Making the most of your media room setup

Are you searching for inspiration for your media room? If your current setup isn't providing the best entertainment experience, it might be time to rejig your space.

To help, here are ideas to transform your media room into the ultimate hub for movie nights, bingeing your favourite shows or socialising with friends.

Optimise sight and sound

A key consideration is whether you choose a TV or a projector. Both have their advantages. For instance, if you just want to watch movies, a projector can create that cinema experience. But a TV screen has more capabilities and takes up less space, so you could watch the latest season of a show you love or use it to play games.

Of course, you could always have a projector and a TV screen in your media room. However, you'll need to consider the room's size and configuration. If you have a free wall that can be used for projecting images and another where you can mount your TV screen to the wall, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

But is your screen in the best location? If your media room has a window, you'll need to factor in the glare that this can create. Move the screen to a space where natural light won't interfere with seeing the picture properly.

From there, you can focus on the speaker setup. For the ultimate at-home cinema experience, or to fully immerse yourself in a series or computer game, you may want to research the best surround sound options on the market and plan where to place your speakers for optimal audio.

Focus on lighting, acoustics and comfort

As well as setting up the screens and speakers in the media room, everyone needs to be comfortable. To create a relaxing space that covers all your entertaining needs, look at the lighting and acoustics.

For the lighting, you might want to invest in a dimmer switch, opt for soft, warm lighting, or introduce smart systems that include colour-changing LEDs to match the mood. To enhance the lighting you go for, add blackout screens to windows to create a cosy space where you can all immerse yourself in the film.

In addition to blackout blinds boosting the visuals, you can improve the sound with acoustic panelling that can block out external noise.

Finally, make sure you're all sitting comfortably. A slouchy sofa or bean bags or chairs will ensure everyone is relaxed in this space.

Reduce clutter

All the devices, screens and gadgets you need for the perfect setup come with wires and hardware. To keep everything in one place, plan storage solutions that work with the room. A bespoke media unit, for example, is ideal as this allows you to stow away cables and keep everything tidy.

In-built drawers are perfect for storing remote controls. You can use shelving for physical games discs, books and other items that you can introduce to personalise the space. This is your room, so you might want to pop figures from your favourite films or merch from beloved games on the shelving and cupboards. This is a simple but perfect way to make it your own.

Set up your media room with Hammonds

Whether you're revamping the space or designing from scratch, Hammonds can help. Our experts can advise on setting up a media room that's yours. Speak to the team and book a free design visit to build your media unit. You can also request a free brochure for more inspiration.