Start with the Right Outdoor Space
Before choosing a TV or wall mount, think about how the space will actually be used. Some people want a relaxed lounge setup for movie nights, while others prioritize sports-watching near a pool, playground, or outdoor kitchen.
The layout of your backyard can help determine a lot about your backyard entertainment area such as where seating should go, how much sunlight the outdoor TV screen will receive, the ideal viewing angles, and what type of outdoor TV is best for the environment.
Covered patios and pergolas often provide more flexibility because they naturally reduce glare and weather exposure. However, on the other hand, open patios and pool decks typically require brighter outdoor TVs designed specifically for direct sunlight.
Are you a homeowner looking to build a more complete entertainment-focused backyard? Check out our inspiration guide to creating a backyard oasis.
Why Outdoor TVs Matter
One of the biggest misconceptions about outdoor entertainment is that any television can be used outside. While an indoor TV may work temporarily in a covered area, it isn’t designed to withstand outdoor conditions long-term. TVs can range from economically-priced to thousands of dollars, so you don’t want to invest in outdoor entertainment products and not be able to use the area due to the wrong showpiece item: the TV.
Outdoor TVs are engineered specifically for environments where fluctuations are part of everyday exposure: from moisture, heat, and humidity to dust, pollen, insects, and temperature.
Compared to standard indoor televisions, outdoor TVs typically offer:
- Brightness: Higher brightness for daytime visibility
- Construction: Weather-resistant construction and more durable internal components
- Temperature Range: Wider operating temperature ranges
- Technology: Anti-glare technology for improved viewing
Our Neptune™ Outdoor TVs are designed for different lighting conditions, including Shade, Partial Sun, and Full Sun environments, making it easier to match the TV to the space rather than forcing the space to work around the TV.
Choosing the Best Location for an Outdoor TV
Placement is one of the most important parts of the installation process because it directly affects both performance and comfort. In general, covered patios are ideal for Shade or Partial Sun TVs, pergolas and spaces that gather a mix of light and sun often work best with Partial Sun models, and open patios and pool areas usually require Full Sun TVs with higher brightness levels. A TV mounted too high can become uncomfortable to watch, while poor sun placement can wash out the picture during the brightest parts of the day.
Before mounting an outdoor TV, here are a few things that you’ll want to keep in mind:
- How much direct sunlight hits the area throughout the day?
- Are there any nearby surfaces that create glare or reflections that will make viewing worse?
- What is the distance from the seating area and the TV?
- What is the distance to grills, fireplaces, or heat sources?
- What is the distance to power (like outlets or power cords) and streaming connectivity (like how far the WiFi is from the TV)?
Selecting the Right Outdoor TV Mount
The mount itself plays a major role in both functionality and long-term durability. Outdoor environments can quickly wear down standard indoor mounting hardware, especially in humid climates or areas exposed to rain and seasonal weather.
Outdoor-rated mounts are designed to handle those conditions while supporting the weight and movement of larger TVs safely. What should you be thinking about when looking for a mount for your outdoor TV? Some features include facets like tilt adjustments (which reduces glare), functionality for the TV to swivel (helpful for flexible seating arrangements), stronger corrosion-resistant materials (to maintain a well-built outdoor TV mount), and simply the construction of the mount that provides a more secure installation for the outdoors.
Neptune™ Outdoor Mounts are designed specifically for outdoor entertainment setups and help create a cleaner, more flexible viewing experience depending on the layout of the patio or backyard.
Mounting Height & Viewing Comfort
A great outdoor TV setup should feel natural to watch. Mounting the TV too high can strain the neck, while mounting it too low may limit visibility from different seating positions.
The ideal height depends on the size of the TV, whether guests are lounging or dining (or even swimming in a pool while watching the television), the distance from seating areas, and the overall patio layout.
For lounge-style patios, slightly lower placement often feels more comfortable. Outdoor kitchens or bar-style seating areas may benefit from a higher mounting position that keeps the screen visible while standing or moving around.
Before installation, a healthy amount of homeowners map the TV size on the wall using painter’s tape or by taping up a presentation board to the wall to visualize the final placement.
Protecting Your Outdoor TV Throughout the Year
Even outdoor-rated televisions receive benefits from additional protection when they’re not in use. Rain, dust, pollen, debris, snow, and seasonal buildup like tree branches and leaves, can all affect the appearance and longevity of a setup over time.
Protective accessories help reduce unnecessary exposure between uses and can help keep the screen cleaner year-round. Our Neptune™ Dust Covers are designed to help protect outdoor TVs from dust and pollen buildup, moisture exposure, dirt and debris, and different weather conditions.
For outdoor TVs that are left outside and installed year-round, using a cover adds that additional protective layer while helping maintain a cleaner setup.
Audio Matters More Outdoors Than Most People Expect
Outdoor spaces absorb and disperse sound differently than indoor rooms. Because there are no enclosed walls to keep audio in, even a great screen can feel underwhelming without the right sound setup.
Adding an outdoor soundbar can improve the sound of dialogue during movies and shows and volume consistency in open-air spaces, amongst other checklist items.
For larger patios or backyards, some homeowners pair outdoor TVs with a more integrated and distributed audio system to create a more complete entertainment experience.
Creating a Backyard Setup That Feels Intentional
The best outdoor entertainment spaces don’t feel like televisions were added to the backyard as an afterthought. Instead, the best backyard setup are the ones where the TV becomes part of a larger living space designed around comfort, functionality, and coming together.
How do homeowners create an intentional outdoor backyard setup? Think of spaces that include lounge seating, fire pits (or a fireplace), upgraded lighting, weather-resistant outdoor furniture, and updated entertainment items like an audio system, outdoor soundbar, or outdoor mount to go along with the outdoor TV.
When planned thoughtfully, an outdoor TV can help turn a patio into a true outdoor living room that gets used far more often throughout the year.
Building a Backyard You Actually Want to Use
A well-designed outdoor entertainment space should feel easy to enjoy. The right combination of furniture and technology placement, mounting hardware, weather protection, and thoughtful layout helps create a setup that feels natural within the backyard itself.
Whether the goal is hosting movie nights under the stars, watching sports outside (while kicking the ball on the grass or throwing the plush football in the pool), or creating a more comfortable patio environment, investing in outdoor-rated equipment helps ensure the experience remains enjoyable season after season.
Neptune™ Outdoor TVs and protective accessories are designed to support that kind of everyday outdoor living while making it easier to create a setup that fits your space, your lighting conditions, and the way you actually use your backyard.
