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Creating a Media Room

Alexis

9 October 2008

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It’s one of the ultimate luxuries: a comfortable space in your own home that mimics the experience of your local movie theatre. All the customizations are up to you, as well as the movie selections, and the best part: you won’t have to worry about other people making noises or hushing you and your friends.

This is a media room or home theatre, and it’s becoming a more and more popular trend among homeowners. Installing your own luxury space can be a daunting task, especially if authenticity is a priority. Here are some suggestions for transforming your unused living space into the ultimate home cinema:

Seating

Manufacturers offer a variety of seating options, from stadium-style movie theater seats with cup-holder armrests, to plush leather sofas with built-in power outlets and factory-installed tactile transducers. What you choose depends entirely about your individual needs and cost considerations.

Arrangement

You will want to arrange your seating so that all guests have a decent view of the screen. Your seating area should be centrally located in relation to your screen and no closer than one-and-a-half times the width of your display for best viewing.

Riser Platform

A riser platform is a must if you’re going to have more than one row of seating. This seating configuration not only assures that everyone has a clear view of the screen, but it also reinforces the authentic theater experience. A typical riser platform measures 8 X 6 X 12 inches. This provides plenty of room for three large chairs or a couch.

Lighting

Unlike traditional overhead fixtures, wall sconces aren’t intended to flood a room with light. Rather, they provide a comfortable atmosphere and help set the mood for your home theater. Try placing a low-voltage light behind the chairs or the television. This unique lighting will add ambience to the room and will help reduce eye strain because your television will have a sense of depth.

Lighting Control

Consider remote-controlled lighting. Most of these dimmers are controlled either with a supplied remote control or with your T.V.’s remote. By pressing and holding any button on the remote, the dimmer switch can automatically dim the lights until you release the button. For ultimate convenience, try a voice-controlled lighting system.

Paint

Be selective in your choice of paint. This may seem like a trivial detail, but, even when the lights are off, a saturated, vibrant wall hue can alter a movie’s color balance. Use darker or neutral colors like dark tan, brown or black to prevent this phenomenon. Stick to a satin or flat finish. Paint with a glossy finish will reflect the light and distract your viewers.

Finishing touches

Customize the space with personal details and accents. Add your favorite movie posters to the walls or invest in a popcorn machine. The choice is up to you!