Choosing Flat Screen TV Stands

These days, if you’re buying a new TV, it almost always means you’re buying a flat screen TV, and that means you need to go shopping for flat screen TV stands. But you can’t buy just any old TV stand. You paid a lot of money for that new television, especially if it’s a big screen television, so you need to make sure you buy a TV stand that will keep it safe. Here you can learn how to find TV stands that will work well with and look good with your new flat screen television.

 

Choosing Flat Screen TV Stands Based on Size

With the conventional cathode ray tube televisions, size was all that mattered. The size of the TV stand that you needed was based mostly on the size of the television that you purchased. Not only was the size of the screen important, but the depth of the TV also played a role in the type of stand that could support it. With today’s flat panel TVs, the size of the screen is often larger than a conventional television, but the depth of the screen is far less. This means a TV stand doesn’t have to be quite as large to be able to hold a television. However, there is one other important factor that needs to be considered.

 

Aspect Ratio
When it comes to flat panel TVs, it’s about more than just size. The aspect ratio of a flat screen TV is much different from that of the conventional TV. Conventional televisions had a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is almost, but not quite, square. Flat panel TVs, on the other hand, have a 16:9 aspect ratio, making them much more rectangular. This aspect ratio accommodates for both the HDTV format and film formats and provides for a richer viewing experience. So what does this mean for TV stands? A TV stand now needs to be wider to protect the length of the television screen. If you put a flat screen TV on an old TV stand, the ends would hang over the edge and someone could easily bump into it and knock it over.

 

Choosing Your Style

The change in size of these TVs has obviously affected some changes in style. Find out what’s changed, and what hasn’t, when it comes to the look of TV stands.

 

Some Things Stay the Same
The basic styles of TV stands haven’t changed. If you want a modern stand to match your modern décor, you can find one for your flat panel television. And if you want your brand new television to fit in with the traditional furniture that you already own, there are plenty of television stands made in a very traditional style. You’ll also find all of the same materials you’d normally find in furniture: wood, metal, glass, veneer, and more.

Some Things Change
Some things have, of course, changed when it comes to stands that will work with your flat panel TV. Size and aspect ratio have obviously affected some styles of stands. Many stands for flat screens are made to be longer, narrower, and sometimes lower to the ground. Another style that has popped up due to the nature of a flat screen is the flat entertainment center. These types of entertainment centers provide a flat, wall-like surface on which to mount the television, and space at the bottom or on the sides for storage.

 

Wall Mounts

Last but not least, many people are choosing not to buy any sort of TV stand at all. Where do they put their TV? They mount it directly on the wall, running the wiring through the wall. If they need storage for other media equipment, they choose a small piece of furniture that can accommodate their needs.

 

The most important thing to remember when shopping for a TV stand for your flat panel television is the safety of your television. Get a stand or mount that will support your television and that will blend in with your overall style.

<< More TV Stand Articles and Advice

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Still have questions? Email us! We're the TV stand experts!