Click on PDF file to the right to view the Media Room diagram
You don’t need to build your own multiplex to enjoy a theater experience at home: Your spare bedroom is only a few electronic components and a comfortable chair away from becoming a media haven. Even if you’re not a film buff or video-game fanatic, a media room’s quiet, comfortable ambience makes it a great place for reading, playing board games and doing puzzles.
For this makeover, in addition to adding new furnishings, we replaced the sliding closet doors with a single door. This created wall space on which to hang the TV and the front speakers, and the closet behind the new wall hides all of the audiovisual (AV) components and media (DVDs, CDs, video games, books, board games, etc.) If you’re planning to build or retrofit a media room, consider this checklist of modifications and components:
Lighting — Install multiple light sources that can be adjusted independently. Indirect accent lights such as wall sconces provide ambient light during video viewing. Floor lamps, track lights and hanging pendants can all be great sources of directional task lighting for reading or games. Use a combination of light sources, including natural light from windows, to provide general room lighting. Install room-darkening blinds or curtains to block sunlight during video viewing and to improve acoustics by covering the hard glass surface.
Sound — Soundproofing retains the sound from the TV and blocks distracting noise from outside the room. You can improve soundproofing by simply adding a second layer of drywall; extensive enhancement may involve rebuilding the walls with staggered stud framing, insulation and special soundproofing drywall products (see "Sound Solutions" to learn more).
Because large hard and flat surfaces are not good for acoustics, your décor choices can affect soundproofing. For the best results, hang heavy fabric curtains over windows, cover hard floors with carpet or large area rugs, and add soft furniture. Furniture — Ample comfortable seating options are a must. If you plan to use the room for reading, at least one seat should adjust to an upright position. Choose tables with storage to keep items such as remote controls and reading material within reach.
Electronics — Select a screen that is the right size for the room. A high-definition screen (measured diagonally) should be no larger than one-half the distance from the TV to the seats. (See "Home Theater 101" for more about selecting and setting up home-theater equipment.) Keep floor space open by wall-mounting speakers and video displays. To further limit distractions and clutter, you can hide AV components in a closet, but be sure to provide additional ventilation and air circulation to all enclosed electronics.
To avoid having a basket full of remote controls, invest in a universal unit that can operate all of your components — some models can even control lights and power window blinds. You may need to install an infrared-remote repeater system or use a radio-frequency remote control to allow the signal to reach the hidden components.