Should You Have a TV in Bedroom

The debate is still on about whether TV’s are good for you or not. The latest to add to that TV debate is whether or not you should have a TV in your bedroom. Given the immense benefits of keeping your TV in the living room and out of the bedroom makes it an easy choice for many to make. However, there are a few others who feel that TV in their bedroom is the place for the TV to be. This article will list out the pros and cons of having a TV in your bedroom making it easier for you to give a verdict.

Top Reasons to Not Have a TV in Your Bedroom

There are a lot of reasons to not have your TV in the bedroom. The majority support this statement. Some reasons and benefits of this are listed below:

Relationship Advantages

Not having a TV in the bedroom has proven to be especially useful for couples. There is nothing more annoying than entering your bedroom just to see your significant other glued to the TV screen with popcorn strewn all over the bedsheet! Some ways in which your relationship will benefit from throwing that TV out of your bedroom is:

• Sex Life: Having a bedroom free from TV improves your sex life. Studies show that couples who have a TV in the bedroom have 6% less sex than couples who don’t.
• Communication: This one is logical. TV is the biggest source of distraction. They are huge attention seekers. When you are watching TV you don’t indulge in any conversation. Even your responses are short and clipped.
• Fights and arguments: Having a TV in the bedroom leaves you open to more fights and arguments with your partner. Generally, two people cannot decide upon a common channel or serial to watch. While you might be interested in Game of thrones, your partner might want to binge on Master Chef. Either way, you have the perfect ground for bickering and arguments.

Physical Health Advantage

TV watching, in general, has adverse effects on your physical health. But TV watching in the bedroom, in particular, can have even more adverse effects. Some of the aspects of your health that gets affected by having a TV in your bedroom are:

• Sleep: TV is known to affect your sleep negatively. The adverse effects of TV watching on your sleep are well documented. But research has gone a step further and to conclude that bedroom TV watching has more profound effects on your quality sleep especially in children. Some reasons for this are:
  • Stimulant: TV acts as a stimulant for the brain just like caffeine. Watching TV in the bedroom makes your mind associate the bedroom with colors, sounds, and action. This works unfavorably towards having quality sleep and rest.
  • Blue Light: TV is known to emit blue light. This blue light causes the body to stop releasing the hormone “melatonin”. It is melatonin that helps your body decrease alertness and unwinds enough to sleep. It is therefore recommended not to watch TV for at least an hour before sleeping. This becomes very difficult to follow when your TV is in the bedroom.
• Headache and Eye Strain: When you have a TV in the bedroom you tend to switch off the lights and continue watching TV lying on the bed. This creates an enormous strain on the eyes leading to poor eyesight and tension headaches and even migraines.
• Weight Gain: Having a TV in the bedroom is an open invitation to being lazy. You just want to snuggle into the bed and continue watching TV. The trick is not to become too comfortable while watching TV. TV watching causes you to snack and skip exercising both factors lead to weight gain and obesity. Studies have also linked exposure to blue light while sleeping with obesity in women.

Mental Health Advantage

Apart from physical health, not having a TV in the bedroom also has certain mental health advantages. These are:

• Depression: Studies have linked binge-watching with increased chances of loneliness and depression. This is because when you binge-watch you effectively cut yourself off from human contact and other efficient forms of recreational activities. When the TV is in your living area or elsewhere from the bedroom, you are less likely to go on a binge-watching session and hence remain happier overall.
• Negative thoughts: Not having a TV in the bedroom keeps those negative thoughts and anxiety at bay. What you watch has a profound effect on how you think. If you have a TV in the bedroom you are more likely to switch on the news right after waking up while still in bed. Your waking moments are the time your brain is most susceptible to outside persuasion. The negativity prevalent in news can cause you to spend a day of anxiety and distress.

Reasons to Have a TV in the Bedroom

After going through all the reasons to banish TV from your bedroom here are some reasons to keep the TV in your bedroom:

• Relax: TV can help you relax. Watching some soothing music videos or clips on nature can help you to unwind and distress. Sometimes you just want to crash on the bed, too tired to move out to the hall for TV watching. In times like this having TV in the bedroom is a help.
• Space: For a lot of people especially students and young working-class populations staying in hostels, space is a restriction. There is simply no space to keep the TV elsewhere from the bedroom.
• Privacy: If you live in a joint family or have kids around, you might want to keep the TV in the privacy of your bedroom to be able to comfortably watch certain content deemed inappropriate for children.
• Mobility Issue: Certain medical conditions can cause you to become bedridden or make it difficult for you to move around much like paralysis, accident, or a fractured leg. In conditions like these, it is helpful and practical to have the TV in your bedroom.
• Time constraint: Sometimes the only time you get to watch TV is when you retire for bed or when you awaken. In such circumstances having a TV in the bedroom helps.

FAQ Corner

Does TV cause health problems?

TV is known to adversely affect your mental and physical health. It can cause a host of problems ranging from eyesight issues, sleeping disorders to diabetes and heart diseases.

What TV size is ideal for the bedroom and the living room?

The TV size you should opt for is relative to your bedroom size. However on average and going be average bedroom and living room dimensions, a 43 inch TV is recommended for the bedroom and a minimum of 55 inches is recommended for the living room.

Where should you place the TV?

Be it the bedroom or the living room or any other room, you should always place the TV with comfort on your mind. The angle of the TV should be comfortable for you to watch. Never place the TV in a corner or low on a stand. Make sure it is on eye-level and stands in front of your preferred sitting furniture.

How high should you place your TV?

Interior designers recommend placing your TV at least 42 inches above the floor. This maximizes your viewing pleasure without straining your neck and shoulders. However, the placing height depends on the seating height as well. If you are seating on the floor or on a low sofa then you should place your TV at a relative height as well.

Final Verdict

Bedrooms should be exclusively for sleeping and relaxing. You need to train your mind on this. Having a TV in the bedroom makes your mind link the bedroom with stimulant activities that can be very disruptive to sleep and relaxation. However, at the end of the day, there is no final verdict. Having a TV in the bedroom has its pros and cons. You have to make the call based on your priorities and circumstance. However, for the majority especially with regards to children and couples, it is better to ditch that TV out of your bedroom.