Transform any room into a home theatre

(NC) Winter is made for curling up inside to watch a good movie or tv show. And when you’re in hibernation mode, it’s nice to have a dedicated place for binge-watching. Here are some tips to create your very own theatre at home:

Minimize ambient disruptions. You don’t need to do a major remodel, but a few changes can help cut out distracting sounds and light. Try choosing a space that’s naturally darker like your basement, or you can fake it with room-darkening or blackout blinds. When it comes to eliminating noise, softer materials can make a big difference – add an area rug, throw pillows and lush curtains.  

Plan for proper viewing. For a comfortable experience, consider some rules of thumb for viewing and seating distances. The distance from your tv should be 1.5 to 2.5 times the diagonal width of the screen, and it’s best to have the centre of the screen at eye level. If you’re buying a new tv, use this formula to see how big you can go before it starts to get overwhelming.

Get the right media stand. You don’t want a multitude of cables cluttering up your home theatre, so look for a cabinet that has space for cable management. If you still have a Blu-ray or DVD player, make sure there’s space for it too. If most of your content comes via the internet, plan for your Wi-Fi router to be nearby. It’s also important that your electronics are well ventilated, as they can heat up when in use. A power strip with built-in surge protection can be a cost effective way to protect your high-tech toys.

Streamline your content. Many of us are cutting the cord nowadays, replacing traditional television with online subscription services. But if you still want to enjoy a cable-like experience, consider TiVo Edge for antenna, a live tv, DVR and streaming player that lets you easily find and watch the content you love. It integrates popular apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, as well as live-to-air television, and has handy features that let you search across content partners, record shows and skip commercials. Find more information at tivo.com/ca.