No matter how cutting-edge your laptop or how large your wall-mounted LCD TV, there is an undeniable charm to having a dedicated media room. A cinema-quality screen, the latest speaker system, a high-end projector system, and the softest leather recliners that money can buy- these are all the components required for a home theater room. Having one’s own media room saves homeowners the inconvenience of driving over to an actual cinema house.
The tricky part is finding the right space for the renovation project. Should you rehaul the basement or the spare bedroom? This is where the design experts come in! Achieving a custom-built home theater space is possible – provided you work with a leading architectural design firm in Pakistan.
FLOORING
It may seem like an afterthought, but flooring plays a pivotal role in the development of a media room. The flooring material, like all the other surfaces, can easily impact the overall acoustics of the space. Your design team must figure out a way to cease all possible reverberation or echo, in the room. Ceramic tiles and laminate or wooden flooring are not recommended. You can try to block out the reverberation with area rugs, but the safest bet is wall-to-wall carpeting. If wall-to-wall carpeting is not an appealing option, you can also go for carpet tiles. The science behind it is that carpeting absorbs bass frequencies, which travel close to the ground, better than other traditional flooring options.
SEATING
There are countless seating options available in the marketplace for a private media room. Watch your favorite movie in style by opting for a luxury recliner or mimic the spa experience by splurging for a set of massage chairs. If you want to break from tradition, you can swap out stiff cinema seats for two rows of ultra-soft couches. Sectional sofas provide ample seating for bigger families or group of friends. Sofa-cum-beds work well for a movie night with the kids; you can tuck them in for the night if they snooze off in the middle of a movie marathon.
LIGHTING
Whether you go with ceiling lights or track lights, the ultimate purpose is to create an ambiance. The dimmer function gives the cinematic effect and allows those seated a truly engaging film-watching experience. Avoid suspended light fixtures and lamps, as they are bound to reflect on the screen and get in the way of the projection. If you are keen on getting the ‘cinema-house’ feel, you must install wall sconces alongside the auditorium-style seating.
ACOUSTICS
Most home renovation experts recommend choosing a room farthest from the foyer or family room area. An unfinished basement or a spare bedroom might do the trick, provided the room is properly soundproofed. Basements work out pretty well for home theaters as they are normally the darkest and the coolest parts of any house. The central idea is to isolate all sound to the room itself while also blocking out all possible interruptions. As mentioned earlier in the flooring section, you must be very deliberate about the flooring material you install.
There is no need to compromise on one’s aesthetics while drawing up the blueprint for a brand- new media room. If your media room space requires heavy-duty renovation work, its best to engage a well-reputed construction company in Lahore. Leave the technical details about different types of lighting, acoustic quality, and seating layout, to an experienced design crew. Soon you will have the optimum theatre experience, just by walking down the hall!