Media room magic The art of staying in
IT’S TIME TO SWAP YOUR MOVIE TICKET FOR A SEAT IN THE GREATEST CINEMA ON EARTH – YOUR OWN HOME
Snacks within arms reach, a clear view of the screen and no-one noisily crunching popcorn behind you – having an immersive cinema experience in the comfort of your own home has never been so tempting, or easier. Once considered the ultimate luxury, media rooms have become more popular and more accessible thanks to advances in technology. “Integrated automation is seeing no signs of slowing down, with all the latest devices supporting Google and/or Alexa,” says electronics expert Adam Vaccaro of Appliances Online. “With one voice command, you can control so many things, including your TV, blinds and lights.” From soundproofing and lighting to speakers and apps, here’s how to create a stylish media room with all the bells and whistles of a movie theatre.
listen up
If you are creating a media room from scratch, soundproofing is a great starting point. “Fitting solid core doors and double-glazed windows makes a big difference,” says Therese Tarlinton of CSR. Lining walls with an acoustic plasterboard – such as CSR’s cutting edge Soundchek plasterboard – is an effective solution. “If you can, avoid recessed light fittings and back-to-back power points and light switches,” adds Therese, “as they sabotage sound containment and transfer noise.”
Also high on the acoustic agenda is sound quality, which is often overshadowed by screen size. “To recreate an optimal cinema experience, you’ll need at least a 5.1 speaker system – that is, a sixchannel surround sound audio system,” explains Philip Sawyer of Synergy Audio Visual. “For small spaces and tight budgets, great results can be had with two speakers and a sub-woofer.” To take your immersive experience to another level, look at soundbars and complete surround sound sets, some of which have Google Assistant and app capabilities. You’ll find a wide range at Harvey Norman.
“SOUND IS IMPORTANT: IT ENHANCES EMOTIONS AND OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE EXPERIENCE” ~ PHILIP SAWYER, SYNERGY AUDIO VISUAL
see the light
“Viewing any screen for long periods of time is best done with some indirect ambient lighting,” says architectural lighting designer Clayton Driessen of Beacon Lighting. “This helps to reduce eye strain and provides a level of safety without disturbing the mood of the room.” Choose wall sconces and step lights with dimming control to set the perfect viewing environment. “Wall lights allow you to black out the room and leave a warm glow, creating the perfect ambience,” says director Emma Buchan of EB Interiors, who designed this cosy media room (right). Make your lighting work even harder by replacing standard bulbs with smart bulbs. “When you pair your bulb with a smart home system such as Google Home, you can turn your lights on and off via your smartphone,” says Clayton Driessen. For the ultimate convenience in smaller spaces, look to King Living’s LED ‘Smart’ sofa light, which cleverly connects to compatible sofas through the ‘Smart’ pocket in the arm compartment. >
throw shade
A dark space is key to recreating a cinema experience. “The darkness removes distractions and draws your attention to the screen,” says interiors stylist Lauren Keenan. Look out for a blackout blind with minimal light gap, such as Luxaflex’s Duette Architella shades, which have a triple honeycomb construction to help insulate from sound, temperature and outdoor light.
Also, in true cinema style, you no longer need to physically raise or lower your blinds – just ask Alexa or Google and they’ll do it for you. Automation technology, such as Luxaflex’s Powerview Motorisation, means new-model blinds are being built with wireless operating systems, letting you control the light with a simple tap of an app, or through a smart home system like Amazon or Google. You can even program your blinds to readjust on their own throughout the day when the light changes.
picture perfect
Forget resolution, the buzzword to know in TV picture quality is ‘contrast ratio’. “The majority of TVs now have 4K resolution, so the focus is now on the contrast ratio, which shows how well the TV is able to simultaneously display bright white, and inky blacks,” says Adam Vaccaro of Appliances Online. “OLED TVs are able to create perfect black levels down to individual pixel level, which means they have the best contrasts currently available.” Another term to know is HDR (high dynamic range.)
“HDR TV shows and movies are increasingly common, so it’s important to ensure your TV performs at its optimal level based on what you’re watching,” says Adam.
smart TV vs projector
For a true cinema experience, it is hard to go past a projector set-up. “The sheer size of the screen is tough for a smart TV to beat, but they do need a completely dark room to operate at their best,” says Adam Vaccaro. “They also require more maintenance than a TV and need to be mounted to the ceiling.”
Smart TVs, on the other hand, can be used in almost any viewing environment and are easier to install. “It really comes down to the experience you’re trying to create,” says Philip Sawyer of Synergy Audio Visual.
“PLACE THE MIDDLE OF YOUR TV AT EYE LEVEL” ~ LAUREN KEENEN, INTERIOR STYLIST