TOP 5 MISTAKES IN GARAGE DESIGN: #1 – Incorporating a Television above a Countertop
Whether your motivation to installing a television in your garage is to watch Nascar, the Speed Network, Velocity Channel or entertain friends to watch a sporting event together, they continue to grow in popularity, particularly as prices for larger and better TV’s become more affordable.
Yet, one common mistake we keep seeing show up over-and-over again is incorporating televisions into wall cabinets or on a wall above a work area (countertop). Placing a television this close to where you will work or stand may create a very fatiguing user experience. It may also limit the vantage points from which the television can be seen elsewhere in the garage.
Before you commit to your TV’s placement above your countertop work surface or cabinetry, try this exercise first: in your home,
stand two feet in front of a television to determine if you feel comfortable being that close. Envision yourself working there … for even 15
minutes. Most people find a TV placed that close to their face uncomfortable and fatiguing.
And for good reason. The optimal viewing distance that a television should be placed away from the viewer is recommended as follows:
- 25 Inch Class TV = Set TV 39” Away from Viewing Distance
- 30 Inch Class TV = Set TV 48” Away from Viewing Distance
- 35 Inch Class TV = Set TV 54” Away from Viewing Distance
- 40 Inch Class TV = Set TV 63” Away from Viewing Distance
- 45 Inch Class TV = Set TV 72” Away from Viewing Distance
- 50 Inch Class TV = Set TV 78” Away from Viewing Distance
- 55 Inch Class TV = Set TV 87” Away from Viewing Distance
- 60 Inch Class TV = Set TV 96” Way from Viewing Distance
- 65 Inch Class TV = Set TV 102” Away from Viewing Distance
- 70 Inch Class TV = Set TV 111” Away from Viewing Distance
With standard countertop depth of garage cabinets at 24” deep and mounting hardware being 6”-8”, a typical TV will be only 16”-18” away from your face when you are standing directly in front of it. That is simply too close for comfort and you’ll notice every single pixel. That will not create an enjoyable experience.
So, what are some other options?
Review the location and placement in areas of your garage to find a location where your television can be seen from more vantage points. Cutting out a
cardboard template in the same size as the TV you have selected is a good way of helping you visualize its location before making a final decision.
Garage corners are a good locations for televisions because they are generally free from obstructions and allow for a higher location so that the TV can be seen from more vantage points.
This article was authored by Chad Haas, Founder of VAULT