Putting together an entire home theater without professional help is a huge undertaking. After all the work you’ve put into it, it would be a shame to not make the space look as well-decorated as possible. That home theater built from the ground up is supposed to be a refuge and a room to indulge in relaxation and entertainment — cluttered wires and bulky equipment get in the way of that and impact the vibe of the room.
Never fear, because it’s possible to have a DIY home theater on the cutting edge of technology that also looks clean and aesthetically-pleasing. You just have to get a little crafty with it. Keep reading for practical and DIY-friendly ways to conceal the bulk while still enjoying top-notch entertainment.
Does Hiding Clutter Matter in a Home Theater?
What’s the point of even hiding cluttered cables in an entertainment room when it’s ideally a dark space in the first place? Well, it turns out there’s a reason — excessive clutter in the home or office has been linked to difficulty concentrating and increased rates of anxiety and depression. We’re not saying that you’re going to go full depression spiral over some intertwined cables sitting around, but when that media room you built entirely on your own is cluttered, you’ll have difficulty concentrating. It’s sort of the opposite of relaxation.
Taking the time to hide away cables and other clutter has a number of benefits, including:
- Improved aesthetics – maintain your décor style with zero compromises.
- Enhanced immersion – less distraction from messy cables means more focus on the screen.
- Increased value of the room – you put all the work of constructing an entertainment room without hiring anyone. You may as well make it look as good as humanly possible.
Hide Your Home Theater Essentials
Tangled Wires and Cables No More
The ultimate eyesore in any room — whether it’s a family room or the home theater you designed with minimal know-how — are cables and wires out in the open for everyone to see. But hiding them effectively isn’t always the most intuitive thing to do, either.
If you’re able to, try running cables through the drywall. Think of in-wall cable solutions as just another step in achieving that DIY home theater of your dreams. It’s by far the most aesthetically-pleasing option to hide wires and cables, and all it takes is a bit of research and willingness to get behind the drywall. This method works great for cables like HDMI cords that belong to a wall-mounted screen. As always when working with electrical equipment, be safe, make sure the cables used are rated for in-wall use, and never run a power cable inside the wall.
Cable management boxes are another solid option for tidying up messy cords and wires. They’re rectangular boxes that affix to a surface (walls, floors, and ceilings are all fair game), and they provide an enclosed space to hold all of the extra clutter. These days, cable management boxes are minimal, chic, and meant to blend right in with existing décor. Depending on the situation, they’re a better option than in-wall solutions, especially for renters.
Similarly, media room furniture with plenty of extra storage is a gift from above for extra cables and clutter. Lots of furniture designed for use in entertainment rooms will have clever built-in storage to let you get the most of it. If you wanted to, you could even upcycle previously loved furniture into some amazing storage. Keep an eye out for the following features when browsing furniture:
- Openings/cutouts – look for furniture with removable panels in the back where you can store cable slack.
- Hidden compartments – sections within the furniture might be devoted to excess cables or small devices.
- Ventilation – not always thought about, ventilation is essential for electronics.
Not a Speaker in Sight
A home theater isn’t complete without speakers, and you probably spent way too much time figuring out how to set them up when building out your multimedia room from scratch. But at the same time, speakers are bulky, and the best ones are designed with function in mind more than form. Thankfully, there are ways to integrate them well into your media room setup.
Much like cords and cables, speakers can be installed in the wall, or even the ceiling. With just a grille visible, it’s easily the most aesthetic choice, because it almost gives the impression of the sound coming from the room itself. If you go this route, you might want to forego your DIY home theater skills and let a professional handle this one.
Bookshelf speakers do an incredible job at blending form and function — they’re high-powered speakers that are just big enough to where they can nestle on a bookshelf nicely. If you choose to go this route, make sure to match colors with your existing décor for the best possible look.
The other option is to shirk the speakers entirely and opt for a soundbar. They’re practically designed for visual integration and take up almost no space. They can usually be placed right below a wall-mounted tv screen without adding much bulk. It’s much less complex than your standard speaker setup, and you still get enhanced audio quality.
So, go ahead — give that entertainment room that you built entirely on your own the professional look it deserves. Clean up the clutter, and sink into a world of relaxation and comfort.