Most men dream of having their own designated space in their homes, popularly known as man caves, where they can unwind and relax after a hard day’s work. And most of them would agree that no such cave is complete without a proper media room/home cinema. Here are several suggestions that will help you get the media room of your dreams.
Initial Consideration
Some people might consider a media room and a home cinema two to be the same thing, but there are certain differences between them. A media room is typically a multi-functional space equipped with a giant flat screen TV, a blasting surround sound system and comfortable seating. It’s a place of social gathering, where the whole family congregates to watch a film together and where friends eagerly visit, ready to party. On the other hand, a home cinema is more for true movie enthusiasts and purists who prefer a dark ambiance replicating a night at the movies, where the lights are out and there’s no talking or cell phones.
This is the number one decision you need to make before you go on with your project of creating your own fun room. Most movie fans claim that they can get an excellent cinematic experience in today’s modern media rooms. With technological advances, you can easily afford a brighter and stronger projector, a large panel display and advanced digital surround sound systems that will offer an impressive home theatre feel, whether it’s in your man cave or in the conventional family room.
High-tech content
With the option of streaming music, movies and other content right from the Internet, media room configuration has changed. It’s no longer sufficient to just have a large flat screen or a sizeable display panel and a DVD player. The content quality that is now available is better than ever, so the equipment necessary has followed the same path.
Understandably, your available budget will dictate your equipment choice, but a few things are worth investing in so you can get the desired movie experience. One option is installing a projector and a pull-down wall screen, where the choice of projector is your biggest concern. Sometimes the picture can seem blurry, so you need to choose the one that offers output image quality control.
You can also choose to mount it on the wall or ceiling, or just keep it on the shelf and easily relocate it if you’re having an outdoor movie night/party. If you go for the wall-mounted option, with some professional advice and help regarding proper TV installation, you will have your media room perfectly tailored to your needs and preferences.
Flexible seating
Since a media room is much more than just a sitting room where you watch movies, it’s crucial you pick out furniture pieces that are not only comfortable and cosy, but also flexible, so they can be easily moved around and arranged according to your and your guests’ needs. Rather than just having rows of seats facing forward, opt for comfy sofas, big armchairs, recliners and inviting loveseats.
To get a true masculine vibe, choose a chunky wooden rectangular cocktail table, dark green or grey upholstery, leather if that’s your taste, heavy curtains and area rugs on the floor to balance out the room.
Important details
Experts agree on one rule: know your screen size. For optimum viewing, the distance between you and the TV should be two or three times its diagonal. Most people focus solely on the screen size, forgetting that sound is more than half of the whole experience. The winning equation is to set aside one third of your budget for it, dividing the other two thirds equally between the room itself and the screen. In this way, no aspect will be neglected.
Last but not least is the choice of lighting which can be a great ally in preserving picture quality. The basic idea is to avoid having light directly hitting the screen, so make sure you plan the screen position according to the windows and pool table or bar lights. Another option is having remote control dimmers that will also be a great tool to set a romantic mood, if called for.
By following the tips listed here, you’ll have no trouble in creating your dream media room and start enjoying your movie or gaming nights in comfy seats and acoustic environment.
