4 Common Challenges Interior Designers Face in Home Theaters

Are you being tasked to design a brand-new home theater in your client’s house in the Metro Atlanta area? Residents find so many benefits to a media room of their own, including privacy, optimization of acoustics and video quality and so much more.

Installing a media room brings its own set of challenges for homeowners when they’re investing in not only technology but also design. The home theater experts at Digital Interiors are here to help you exceed your client’s interior design expectations.

So, what do you need to know? What common interior design mistakes do our team of home theater installation and design experts observe in home cinemas, and how can you prevent those pitfalls during your next project here in Metro Atlanta?

We explore the answers below.

SEE MORE: Get to Know Our Team of Home Theater Experts

Choosing the Less-Than-Ideal Room

Did you know that, when designing a home theater for a client, the room itself is your most significant setup for success or failure in entertainment room design? First, look at the shape and size of the room and the materials it consists of. Take a glance at the paint colors too. Though it may look good with the lights on, a brightly colored room will distract from an award-winning film.

Also, notice the floors. Hardwood floors or concrete will reflect sound, making the room sound reverberate with sound, similar to a sports center. If you choose reflective surfaces, pad them with sofas, pillows, curtains, carpeted floors or rugs to absorb some of the sound. Acoustic treatments can also temper erratic acoustics. We’ll meet with you and your client to create a customized plan that will optimize A/V performance in your client’s selected space while giving you flexibility to create the perfect interior design.

Neglecting Use of Sound Treatments

Now that you’ve found the room you plan to use, make sure that it’s ready to make the best use of your client’s sound system with acoustic control. Without this kind of sound treatment, defined as the process of identifying the sound field and applying engineering controls to optimize and capture that sound without echo, your client might lose the high-quality audio effects he or she desires. In fact, if acoustic control is not addressed in your client’s home theater, sound quality can be affected by up to 30 percent. Thousands of dollars spent on audio-visual equipment can go to waste. Sound control is usually achieved with equipment such as acoustic panels, but there’s one problem.

Poorly designed acoustic panels are all-too-common and distract from your well-crafted interiors. Digital Interiors recommends Artnovion sound panels: With their expansive, artistic selection, our customers never have to choose between sound and design. Artnovion’s acoustic panels look like masterpieces of modern art that flow beautifully with your interior design efforts and your clients’ demands for high-fidelity sound.

Letting In The Improper Lighting

Brightly lit rooms might look great in other spaces, but in dedicated home theaters, you want a dimmer atmosphere to minimize glare. If the space that checks the most boxes as an emerging home theater also happens to draw a lot of sunlight, you’ll have to make a few extra considerations, such as anti-glare screen technology and light-blocking, motorized shades.

Think about what your customers will need while watching a movie. Backlighting will shield them from eye strain, and accent lighting will direct their focus to the screen. Don’t forget to order the extra accessories that make a huge difference to customers. Because we have an eye for how lighting and design relate, we’d love to help you configure a space with ideal illumination for all their viewing needs.

Using the Wrong Furniture

As designers, we’re confident that you know how to optimize the look within every room in the home. We’re also sure you know how to find the right furniture to fit your customer’s room and tastes, but there are a few additional considerations when you’re working with tech-integrated furnishings. Audio-video furniture is specifically designed to “breathe” and prevent overheating. And when considering seating for a home theater, it’s important to remember that your clients will be sitting for hours at a time – meaning comfortable seats are a must, as well. We can help you add furniture that not only meets your client’s technology demands but also maintains their flair for style. 

Ready to work with Metro Atlanta’s local home theater experts to ensure your client’s home is prepped for an entertaining winter, without major challenges or delays?

We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us here or give us a call at (770) 844-5800.