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One important and often overlooked aspect of any Home Theater, be it in a multi-purpose room or a dedicated room, are the window coverings. We all know ambient light can destroy projected or RPTV contrast, but many find it objectionable even with direct-view. The marketplace has changed dramatically in the offerings in the window treatment arena in the last ten years...so much so that there is an appropriate treatment for ANY light opening, and they are no longer limited to drapes, drapes, drapes. There are a plethora of window shadings that will range from sheer to opague, manual to electric, inexpensively priced to extremely expensive. While many of these shadings and blinds are quite efficient, one has to keep in mind the accoustical benefits of adding textiles to the Home Theater room. As the sound waves are bouncing too and fro, so bounces distortion. Provide absorptive surfaces in the proper percentage and you will enjoy the accoustics of the room and have less hearing "fatigue". Textiles also will soften the appearance of the architectural elements in your room, lessen the boxiness of the room itself, and provide richness in color AND texture. Do not limit your thoughts of drapery to only the more formal aspects, as drapery can be constructed to denote any degree of informality or even provide a whimsical or theatrical appearance. A good combination of shadings AND drapery will give you the maximum versatility and provide energy savings as well. Even those of you who feel rather "anti-textile" can gain benefit from as tailored a treatment as a 'plantation shutter', as wood can be a very good insulating surface (much like bookshelves). Nothing, however, will provide as lush a setting as fabric!
The advent of battery-operated remote control units have also opened up an entire selection of shadings and blinds which may be controlled from the comfort of your chair. A remote can be particularly appealing should you have skylights in your room. Not having to "hard-wire" a room will save hundreds and possible thousands of dollars. A remote "eye" need simply be visable at the top so that you can aim aim the remote in it's direction. Of course, in the name of economy, you can also opt for manual operation.
In my home theater I have a huge picture window (a la 60's) as well as a window at the top of an exterior door. I have electric, remote-controlled roman blinds with light-filtering fabric, and also floor-to-ceiling red thermal-suede draperies to close when viewing the TV in the daytime. (Thermal-suede does not darken completely like "blackout" lining..it blocks approximately 80% of the light but I like it because it is "softer" and more insulating.) While mine are currently ten years old and were never designed with my home theater in mind (Pro Logic just never inspired me back then!), it has served it's purpose well in that it provides light-filtering privacy from the shades, and total darkness and insulation from the drapery. This year I will be changing the design slightly, "tweaking" the design to further block light leakage as well as providing a more "theatrical" appearance.
What are you currently using to cover your windows and control the light? Are you happy with your solution? Does it look good as well as block the light?
If you have any questions regarding the products currently available on the market, feel free to ask! I currently sell three major brands and am very up-to-date on what is available.
Susan
The advent of battery-operated remote control units have also opened up an entire selection of shadings and blinds which may be controlled from the comfort of your chair. A remote can be particularly appealing should you have skylights in your room. Not having to "hard-wire" a room will save hundreds and possible thousands of dollars. A remote "eye" need simply be visable at the top so that you can aim aim the remote in it's direction. Of course, in the name of economy, you can also opt for manual operation.
In my home theater I have a huge picture window (a la 60's) as well as a window at the top of an exterior door. I have electric, remote-controlled roman blinds with light-filtering fabric, and also floor-to-ceiling red thermal-suede draperies to close when viewing the TV in the daytime. (Thermal-suede does not darken completely like "blackout" lining..it blocks approximately 80% of the light but I like it because it is "softer" and more insulating.) While mine are currently ten years old and were never designed with my home theater in mind (Pro Logic just never inspired me back then!), it has served it's purpose well in that it provides light-filtering privacy from the shades, and total darkness and insulation from the drapery. This year I will be changing the design slightly, "tweaking" the design to further block light leakage as well as providing a more "theatrical" appearance.
What are you currently using to cover your windows and control the light? Are you happy with your solution? Does it look good as well as block the light?
If you have any questions regarding the products currently available on the market, feel free to ask! I currently sell three major brands and am very up-to-date on what is available.
Susan
I happen to have a wall of windows. My quick solution some 7 years ago was vertical patio door blinds from Lowes. TWO of them, butted together. This solution cost me like 160-180 bucks for 2 of them. rails and curtains would likely have been 500 bucks or more. Basically, it's 16 feet to cover from one end to the other.
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