Best Window Treatments to Choose For TV/Media Rooms

Interior Design, Window Treatments
Sunshine Drapery sliding glass doors window treatment

Window treatments in television or media rooms can be decorative as well as durable and functional. Whether needing to adjust light for a better TV picture or closing windows to not allow sound to seep out from those $200 bookshelf speakers, window treatments should allow uncomplicated access and easy use of the windows in these type of high-traffic rooms. For making decisions about drapes, curtains, shades or shutters, we're happy to help you find a perfect window treatment for your own "social room." Traditionally, TV rooms were walled-off areas set aside for viewing television. A common goal was to be able to darken the area for optimal TV viewing. Some people prefer to dedicate a space for a home theater room that replicates a cinema experience, hence the attention to blocking the amount of light. However, the term "media room" has evolved into a generic definition for a multipurpose space that is typically outfitted with a large, flat-screen television, surround sound and cozy seating. Friends congregate there to watch sports or awards shows. Families still go there to watch movies or TV series together. But because it often becomes party central for visitors, these rooms are about everyday life and they often need to embody a warm ambiance but with built-in flexibility. Some people like to decorate these type of rooms with white or beige walls, medium-toned hardwood floors and fireplaces to provide an overall openness and inviting tone that doubles as a reading or music room. The fabric swatch you've been carrying around could be the key to yourdecoratingplan for window treatments in a TV/media room. Decide what you love about it: Is it the texture, pattern, color or a combination of the three? In media rooms, the color and pattern in drapery fabric can then influence the paint color, the motif in the walldecor and the pattern on the accent pillows. Using a layered window treatment approach in TV/media rooms can be a really wise choice if avoiding glare on a TV screen is the goal, while being able to give the room a couple of different looks, depending on how it's being used at any given time. You then can open and close sections of the curtains when you want some natural light. Choose a thick, tight-weave primary curtain in a heavy velvet fabric or a similar material for the top layer, which is the one always visible from the media room. Layer sheer curtains, lightweight cotton or linen window treatments, or silk-blend curtains beneath the primary heavy curtain. Close all of the layers when you want the darkest room possible. Key considerations are fabric, material type and color if you're concerned about potential light gaps; following are various options to consider.

  • Roller blackout blinds are a popular choice for media rooms regarding prime television and movie viewing decisions. These sleek shades keep out the bulk of light for a truer theater feel. They're available in black or neutral fabrics. We recommend choosing an outside mount to prevent light gaps along the edges of the shades.
  • Blackout roman shades look stylish in media rooms while doing the job, too. They remind some people of swanky, old-style movie theaters that had plush draperies billowing down on either side of the screen, especially if done in red. The “hobbled” Roman shade option, which has permanent pleats when completely lowered and neatly pleats and stacks when it is raised, can create a nice and versatile look.
  • Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades or cellular blinds, can be made for nearly any size window, and they have blackout benefits. Blackout cell shades are lined inside with Mylar so they don’t let in any light, and give rooms extra insulation against outside temperatures. They’re not obtrusive, so are less noticeable overall. Motorized cellular shades also is an option.
  • If you're seeking creative room-darkening options, consider a shade with a room-darkening liner. We can sew in liners directly to shades, or they can operate independently, offering ultimate flexibility.
  • If you'd rather not have your TV/media room pitch black, consider light-filtering window treatments. Cellular shades in light filtering fabrics allow soft natural light to enter the room without the harsh glare that comes from an uncovered window.
  • Solar shades are popular at restaurants and businesses because they keep out glare and heat without blocking natural light or the view. If you'd like to incorporate that option into your home, choose a fabric with a tight weave for partial darkening and still a visible view. These, too, can be motorized for even easier light control.
Heavy drapes or blackout curtains can be installed with a track in the ceiling rather than a traditional curtain rod. The mounting rests near the top of the wall, so light can't enter the room over the top of the curtains. This is one room in which floor-length window treatments are a good choice to ensure light doesn't enter through cracks where the curtain stops. Even if your windows aren't full-length windows, install floor-length curtains or draperies to ensure sunlight can't enter the room. In some cases, floor-length curtains also help with a room's acoustics because they help absorb the sound, without it bouncing off bare walls. You might want to install floor-length curtains around the perimeter of the room, even if you don't have windows, or only have windows on one or two walls. For TV/media rooms, many people choose drapery in dark colors, such as deep red, burgundy, navy, amethyst purple, charcoal gray or black for the most room-darkening effect. If dark colors don't coordinate with your preferred room decor, opt for blackout curtains in medium-tone neutrals, such as deep yellow gold, mocha brown or taupe. For the least reflections off of a TV screen, avoid window treatments that have a silky or metallic sheen. Choose curtain textures with heavy, dense microfibers to reduce sun exposure. A solid color of window treatment, rather than a patterned or printed design, often works best as the primary room-darkening curtain.
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