Incorporating a Television into Your Bedroom
Flat-screen TVs are making their way into rooms designed for sleep more often, now that late-night viewing has gone mainstream. The bedroom is also a popular place to decompress by binge-watching your favorite series. Tough day at work? Let the talk-show hosts help you laugh. Spent all day conversing with kiddos? Turn on a movie for some grown-up conversation.
The progression of TVs and all they have to offer makes them a more enticing addition to your sleeping quarters than ever before. Even though experts might tell you to skip the screen in a sanctuary like a bedroom, streaming from bed has already become a habit for the average homeowner. If a TV is a must-have, you might as well do it right.
SIZING IT UP
If you feel hesitant about housing a TV in your master bedroom for aesthetic reasons, the latest ultra-slim profiles make them easy to integrate with no regrets. Gone are the days of bulky tube TVs. Even when the screens are large, the hardware is slim.
Before you go out and buy the biggest screen you can find, consider the configuration of your personal space. An ideal scenario would include opposite walls to accommodate your viewing area and a TV. The perfect setup won’t require you to cram either into a corner or crane your neck to catch your favorite flick. Televisions are measured on the diagonal, so keep that in mind when scoping your wall space.
THE BIG PICTURE
Think about the perfect viewing perch in your master suite. Do you love to sit up in bed with a bevy of blankets or recline on a classic chaise longue? Will one person or the entire family be huddled together for a weekly movie night? Or both? Test the available areas to make sure they support your positioning and can be perfected with the right TV height and distance for optimal viewing. Depending on the layout, you may be able to enjoy the TV from more than one seating area.
PERSONAL PREFERENCE
Though wall-mounted configurations remain in demand, some TVs are installed too high for comfortable viewing. Adding a media cabinet to the equation lends a decorative element and storage for components. These gems come in a variety of styles and sizes and help to ensure your TV can be positioned at eye level.
If you want to play a little hide-and-seek by concealing your TV when it’s not in use, you can try something traditional like an armoire or modern options like sliding art or a wall-cabinet mirror. A projection screen can be pulled down from the ceiling when it’s time for a screening. For the ultimate in home-theater luxury, have a motorized lift cabinet installed at the foot of your bed; use a remote control to raise and reveal the TV when it’s in use and conceal it completely when it’s time for sleep. These options can be especially fitting if you don’t plan to watch every day but prefer the big screen to a laptop or tablet.
CLOSING CREDITS
Make sure your TV placement or installation is safe and secure, especially if kids and pets are a part of your household. If you still feel a television may not be a bonus in your master bedroom, or you’ve tried and found it to be superfluous, then skip it for now. It’s easy to add a television back into the mix should you decide to go that route in the future. Written by Jeanine Matlow. Photography provided by ©iStockphoto.com/pixelfit.
Tech Talk
Buy the best TV for your budget and don’t forget to check the picture quality and reviews ahead of time.
You don’t always need all the bells and whistles to watch a movie in bed. Sometimes standard models will do just fine.
Think outside the box with streaming devices like Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV. Ask the experts about the latest technology, which changes faster than your remote control can change the channel.