Media rooms are an excellent way to give an underutilized space a meaning and purpose. However, properly designing a media room poses a challenge for many homeowners. After all, a media room isn’t quite a home theater. Yet it still requires many of the same features as a custom theater in order to provide a quality movie-watching experience while simultaneously remaining open and ready for other uses.

The most common mistake made with media rooms is leaving them as a blank canvas, not really suited for any particular purpose. It’s a problem that’s easily avoidable if you follow the right steps when designing your media room. Below, we cover five ways to make your multipurpose media room the perfect spot for all of your favorite social activities.

1. Embrace Windows with Motorized Shades

With media rooms, you typically have two choices: a room with windows that has a bright and open feel that’s perfect for socializing…or a dark cave optimized for movie-watching. A multipurpose space needs to be able to create both environments at different times, and motorized shades make that possible. When you’re sitting around the coffee table with friends, you can enjoy the sunlight pouring through the windows. Then, when it is time to watch a movie, all it takes is a tap on your smartphone, and the sun will be completely blocked out by the shades creating that cinema-like experience.

2. Control Lighting Levels for Each Activity

In the same way that natural sunlight won’t be ideal for each activity, your artificial lighting needs will change. When you’re relaxing on the couch with a good book in the evening, there’s no need to break away from the story just to get up and turn on the lights. Instead, you can brighten the room with a single tap on your smartphone, keypad, or remote. For even more convenience, the room’s lighting can automatically adjust based on what activity you’re doing and how much natural light is available, with no manual effort required.

3. Hide the Media Equipment

When you’re enjoying a game of pool or sipping a cocktail after dinner, there’s no need to have a movie screen or giant television cluttering the room. There are many different ways you can make your TV, Blu-Ray player, speakers, and other media equipment completely hidden from sight until you’re ready to use them. When you want to catch the game or watch your favorite show, just press a button, and the screen will smoothly appear with all of your show choices displayed for you.

SEE ALSO: 3 Advantages of Hidden TVs in Luxury Homes

4. Choose Furniture that is Easy to Reconfigure

Dedicated home theater seating might be great for watching a movie, but it’s terrible for social gatherings. Instead, choose a style of furniture that accommodates watching the television and chatting with friends and family, such as a sectional couch. Depending on what activities you want to enjoy in the space, you may want to opt for lightweight furniture that is easy to move around. That way, the next time you host a party in the media room, you can transform the area with minimal effort.

5. Remember the Acoustics

Especially in rooms that aren’t the traditional rectangular shape, you’ll likely need to add acoustic treatments to ensure that you have the best sound quality possible. When sound travels out of the speakers, it can become muffled and distorted by bouncing off the objects around the space. That’s why one of the most important factors of designing a multipurpose media room is to have the space professionally assessed and optimized for sound. Professionals use acoustic panels and strategic placement of speakers to ensure there are no dead spots or harsh sounds.

If you’re ready to transform a room in your home into the perfect spot for your favorite activities, BRAVAS can help. Each BRAVAS design partner has the skill, knowledge, and expertise to create a space that has the right sound, look, and feel to suit your needs. To learn more, contact a local partner.