| p>These days, if you're buying a new TV, it almost | | | | Choosing Your Style |
| always means you're buying a flat screen TV, and | | | | The change in size of these TVs has obviously |
| that means you need to go shopping for flat screen | | | | affected some changes in style. Find out what's |
| TV stands. But you can't buy just any old TV stand. | | | | changed, and what hasn't, when it comes to the look |
| You paid a lot of money for that new television, | | | | of TV stands. |
| especially if it's a big screen television, so you need to | | | | Some Things Stay the Same |
| make sure you buy a TV stand that will keep it safe. | | | | The basic styles of TV stands haven't changed. If you |
| Here you can learn how to find TV stands that will | | | | want a modern stand to match your modern |
| work well with and look good with your new flat | | | | décor, you can find one for your flat panel |
| screen television. | | | | television. And if you want your brand new television |
| Choosing Flat Screen TV Stands Based on Size | | | | to fit in with the traditional furniture that you already |
| With the conventional cathode ray tube televisions, | | | | own, there are plenty of television stands made in a |
| size was all that mattered. The size of the TV stand | | | | very traditional style. You'll also find all of the same |
| that you needed was based mostly on the size of the | | | | materials you'd normally find in furniture: wood, metal, |
| television that you purchased. Not only was the size of | | | | glass, veneer, and more. |
| the screen important, but the depth of the TV also | | | | Some Things Change |
| played a role in the type of stand that could support it. | | | | Some things have, of course, changed when it comes |
| With today's flat panel TVs, the size of the screen is | | | | to stands that will work with your flat panel TV. Size |
| often larger than a conventional television, but the | | | | and aspect ratio have obviously affected some styles |
| depth of the screen is far less. This means a TV | | | | of stands. Many stands for flat screens are made to |
| stand doesn't have to be quite as large to be able to | | | | be longer, narrower, and sometimes lower to the |
| hold a television. However, there is one other important | | | | ground. Another style that has popped up due to the |
| factor that needs to be considered. | | | | nature of a flat screen is the flat entertainment center. |
| Aspect Ratio | | | | These types of entertainment centers provide a flat, |
| When it comes to flat panel TVs, it's about more than | | | | wall-like surface on which to mount the television, and |
| just size. The aspect ratio of a flat screen TV is much | | | | space at the bottom or on the sides for storage. |
| different from that of the conventional TV. | | | | Wall Mounts |
| Conventional televisions had a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is | | | | Last but not least, many people are choosing not to |
| almost, but not quite, square. Flat panel TVs, on the | | | | buy any sort of TV stand at all. Where do they put |
| other hand, have a 16:9 aspect ratio, making them | | | | their TV? They mount it directly on the wall, running the |
| much more rectangular. This aspect ratio | | | | wiring through the wall. If they need storage for other |
| accommodates for both the HDTV format and film | | | | media equipment, they choose a small piece of |
| formats and provides for a richer viewing experience. | | | | furniture that can accommodate their needs. |
| So what does this mean for TV stands? A TV stand | | | | The most important thing to remember when shopping |
| now needs to be wider to protect the length of the | | | | for a TV stand for your flat panel television is the |
| television screen. If you put a flat screen TV on an old | | | | safety of your television. Get a stand or mount that will |
| TV stand, the ends would hang over the edge and | | | | support your television and that will blend in with your |
| someone could easily bump into it and knock it over. | | | | overall style. |