Begin at the sofa
Look at the proposed wall from your normal viewing position. Record the seating distance and the approximate height of your eye line when sitting comfortably. This is a more useful starting point than centring the screen vertically on a tall wall.
Use the actual television dimensions
Screen diagonals do not describe the complete set. The bezel, mounting points, connections and ventilation requirements matter. A photograph of a finished recess may not leave enough room for your own model.
Bring the fire into the design
Where a fire sits beneath the TV, its installation instructions and those of the television must be considered. There is no single clearance figure that can be safely copied across every appliance combination.
Mark out the composition
Before committing, use the proposed dimensions to visualise the screen and surrounding features on the wall. Review it from the seats you use most often, then confirm the design with the installer.
Prepared by Essex Home Media Walls · 21 October 2026. General planning guidance; the agreed design and appliance instructions govern the actual installation.
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