5 Steps To Organize Your North Bay Entertainment Center

Whether tweaking an existing set up or designing the system of your dreams, a home entertainment center can bring joy to your life and home. Here are five ways to organize that setup no matter how big or small your budget.

1. Create a Home Theater: You spend ample time in front of a TV, so why not give this area a facelift? Installing a home theater may be just the trick to keeping things organized. Consult an expert to see how much work needs to be done. It may be as simple as a few repairs here and there, or an entirely new set of equipment to meet your standards. Ensure that the area has sufficient room to keep extraneous gadgets neatly tucked away.

2. Install Custom Cabinets: It can be difficult to find a pre-constructed center that suits all of your entertainment needs. If this is the case, consider building custom made cabinets that can be tweaked to fit specific tastes. Consult with a professional to discuss the style, equipment and optimum sound for your unique center. Ensure each space is used for its predetermined purpose to keep the area organized.

3. Determine What You Need: Less is more. The majority of why rooms become messy is due to laziness. Go through each piece in your entertainment center and determine what actually needs to be kept. Sort through old movies and games. Hold on to what you can see yourself using in the next year and donate the rest. Designate specific areas for remaining items and commit to keeping these storage areas as organized as possible.

4. Clean Up the Wires: If you look behind your entertainment center, there will likely be a whole mess of wires. Not only does this look unkept, but it can be very dangerous. Unplug every electronic and determine their corresponding wires. Remove any electronics no longer used and store away. With those that remain, reposition them to their designated spot on the center. Ensure you are happy with the layout. Once satisfied, group wires together that will be sharing the same space and outlet hookup.

5. Label: Visual instructions tend to be effective for everyone. Clear up any confusion by labeling all storage areas. Children will be more likely to put something away in the right spot if they can eliminate the step of asking a parent where it goes. Bearing in mind that an overall clean appearance is the ultimate goal of this entire process, make the labels discreet. Place labels against the bottom or side of a shelf to remain unseen from those watching TV. Another option is creating a guide that is easily accessible to eliminate all visible labels.

Home Theater Solutions
3425 Vineyard Road
Novato, CA 94947
(415) 892-5573
www.hometheatersolutions.com

Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun and Sat - Closed

Home Theater Solutions brings a keen eye and ear to the art of creating a home theater. Consider their guidance on your next home theater project.

John Corzan Woodworking & Custom Cabinets
P.O. Box 70803
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 387-5489
johncorzanwcc.com

Hours: Mon to Fri - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat and Sun - Closed

Most people obsess about equipment, but John Corzan sees an entertainment center as a thing of beauty. If you agree, check out the custom-designed cabinetry of the sculptor turned woodworker, John Corzan.

Integrity Electric, Inc.
3817 Redwood Highway
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 499-8844
integrityelectric.net

Hours: Mon to Fri - 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat and Sun - Closed

That flat screen TV looked great until you got it home and suddenly wondered if you were up to the wiring task. Integrity Electric will come in and run the wires for you.

Related: Bay Area's Best Outdoor Theater
Related: Top 5 Bay Area Movie Theaters

For more great tricks, tips and advice about your home, visit CBSSanFrancisco/YourHome.

Marketing communications professional Amy Rabinovitz is a Bay Area writer who has lived in Marin County, San Francisco and now resides in Silicon Valley where, for 15 years, she has been a digital and social media marketer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.