When considering the best place to install your media room, most initial thoughts gravitate toward basements or attics.

If your Fort Worth, TX home doesn’t have either of these available, we can make any room fit.

The key to installing a quality media room is finding the right technology and catering it to the space available — wherever that space may be.

Because we firmly believe that we can make any space work as a media room, we will dedicate this blog to discussing the necessary technology rather than fixating on specific types of rooms.

Read on to learn about the features you need to consider and how we can make them work.

See Also: 5 Design Tips for Your Home Theater System

Extraordinary floor-to-ceiling windows and glass walls have become the norm for modern homes these days.  The glass panes are optimal for scenic views and letting in the day’s natural lighting.  But often, they can be a hindrance for privacy and let in the sun’s ray that might damage your interior décor.   Motorized shades can easily solve the issue, and provide a comfortable and practical feel to your living area.  Read on to learn why smart window shades are the perfect fit for you Dallas, TX home.

SEE ALSO: WHICH TYPE OF MOTORIZED SHADES IS RIGHT FOR YOU HOME?

Motorized is the Way

Your lofty windows are stunning, but perhaps not when you’re attempting to manage their shades.  You want to lower them with ease when the sun is directly hitting your living room, or open them up without thinking twice in the morning.  With regular shades, the latter would be a tricky feat to accomplish without spilling your coffee.  But motorized shades take the difficulty out of the equation; all that’s required is the push of a button.  And if you know certain hours of the day you’d like the shades adjusted, then you can set them to work automatically without another thought to it.

Blend In or Stand Out

When enjoying the view from your glass walls or high window fixtures, normal blinds and shades can be distracting.  They don’t blend well with the rest of your interior, and often still prove a noticeable problem when you pull them out of the way.  Specific motorized shades, such as roller or honeycomb style, will ensure that when they are drawn up – you won’t realize they are there until you lower them back down.  These shades roll up into the wall above the window, disappearing completely until you are ready to have them back.  Want the added decoration that lovely patterns and fabrics motorize shades can offer?  That’s always an option too.  Whatever fits your home’s design and your taste, there is a window treatment style for you.

Doubling up

Often, we want the best that both worlds can deliver – and choosing for elegant glass windows shouldn’t be any different.  With motorized shading, you don’t have to compromise.  In one room, you might wish for privacy as you read or lounge about on the sofa.  But other days, you want to enjoy the view and the sun’s light.  Blackouts shades might be a great option for when your family is watching a film in the living room, but not when you have guests over the next day.  Double roller shades are the ideal solution.  Dual-shading means two shading styles and two options to always have on hand for your window treatments.  Choose between UV ray protection, view preservation, blackout, and more.  Now you can determine the lighting and ambiance of every room of the house with ease and without settling.

During football season, you know how important it is to make sure everyone catches each impressive play and suspenseful moment of the big game.  But there’s nothing worse than garbled audio and a glitch-riddled screen to ruin the fun.  Give you and your guests the ultimate game day experience in your Dallas, TX home with an elevated audio video system.  Read on to learn why your upgraded media room is the perfect place to enjoy football with friends and family this fall.

New AV Technology

The next best thing to standing in the stadium with your sportswear and team gear on is reveling in an immersive experience at home with your bowl of buffalo chicken dip.  But with the latest audio video tech available, being at home might just jump to first place.  With a 4K Ultra High-Definition flat screen or projector, you’ll feel like you’re right there cheering your team on – in the comfort of your own home.  4K guarantees a crisp and clear picture quality, and lets you get as close to the screen as you need to without worrying about seeing the individual pixels. 

Installing a surround sound system will also ensure that you never miss a commentary or call.  You can enjoy everything about the stadium experience, but on your comfy sofa surrounded by your fellow fans.

