Media Room Ideas

Media Room Ideas

As the weather becomes colder, and the days are getting shorter, we are starting to think of hunkering down for the long winter ahead of us. One favorite activity among us that hibernate in the winter is to watch movies, sports, and play video games in our basement. Before we dash off and start designing our media room, there are 3 main points we need to consider.

Who is mainly using the space?

How much space to you have?

Some media rooms are just all about the media time.  They have chairs or couches all directed towards a gigantic big screen.  Whereas others have multiple functions.  If there are both are adults and children using the space, this will also determine what other functions the room will have.  There is a defined area for the TV watching but also space for a games table and/or play area might be appropriate.

Also, when you’re watching the big screen, don’t forget about serving food and snacks.  Do you have room for a bar if it’s an adult space or a table and chairs for a combination of people?  What about a small kitchenette area with a small fridge and sink to save you running up the stairs to the kitchen?

Take your time and draw out your room with furniture either on paper or download a free space planning software.  This will save you from purchasing furniture too big or too small for the space and being able to maximize your space appropriately.

What theme do you want?

Now that you have determined who is primarily using the space, and what you’re going to do with it, it will be easier to determine the theme that you want.

Do you want a kids theme or a sports theme?  What’s your style? Traditional? Contemporary or transitional?

Scroll down the pictures to get some ideas.

This large media room from HGTV has it all.  It has a large seating area in front of a TV and cosy fireplace, a pool table and a small kitchenette for food prep at the back.

This media room is a sports lover dream!

Can you just picture all the teenagers in the neighborhood hanging out here?

Black or dark media rooms are currently very trendy.  Appropriate lighting and pops of color will keep the room from being too dark and gloomy. This small space is suitably designed by Designer Candice Olson.

A clever use of space in this media room by adding a custom table and chairs behind the lounge chairs to accommodate those who want to snack AND watch the big screen.

A fun kids hangout where adults are invited!

Sophisticated and modern.  This media room is small but does the job with style.

A perfect hangout for kids!

A traditional media room with contemporary features accommodates the screen lovers, food lovers and pool players.

This small media room sneaks in a kitchenette on the side to accommodate those snacks at intermission.  The dark gray walls are subtle keep the TV the focal point that it is meant to be in this room.  The white chaise sofas keeping the room from becoming too dark.

For the more sophisticated, this transitional media room is subtle but at the same time stunning.  Notice more comfortable chairs behind the sofa & table.

Sleek, contemporary yet cosy for the entire family!

If money were no object, this is the ultimate in media rooms.  It should be no surprise that this media room is in a exquisite Hollywood mansion.

Did you get some good ideas?  Which one is your favorite?

I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Stager. Real Estate Investor. In 2006, at the request of a realtor, I staged my very first home. Staging houses was just starting to become popular. I was very nervous staging my first house, but the sellers liked their newly redesigned home so much that they turned down an offer for full asking price. I went back to design school and have never looked back. Since 2006, I have been staging & styling spaces to make them look like they belong in a magazine page, and buying “fixer uppers” to fix up & either sell for a healthy profit or to rent them out. I’m currently living in my 8th “fixer upper.” Sign up to receive my e-mails of how to make your home stunning, how to sell your house for top dollar AND how to become financially independent one fixer upper at a time!