Some people are happy to plonk a TV on a stand or mount it to a wall and make that set-up work. But if you’re meticulous about the flow of your living space or want to take your viewing experience to the next level, TV lifting mechanisms are one of the best tools available for achieving these goals.
At AV Installs, we’ve been helping our customers make the right decisions about TVs and accompanying products for almost two decades, so we’ve learned a thing or two about what works (and what doesn’t). In this article, we’ll break down the five main types of TV lifting mechanisms, including how they work and which spaces they’re best suited to.
Pop-up TV lifts hide flat screen televisions inside furniture, allowing them to remain out of sight and out of mind when they’re not in use. As soon as someone wants to view the screen, a simple mechanism raises the TV out of the furniture — and when they’re finished with it, the mechanism will lower it down again. Most people choose custom-made or adapted furniture to ensure the right fit, and cabinets and sideboards are common choices.
This discrete solution stops TVs from interfering with a room’s design, making them the perfect solution for those who want to create a sophisticated look in their home.
At AV Installs, we have a range of options covering various TV types (including 3DTVs, flat screen TVs, and plasma TVs), plus screens of up to 120 inches and weights of up to 100kg. Venset and Future Automation are among the top brands we stock.
Like pop-up screens, ceiling screen lifts offer a way to hide TV screens outside of sight so they don’t disrupt the rest of the room’s flow. But this time, they hide the TV in the ceiling — this makes them an ideal choice for smaller spaces where there’s limited space for furniture. Since the lifts are controlled by a remote control, they’re an extremely convenient solution. There’s no need to worry about hazards involved in lowering a TV set from the ceiling manually — just sit back and press a button.
On AV Installs, we sell two different types of ceiling lifts, ensuring there’s something for every space.
Inverted ceiling lifts are for rooms with space for a custom-made cavity inside the ceiling to fit the TV outside, allowing it to be completely hidden when it isn’t in use. When there are no height restrictions on the cavity, the lift can be vertical and lower the TV in an upright position.
For rooms with insufficient space for this, a flip-down mechanism uses a hinge mechanism to move the TV from a horizontal position in the ceiling to viewing level.
AV Installs sells a range of heavy-duty lifts using both types of mechanisms, all from highly reputable manufacturers like Venset and Future Automation. They’re suitable for screen sizes up to 100 inches.
While pop-up and ceiling screen lifts are great options for living rooms, there’s a simpler solution for TVs in bedrooms — storing the screen underneath the bed, with a mechanism to bring it out whenever you want. This means you’ll essentially be sleeping beneath it every night, and no one will be any the wiser! It makes perfect sense for anyone who is currently under-utilizing their underbed storage space.
Underbed TV lifts can easily lift screens with no risk of damage, taking them from a horizontal position under the bed, then hinges into a viewing position. The lifting process can be controlled while you’re sitting or lying in bed using a remote control, or even voice control.
Some products even come with a “flap mechanism” that can be placed at the end of the bed (known as an UBL-EBF). This hides the bed’s base to disguise the television, and automatically moves out of the way when you want to use the TV.
Need something more specific? Specialised TV lifts might be just the thing. These contraptions provide a custom-made solution for lifting, hinging, and flipping a screen. Whether you want your TV to pop out of the floor, the wall, a piece of furniture, or anything else your imagination can come up with.
Out-of-floor TV lifts are one of the most popular options within this category is the out-of-floor TV lift mechanism, which are possibly the most discrete option of all as they allow the screen to be totally out of the way. A custom flap is installed in the floor through which the TV mechanism lifts out of the ground. While the TV is in viewing position, a baseboard fills in the gap so there’s no unsightly hole in the floor.
The Future Automation PLF Out Of Floor TV Lift is suitable for screen sizes up to 85 inches, while the heavy duty XXL Motorised Max 90 Inch carries screens of up to 90 inches and weights up to 80kg.
An alternative option is the hinge-up TV lift mechanism, which fits inside of furniture and then hinges up through 90 degrees when needed. This makes them particularly well-suited for low-level furniture, like coffee tables or ottomans.
It’s also possible to make dual screen TV lift mechanisms, which allow you to watch the TV from both sides.
Basically, whatever your needs are, there’s a good chance something in this category will be suitable.
Hinge Up Tv Lift Mechanism:
Moving artwork TV lifts hide the TV behind a piece of artwork, allowing you to switch between the two as desired with the press of a button. They can also be used for mirrors with the same effect.
The art or mirror is installed into a wall recess, and fixed to the lift is placed to the side or below it. When you want to view the TV, the mechanism moves the artwork or mirror away, meaning the TV comes into view (while the artwork remains above, below, or to the side).
This makes them an aesthetically pleasing option. They’re also suitable for home cinemas as they can be used in auxiliary home cinema equipment, and can hide in wall safes too.
We offer a few different options on AV Installs, including:
The Split Picture Artwork Slider:
Choosing the right TV lifting mechanisms comes down to your preferences and the nature of the place you’re working with. Room for a wall recess, a ceiling recess, both, or neither? Have a specific piece of furniture suitable for the TV to lift out of? Want a TV in your bedroom, your living room, or somewhere else?
AV Installs has a wide selection in all these categories. If you have any doubts about the options we offer, we’re on hand to help you. We also offer a professional installation service, which involves our team of experts visiting you to measure the space and examine the area to ensure the best results possible.
For quick orders and assistance from our highly trained and experienced team, call AV Installs at 0800 669 6600. Before you know it, visitors will be admiring your unique TV setup!
