Choosing the right flat screen TV can be a daunting task with an infinite amount of variables to account for as you try to get the most bang for your buck. There are many things to consider when making a decision that could cost you anywhere from $300 to $7,000. Whether you want one for use in your personal bedroom or to be the focal point of your annual Super Bowl party; we have identified the most general and universal guidelines to help direct your search and lead to a well informed decision that will lead to hours of satisfied entertainment.

Desired Picture Quality: Determining how far away you will be sitting will help you in choosing the right flat screen TV size, knowing how detailed and clear you want your picture to be will help you decide on the picture quality you need. Most TV experts will tell you that the higher quality your TV, the closer you should sit to it. This is because to be truly engaged in the TV viewing experience, you need to be able to notice and appreciate all the details that a crystal clear flat screen TV with High Definition picture provides. The further away you sit from that picture, the more likely you are to miss the nuanced details that HD allows the viewer to see. However, if you don’t have an HD cable box or satellite subscription, sitting closer to your screen will allow you to see the “structure” in your television. The “structure” (the rows and columns of pixels that make up your picture) can be extremely distracting and ruins the viewing experience for most people. If you do not have HD, chances are that you are still watching your screen with the traditional square aspect ratio of 4:3. The latest HD programming technology is streamed in the much wider aspect ratio of 16:9, and today’s HD flat screen TVs are made to accommodate this wide screen format which is what all movie theaters now use.

TV’s Location: Choosing the right screen size also depends of its’ location. Flat screen TVs come in all shapes and sizes, so identifying where it will be viewed from is a major factor. If you are looking for a TV for your living room or main sitting room, it makes sense to want a flat screen TV size that is larger than one you may want for your bedroom or kitchen. Identifying the room décor and what you want the room’s main purpose to be are also important factors to consider. If your making a room into a home theater, and you plan on watching movies, TV shows or sporting events; then making the TV a focal point of the room is a sensible plan. However, if you’re looking for a flat screen TV because you want something that can easily be mounted on the wall and not be the center attraction of your room, then a smaller flat screen TV may be the right choice for you.

Distance Between the Viewer and the Screen: Perhaps the most important factor to consider when choosing the right flat screen TV size is to know how far you will be sitting from it. Typically, it is very difficult to get a screen that is too big. In fact, the most common complaint among individuals who recently purchased a new TV is that they should have bought a bigger one. However, there are certain situations where one can be found to be too big. For example; if you live in a 500 square foot studio apartment, chances are you don’t need a 70” flat screen. There are some general rules of thumb when trying to choose the perfect size for your room. The most commonly accepted standard is that you should sit no closer than 1.5 times the screen size and no farther than 2 times the screen size from your TV. For example, if you have a 40” TV you should sit no closer than 60” and not further than 80” from your TV screen. One of the best ways to decide exactly what size will be right for you is to create a cardboard cut-out of the TV size you think you want and put it where your new television set is planning on going. This will give you a very good idea of what it will look like when it’s in its place.

What will you be watching?: Identifying what you will be using your TV to watch is also another way of determining the best size for your home. If you are a big sports fan and frequently host viewing parties with lots of people, then getting a big flat screen TV is probably a wise investment. On the other hand, if you spend most of your viewing time watching movies and shows either by yourself or with just a few friends and family members, a smaller TV will work just fine. Having to put all these things into consideration can be overwhelming and lead some people to make rash decisions just to get the process over with. Hopefully the points I have mentioned will help make your decision easier and help you avoid rushing into an unwanted purchase. Ultimately, keep in mind that you are the one making the purchase. You will be the one spending hundreds of hours watching your new TV. Take your time, have fun with the process and I am sure you will make the right decision.