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Best Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In Tampa

April 17, 2019

For some homeowners in Tampa, the home theater or media room is just not a hobby room, but one of the most used rooms in the house.  Your large 4K television serves as the definite focal point in the room.  The state-of-the-art speakers covers you in cinematic scores and exciting sound effects. Now, it’s time to put up the best window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

Even if your TV room is in an all purpose room, you still want to get everything from your TV.  Of course, you need a covering that will totally black out the room, so that you don’t see glare on your screen. It’s also helpful if your window coverings could muffle outside sound.  And it probably would be nice if you could find a shutter or shade that provides style even when your movies aren’t playing.  

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

Your Window Treatments Should Make The Room Pitch Black

Shutters in Theater Room

When you see a film in a home theater or media room, you want the room on the darker side.  You may want to start with shades that blackout distracting sun and street lights.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will definitely block out the sun. And as the shades cover the full window, you can make the room as dim as you want, where the movie is the star attraction.

However, as completely as cellular shades are at shutting out the sun, they may not direct light very well.  If you need 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 there are times you might want to let in some sunlight, so the room doesn’t seem so closed in. With shutters, you can direct outside light, so all your shows aren’t always in pitch blackness.  

Your Window Treatments Should Block Out Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

While making sure your home theater or media room has the right amount of darkness is important, don’t forget about the significance of sound.  Outside noise, such as neighborhood children having fun in the yard or a neighbor dog barking, can divert you from what you are watching. Music and dialog from your television should also be protected, as dialog and music can become muddied when it bounces off your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can keep the room dark, but they can be too thin to adequately block out noise.  Blinds can have the same issues as they are usually loose around the sides. Drapes and curtains might block outside sound, but might also dampen dialog from your TV and stop you from having 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 can work just fine. However, if you live in a neighborhood that has more traffic or children, like near a school or on a popular street, you should use a heavier faux wood shutter. Whatever shutter you choose, make sure you arrange your sound system after after your treatments are installed so that you you get quality sound 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 bigger screen televisions become in vogue, media rooms have begun to become the main recreational area.  Used for more than films, media rooms are used for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. Now, you will need a more versatile window covering 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 bare enough to let in heaps of natural light, 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 adjust each one as much as you need, you can deligate a back area where friends might opt to talk or play a game. 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 Works For You?

If your media room doesn’t have a lot of outside facing 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 are the way to go. Any way you go, your Sunburst representative can help you out.  Call 813-580-7288 so you can schedule your in-home consultation.