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Best Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In Sacramento

April 17, 2019

For some TV and movie lovers in Sacramento, the home theater or media room is more than a niche, but one of the most inclusive rooms you use.  The entire room faces the large 4k TV.  The surround sound speaker system envelops you in cinematic scores and exciting sound effects. Now, you should install the most functional window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

Even if your TV room is in a living or family room, you still want to get the most from your television.  It goes without saying, you need a window treatment that will completely black out the room, so that you don’t get glare on your screen. It’s also helpful if your window coverings could muffle outside sound.  And it probably would be nice for you to find a window treatment that shows some style even when your movies aren’t playing.  

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

Your Window Coverings Should Dim The Light

Shutters in Theater Room

When you watch a movie 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 block out the sun. And with the right materials, you can make the room as black as you want, so that the main brightness will derive from the screen.

However, as good as cellular shades are at obscuring outside light, they don’t do a great job at directing outside light.  If you wish to have the benefit of directing light in addition to blacking out the sun, you will want to look at plantation shutters. Shutters will be able to completely block out outside light when the louvers are shut. But when the movie isn’t on you might want some outside light, so the room doesn’t seem so closed in. With shutters, you can adjust how the light shines in, so family and friends can visit after the film.  

Your Window Treatments Should Block Out Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

Your window coverings should black out outside light, but don’t forget about the influence of sound.  Outside noise, such as kids playing in the yard or a passing car, can disturb you from what’s on the screen. Music and dialog from what you are watching should also be preserved, as your program’s sound can become muffled when it bounces off your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can keep the room dark, but they can be a bit slim to adequately block out commotion.  Blinds can have the same problem as they hang loosely around the sides. Drapes and curtains can muffle outside noise, but might also distort your show’s sound and hinder you from hearing a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, on the other hand, stop outside sound and keep inside sound great.  If your neighborhood is mostly reserved, any plantation shutter probably will fit your needs. Then again if you reside in an area that has more ambient noise, like close to a playground or on a busy street, you may want to use a heavier faux wood shutter. No matter what treatment you pick, make sure you arrange your sound system after you install window treatments so that you you get quality sound from your speakers.

The More Uses Of 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 more in fashion, media rooms have started to be seen as a second family room.  Used for more than movies, media rooms are used for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. In this instance, you will need a functional window treatment that looks great when it’s the room is being used for other purposes.

When a cellular or roman shade is up, they dissapear into the window sill.  This leaves your windows completely uncovered to let in heaps of natural light, and you lose privacy or style. Plantation shutters let your room be utilized as a utilitarian space, and not only as a space to watch movies. And since shutters can easily adjust to direct as much light as you want, you can designate a corner table where people might opt to talk or do something else. Others can then not be disturbed on the movie area enjoying the movie .

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

If your media room doesn’t have many outside windows, then you may choose a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you have a multi-use media room, then plantation shutters are the way to go. Either way, your Sunburst representative can help you out.  Call 916-665-0078 so you can schedule your in-home consultation.