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Original poster

AIBU about getting a massive TV?

94 replies

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 12:51

Dh just celebrated his 50th. He got lots of money and wants to spend it on a TV. Ours is old (about 15 years) but functional (it is a flat screen!). I said it was a good idea to get a new one...but he's been looking at 65". I said it sounded big and he says we'll our current one is 40". I got the measuring tape out and 65" is massive. I also measured ours and it's 32". A huge one won't fit in the space we currently use so we'll have to move stuff around considerably as it's currently in a nook. Aside from that I feel a bit embarrassed. Our 2 closest friends with families don't even have a TV (through choice) but I just feel a massive TV which the house revolves around is not the impression I want to give of my family (it's in the main room of the house - open plan- you need to walk past it to get anywhere else in the house). Is that really snobby? At the same time, he is the one who watches TV not me and it's his birthday money.

At the moment I'm saying nothing other than I think he should stick to his birthday money budget (the TV he wanted, a Samsung 65" was almost double the budget) so he can either get a cheaper brand or a smaller TV. Should I shut up and just let him get a massive one?

OP posts:
fancyacuppatea · 27/12/2022 14:59

@July70 what brands do you rate? I was looking at panasonic (same as the current one) or LG.
Don't need 4k, but do want Freeview Play if pos.

JuneOsborne · 27/12/2022 15:00

Go for the massive TV! Life is too short not to!

Afterfire · 27/12/2022 15:00

It’s really old fashioned to be snobby about Tv size. No one cares. No one.

We have a 65 and we love it.

IncyWincyGrownUp · 27/12/2022 15:00

We had a huge tv, but it was uncomfortable to watch because the room was too small. I was relieved when it broke, and wouldn’t buy anything over 42” now.

Although it is birthday money, it will impact everybody so I’d not be happy if a 60+” tv appeared in my home.

TerfOnATrain · 27/12/2022 15:02

No problem him buying a New TV, but ours is 50inch our living room is a good size.

65 inch is ridiculous unless you have a huge room and it goes on the wall. I would say it’s more appropriate to a cinema room than a cosy living room.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:03

namechange3394 · 27/12/2022 13:41

Is it 32 inches diagonally? I'm just wondering if you're measuring wrong and that's why he thinks it's 40 but you think it's 32! TVs are measured diagonally.

Our main TV is 58 inches and it's pretty massive.

That said, why are you prioritising what people who don't live in your house think over what the people who live in the house would like?

Yes, I did measure diagonally. 65" on the straight would be hideous!

I'm asking because A. It's made me feel less alone and unreasonable to feel like I don't like the idea. B. That it does actually make a difference so maybe I shouldn't begrudge DH and C. Helpful advice eg. The measurements and other types of TV options. It's not a big area of the open plan (not a large distance from sofa) so the calculator will help.

For a PP who disbelieved me regarding TV. Well yes, I watched a few world cup matches, a film on Christmas Eve and a film last night. That's it in the past month. The previous month was probably zero. I do watch a few series with my children on their laptops (eg. Wednesday and Bridgerton with DD, and Ackley bridge with DS). They are really small screens but we sit in bed, closer to the screen I guess. We gave up on family TV as the 17yo didn't like anything we watch (he didn't watch either of the films we watched over Christmas). He watches stuff with DH which is too violent for my 14yos.

OP posts:
ShesFlirtyTurnedThirty · 27/12/2022 15:04

a massive TV which the house revolves around is not the impression I want to give of my family

Not the impression you want to give to who? 😂

We have our house set up to suit us. Not for the impression it gives off you others. One of the things we like is watching films on tv...so we have a lot of them.... Big ones!

ShesFlirtyTurnedThirty · 27/12/2022 15:05

TO others

Purplecatshopaholic · 27/12/2022 15:05

I got nagged into getting a mahoosive all singing all dancing one when I needed to replace my (normal sized, normal spec) one. I do like it for films, but really a tv is a tv. Blokes seem to like stuff like this though, so I’m not bothered.

BasiliskStare · 27/12/2022 15:06

I too like the idea of a stunt TV. What I would say , & I get the point of the TV dominating but when it's off you don't really notice it ( I think ours is 46 but set into the chimney breast. ) We have a small room & do think we would have to knock through to the neighbours & move sofas and chairs back to watch a 60 odd inch TV comfortably. ( they may object)

If you are worried about the neighbours / friends thinking you have a massive TV there are people who make a pull down frame where you can hide the TV ( have chosen this example deliberatly as a giggle - but they are available. ) )www.samsung.com/uk/lifestyle-tvs/the-frame/ls03b-65-inch-the-frame-qled-4k-smart-tv-black-qe65ls03bauxxu/?cid=uk_paid_ppc_google_4126821848_FF~Eval:PLA_Frame_KS~BAP_BS~VD_PR~CTV_SB~VDMUL_OB~SALES_FS~LHQ_AI~N_MT~EXA_CA~PLA_Modernsearch_Ad+group&gclid=CjwKCAiAzKqdBhAnEiwAePEjkp1dK45OXqysCmDZAHvlOOYglcLhhIG7m-hYNguNrFUxeo9mSZFaqRoCg6MQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Ours is in the chimney breast - painting above ( ie higher up - not over the TV ) - perhaps I have come to an age where as long as my room looks nice I don't really care what people think .

