Ultimate media room
Winter is coming and that means swapping evenings on the deck for evenings around the telly.
The first step is picking the perfect sofa.
‘‘Be aware of how you use the room,’’ interior designer Nicola Manning said. ‘‘Is it sitting with friends and family talking, or is it watching TV? Or is it reading? Because that can really influence how you consider a room and the furniture that you need in there.’’
Sofas for everyday use need durable fabric. Cotton and linen are are an ideal pick, as is synthetic microfibre, which can mimic most fabrics and is stain resistant. Wool and leather are long-lasting (in fact, they get better with age) but are the more expensive option.
If you’re still unsure about which fabric to pick, ask the store for a piece of fabric larger than the usual swatch and place it where the sofa will go. Viewing the fabric in situ will give you a better idea on whether or not it’s right for you.
The most important item in a media room is the television.
Most premium TV’s are equipped with 4K resolution, but it is also important to ensure it has highdynamic-range (HDR) imaging. This is because as streaming services become more and more embedded into our TV-watching habits, the capability to stream HDR content will become vital.
4K HDR is already widely available in New Zealand through streaming services such as Netflix and its importance will only continue to grow.
Other considerations you should make when buying a TV is to ensure the device has at least four available HDMI ports and that it has built-in WiFi (this is because not all internetconnected TV’s have this capability).
Samsung’s Frame TV is an unobtrusive television that can be customised to display artwork or family photos when not in use. The TV can blend seamlessly into a gallery wall.