You’ve seen them. They have the latest 84″ HDTVs and every other amenity imaginable. We’re talking about the media rooms featured in fine home magazines.
As beautiful as these spaces are, you don’t have to have an interior designer on call to have a beautiful media room that you can be proud of. Here’s how:
Create a Truly Multipurpose Space
The key to setting up a practical media room is to design it in a way that it can be used as a gathering space for friends and family, even when the entertainment center isn’t the focus of everyone’s attention. This is especially true when extra square footage is at a premium.
What other activities do you and your family enjoy? The answer to this will provide you with some insights on how your media room can be a multi-purpose space that you will get the most out of.
Game nights? Look for comfortable seating and a large flat surface that can accompany multiple people gathered around it. This would rule out slender coffee tables or trendy solutions that consist of two or more small side tables or ottomans to stand in for the coffee table. A large, square coffee table would be best. Tons of comfortable throw pillows and bright lighting would complete the space.
Furniture and Storage
To fully incorporate the multi-purpose theme, it’s a good idea to arrange the furniture so that it centers around the middle of the room. This prevents those “this is an awkward layout” moments when the room is being used for something other than watching the television.
Sectional furniture is ideal for these situations because they can help you frame the room as you see fit and comfortable seats many people in the process. Before you go out and purchase the most affordable sectional sofa you can find, keep in mind that it is going to be used in a common room that will be pulling double duty.
It may be cheaper in the long run to pay a bit more upfront for a well-constructed sofa that is durable so you won’t have to replace it sooner than you expect. This is a must if small children are in the picture.
When it comes to activities (especially when small children are involved), games, electronics and all the accessories that come with them, storage space in the media room is always an issue. Thankfully, there are many handy solutions.
Incorporate large ottomans that double as storage space because the centers are hollow and the tops are removable. Benches with storage space beneath the lids can provide extra seating as well as much needed storage.
—
Upgrading your media room doesn’t mean you have to outfit it with all the bells and whistles just to make it look nice. All you need is a few standard pieces and a bit of creativity and you’ll have a media room that will entertain you for hours on end.