YOUR HOME, YOUR TV, SPACE OR SIZE?
by Kelai Wanjiru
Yes, we are asking the question – should the size of your flat screen television set be the determining factor when buying a set or setting up your living room? Well, todays home is more futuristic and modern, and in a Kenyan home, the TV set is usually the centre piece of the room.
Kelai
You’ve been invited for dinner or lunch at a friends’ home. As you walk into the moderately sized living room, you can’t help but notice that the TV set is either out of place in that it disappears in the myriad of furniture and wall units, or stands out as an eyesore in that it is so large it overwhelms the space.
Well, it is time to know the right size of set for the size of your living or TV room with the guidance from our electronic stores at Thika Road Mall, a leading retail and shopping mall in Kenya.
- DIMENSIONS OF YOUR LIVING ROOM
If you are starting your TV buying search without the basic tape measure, then you are starting all wrong. The most ignored fact is probably the most important factor to consider when buying a TV set. Measure the length and width of your space and visit the showroom with this. This will help determine the right size of set. You do not want to settle for a 32” TV set that will look like a small computer that’s been misplaced in the living room.
- LCD VS. LED VS. PLASMA VS. OLED
What? These are too technical terms you may say? I know I have said these and added the question, what does it matter, a TV is a TV, right? Wrong.
Plasma:
Most of the TV screens that have dropped in price in the market lately are plasma because they are soon becoming dated. So if your TV is a long term purchase like for most of us, ditch this idea.
LCD:
One of the most affordable sets in the market. It is a flat screen TV but doesn’t have the clarity of an LED TV.
Edge-lit LED:
More or less the same as LCD, the only added benefit is that it is thinner and consumes less energy.
Full-array LED:
Costlier than the edge-lit LED, this has perfect picture quality. This is the most ideal purchase to make today.
OLED:
Have you walked into the electronic shops and supermarkets and seen larger than life TV sets, some with curved screens and others like projector screens? Then this is OLED. They are ridiculously expensive and only ideal for people with a lot of money to spend and really large rooms. Probably best for people living in mansions and villas. However, you may stumble upon this set in a single room house belonging to a bachelor who has just secured his first job J
- TV CONNECTION
Don’t be taken in by all the beauty and elegance at the front of the set you want to buy. Is your TV compatible with all other electronics? Does it have enough ports to cater to compatibility? Don’t settle for anything less than two HDMI ports; three is ideal; four should make you turn your home into a cinema theatre.
Another thing to consider is Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity. This is a must-have in a TV now and something you shouldn’t compromise on. The world is online now, and you do not want to miss out on strong features like this in your new TV set.
- MOUNT ON THE WALL OR PLACE ON A UNIT
This is also one of the most important elements to consider when investing in TV set. All sets sold today are flat screen, meaning that you now have choice on how to place the set in your living room. If you plan to mount your new set, you need to know how much surface area you’ve got available for the stand, and be sure the material can support the weight of the TV you plan to buy. In other words, only mount on a wall made of stone.
- WHERE TO PLACE THE SET, LOCATION
This serves to identify the size of television you will invest in. If you are buying for your living room, bigger and bolder is the way to go as the TV set set also serves as a design statement. If the set is just for your bedroom or kitchen, then you can settle for a smaller television, but strictly do not go below 32”.