Love curling up at home in front of your television and settling in for movie night or to binge-watch your latest television obsession? Take your TV binging to the next level by creating the perfect, binge-worthy space in your own home!
Darken the Room
To create the best viewing environment, you need to be able to control the lighting. Don’t let daylight or the neighbor’s outside light interfere with your viewing experience. Blackout curtains work very well for this purpose and are generally inexpensive, costing about $30. Of course, higher-end options are available, with some draperies costing from $100 to $200 per window.
Improve Sound
The room that you’re binge-watching in has almost as much to do with your viewing pleasure as the quality of the speakers. Adding insulation to your ceiling and a fiberglass drop ceiling are both fairly cheap and easy to do, with some DIY-ers completing a 125-square foot room for less than $200.
Assuming the walls of your media room aren’t already covered with carpeting like movie theaters are, you’ll have to add material to your walls to improve sound quality. Find acoustic boards at any home improvement store and cover them with the material of your choice, like a thin indoor/outdoor carpet, and mount them on your walls.
For the same reasons, the floor of your designated binge room shouldn’t be linoleum, tile, or wood. Plush carpeting works best, but in a pinch, adding area rugs will help.
Maintain Your HVAC
After putting in the effort to create a space with incredible sound quality, don’t let your HVAC system intrude! Noises can come from vibrating air ducts, fans, or from air flow itself. A professional HVAC technician can investigate the source of your noise pollution and recommend a solution unique to your media room.
Another reason to be attentive to your HVAC is even more basic. What ruins your viewing experiences more than out-of-control humidity, a broken air conditioner, or an underperforming heater? Keep your HVAC system running smoothly by changing your high-quality air filter monthly as recommended and scheduling annual tune-ups. The cost of preventative maintenance pales in comparison to emergency service and repairs after something has gone wrong.
Choose Furniture Wisely
One of the key elements of your viewing room is the furniture you choose, and the set-up you decide on. For example, is it important to you to have theater-style seating, or would you rather stick with your favorite living room pieces? How many people does your media room need to seat comfortably? Choose recliners, couch-recliner combinations, ottomans, or pieces easily moved to accommodate fluctuating needs. Don’t forget to include comfy accent pillows and blankets!
Bring Snacks
What’s a binge-worthy space without snacks? Consider items that are more conducive to snacking. If chilled beverages are your thing, a mini fridge might be up your alley. Can’t imagine marathon movie-watching without popcorn? Add in a vintage popcorn machine or even a microwave. Regardless of your snack of choice, be sure every seat in the house has access to a cup holder and a snack bowl.
Didn’t think you could have your very own binge-watching oasis? The perfect space for your viewing needs is within reach with just a little bit of preparation.
