Simply put, a TV wall mount is a piece of hardware used for mounting flat screen LCD or plasma TVs on a wall. That's where the simplicity stops, though. There are literally dozens of designs on the market. These are some of the most common types of TV wall mounts:

• A fixed wall mount is the simplest type of TV wall mount. It is made up of a wall mounting panel and a screen mounting panel. Fixed wall mounts usually mount the TV screen perpendicular to the wall.
  
  
• A tilting wall mount tilts the screen slightly downwards, for better television viewing. On some of the cheaper models, the tilt is fixed, while on others, you can manually adjust the tilt up to 15 degrees.
  
  
• An arm mount (sometimes called a swinging mount) allows the user to swing the screen out from the wall and to the left or right.
  
• An articulating arm mount allows the user to both swing the screen from side to side and up and down.
  
  
• A ball mount TV wall mount, like an articulating arm mount, allows multi-directional positioning and even offers the ability to rotate the screen 360 degrees on its central axis.
  
  
• The "Rolls Royce" of TV Wall Mounts is a motorised wall mount that allows you to adjust the viewing angle at the touch of a button from your armchair.

Most types of TV wall mounts come in several sizes to suit different screen sizes and weights. As a general rule, the simpler the wall mount, the easier it is to install. Even the largest mounts, designed to hold giant screen plasma or LCD TVs that can weigh up to 300 kilograms are relatively easy to install and can be installed on any type of wall, from plasterboard to brick.

What Type of TV Wall Mount Should I Choose?

For small screen TVs, you might prefer an arm mount. This enables you to swing the TV away from the wall and from side to side and up and down for easy viewing. For example, if you want to watch a TV in your kitchen, you can change the viewing angle, depending on where you're working in the kitchen.

• If you have a large screen LCD or plasma TV and will be viewing it from your living room lounge, a tilting wall mount is probably your best choice. Larger screen TVs are best placed higher on the wall. By tilting the screen, you get the best viewing angle.
  
  
• Ball mount TV wall mounts are usually used in commercial settings, for presentation purposes.
  
  
• If you have a large viewing room, multiple seating positions and want the ultimate TV wall mount, then you probably won't settle for anything less than a motorised TV wall mount.

While a home handy person can easily install most types of TV wall mounts, wiring them is another matter. Your flat screen TV will have to be plugged in and connected to your transmitting device or devices. There are cable coverings available, but for best results, you will want your cables concealed in the wall cavity. You will find that most TV wall mounts are very inexpensive, but factor the cost of wiring into your budget if you feel you cannot do it yourself.