How to choose the distance between your TV and the sofa for the best TV experience | Factory Street

When designing the living room, one of the main questions that arise is: what is the ideal distance between the television and the sofa ? It is essential to take into account several factors such as the size of the room, the size of the television and your field of vision to fully enjoy moments in front of the TV. In this article we guide you to determine the optimal TV-sofa distance using various tips.

Understand the relationship between screen size and viewing distance

The main criterion for determining the distance between the TV and the sofa is the size of the screen. Indeed, the larger the screen, the further away you will have to be to see the image in good conditions. The screen diagonal (measurement in inches) plays an important role in calculating this distance.

General rules:

• For a cathode ray screen (older generation), it is advisable to be at a distance of approximately 5-6 times the diagonal of the screen.
• For a standard flat screen (HD or Full HD), the recommended distance is 3 to 4 times the diagonal.
• For an ultra high definition screen (UHD or 4K), we can get 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal.

Another important aspect is visual comfort: if you are too close to the screen, you may have to move your eyes and head to follow the movements of the image. If you are too far away, it will be difficult to read the lyrics and make out some details. Furthermore, the image quality will tend to decrease as the distance between the TV and the sofa increases.

The influence of the type of emission on the optimal distance

It’s also essential to consider the type of content you usually watch on TV. The criteria differ depending on the programs:

Films, series and documentaries:

Cinematographic works and series generally benefit from high image quality and often offer wide panoramas or scenes. In this case it might be interesting to get a little closer to the screen benefit from a better immersion effect and not lose details.

Sport:

For sporting events, further distance is permitted follow rapid movements more easily and have a better view of the terrain. It is advisable to try more distances depending on the sports you practice and your habits.

Video games:

Players often need to get closer to the screen to react quickly and pay attention to game details. However, it is important not to be too close to avoid visual strain.

The impact of viewing angle

An additional factor to consider is viewing anglewhich corresponds to the space between the field of vision and the screen. Too narrow an angle can cause image distortion and make colors less accurate, especially if you’re using an LCD screen.

To obtain an optimal viewing angle, it is recommended to stay within the horizontal field of view of 30° (15° on both sides of the central axis). In practice this means making sure that the distance between the sofa and the sides of the screen is approximately equal:

• For a Full HD screen: around a distance of 2.22 meters and maximum at a distance of 2.36 meters.
• For a 4K UHD screen: around a distance of 1.10 meters and maximum at a distance of 1.43 meters.

Take the layout of the room into consideration

Finally, when trying to determine which distance to choose between the TV and the sofa, two aspects must also be taken into account:

The size of the living room:

It is essential to correctly measure the dimensions of the room in order to adapt accordingly. If you have a small living room, it will be important to optimize the space by carefully choosing the size of the television and sofa.

The layout:

The furniture in the room can directly affect the correct distance between the television and the sofa. Make sure you arrange the elements harmoniously so as not to create a visual obstacle or impede traffic.

By taking these tips into account, you will be able to carefully choose the position of the television and the depth of the sofa, while ensuring optimal comfort for your cinema, sports or video game sessions at home.