Monday, November 9, 2015

Media Rooms For Today's Families

For a few years, home theaters were the rage.  It was cool to have a big screen showing the latest movies, rows of seats and dim lighting.  And they are great if you are a huge movie buff.

Source:  davidrennert.com

But many families have found that they want to use the space for more than just watching movies.  Kids like to have their friends over for gaming, and families like to invite people over for the big game.  A home theater set-up isn't ideal for those situations.

As a result, many people have started converting their home theaters to more entertainment-friendly media rooms.

How is a media room different from a home theater?

Seating Is Flexible


Instead of rows of seats all facing the screen, media rooms have more flexible seating.  They may still have rows, but at least one of those rows will have the chairs facing each other so conversation can take place.  Other options include chairs and couches that all form a U-shape around the screen to allow for viewing and conversing.  Still others opt for seating that you can move around where you want it.

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Source:  houzz.com


Let In Some Light


Home theaters are notorious for their windowless dimness.  But when people are trying to hang out together and talk, they would appreciate actually seeing the faces that they are talking to.  Media rooms have ample lighting which can even include (gasp) windows.

Source:  homedit.com

Source: homebunch.com

Source:  homebunch.com


Cutting Edge Technology

Gone are the days of TVs with a DVD player.  With the cloud and streaming technology, the way we watch TV on any given night has drastically changed from even 10 years ago.  Today's media room should be outfitted with the latest in connectivity.  You may still have your gaming devices and DVD players, but you can just as easily stream the latest game and use your phone as your remote.


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Source:  allaroundtech.com


Whether you have a home theater or a flexible media room, the main idea is to enjoy time with family and friends.  This is the perfect room for a quiet family night or entertain.

Source:  Michelle Schwake for Stafford Family Realtors

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