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The Perfect Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In Virginia Beach

April 17, 2019

For some homeowners in Virginia Beach, the home theater or media room is more than a niche, but one of the most important rooms you use.  The entire room is focused on the large 4k TV.  The sound system envelops you in award-winning scores and exciting sound effects. Now, it’s time to put up the best window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

When your home theater is used as a family room, you should get the most from your television.  Nevertheless, you need a shutter or shade that will completely black out the room, so that you don’t have to deal with glare on your screen. An added benefit would be if your coverings could completely dampen outside sound.  Lastly, your window treatments should show some style even when you're not viewing the latest blockbuster.  

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

Your Window Treatments Should Keep The Room Pitch Black

Shutters in Theater Room

When you watch TV in a home theater or media room, you want the room free of outside light.  Your first instinct may veer to shades that shut out distracting sun and street lights.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will definitely keep the sun out. And by using fabric or sold colors, you can have the room as black as you want, where the movie is the main focal point.

However, while the right kind of shade will make your room completely dark, they don’t do a great job at directing sunlight.  If you wish to have the option to direct light also, you will want to look at plantation shutters. Shutters have the ability to adequately darken the room when the louvers are shut. However, sometimes you might want to let in some outside light, so the room doesn’t seem so stuffy. With plantation shutters, you can adjust how the light shines in, so all your shows aren’t always in a dark theater.  

Your Window Treatments Should Hinder Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

Yes, your home theater or media room should block outside light, but don’t overlook the influence of sound.  Outside noise, such as neighborhood children playing in the yard or a neighbor dog barking, can divert you from what you are watching. Sounds from what you are watching should also be protected, as dialog and music can become distorted when it hits your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can keep the room dark, but they usually are too thin to adequately hinder outside noise. Mail-order and store-bought blinds can have similar problems as they are usually loose around the sides. But you can have great coverage with well-measured, custom-fit faux-wood blinds and hardwood blinds when properly installed by a Drapes and curtains can muffle outside annoyances, but might also distort your show’s sound and prevent you from having a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, as designed, stop outside sound and keep your movies sounding nice.  If your yard is generally quiet, any plantation shutter can fit your needs. But if you happen to be in a neighborhood that has more ambient noise, like near a school or on a busy street, you should use a denser faux wood shutter. Whatever covering you pick, make sure you reposition your surround sound after after your treatments are installed so that you get the most from your speakers.

The More Versatile 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 bigger screen televisions become easier to get, media rooms have begun to become a second family room.  While they still are used for movies and television, media rooms are used for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. In this instance, you will need a more versatile window treatment that looks sleek when it’s not in use.

When a cellular or roman shade is raised, they almost disappear.  This leaves your windows completely uncovered , like the window treatment doesn’t exist, which may not be the best course of action. Plantation shutters let your room be seen as a utilitarian space, and not only as a home theater. And since you can open or close shutters to direct as much light as you want, you can designate a side couch where friends or family may want to talk or do something else. The rest of the group can then sit in the movie area enjoying the movie .

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

If your home theater or media room doesn’t have many outside windows, then you may want a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you use a multi-purpose media room, then plantation shutters may be the best option. Any way you go, your Sunburst representative can assist.  Call 757-210-6448 today to schedule your in-home consultation.