts from which to choose: single stud mount, double stud standard mount, slim fit wall mount and articulating.

Choose a TV wall mount best suited to your situation

Articulating mounts tend to be the most costly but we’ll start with this style, it tends to be the most versatile. One great thing about an articulating mount is the accessibility to the rear of the TV after the installation is complete. Most of today’s flat panel televisions have a whole host of connection points on the back of the TV and as you add or change devices connections to the back of the TV it’s very handy to simply be able to pull the TV away from the wall, access the connection points on the back and make your adjustments. Some adjustments might be things like: adding a piece of equipment, changing how pieces are connected to allow room for a new electronic device, future service of the TV in the way of firmware updates or Internet connectivity or USB memory stick connections allowing you to access family photos  movies on your big screen etc.

Although the articulating TV wall mounts offer these advantages it’s important to carefully consider which mount to buy and install. A TV that is to be mounted in the corner will often need a single stud articulating or a double stud mount whereby the portion which affixes to the wall is just wide enough to fasten between two wood studs which are typically 16 inches from center of stud to center of stud.

When choosing a tv wall mount you’ll want to take into account what type of wall construction you are mounting to. For example, if the wall studs within the interior of your walls are metal studs we recommend you exercise caution with this type of installation. Metal wall studs are not designed or constructed to carrying any heavy loads such as a TV, the wall stud can and will buckle and fail causing your TV to fall from the wall and potentially injure or kill someone nearby. We’ve installed flat screen TVs on such walls but only after first opening up the wall, carefully construction wooden stud, floor to ceiling supports and then fabricating a custom covering over the cut open wall space prior to installing an articulating wall mount.

When the TV is mounted against the wall will the side profile  and wiring be noticeable?

In many situations where a TV is hung on the wall you regularly look at the side of the TV. If you don’t select the proper mount it can become rather unattractive from the side. This is where a slim wall mount or even a wall mount embedded into the wall could come into account. The slim wall mount is designed specifically to permit the TV to mount as close to the wall as possible. However with slim wall mounts you typically do not have a tilt down options which is especially useful in situations where tilting the TV slightly downward is advantageous to views.

TV mounts can be found which embed, essentially, in the wall between two wall cavities. This type of mount has the benefit of articulating the TV away from the wall for service and then pushing the TV all the way against the wall when it’s in use. There often is room to conceal some excess connection wires which is also a very nice feature because when it comes to connection wires you always will need a connection wire which is longer than exactly necessary.

Consider the size and weight of your TV when selecting a TV wall mount.

The larger the TV the larger the mount you’ll want to consider. We are not a big fan of single stud mounts except in select applications. For heavier TV installations we always look for a sturdy, double stud installation TV wall mount.

What is VESA and why its critical when selecting a TV wall mount?

Aside from everything we’ve mentioned you also need to make sure the wall mount you are choosing supports the VESA mounting hole pattern on the back of your TV. Take a quick look at your TV and identify the 4 mounting holes, the shape and dimension of these holes is the VESA pattern. Not all mounts support all VESA mounting hole patterns. If you’re uncertain you can find this data in your TV owner’s manual.

How to Hang a TV on a Wall