But Gill Myers, once a cynic of large TVs, recently made the decision to upgrade to a 60-inch and says she loves it. 

And her son Sam Mac agrees. “It’s an absolute game changer.”

“The size of the TV means you can sit anywhere in the lounge and dining room and the image on the TV will always be clear and visible. When it comes to gaming, the atmosphere becomes very real and it almost feels like you are sitting in the venue where the game is taking place.”

He says having a big screen in the house can actually be very social. “When the footy is on and all your mates know you have a big screen, they all tend to invite themselves round for a shared visual experience. It’s fantastic as it means you don’t have to leave the house on a cold winter night.”

Although Myers may be the exception to the gender stereotype that dictates males are more hung up on the size of TVs than females, she agrees the stereotype exists.

“It’s definitely a gender thing. Prior to buying my new TV I asked a number of men what they thought of the 60-inch and they all said ‘definitely go for it’. My women friends were less enthusiastic, and even now they come into the lounge and make statements such as ‘oh my gosh that TV is huge’ or ‘what made you buy a TV that big?'” 

Interior designer Sandra Aiken of D for Design, believes TVs have become part of daily routine. “It’s the reality now that everyone has a TV, and ‘bigger is better’ seems to be the trend.”

The designer says a big TV is like a status symbol. “It’s almost as though people are saying, ‘look how big my one is’.” 

Although Aiken agrees TVs are a source of entertainment and relaxation, she has a problem with big TVs when they become the focal point of a room. “It’s a bit of an eyesore when it takes over the whole room and it seems as though it is almost more important than socialising with friends.”

Calling a TV a “black void”, Aiken recommends providing a little visual balance. “It needs to become part of the decor, either by placing it among other photos and wall decorations, hiding it behind a sliding wall, or placing it within a bookcase.”

But ultimately it seems as though big TVs are here to stay, so how do you decide what size you should get for your room?

Online guides suggest the perfect size for your flatscreen TV depends not on the room but on how far away you are seated.

There is a simple equation: Viewing distance (in inches) divided by three equals recommended TV size.

For example, if you’re usually sitting three metres from the TV, that’s 120 inches. Divide 120 by 3 and the recommended screen size for you is 40 inches (remember, that’s the diagonal measurement of the screen).

This story was first published at stuff.co.nz