We spend a lot of time agonizing over the perfect smart TV. However, when the box is finally opened and it’s time to set it up, the question of where to place it often becomes an afterthought. But there are more than a few places you might want to think twice about before plopping up or down your prized screen.
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Above a Fireplace
From a design and aesthetic standpoint, planting your smart TV above a fireplace can look great, especially if you’ve seen it done in magazines or home makeover shows. However, this setup can actually shorten the lifespan of your TV and significantly impact your viewing experience.
Fireplaces, even electric ones, spew a steady stream of hot air that rises directly toward your mounted screen. Give it time, and that heat can roast your TV’s internal components, leading to performance issues and knocking years off your TV’s lifespan. Besides, most manufacturers recommend keeping TVs in environments below a certain temperature threshold (50°F to 104°F), but the zone above a working fireplace often exceeds that, especially after extended use.
Mounting a TV high on the wall also forces you to look up while watching, which isn’t ideal for your neck or your picture quality. Modern LED and OLED screens are designed to be viewed at eye level while seated; otherwise, tilting your head back for hours on end can lead to some serious neck strain.
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In Direct Sunlight
If your TV is facing a large window or gets hit head-on by the afternoon sun, you are likely to constantly battle washed-out images, annoying reflections, and a viewing experience that’s more frustrating than fun. You definitely don’t want to be squinting your way through a blockbuster or miss the action during game day because the sun decided to steal the spotlight.
Constant sunlight also cooks your display, and over time, can physically damage your TV’s panel, causing discoloration, warping, or even screen burn-in. OLEDs, in particular, do not tolerate this kind of abuse well. A better approach is to position your TV perpendicular to windows or glass doors, or invest in blackout curtains or UV-blocking film.
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The Kitchen
Kitchens, being the culinary playgrounds that they are, are also packed with airborne oil particles and moisture, which don’t just vanish but creep their way into your TV’s vents and gunk up the internals over time. This buildup not only shortens its lifespan but can also cause overheating or image distortion. Plus, accidental splashes or spills on the TV are a lot more likely here than in a living room or bedroom setup.
Then there’s the issue of viewing comfort. Kitchens aren’t exactly designed for lounging, so unless you’ve got a well-placed island or bar area, chances are the screen will be awkward to watch. Mounting it high above cabinets or near the ceiling might seem like a solution, but that only adds neck strain and poor viewing angles to the list of problems. If you really want entertainment while cooking, consider a tablet you can move around with instead. It’s easier to keep clean, better for your posture, and won’t fry itself by just existing next to your oven.
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The Bathroom
A TV in the bathroom might sound like a bougie flex or a quirky conversation starter, but all that constant humidity from showers and baths can seep into the TV’s internal components, leading to corrosion, short circuits, or even complete failure over time.
So, unless you’re using a waterproof, bathroom-rated display, which most smart TVs are not, it’s best to skip this location. Perhaps stick to a good book or magazine for your porcelain throne entertainment.
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In a Children’s Playroom
Kids and expensive electronics are not exactly a match made in heaven, especially when their playroom turns into a war zone of flying toys and off-the-charts energy. Your smart TV becomes an accidental target for thrown balls, building blocks, and art supplies. Even wall-mounted TVs aren’t safe from enthusiastic jumping, climbing, or the occasional toy rocket launch. And since children naturally gravitate toward screens, you can expect a parade of sticky fingers, crayon marks, and juice spills.
If screen time is a must in the play area, consider a ruggedized tablet with a protective case or wall-mount your smart TV securely, well out of tiny hands’ reach and shooting range, and use a TV Screen Protector—which you can easily score on Amazon. Better yet, you can place the TV in a secure, lockable cabinet with adequate ventilation.
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In a Workshop
At first thought, setting up a smart TV in your workshop might seem like a fun or even indulgent upgrade that will keep the atmosphere lively while you’re elbow-deep in a project. But the reality is less romantic. Workshops tend to be unforgiving environments, thick with dust, sawdust, stray metal shavings, and fluctuating temperatures. All of that grit eventually finds its way into your TV’s vents and ports, slowly compromising its delicate internals.
There’s also a higher risk of accidental physical damage from careless tool handling or materials flying around. All it takes is one careless bump to crack the screen or snap its power cable.
However, if you can’t do without having background entertainment while you work, you’re better off with a sturdy Bluetooth speaker paired with your phone. Or pick up a cheap, no-frills TV you wouldn’t lose sleep over if it bit the dust.
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On a Wobbly or Flimsy Stand
I’ve talked a lot about the places you shouldn’t put your TV, but what it sits or hangs on is just as important, maybe even more so. A wobbly entertainment center, a makeshift table, or that aging TV stand you’ve been meaning to replace can send your expensive smart TV tumbling to the floor from even the slightest bump from a pet, child, or your own elbow.
Your TV deserves a rock-solid foundation that can handle its weight without flexing or swaying. Test your current stand by gently pushing on it from different angles; if it yields to even the slightest pressure, it’s not suitable for your screen. Invest in a quality stand rated for at least 1.5 times your TV’s weight, or better yet, mount it securely to the wall according to VESA mounting standards.
