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The Perfect Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In Houston

April 17, 2019

For many people in Houston, the home theater or media room is more than a hobby room, but one of the most important rooms you could use.  The whole room is centered around the oversized 4k TV.  The surround sound speaker system covers you in award-winning scores and exciting sound effects. Now, you need to put up the most functional window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

Even if your media room is in an all purpose room, you need to get the most from your TV.  Of course, you need a window treatment that will completely block out light, so that you don’t get glare on your screen. An added benefit would be if your window treatments could muffle outside sound.  Last but not least, your shutters or shades should show some style even when the TV is off.  

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

Your Window Treatments Should Make The Room Dark

Shutters in Theater Room

When you see a film in a home theater or media room, you want the room free of outside light.  You may want to start with shades that blackout the outside world.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will definitely keep the sun out. And by using fabric or sold colors, you can get the room as dim as you desire, so that the only light source will be the movie you are watching.

However, while some shades will black out a room, they won’t do a fantastic job at directing outside light.  If you want the benefit of directing light in addition to blacking out the sun, you should look at plantation shutters. Shutters will be able to adequately darken the room when you shut the louvers. But when the movie isn’t on you might want to let in some sunlight, so the room doesn’t seem so claustrophobic. With shutters, you can let just a bit of light in, so each movie isn’t always in a dark theater.  

Your Window Treatments Should Block Out Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

Of course, your home theater or media room should block out light, but don’t overlook the significance of sound.  Outside noise, such as children playing in the yard or a passing car, can divert you from what’s on the screen. What comes from what you are watching should also be preserved, as your program’s sound can become distorted when it hits your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can do a great job keeping the room dark, but they usually are too delicate to adequately block out noise.  Blinds can have the same problem as they hang loosely around the sides. Drapes and curtains might block outside sound, but might also dampen dialog from your TV and stop you from enjoying a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, in contrast, can keep outside noise out and keep your shows sounding pure.  If your neighborhood is generally quiet, any plantation shutter should work just fine. But if you live in a neighborhood that has more ambient noise, like near a school or on a busy street, you may want to use a denser faux wood shutter. Whatever shutter you decide on, make sure you set up your surround sound after after your treatments are installed so that you you get quality sound from your speakers.

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

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

As 50” - 72” inch televisions become more in fashion, media rooms have begun to function as a multipurpose room.  No longer confined to movies and television, media rooms are also a room for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. If you use your room for more than one purpose, you will want a practical window treatment that looks sleek when it’s not in use.

When a cellular or roman shade is raised, they dissapear into the window sill.  This leaves your windows open , like the window treatment doesn’t exist, which may not be the best idea. Plantation shutters let your room be seen as a utilitarian space, and not only as a movie room. And since you can open or close shutters as much as you need, you can set aside a corner table where people might opt to visit or play a game. Everyone else can then sit in darkness on the main part of the room catching the double feature .

Which Window Treatment For Your Home Theater Or Media Room Is Best For You?

If your media room doesn’t have a lot of outside windows, then you may want to opt for a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you use a general use media room, then plantation shutters may be the best option. Any way you go, your Sunburst representative can assist.  Call 713-853-9629 today to schedule your in-home consultation.