But because we downsized I am one who got rid of 4000 books , because I don't need them all out to tell people I like reading ( & we had no room ) I kept my favourite ones and some nice and precious ones , but other than that - Kindle is my friend - so perhaps not the best response ever.

LolaSmiles · 27/12/2022 15:10

I understand what you mean OP.

If a telly is too big for the room or dominates the room then it's silly in my opinion.

Mrstwiddle · 27/12/2022 15:10

I’m with you OP. Is there another room where he could have a larger TV instead?

CaptainBarbosa · 27/12/2022 15:10

I don't really watch TV, so have a 32" that permanently has Netflix on it on the kids programmes. The TV is for DS.

I tend to watch a lot on my phone in bed, don't have TV in bedrooms.

If I want to see big blockbuster films we always go the "cinema" for the experience. The local cinema is only £5 a ticket and I take my own food 🤣

But in relation to your question, I'd say he needs to stick to the birthday budget money, but whatever he gets for that money I'd be ok with.

Witsendwilly · 27/12/2022 15:12

You’ve measured it left to right rather than diagonally haven’t you? The fact that you think your current 40” is actually a 32” would suggest you have.

a 65” Tv is 65” wide, and is a fairly standard size these days.

Let him have what he wants. You will get used to it and wish you had gone bigger in a few weeks.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 27/12/2022 15:12

Minimum distances for nice viewing. How far away do you normally sit from the TV?

(Not a TV snob, I have a 75” but the wall it is on is 5m wide and we sit over 3m away so it doesn’t look that big - getting the right size for the space is important.)

AIBU about getting a massive TV?
Original poster
MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:13

I think the point about what people think was maybe clumsily put. I don't want it to define us as a family. I don't want it to dominate the house etc. With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms! So I can take my own personal comfort in that. 🤣

OP posts:
ShesFlirtyTurnedThirty · 27/12/2022 15:27

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:13

I think the point about what people think was maybe clumsily put. I don't want it to define us as a family. I don't want it to dominate the house etc. With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms! So I can take my own personal comfort in that. 🤣

But again you’ve written ‘With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms!’

Why do you care what it ‘looks like’. Your house should have the things in it you like. You live in it, others only visit, it’s weird to try care more about what impression it gives off to others that pop in rather than how it fits you as a family. So what if others think you have TVs in every room?

picnicshicnic · 27/12/2022 15:30

If it won't fit the space and requires the moving of furniture etc I think it's fair to say it's too big, choose a smaller one. And also stick to the budget.

I wouldn't want a massive tv either, especially if I didn't have the space for it.

Witsendwilly · 27/12/2022 15:31

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:13

I think the point about what people think was maybe clumsily put. I don't want it to define us as a family. I don't want it to dominate the house etc. With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms! So I can take my own personal comfort in that. 🤣

65” is a very normal living room size.

You might see smaller ones in the shops but they normally end up in bedrooms and kitchens. Plus, I still think you think a 65” TV is 65” wide - it isn’t.

Always4Brenner · 27/12/2022 15:32

Love my 65 for my 50th for my 60th 61st I’m going bigger 85 or even bigger if I can save enough.

HassallGreen · 27/12/2022 15:37

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:13

I think the point about what people think was maybe clumsily put. I don't want it to define us as a family. I don't want it to dominate the house etc. With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms! So I can take my own personal comfort in that. 🤣

Look like to who? Who cares?

whatat · 27/12/2022 15:40

I hate huge TVs that dominate a room. It makes the room look as though it's only used for watching TV, and I rarely have it on if on my own.

And yes, I am a snob, as I think there is a direct correlation between social class and the size of your TV in proportion to the size of your room.

As someone said upthread, why not get a slightly bigger one but go for much better quality?

Monchhichi · 27/12/2022 15:47

We have a 75", I bloody love it, it is wall mounted in a very large room though.

DashingWhiteSergeant · 27/12/2022 15:50

MerryMarigold · 27/12/2022 15:13

I think the point about what people think was maybe clumsily put. I don't want it to define us as a family. I don't want it to dominate the house etc. With a telly that huge, it'll probably look like we also have one in every room but in fact, we don't have any in other rooms! So I can take my own personal comfort in that. 🤣

But you kind of do? Watching a TV show on a laptop in bed is really the same, just a smaller screen.

HikingforScenery · 27/12/2022 15:54

Ive a 37inch tv which is about 15years old.
I agree with you, OP.