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Best Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In Phoenix

April 17, 2019

For some TV and movie lovers in Phoenix, the home theater or media room is just not a hobby room, but one of the most inclusive rooms in the house.  Your big screen 4K television serves as the definite focal point in the room.  The state-of-the-art speakers envelops you in dramatic scores and exciting sound effects. Now, it’s time to install the most functional window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

Your home theater may also be used as a family room, but you need to get the most from your TV.  Nevertheless, you need a covering that will adequately darken the room, so that you don’t have to deal with glare on your screen. An added benefit would be if your coverings could adequately block outside sound.  As an added bonus, your coverings should have style even when the TV is off.  

So what are the best window treatments for a home theater or media room?

Your Window Coverings Should Make The Room Dark

Shutters in Theater Room

When you watch a movie in a home theater or media room, you want the room free of outside light.  You may want to start with shades that shut out all outside light.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will keep the room dark. And as the shades cover the full window, you can make the room as dark as you desire, where the movie is the star attraction.

However, while the right shade will make your room movie theater dark, they don’t meet your needs when the movie isn’t in session.  If you wish to have the option to direct light in addition to blacking out the sun, you may want to try plantation shutters. Shutters will be able to shroud the room in complete darkness when you shut the louvers. But there are times you might need some sunlight, so the space doesn’t seem so claustrophobic. With these window treatments, you can adjust how the light shines in, so all your shows aren’t always in pitch blackness.  

Your Window Treatments Should Hinder Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

While ensuring that your home theater or media room has the right amount of darkness is the first priority, don’t underestimate the importance of sound.  Outside noise, such as kids playing in the yard or a passing car, can divert you from what’s on the screen. Sounds from your films and TV programs should also be addressed, as your program’s sound can become muddied when it hits your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can make the room dark, but they can be too thin to adequately stop outside noise.  Blinds can have similar problems as they are open around the sides. Drapes and curtains might block outside sound, but might also distort your show’s sound and stop you from having a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, on the other hand, can keep outside noise out and keep inside sound great.  If your neighborhood is mostly reserved, any plantation shutter should work just fine. Then again if you happen to be in an area that has more ambient noise, like close to a playground or on a busy street, you should use a quality faux wood shutter. No matter what covering you choose, make sure you arrange your sound system after the treatments are up so that you you get quality sound from your speakers.

The More Functional Your Media Room, The More Functional The Window Treatment

Bedroom with shutters and oar over tv photo courtesy of Kathy at The Daily Nest

As bigger screen televisions become in vogue, media rooms have started to function as a multipurpose room.  Used for more than movies, media rooms are used for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. In this instance, you will want a more versatile window treatment that looks stylish when it’s the room is being used for other purposes.

When a cellular or roman shade is up, they almost disappear.  This leaves your windows bare enough , like the window treatment doesn’t exist, which may not be the best decision. Plantation shutters let your room be seen as a multi-purpose space, and not only as a home theater. And since you can adjust each one to a variable amount of light, you can designate a corner table where friends or family might opt to visit or read. Others can then sit in darkness on the main part of the room enjoying the movie .

Which Window Treatment For Your Home Theater Or Media Room Will You Choose?

If your home theater doesn’t have many outside facing windows, then you may choose a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you prefer general use media room, then plantation shutters are the way to go. Either way, your Sunburst representative can help you out.  Call 480-485-7743 so you can schedule your in-home consultation.