The movie theater industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has been thriving for as long as theaters have been around. That’s not really a surprise, as there’s nothing quite like seeing a summer blockbuster on the big screen at your favorite theater Media Room.
How to Create the Ultimate Media Room in Your Home
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With that in mind, it is possible to recreate that experience and even surpass it, within your own home. Because let’s be honest, there are no lines when you’re waiting to see a movie at home in your very own media room.
But how do you go about creating a media room, anyway? Where would you even begin to start on a project of that size? If you’re asking questions like that, wonder no longer, because we’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll help you bring the home media room of your dreams to life. We’ll walk you through the entire process, from drafting up blueprints to deciding what type of wall decor to choose to complete the look.
Know What You Want Beforehand
If you’ve been thinking about building a media room, odds are you’ve got an idea of what you want already. With that being said, before you start making purchases, it’s a good idea to write down your wants on paper to ensure you build the perfect space for you.
A few things to keep in mind during the brainstorming process? Figure out how you plan on using the space the most often. If you’re a gamer, what you’ll want to build will be different than if you’re someone who wants to spend most of your time in the space watching movies.
Once you have those ideas fleshed out and written down, keep that piece of paper nearby when you start drawing out your setup. That way you can make sure that you build a media room that fits you and your interest.
Map Out Your Space on Paper
We get it. You’ve been doing tons of research about media rooms and you have a good idea of what you want to do with your space. But buying a bunch of things and drilling holes into your walls with no real plan is a great way to end up with a space that doesn’t live up to your expectations.
A pro tip? Draw out your entire setup on paper before you spend a single dollar on anything. Map out your room, then figure out what all you need, as well as where you want to put it, to make sure you check all the right boxes.
This will not only help you stay organized but will help you come up with a budget for your room as well (more on that in a second). On top of that, it’ll allow you to visualize your space better before you try to bring it to life, which will help prevent you from having any regrets once you’re finished.
Create a Budget (and Stick to It)
To piggyback off of that last point, it’s important to note that the media room of your dreams isn’t going to be something you can build without a budget. Odds that you end up drawing out on paper is going to cost more than a few bucks, which means having a financial plan in place is an absolute must.
When crafting your budget, figure out where you can save some extra bucks by going with more affordable options. For example, if you want a projector for your room, that’s something that you can’t afford to go the budget route with in order to get good results. You can, however, avoid buying a screen at first, and even pick one up later, when you’ve added more funds to your budget.
Also, if you want to try to save some extra cash, buy items that are a few years older that have now gone on sale. Going back one or two models on that projector will help you get a good projector at a fraction of the costs.
Once you have your budget in place, of course, you need to stick to it to avoid digging yourself into a hole. Remember, you can always add more gadgets later and you don’t have to have the perfect room right out of the gate.
Find Affordable Gear Online
Again, buying last year’s model is a great way to get quality gear without breaking the bank. That said, it’s not the only way to fill up your entertainment space while working with a tight budget.
For example, buying things online can often lead to you saving more money than if you had purchased those same items in the store. This is especially true if you purchase items on days like Cyber Monday, and if sellers have reduced or eliminated shipping costs.
Also, going the used route can allow you to get a name brand item without having to pay the full price for it. Just make sure you’re purchasing from trusted sellers online who have high reputation scores on sites like eBay and Amazon.
Need to find some quality gear for your gaming setup? Be sure to purchase items from this source to ensure that you get the best deals possible on all of your PC gaming needs.
Invest in Comfortable Seating
No media room is complete without comfortable seating. So, if you’re in the market for new furniture, consider this to be one of the areas where you don’t want to go the budget route with your purchases.
After all, nobody wants to sit through a movie or play a game for a few hours, on an uncomfortable couch or chair. That’s why you need to make sure that you pick out quality furniture that you and your guests will be comfortable in to ensure that your room is as much fun to use as you want it to be.
Make it Easy to Upgrade
If you know anything about tech, you know that there’s constantly something new and better coming out that is worth considering to purchase. When building your media room, you need to make sure that it’s easy to upgrade, that way you can make any wanted changes as the years go by.
The best way to do this? Avoid building entertainment centers and shelves that are custom-fitted to hold your tech. Because odds are, when you replace those items, your new gear won’t be the same size.
Also, label all of your wires clearly so you can tell what goes to what, and make sure everything is easy to get to. That way, when you want to change something out, you can do so without a hassle.
Find Ways to Hide Your Wires
No matter how many wireless devices you purchase, you’re going to have tons of wires in your media room that you want to hide out of sight. Doing this can be easier said than done, especially if you’re working with a room in which you don’t have access to the space located above your ceiling.
Our recommendation? Pick up a few cable concealers from your local hardware store. They’re affordable, easy to install, and can allow you to hide your wires without having to put any holes in your walls or ceiling.
This is an important part of the process, as not only do wires look bad when exposed, but they can be trip hazards, too. And if someone trips on a wire, and breaks an important piece of your setup, you’re going to wish that you took the time to cover them up in the first place.
Have Fun With Wall Decor
Once you’ve got the hard part of your setup out of the way, and that’s left to do is decorate your room, be sure to have lots of fun with the process. After all, it’s what’s going to make your media room feel like you, which will make it more fun to use going forward.
Not sure what kind of decor items to use? Consider picking up some movie posters for some of your favorite films. Similar posters for video games and sporting teams work well, too, but it’s very much up to you and your personality.
Still Need Helping Building Your Media Room?
If you still need some guidance with building your media room, be sure to look at plenty of pictures of people’s rooms for inspiration. That, combined with taking your time with your planning, will ensure that you end up with the entertainment space of your dreams.
Looking for more technology tips and tricks? Check back with our blog often, as we’re always talking about the latest news and information on all the newest gadgets.
