Little Tips for a Big Screen Experience

We’ve all seen those over-the-top media rooms: the massive TV screens, surround-sound speakers, sound-proofed walls and stadium-style rows of recliners with cup holders in the armrests.

Impressive? Sure. But they aren’t necessarily in everyone’s style or budget.

Here are a few simple and affordable tricks to optimize the movie-viewing experience, whether in a designated media room or an everyday family room:

Place the TV on the same wall as windows to minimize glare. Light bouces back from a TV screen, so avoid having windows or lamps opposite the television.

Install room-darkening blinds. Also called blackout blinds/shades, these window coverings will prevent natural light from penetrating into the room. This creates the dark, easy-on-the-eyes atmosphere perfect for watching movies. (Even with custom-made blinds, some natural light can seep in around the edges -- consider decorative drapery panels on each side of the window to cover the light gap.)

Position furniture the appropriate distance from the TV. Take the size of your screen, multiply it by three, then divide that number by 12 to determine the optimum distance from the TV you should place seating. Example using a 32" TV:  32 x 3 = 96.   96 divided by 12 (inches in a foot) = 8. Place seating eight feet from the TV!

Place the largest piece of furniture in front of the TV. Usually, this is the sofa. Don’t feel like the room has to be set up for movie-viewing all the time. Chairs may be placed facing each other or the sofa in a conversation-style setup for everyday, and then swung around to face the TV screen when it’s movie time. 

Make sure every seat has a place to rest a drink and popcorn. In addition to your room’s existing end tables, place little garden stools, cube ottomans or footstools with trays so every guest has a home for snacks. Another tip: make sure each guest has comfy pillows and throws, too.

Minimize cords and clutter. You don’t want movie viewers distracted by that tangle of wires or precariously leaning tower of DVDs, do you? A console can be your best friend to hide clutter as well as store DVDs.

If you need help -- whether it’s creating an entire media room  or sprucing up your everyday TV room -- please contact me at aboesen@decorandyou.com. Decor & You is all about helping you, no matter what the size  the project.