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Best Window Treatments For Home Theaters And Media Rooms In San Antonio

April 17, 2019

For some TV and movie lovers in San Antonio, the home theater or media room is just not a hobby room, but one of the most used rooms you could use.  The entire room faces the large 4k TV.  The sound system envelops you in cinematic scores and rich dialog. Now, it’s time to put up the best window treatments for your home theater or media room experience.

When your home theater or media room is used as a family room, you still want to get the most from your television.  Nevertheless, you need a window treatment that will completely darken the room, so that you don’t see glare on your screen. An added benefit would be if your coverings could completely dampen outside sound.  As an added bonus, your coverings should have style even when the TV is off.  

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

Your Window Treatments Should Completely Close Off The Light

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 block the outside world.  Opaque cellular shades, roller shades or Roman shades will definitely keep the room dark. And with the right materials, you can make the room as dark as you want, so that the main light source will come from the movie you are watching.

However, while different shades will effectively dim a room, they won’t direct outside light other than blocking it out.  If you want the benefit of directing light also, you may want to look at plantation shutters. Shutters can completely block out outside light when they are closed. But when the movie isn’t on you might want to let in some sunlight, so the room doesn’t seem so claustrophobic. With these window treatments, you can let just a bit of light in, so family and friends can visit after the film.  

Your Window Treatments Should Hinder Sound

Shutters in a living room with a tv

No doubt about it, your home theater or media room should block out light, but don’t underestimate the importance of sound.  Outside noise, such as neighborhood children horsing around in the yard or a passing car, can disturb you from what you are watching. Music and dialog from your television should also be protected, as your program’s sound can become distorted when it reflects off your window’s glass panes.

Cellular shades can make the room dark, but they can be too delicate to adequately stop outside sounds.  Blinds can have the same issues as they hang loosely around the sides. Drapes and curtains might block outside noise, but might also dampen inside sound and prevent you from hearing a true surround-sound experience.  

Plantation shutters, in contrast, stop outside sound and keep your shows sounding great.  If your yard is usually peaceful, any plantation shutter should work just fine. However, if you reside in a community that has more traffic or children, like in a child-friendly area or on a popular street, you may want to use a denser faux wood shutter. No matter what shutter you pick, make sure you arrange your surround sound after the treatments are up so that you you get quality sound from your speakers.

The More Versatile Your Media Room, The More Functional 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 started to become the main recreational area.  While they still are used for movies and television, media rooms are used for gaming, watching sports, and general entertaining. In this instance, you will want a functional window treatment that looks sleek 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 open , letting in 100% sunlight, and you lose privacy or style. Plantation shutters let your room be utilized as a utilitarian space, and not only as a movie room. And since you can open or close shutters to direct as much light as you want, you can deligate a back area where friends might opt to talk or do something else. Everyone else can then sit in darkness on the movie area watching the film .

Which Window Treatment For Your Home Theater Or Media Room Is Best For You?

If your home theater or media room doesn’t have many outside facing windows, then you may want a cellular, roman or roller shade.  If you prefer general use media room, then plantation shutters are the way to go. Either way, your Sunburst representative can help you out.  Call 210-876-0377 so you can schedule your in-home consultation.