I chose today's feature photograph for several reasons. I've not covered decorating a media room in a long while, and this room is particularly stunning.
The first thing that catches your eye is the great architectural details of the room. The slightly curved TV wall, the recessed ceiling and built-in cabinets all lead the eye to the focal point of the room, the large viewing screen.
Granted, not every media room is going to have great bones like this room does, but there are still a lot of things one can do to make a media room inviting.
Focus is key
Having many of the elements in the room guide the eye toward the focal point makes a strong statement about what this room is all about. It's not a sometime-TV room, workout space and computer room all crammed together. This room is for watching great movies or television, and it makes no bones about it. Creating a strong focus makes watching a movie at home a special event.
The shape of the room helps, but other elements also support the focal point of the room. Facing the furniture toward the focal wall helps, as does painting it in a strong colour. There are no visual or physical distractions between the seating and the viewing screen. Personally, I'd even remove the accessories that are sitting on the built-in speaker cabinets that flank the screen. All of these seemingly insignificant elements all help keep the focus where it belongs.
Great colour
The dark, slate-grey wall colour is just stunning. I probably wouldn't have thought of using a colour like this if I hadn't seen it in action. That's what's great about paint manufacturers -- they've already done the behind-the-scenes colour-coordinating trials and can offer suggestions for great colour combinations.
The dark grey is contemporary and strong enough to maintain the focal wall without distracting the eye. When the lights go down, I'm sure this colour absorbs any light reflection that might be distracting and makes the screen 'pop' like it would in an actual movie theater.
The coordinating gold wall colour is warm and enveloping, which is just what you want when you hunker down on a cosy sofa to watch a movie. It's also a contemporary and fresh colour to pair with the grey. (Note the gold colour is carried throughout the rest of the room via toss cushions and accessories.)
Sound solutions
There's a reason why movie theatres have fabric seats, carpeting and floor-to-ceiling drapery panels on the walls. These soft elements absorb sound that would otherwise bounce off of hard surfaces, causing sound distortion.
Our feature room has carpeting and an upholstered sectional that will work in the same manner. If it weren't for the fireplace on the secondary wall, I'd probably install a drapery panel to close off the media room, providing a true movie going experience. If you're planning a media room in a rec-room area, you might want to consider acoustic ceiling tiles along with the aforementioned sound-absorbing elements.
Lighting is important in a media room because it can cause visual distraction if floor or table lamps are not properly placed. Recessed lighting with a dimmer switch is a good option.
Other great ideas
The decorative stepladder-styled shelving unit is a nice touch for housing DVDs and CDs, and keeps them within easy reach. Consider forgoing a traditional coffee table for a large, upholstered ottoman that will provide additional seating and comfort. An ottoman that has storage will give you a hidden spot for your media paraphernalia, cosy throws and extra toss cushions. A large decorative tray can sit on the ottoman if you need a place to put drinks and snacks.
A media room can be a great gathering place for family and friends. With the right touches, you can create a true movie-going experience.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
