Home Theatre Decor in the 21st Century

When I was a little, home theatre decor was a square-box TV on a table in the living room. 

One of those round-screen antiques that you sometimes see in reruns of old TV programs. As the 20th century came to a close, home theatre decor began to take on a new look, with giant speakers doubling as plant stands with racks of expensive components usually placed in the corners of the room.

TV’s got bigger, and prices got smaller, so naturally the home theatre as it is referred to today, became popular and affordable.

In the 21st century, the home theatre “media room” has replaced the family room with the traditional TV with stereo speakers, and home theatre decor has become part of the equation.

There are interior designers who specialize in this sort of design work, and new products have been developed specifically for the media room with the emphasis on functionality for the family.

The basics of home theatre decor

Form follows function, and in home theatre decor, function is the primary consideration. The necessary components take up some space, even if you don’t own an elaborate home theatre system that includes a bulky speaker system.

The projection screen or HDTV is usually large and may cover most of a wall. People need to be seated and put their drinks and snacks somewhere, and your surround sound system requires at least five speakers regardless of their size. In any case, you’ll need to do some space-planning to accomodate your home theatre system.

Getting the Look You Want

If you are planning a media room, you can have some fun making it a personal, comfortable place to enjoy your favorite entertainment. The experience of going to the movies is only limited by your imagination.

Some find that accoutrements like popcorn-poppers, concession cases full of candy, and maybe even a soda fountain are affordable ways of spicing up their media room. There are a variety of stylish neon sign products you can find in specialty stores, movie marquees, posters and frames, that will add authenticity to the room.

You can even buy chairs with “Buttkickers” which send sound directly in the occupants body, and generate vibration along with the sound that goes with the movie.

Elegance and Style

If you don’t like copying a movie theatre motif, you can always lean towards traditional decor with the emphasis on elegance. Love seats, recliners, sectionals and the like can give your media room a style of it’s own.

Art deco, rich tones, modern cabinetry, and hidden components can give the room a dual-purpose for entertainment and extra living space. Flat screens can be hidden or draped easily, with the other components housed in furnishings that allow them to be accessed only when necessary.

Many furnishings can double as housing for components, or usable furniture that allows you to use it as a den or work room. Funky, elegant, or formal, the media room can be whatever you want it to be.

The days of square-box TV’s and conspicuous components are over. Bring your media room into the 21st century with style as you formulate your ideas of what you want your media room to be.