A dorm room is a special place for all college students – it is a place where you sleep, relax, study, socialize, and more. Dorm rooms are smaller in size so they have to have everything you need to be laid out in a very practical manner.
Dorm rooms are a reflection of the student – they are little sanctuaries where students go to recharge their batteries. One of the ways to do so is by watching movies, playing video games, watching music videos, and so on.
I still vividly remember my first dorm room. I had very little storage space, one cabinet, a desk, and my flat-screen TV. Even though I have never watched TV at home, in college watching TV became a ritual. I would come home from class and wrap myself up in a blanket to rewatch some of the TV show classics like Friends and How I Met Your Mother.
Watching my TV shows and relaxing in the comfort of my dorm bed after a long and stressful day became a therapeutic practice for me. Here are some tips on where to put a TV in a dorm room and how to create your own space for endless entertainment.
Determining Where to put a TV in a Dorm Room
Depending on the size of the TV, the size of your college dorm room, dorm rules, furniture, lighting, and roommates, placing a TV can get a little tricky. You should consider all factors. Each college dorm is different and you will have to give it a thought.
Dorm Rules
Consider the house rules. Many dorms have their own rules – whether it is about mounting a TV, drilling holes in a wall, streaming channels, noise, or use of electronic devices, make sure you follow the rules. You have to take into consideration house rules as well as the other students. TV has to be used and positioned in a way that doesn’t disturb others.
Sharing is Caring
Most college students are on a tight budget. If you are getting a TV with a roommate or roommates, make sure you position the TV in a way that is suitable for all of you. It would be best to position the TV in such a way that all of you can see the flat screen from the coziness of your own beds or a chair.
Natural Light
Most TV screens and natural light don’t go well together. You want to place a TV on a spot that doesn’t have direct sunlight. Sunlight creates glare and makes it less pleasurable to watch.
Places in the shadow or dark corners are the best positions for a TV screen. If you can’t avoid direct sunlight, make sure your shades are working or you get some heavier drapes for movie nights.
Read the Room
You have to take into consideration the traffic and the energy of the room. You want the TV to be in a quiet spot so you can enjoy your favorite entertainment without people walking around and disturbing you.
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to watch a movie while people are walking past the screen. Keep your electronic device out of the high-traffic area.
Don’t Stretch Your Neck
You want your TV to be positioned in a way that the spot is facing you directly when you are seated comfortably in your resting space, whether it’s a couch, chair, or bed. The worst position for your TV is the one where you have to tilt your head to see the screen or look to the side.
Eye Level
The TV should be placed at the appropriate height as well. You shouldn’t look up or down to see the screen as this can cause neck and back problems, but rather straight ahead. Lay down comfortably in your spot and decide how high/low you want your TV to be, according to your eye level.
To Mount or Not to Mount
There are pros and cons to both options. Placing a TV on a shelf or table can be a good option in case there are strict dorm rules that wouldn’t let you drill holes in the wall. It is also great if you are not staying in the dorm room for a longer period so you don’t want to make an investment.
If you want to save more space, mounting can be a great idea. It’s a great option for small room layouts and a great way to clear up floor space. This is also a great option if you want your TV higher in the room, as background noise.
Best of Both Worlds
If it is in your price range, a TV floor stand or universal TV stand can be the best idea for the small dorm room. The floor stand can be moved around if roommates want to watch TV from different positions, it requires no drilling so no dorm rules would be in question, and it requires very little space. Also, a universal TV stand doesn’t have to be an expensive item.
Size Does Matter
Yes, size does matter. However, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. The optimal way would be to get the biggest possible TV for your dorm room. What does that mean?
For example, a 40 to 55-inch TV can be ideal for a dorm room with the dimensions 10 x 10, 10 x 11, 11 x 12, or 12 x 12. On the other hand, 16 x 16 rooms can be better for a 70 to 85-inch TV.
The ideal size of the TV screen is calculated based on how far away you sit from your TV. The bigger the distance between the TV and the viewer, the bigger the screen should be. If your dorm room is smaller, you should stay away from the grandiose 70-inch TV.
TV and Feng Shui
Feng Shui is an ancient traditional Chinese practice that uses the natural energies of a room, sides of the world, doors, windows, and objects to create the most pleasurable and harmonious space for individuals. Feng Shuai has become increasingly popular in western interior design that incorporates this ancient practice with modern-day problems.
One of the possible positions for the TV would be on the north side of the room, according to the feng shui.
However, according to the Bagua map, the north side enhances students’ career and professional goals, and the strong yang energy of the TV can add to the energy of professional success if placed on the north side of your dorm room.
Other Practices
Feng shui is just one of the ancient practices that deal with energy flow in the living space. Another ancient practice is Vedic architecture which comes from ancient India. Maharishi Vastu Architecture (MVA) is a set of interior planning principles by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that is based on ancient Vedic texts. Find what works best for you and your preferences.
Conclusion
Asking yourself where to put a TV in a dorm room comes in one of the most exciting times in someone’s life when moving away to college.
When deciding where to place the TV, you should consider the traffic in the room and go for a quiet and peaceful spot. Your TV should be positioned in a way that doesn’t place it in direct sunlight as that makes it unpleasant to watch.
It is also important to place a TV in a spot that goes well with the position of your body when you rest and your eye level. You should also take into account the size of the TV screen, depending on how far away the TV is from the position of the viewer.
With all this in mind, I am sure that you will make the most out of the movie night.
