Regardless of what’s on your wish list, a built-in entertainment unit can wrangle those naughty electrical cords and components, making your home entertainment system nothing but nice!

 

Designing custom cabinetry that puts everything in its proper place can be a challenging situation. Whether it’s a flat screen TV or video projection system, there are so many components that need to work together. Today’s technology has been evolving so quickly that it’s sometimes tricky to keep one step ahead of the game. Another thing is certain … the lines between wall units, computer stations, library shelving and entertainment centers have been blurred. Families now do more than merely gather in the living room to watch a movie. Now there’s gaming, music, streaming, video chatting, and who knows what else will be introduced by the time this article is posted! Here are some ideas that should keep your clients on the cutting edge and organize their entertainment elements in the most attractive way.

 

• Remind them that their electronics are an investment. Since they represent a significant financial outlay, they should put as much thought into how they’ll be organized and stored in the home as they do choosing the individual components.

 

• Learn what’s most important to your clients. Do they watch a lot of movies or listen to more music? Do they love gaming? Physically challenging games or hand-held controller games? Prioritize the design of any built-in media unit to focus on what’s first and foremost on their list for entertainment.

 

• Don’t cram! Make sure that TV’s and components that generate heat have ample space for ventilation. Over time, heat can damage or destroy the components, so ventilation is key to making sure your system lasts a long time.

 

• If space permits, consider a specially designated media closet. If your clients have a generously sized family room, you can design a narrow closet behind beautiful cabinetry to conceal all media equipment. This provides easy access to the back of their media cabinet. Incorporate a door in the same material and finish as the shelving or cabinet units for a streamlined look.

 

• Recessed wall cabinets with upper shelves and lower cabinets save space and add dimension. The shelves offer an area to accessorize, helping the unit blend into the surrounding living space and making it easy to change up décor when a fresh look is desired.

 

• Don’t waste space around a fireplace. Use it to create secret storage and a stunning display area. You can find some beautiful examples of this at www.royalcustomcabinets.com. Blending a mantle into surrounding built-ins or filling in dead space on one or both sides of a fireplace offer ideal solutions.

 

• It may seem impossible to conceal the super-sized spaghetti-like mound of cords that results when you hook up all of your entertainment elements. Plan for a way to hide them in the cabinetry design. They can easily be tucked behind a sliding door, wall, panel or drawer.

 

• Carefully consider shelves and drawers for DVD and CD storage. Video streaming via AppleTv, computers and many gaming consoles is the wave of the future. Well, actually it’s here. And it’s eliminating the need to have a DVD or CD physically in-hand. In my house, we’ve already moved completely over to digital files. Now my only problem is where to store the bins of discs until I’m sure they’re no longer needed. Piling them in the storage room is a lot better than piling them in the family room! You want to be able to open drawers and slide doors in an organized fashion in order to access something specific within seconds. Ideally, think of your clients being able to hold a drink in one hand, talk to guests and find that favorite CD. Multi-tasking is the key to good design.

 

• Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is great, but “floating” doors and drawers can be just as effective. Check out www.inhousesf.com for some effective design options.

 

Also consider incorporating the following useful elements:

 

• Full-extension rollouts for computer components.

 

• Decorative trim makes family room cabinetry feel more like furniture and less like a “storage unit.” Once again, Royal Custom Cabinets (www.royalcustomcabinets.com) out of Toronto shows some great examples on their website that incorporate crown moulding, pediments and trim.

 

• Sleek and streamlined doors and drawers sans hardware can hide a lot. Tuck drawers and pull-outs behind closed doors, giving the appearance of nothing more than a paneled wall on the exterior. Visit www.cabinetcreationsiowa.com and www.inhousesf.com for some attractive examples of modern, streamlined media centers with hidden panels.

 

• Integrated lighting adds a whole new dimension to shelving units. It’s a must.

 

Remember that flexibility is key. No matter what a family’s needs are, creating a space that appeals to the entire family is the ultimate goal. 

 

What are your favorite tips for designing a multi-functional entertainment center? We’d love to know: Holly.berecz@me.com