When designing your home theater, you will undoubtedly be presented with an overwhelming amount of options. From theater seating to lighting, speakers to décor, designing a home theater is as much a chore as it is an adventure. Above all else, choosing the right TV will be the most important decision that you make. You’ve done the researched, you’ve made your choice, and you’ve bought the perfect TV for your home. Now how are you going to present it?

There are essentially two different ways to display your TV in your home: Mounted on the wall or placed on a stand. While both solutions are popular choices, they are not without their strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your situation, you may be better suited for one option over the other.

TV wall mounts are an extremely popular choice for home theater enthusiasts. Wall mounting a TV adds a modern flare to your home theater and helps save precious space in your room. Wall mounting a TV will also give your home more of the genuine theater experience, as having a TV on your wall is more reminiscent of a movie projection screen.

While mounting your TV seems like a great idea, it may not be possible depending on the design of your home. TV wall mounts require installation into a wood or metal wall stud or in most cases multiple studs. The best way to determine the location of your wall studs is to buy a stud finder. These tools are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most hardware stores. A common issue is that wall studs in older homes are placed further apart than they are in a more contemporary home, which can make the mounting process difficult and may require you purchase additional hardware.

If you are concerned that your wall may not support a TV wall mount, than you should consider placing your TV atop a TV stand. TV stands come in a wide range of sizes, colors, and materials to help fit any home décor. Most TV stands come equipped with component shelves for your DVD and media players, which is a feature that most TV wall mounts lack. The only issue with TV stands is the floor space that they require. If space is a factor in your home, a TV stand may take up a good chuck of room, leaving you with less space for other furniture. Luckily, since stands come in so many sizes and styles, you should easily be able to find one to suit your specific needs.

Whichever option you choose, be sure to find a product that is of the highest quality. Spending all the money in the world on home theater seating, lighting, and speakers won’t mean a thing if your TV is presented on a cheap or poorly designed stand. Your TV will forever be the focal point of your home theater, so be sure that your stand or mount is of the same or higher quality.