Your guide to TV mounts

There are many different TV mounts on the market. Here’s a brief explanation of the phrases you’ll see and what each type has to offer. An AV stand is designed to hold not only your screen, but all your other equipment such as DVD player, digital TV box, VCR and so on. A cabinet stand is a single unit which incorporates shelving (either open or behind a glass door) and an attachment to hold your screen on top. Cable management accessories help you avoid that Spaghetti Junction look that is common with TV mounts. Many of them involve very shallow housings which attach to your wall and can be painted or even wallpapered over so that they blend in with your decorations. A cantilever stand supports your screen from the rear and almost makes it appear to be floating in space. Many cantilever stands have space to house all your cables neatly and out of view. A ceiling bracket lets you suspend your screen in the same way as you may see in an airport or a shopping centre.

These TV mounts are very fashionable, though they may not always give the most comfortable viewing position in the home. A corner stand is specifically shaped to fit in the corner of the room while still giving you enough space for your screen and equipment. A desktop stand involves a small (but usually heavy) base which attaches to the bottom of your screen. You can then place it on top of an existing cabinet or even a desk or table. It’s an effective low-key way of storing your set. A motorised stand is by far the most visually impressive of all TV mounts. It lets you use a remote control to move a wall-mounted stand without leaving your seat. This can be handy if you want your screen stored away from the best viewing position when it’s not in use. A pedestal stand is a type of desktop stand which allows you to rotate the screen to some degree. This is particularly handy if you change viewing positions or need to move the screen out of sunlight or shade. A universal stand is designed to fit any brand of television, though you’ll have to make sure it is the right size and can bear the weight of your particular set. One potential downside is that it won’t necessarily match the colour and style of your screen, though this is really a perfectionist point. A VESA rating is an industry-agreed standard for the different sized and shapes of TV mounts used to connect your screen to a wall, ceiling or stand. It’s a quick way of making sure a particular screen fits a particular mount, particularly when they are produced by different manufacturers. A wall bracket lets you attach your television directly to a wall, giving you the option to put it anywhere in the room without needing any floorspace. However, you’ll usually need to use a load-bearing wall rather than a partition wall.