Sanus Wall Mount

You finally tossed out the old console television and decided to get with the modern times by purchasing a plasma flat-screen television. Unfortunately, the purchase itself doesn't mean you can immediately begin watching your favorite programs in high definition on your new screen. It has to be set up somewhere. If you've decided you want to mount your plasma TV on the wall, some ways of doing it can add to its visual appeal or make it function better.

Over the Fireplace

The flat spot above the mantle just a few feet above the flickering flames of your fireplace is a great place to consider mounting your plasma television. This position will allow your TV to flow with the rest of the design of the room and will combine the room's two focal points at one place.

This option is a great idea if the wall above your fireplace is hollow and accessible so you can hide the cords. A rock or brick fireplace may not be the best option, because it will be impossible to drill into a hollow area and run the cords out of sight. But a drywall area above the fireplace also could be troublesome unless you know for sure that there are supporting studs under it to hold the weight of the television. Heat can be a factor if the area just above the fireplace regularly climbs above 100 degrees.

If you position your television high enough that it will still be a good location for viewing and you have the proper wall surface for support, the fireplace mount is among the most aesthetically pleasing options.

Frame It

A large, black rectangle on the living room wall may not be the most attractive thing in the room, but you can dress it up to make it look much better.

Framing your plasma television like a piece of art will help the unit blend in with the surroundings and look less out of place on the wall. Some companies sell special frames especially for flat-screen televisions. If you choose, you could buy a scenery DVD that works like a slideshow so your frame isn't simply surrounding a black screen when it's not in use. It could be landscapes or even a full-motion aquarium.

If you want to hide the TV entirely while you are not using it, you can purchase specialty frames for flat screen televisions that actually have a piece of art covering the screen when not in use. Press a button, and the art rolls up to reveal your screen.

Corner It

Don't forget about functionality when you mount your plasma television to the wall. It's a fact that flat-screen televisions are best viewed from straight ahead. If your furniture is arranged in a way that makes it difficult for some people in the room to watch the television, then try mounting the TV in a corner and putting it on an adjustable arm that allows you to swing it in and out for best viewing, depending on where people are sitting in the room. Mounts are sold specifically for corner installation, and can be installed by almost anyone with the proper tools.