Whether you’re creating it just for yourself or for teenagers or other family members to utilize, a media room in the home can provide hours of quality entertainment.
You don’t have to be obsessed with movies or TV shows to get a lot of use out of a home theatre area, either, as it’s also perfect for watching sports games with mates or listening to music on quality stereos once you’re all set up. If you’re new to the designation and design of such a space, read on for some tips to help you create an area you want to spend as much time in as possible.
Create a Dedicated Space
Firstly, wherever possible, you want to make your media room an utterly separate space designed purely for entertainment purposes. Select somewhere that you and your family and friends can go to watch movies and shows or play video games without disturbing others in the house who aren’t going to be involved at the time.
Plus, your cinematic experience is lessened if you’re distracted by other people talking on the phone, cooking, working, exercising, or doing other activities while you’re trying to watch and listen. If you’re planning on turning a spare bedroom into your media room, select an ample enough space to fit in comfortable chairs or couches where you can sit a proper distance from the screen. This functionality is particularly crucial if you plan to use a video projector.
Think About Practical Factors
There are other practical elements to consider carefully, too. For instance, what kind of insulation will the room have that will stop the noise from your surround sound annoying those trying to do things in other rooms? Or how can you avoid hearing the sounds of trucks and cars and other disturbing noises when you’re trying to lose yourself in a good piece of entertainment?
It’s worth investing in additional insulation behind walls or even putting specific acoustic padding on walls to muffle sounds. Thick carpeting in the room will help to reduce noise, too. Plus, you could replace windows or switch out glass for double-glazed products and install some nice heavy blackout drapes or blinds so you can easily watch a screen even during daylight hours.
It pays to see if you can turn a basement or attic or some other part of your home that doesn’t get much ambient light into your media-specific zone. You also want to have mood lighting available. You need to be able to watch shows in a mostly dark space but still have enough light to see by if you need to get up to go to the bathroom or get a drink, etc. Downlights that you can dim down or turn up as needed tend to be a good option, as can LED strips.
Furthermore, don’t forget to get rid of as many reflective objects in your media room as possible. Try to keep out anything other than the TV or projector screen that reflects light back at the viewer. So, for instance, select matte or flat paint products for the walls and avoid shiny countertops and cupboards, light trims and fixtures, doorknobs, hinges, etc., especially those that sit in the zone between the screen and the viewers in a room.
Heating and cooling are also important for comfort while you utilize your media room. You might like to install some modern ceiling fans into the space to circulate hot air in summer when you don’t want to have the windows open due to noise issues. You could also opt for a reverse-cycle air conditioning unit, especially if you live somewhere that gets very hot and humid. Plus, a gas or other heater is handy to keep you warm in winter if you don’t buy a reverse-cycle appliance.
Add a Fun Concession Stand
For the ultimate media room that kids and adults of all ages will love, why not add some fun with your very own concession stand? Putting in a kitchen/bar area filled with your fave movie theater drinks and snacks, such as soda, fresh popcorn, candy, and ice cream will help give you the full experience and make you feel like you never need to leave home again to check out a flick.
Creating a media room in the privacy of your own home takes a little planning and some investment of time, money, and energy to set up. However, the end results are sure to not only make you and your loved ones happy and excited but save you some money on going out and enjoying external entertainment so much.