SEE ALSO: GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH AN AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM UPGRADE

Rid Yourself of the Glare

Imagine your team is about to score a touchdown, but then the sun shines intensely into the living room – causing a major glare on the screen and hindering your view completely.  You might think there’s not much to be done against the sun’s power without a huge hassle involved.  But motorized shades can make sure you never miss a beat. 

With a single push of a button, lower the shades so that no light touches the TV, or have automatic sensors cause the shades to automatically roll down when the sun is shifted to shine directly through your windows.  Take the control into your hands, and only worry about refilling your guests’ drinks and plates.

Double the Screens

With so many games to stay on top of, you might find not every viewer is in agreement over which to catch up on and watch.  Multiple screens are guaranteed to keep everyone happy and up to date on the various games.  With more than one screen, the opportunities are endless.  You can install an outdoor TV with a weather-proof and glare-free screen.  If your friends are grilling and tailgating on the patio, then you can easily pop into the kitchen for more dishes and never miss a moment on your media or kitchen’s TV.  Having more screens means more game-watching capabilities, and less time figuring out what channel to switch back to.

If you’re thinking about installing a home theater system in your Southlake, TX residence, there’s one major concern you may not have considered. No, we’re not talking about how you can watch beautiful 4K content, or how you can achieve the best 3D surround sound possible. It’s even simpler than that – we’re talking about how you can minimize ambient light and glare as part of your viewing experience. In this blog, we’ll take you through different technologies that can help prevent washed-out picture in your space. Read on for more.

See Also: How to Choose the Best Screen for Your Home Theater System

Smart Lighting Design

The way your lighting is designed can have a big impact on the amount of glare you see on screen. All fixtures should be pointed away from the screen, so the image won’t be overpowered by them. Moreover, you should have zone controls implemented, so that you can control the lights around the screen separately from the ones in different parts of your theater space.

Motorized Shades

On average in the city of Keller, Texas there are 235 sunny days per year with July being the warmest month. That being said, what can homeowners do to protect their interior finishes and keep HVAC units from working overtime? The best ideas are those that keep the heat from entering a home, think motorized shades that block solar heat gain or taking your cooking outdoors. Read on to learn more about how you can combine the latest smart home technology with common practices employed by homeowners before central AC was en vogue.

SEE ALSO: Which Type of Motorized Shades is Right for Your Home?

Cool Down, Block Out Sunlight

During the sunniest parts of the day, you may find that sunlight streams into your home, and while the natural light is welcoming, it can also have an adverse outcome, quickly heating up your indoor spaces. The result: your AC unit is forced to work harder to keep these rooms cool and comfortable. Improve the cooling performance of your HVAC system by adding motorized shades made of UV-resistant material. Each solar shade type has a UV rating, which measures the shade’s ability to restrict harmful rays from passing through it.

Automate Operation, Restrict Harmful Rays

It’s common to talk about all the ways that smart window shades can benefit you and your Fort Worth, Texas home—energy efficiency, beauty, convenience, and so on. But what’s less common is information on the ways that motorized shades bring about those benefits. If you’re interested in learning about the technology that makes regular window treatments smarter, then read on. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Reasons to Invest in Motorized Shades for Your Home

The “Motorized” Part of Motorized Shades

Instead of the standard curtain rod you’d typically find in a home, smart window shades have rods with tiny motors in them. These motors either run on a track (for drapery) or cause a circular motion for roller shades. These motors are connected to a central technology system so that you can easily control if the shades are open or closed. One of the key features of quality shading brands like Lutron and QMotion is that their motors are practically silent, so you don’t have to listen to an annoying buzz anytime you want to raise or lower the shades.

