A Home Media Room For A Small Space
If you would love to have a media room at home, but don't think you have the space, odds are, you're wrong, and you do!
In an "Inspired Home" segment Thursday, The Early Show's resident style expert, Colin Cowie, showed how to turn even the smallest space into a media center.
Cowie's main philosophy about a media room is that it should be as comfy and cozy as possible. That includes the color of the walls, the type of furniture used, and the lighting and ambiance: The whole environment should lend itself to the idea of relaxing and being entertained.
First off, Cowie points out, not everyone has the kind of space in their home or apartment to set up an actual home theater. This is a luxury that's not realistic for many people. The idea here is to accept that you have limited space, but to make the most of the space you do have. You can turn your family room or TV room into a media room quite easily, by streamlining and incorporating warm touches.
The main elements that make a media room a media room are, of course, a TV, DVD player, and some kind of stereo or sound system. And because of the sleek and modern technology that exists today, it's very possible to get small or flat components that will maximize your space.
Ideally, a plasma or mounted flat-screen TV is great for a media room, because they're the closet you can get to a movie screen in your own home. Plus, being able to hang the television from the wall will, obviously, take up very little space. You do have to be careful, though, about the size of the screen you get. Cowie loves 50-inch screens, and sometimes even bigger, but if you don't have a very large room, be honest about whether the screen will take over the entire space. The size of your screen has to be proportionate to the size room you have.
As for the sound system, you don't need a huge stereo system with big components anymore, Cowie notes. You can get away with creating the same vibe by using something as simple as an iPod docking system, or something like a Bang & Olufsen CD system, which looks fabulous. Overall, you just want to be sure that whatever sound system you have, it's good quality and clear.
The second most important thing, after the actual electronic equipment, is the furniture. Cowie says the whole idea behind a media room is that it's a place that should be really comfortable — some might even call it "clubby." Cowie decorated the media room on The Early Show set by placing a giant ottoman in the center. That can give any room an automatic air of coziness. The ottoman can be used to prop your feet up while hanging out, but also to place a few items that personalize the space — a tray with a hurricane candle, a bowl of fruit, a couple of books, and a box to hold the remotes. You also want a big, comfortable couch with lots of pillows, and a cashmere blanket, over the arm or back of the sofa, to cuddle up in. The vibe should be comfy and feel like luxury and bliss, and you should be able fall asleep during the movie. The important thing to remember about this stuff is that you can have it all without having to spend a lot of money. And think outside the box - you can use pieces in different ways, such as a computer cabinet as a sideboard. You can store DVDs out on a book shelf, between bookends.
One thing that can always make a room feel warm is the color palette, which includes the walls, furniture, and even lighting. In the media room on The Early Show set, Cowie uses avocado as the paint color for the walls, in order to achieve a cozy feeling. He adds a zebra rug and lots of cognac color to make it feel good for fall. In a media room, particularly when watching TV or movies, you should be able to control the lighting. Ideally, all lights should be on dimmers, which will also give the room a warm ambiance.
Last, Cowie observes that, as with any room, you want to add personal touches to make it feel like home to you and your guests. It's great to have a mini-fridge with cold drinks, so you don't have to get up and walk away to the kitchen. You could have a tray with a decanter and some cognac, or other after-dinner drinks. It's always nice to have a magazine rack with magazines and books, and of course you need to store your CDs and DVDs there. Cowie also loves to have clear glass apothecary jars filled with different kinds of candy, such as jellybeans, licorice, mints, or M&Ms, to create even more of a mini-theater atmosphere.
For more on elements for possible use in a media room, visit the Web sites of: