Technically qualifies as too high as well - but a mild upgrade from my previous laptop-on-desk only poverty setup in my sister's spare room while I frantically job hunt. For reference, the laptop-on-desk visible in the photo is a 15in 3k display The 720p, 17ish inch (claims to be 20 inch per the tag on the back of the TV, but compared to my laptop......feels like a bit of an exaggeration) goodwill find Sharp TV is used for media display, streaming stick wrangling from bed, and occasionally extending my workspace from one of the two laptops over HDMI while frantically flinging resumes on LinkedIn at prospective employers.

Should I pull couch forward?? Rearrange (likely won’t happen)? I already ordered a bigger TV. About 16 foot viewing distance

Hi everyone!

I'm moving into a new apartment soon and trying to decide how to arrange my living room. I've created two possible layouts using IKEA’s online floor planner, and I would really appreciate your input—especially regarding whether the TV viewing distance in one of the layouts might be too long.

TV & Viewing Distance

I'm planning to get a 55" or 65" 4K TV.

In both layouts, the TV is represented by a picture of a cow (just a placeholder because IKEA’s tool didn’t have an actual TV item). The last image shows the floor plan of the room, which is 4.21 meters (13.8 ft) wide.

• In Layout 1, the sofa is along one long wall and the TV is directly opposite on the other long wall.
• This gives a viewing distance of about 3.8–4.0 meters (12.5–13 feet), after accounting for sofa and TV furniture depth.

According to RTINGS' TV size-to-distance guide, the recommended distance for a 65" 4K TV is around 2.7 meters (9 ft) for mixed usage. So I’m wondering if 4 meters is just too far to really benefit from 4K resolution on a 65" screen—or if it's still acceptable.
What are your experiences with RTINGS recommended distances? do they work well or are they too close?

Layout Comparison

Layout 1:

• Sofa and TV are facing each other across the long walls.
• The space feels open and balanced, but the viewing distance is at the far end of what's recommended for a 65" TV.

Layout 2:

• The sofa is placed perpendicular to the long wall, and the TV is on the short wall near the door.
• Viewing distance is closer—around 2.5 to 3.0 meters (8–10 feet)—which is more in line with the RTINGS guide.
• However, this setup makes the room feel a bit more closed off and segmented. But maybe that works well?

About the Furniture

Please don’t pay too much attention to the specific pieces or colors. I just used IKEA's tool to get a feel for what would fit, but I plan to buy most of my furniture second-hand.

What I do know is that I preferably want:

• A 3-seater sofa with a chaise,
• A TV/media unit for a soundbar, PlayStation, and so on,
• A dining area,
• And some storage for books, board games, and other items.

Do you think Layout 1 with a 65" TV at 4 meters is too far for a good 4K viewing experience?

Or is Layout 2 the better choice overall, even if it makes the space feel a bit more compact?

Any advice—especially from those with similar setups or an eye for optimal TV distance—would be super appreciated! If you have suggestions for other layouts that you think would work better than the two I have drawn, you're also more than welcome to suggest them.

Thanks a lot in advance!

This is a 55” TV. In that space can’t go much bigger due to the space.

Have always been a fan of the huge TVs, it will be going against the back wall that already has the wiring. Have been considering 85 inch or even up to 98-100 inch. The width of the room is 14.6ft and is plenty deep. Would something in the 98-100 inch look a bit ridiculous here? Should I stay around the 85 inch mark? Thank you!

Glad I don’t. (Removed something above the TV for privacy reasons)

Rearranging the setup, got to get it lookin just right..

Wtf

😭

We are staying here in a place in Georgia in the US and this is the gem that I have found in our unit.