The Control Methods

Obviously, one of the biggest advantages of smart window shades is that you never have to manually draw the shades open or closed. Instead, you use one of the many smart control methods available. Choose just one or all of them to add to your smart home automation system:

• Remotes: A simple, elegant remote can be used to adjust the window treatments. Just add it to your coffee table or nightstand and then push the up or down button whenever you’d like the shades adjusted.
• Phone or Tablet: You can also get the same effect as a remote straight from your smartphone or tablet. Just open up the app and select whether you want the shades open or closed in one room, a few rooms, or the entire home.
• Wall Switch: We can easily swap out the standard light switches in each room with a version that includes options to control both the lights and the window shades. The control options are personalized, and the switches come in a variety of styles to match the room’s décor.
• Wall Console: For a more sophisticated control approach, we can replace the standard wall switch with an in-wall touchscreen console. From this touchscreen, you can easily set the right shading, lighting, temperature, etc.
• Voice: Nothing beats the effortlessness of controlling a room with just your voice. By adding in a voice control device like Amazon Echo, you can simply say “Alexa, close the window shades,” and it will happen.

The Automation Possibilities

As nice as it is to be able to open and close the shades at the push of the button, the real magic happens when you integrate other systems in your home, such as the lighting or HVAC systems. With smart home automation, you don’t have to worry about controlling the window treatments—they open and close automatically depending on factors like the lighting and temperature levels in the room.

For Westlake, Texas homeowners who want something a little more flexible than a dedicated home theater system, a media room provides an excellent option for entertainment of all sorts. However, with any multipurpose room, the most common mistake is taking a “jack of all trades, master of none” approach. To create a space that provides a top-notch environment for all of your favorite activities, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. We’ve listed the top design mistakes and how to fix them below.

DON’T Permanently Block Out Natural Light

Sunlight is the bane of any dedicated home theater. It washes out projector visuals and creates a glare on television screens. Since you’ll likely want to enjoy movies and shows in your media room, your first instinct is probably to create a room without any windows. The problem is that the room needs to be available for other activities, like chatting with friends or playing a game of cards. In those cases, natural sunlight is great to have.

DO Install Blackout Shades on the Windows

The solution is to keep the windows, but include motorized shades that completely block out the light when you need a dark environment. With motorized shades, you have more flexibility for creating the perfect lighting for each activity, and changing the lighting is as easy as pushing a button.

DON’T Clutter the Room with Equipment

Bulky speakers, gaming equipment, and a pile of remotes on the coffee table create the distinct feeling that everyone is supposed to stare at the screen and jump right into a movie or video game. If you want the space to be open for other activities such as a fun party or relaxing with a good book, you don’t want to be distracted by the presence of AV equipment.

SEE MORE: 4 Unique Uses for Your Brand New Media Room

Are you looking for a subtle way to upgrade your home’s technology? Motorized shades serve a myriad of functions from protecting your privacy to reducing your energy costs. And your smart shading solution can be custom-designed to meet your needs. Start in one room, then expand to your entire Colleyville, Texas home as you see fit. Choose the control option that works best for you, whether it’s a remote, touchpad or smartphone. Read on to find out how the right solution can transform your home.

SEE MORE: 5 Ways to Manage Your Lights With Smart Control

Protect Your Family’s Privacy

Large windows are a trademark feature of luxury homes, letting you bathe your home with natural light and exposing beautiful views. These windows come with their own set of challenges. Windows may be too tall to reach or hard to manage for children or older family members. Don't worry; motorized shades can help! With control from a remote or touchpad, you can close them in seconds at the touch of a button without having to deal with them manually.

Having smart control of your shades also helps with your daily routines. Did you forget to close the shades before you went into the shower? There’s no need to walk up to the window to close them when you get out, just use the remote by your bed. To ensure all shades are closed when you go to sleep, use a "Shutdown" button that closes all the shades in your home.

Enhance Your Home’s Interior Design

One of the reasons motorized shades are so popular is that they serve both pragmatic and aesthetic purposes. While shades are there primarily for your privacy, they’re also a vital component in your interior design.

We work with the top manufacturers in the country to offer thousands of style, color and texture options so you can dress up your home with the perfect shades. No matter how big or out of reach your windows may be, we find the fabric and control solution that works best.