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

April 17, 2019

For many people in Indianapolis, the home theater or media room is just not a specialty room, but one of the most inclusive rooms you could use.  Your large 4K TV becomes the the focus in the room.  The sound system covers you in dramatic scores and rich dialog. Now, it’s time to install the best window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

Your home theater may double as a family room, but you should get the most from your television.  Nevertheless, you need a covering that will adequately block out light, so that you don’t see glare on your screen. It’s also helpful if your window treatments could muffle outside sound.  And finally, your window coverings 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 Dark

Shutters in Theater Room

When you watch TV in a home theater or media room, you want the room on the darker side.  Your first instinct may veer to shades that block distracting sun and street lights.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will definitely keep the sun out. And as the shades cover the full window, you can have the room as black as you want, where the screen is the main focal point.

However, as wonderful as cellular shades are at obscuring outside light, they won’t meet your needs when your film isn’t on the screen.  If you want the benefit of directing light as well, you should look at plantation shutters. Shutters will be able to shroud the room in complete darkness when the louvers are shut. But when the movie isn’t on you might want some natural light, so the space doesn’t seem so claustrophobic. With plantation shutters, you can adjust how the light shines in, while making sure that you can see the TV without a glare.  

Your Window Treatments Should Hinder Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

While making sure your home theater or media room has plenty of darkness is priority number one, don’t underestimate the influence of sound.  Outside noise, such as neighborhood children having fun in the yard or a neighbor dog barking, can disturb you from what you are watching. Music and dialog from your films and TV programs should also be addressed, as dialog and music can become muffled when it bounces off your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can do a great job keeping the room dark, but they can be too thin to adequately block out noise.  Blinds can have the same problem as they are usually loose around the sides. Drapes and curtains might block outside sound, but might also distort dialog from your TV and prevent you from having a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, on the other hand, can keep outside noise out and keep your movies sounding great.  If your yard is mostly reserved, any plantation shutter probably will fulfill the purpose. Then again if you live in a neighborhood that has more outside activity, like near a school or on a well-traveled street, you should use a quality faux wood shutter. Whatever treatment you decide on, make sure you reposition your sound system after you install window treatments so that you a full experience from your speakers.

The More Uses Of Your Media Room, The More Versatile The Window Treatment

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

As 50” - 72” inch televisions become in vogue, media rooms have started to be seen as a second family room.  Used for more than films, media rooms can be a place 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 up, they dissapear into the window sill.  This leaves your windows completely uncovered , like the window treatment doesn’t exist, but won’t help privacy or style. Plantation shutters let your room be utilized as a utilitarian space, and not just as a space to watch movies. And since you can open or close shutters as much as you need, you can set aside a back area where friends can visit or do something else. The rest of the group can then not be disturbed 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 home theater or media room doesn’t have a lot of outside facing windows, then you may choose a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you use a general use media room, then plantation shutters are the way to go. Any way you go, your Sunburst representative can show you all your options.  Call 317-558-9066 today to schedule your in-home consultation.