Media Rooms Ideas: The Five Best Places in your Home to Binge-Watch TV

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Elissa Morgante, AIA
Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson

May 8, 2020 - 5 min read

Media Rooms Ideas: The Five Best Places in your Home to Binge-Watch TV

As the pandemic continues and so many of us remain at home sheltering in place, design decisions made months or years ago are now paying dividends in ways we never could have imagined. A few months ago, you might have bought a cozy throw to cuddle up with as you watched TV, or a small side table to hold a drink while you enjoyed the game. Today, those little touches are probably adding immeasurably to your comfort as you spend time at home entertaining yourself by binge-watching The Office, revisiting favorite movies, and even getting in on the Tiger King trend (not that anyone in my house is doing that, mind you!). And so we thought it would be fun to take things up a notch, and share some of our favorite media room or home theater spaces for screen-viewing – with tips on what makes them special:

1. Decorate!

This luxurious bedroom features an intimate seating area, a romantic fireplace, and a flat screen television perfect for movie-watching before bed (or, these days, for whiling away endless afternoons!). Mounted to the wall, it’s surrounded by a decorative, mitered frame that adds texture to the mostly white space – and helps make the television look less like an electronics item and more like a piece of artwork.

2. Go big!

Here you can see how to go big – and go home! The oversize screen is mounted to the wall so it’s visible from multiple seating areas within the space (the bar stools, the game table, and the upholstered seating that’s out of view), making it easy for lots of people to see it easily. A ceiling-mounted unit projects onto the screen, whether TV shows, movies, or even a laptop screen. Note the vertically-mounted sound bars alongside; cove lighting and down lights are adaptable and dimmable for optimal viewing of the screen.

3. Multiply!

This is one of our favorite viewing rooms, as it ticks so many of our fantasy boxes. First, there’s the billiards table and the window seat – can’t you just imagine spending an evening hanging out here? Then of course, there’s the bar area, which rivals our favorite watering holes. And for the crowning glory, a trio of television monitors is suspended above, so there’s no need to miss a single play, no matter the game. NFL Sundays, March Madness, Opening Day – this is the place to be!

4. Conceal!

This family room displays one of our favorite tricks for blending a big-screen TV into a décor-forward space. Recessed into the fireplace wall behind a pair of hinged, folding doors, the TV can be easily hidden – or revealed. Comfy upholstered seating, and a fuss-free coffee table top, make this an ideal room to plunk down for an evening of TV-watching.

5. Screen it!

A luxury in any home, a dedicated theater room is a dream come true for anyone who enjoys watching television and movies in comfort and style. A black-out ceiling, painted gray walls, and a plush carpeted floor make this one feel like a cocoon. Then there’s the range of comfortable seating options, from cushy recliners to love seats and chaises, all of which invite viewers to choose their favorite, sink in, and enjoy the show. A tiered floor plan ensures everyone has a full view of the screen, no admission ticket required!

Follow @morgantewilson for more inspiration, or check out our website – we promise you’ll find plenty of eye candy for every room in your house!

Morgante Wilson Architects provides architectural and interior design services in Chicago, Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Northbrook, Northfield, Ravinia, Wilmette and Winnetka – along with Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Utah, Wisconsin and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Read other related blog posts from Chicago’s award-winning interior designers and residential architects Morgante Wilson:

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Elissa Morgante, AIA

Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson