The new class of TV's are thinner and lighter than the original flat panels that where introduced a few years ago, and this make mounting them easier for the do-it-yourself homeowner. The steps involved are still the same, in this article we will try to walk you through these steps.

The first step is to decide where you are going to mount your TV. Obviously, your TV needs to be easily and comfortably viewable from your viewing point. But, there are two things you need to take into consideration, height and screen glare. The height should afford you a comfortable viewing point without being to high that it causes neck strain. The best way to determine hight is to get in a comfortable viewing position and eye where you plan to mount the TV and this is usually where you want to mount the TV. Screen glare is usually determined by the amount of light flowing into the room,

so try to avoid mount in a location that receives direct sunlight.

The next step is deciding how you are going to run your cables, there are a number of ways to conceal your power and A/V cables; from quick and simple cover-ups to more labor-intensive in-wall options. It's a good idea to figure out how you'd like to manage your wires before deciding where to mount your TV, since some spots may be more conducive to your preferred method than others. Just remember that the location has to be accessible to a power source and A/V outlet, its a good idea to measure your cables and the distance to the outlets to make sure they will reach.

OK, now its time to mount the TV part of the mount, wall mounts are generally composed of two pieces one that you'll attach to the TV, and another that you'll mount to the wall. The portion on the TV then attaches to the piece on the wall, thats it, you've got a wall-mounted TV. Your first step will be to attach the TV portion of the mount to the back of your TV, some models have the holes covered with plastic, just use a screwdriver to pry those off. Remember try not to lay the TV down during this process. Now align the holes in the mount to the hole in the back of your TV and screw them in, the screws for these holes are usually included in the mounting kit.

The next step is install the wall portion, so that you can mount your TV to the wall, you will need to drill the bracket into wooden studs. After you've chosen your ideal TV mount location, use a high-quality stud finder to locate nearby studs. Verify that the mounting holes in the bracket line up with the center of the studs, this is done by finding the center of the stud by using a nail to find the ends of the stud and measuring in between the holes. Always use a level to verify that the bracket is level before securing it to the wall. Have your helper keep it stable while you screw it into the wall to make sure it stays level. Make sure you follow the mounting directions in the owner's manual.

The last step is to run the cables before you hang the TV, to there desired location lift the TV and connect the cables to it, and finally connect the wall mount to the TV portion of the mount. In this step it is strongly advised that you have a helper to assist you to lift and mount the TV. Most mounts available today are just gravity held, so there is no need to screw anything in once you have the TV on the mount, unless your mount also offers security features, and this usually only requires tightening the security screws.

Now, you have successfully mounted your first flat panel television. Because the majority of TV's sold today are flat panel, the mounts manufactured are designed for the do-it-yourself homeowner. But, if you need advice along the way, a great site is Installs Plus Tips at http://installspus.net. This site provides tips and advice for TV mounting and projection system installation.