Most of us would love to have a dedicated home theater room. A place to call our own when we want to hunker down for the night with a bowl of popcorn, a nice plush leather seat and this week’s latest blockbuster. However, for some of us that’s just not possible – we have to use our home theater space for other purposes when we’re not in movie-mode.

If you’ve found that your house is short on space, or you just want to convert your home theater/family room into a more versatile area, read on. Being economical with your space doesn’t mean that you have to give up any of that great audio or video you’d expect from a dedicated home theater, nor does it mean that you have to give up the stylish elements like a custom frame from HD Envy. It just means you’re going to have to get a little creative.

The most common alter-ego of a home theater is a games room. This usage is pretty consistent with the ethos of a home theater. It requires some additional equipment and media, but most of the hardware, like your flat screen TV and your surround sound system, are left intact – but you can get a flat screen TV for the gamer if you want to upgrade. For a games room, you will need a gaming console, some games, and any of those little extras like special controllers needed to play the game. That’s the basics. From there, you can add a great lounge chair for leaning back and enjoying a few hours of immersing yourself in an interactive world, and you can set up your audio and video to perform better based on the requirements of the game.

So what about something not as simple? Some people use their home theater as a business presentation location. Especially for small business owners, this room is great because it has the multi-media aspect, but it also has the professionalism that one would expect from such a meeting. For this purpose, you might need a large conference table and some additional seating. You can buy stackable chairs and a folding table, if this is just going to be an occasional event. You can also set up your computer, such as your Mac Mini, to connect to your home theater devices and play your Power Point presentations with the click of a mouse.

Other, less common conversions of home theaters include adding a stage for children’s plays, adding some tables and chairs to throw a CD release party, or screening a photo slideshow. The sky’s the limit if you want to convert your home theater for other uses, especially those that use audio/video.

It isn’t enough to just have the latest and greatest home theater equipment. You must take good care of it in order to pull out the best performance, and have an overall functionally and aesthetically appealing room. In addition to maintenance and AV tweaking, you’ll need to keep your gear clean if you want the top-performance possible.

You’ve got to understand proper AV equipment care in order to preserve the life of your devices. You can’t just go in there with a rag and some cleaner and swipe away the grime – you could end up irreparably damaging the surface, the finish, or even the inner mechanisms of your device. So, if you’re proud of how well all of your equipment shows off your flat screen TV frame, you’ll want to keep it clean to keep it looking and performing at its best.

There are some basic cleaning rules for all, or at least most, AV equipment. Be absolutely sure that the device is in “off” (not just standby) mode before tackling the dust. If you can, unplug it to be doubly sure. Furniture polish or wax is meant for furniture – not for your gear. Keep it for the mahogany coffee table and the traditional wood flat screen TV frame, and never use it on electronics. When you do pick a cleaner, don’t spray it straight onto the device. Spray it onto a cloth to protect your delicate home theater components. And finally, after reading this article, go check out the user’s manual for your equipment. If you don’t have a hardcopy, many manuals can be found online. There is usually a section on care and cleaning, and it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when it comes to the delicate operation that is cleaning your home theater.

So now on to the specifics. We’ll begin with tips on cleaning your plasma or LCD HDTV, as this is usually the central unit of a home theater. Before you begin, keep in mind that you can keep your flat screen TV frame mounted, or you can remove it with a few easy snaps. An LCD TV screen will be damaged by common household chemicals like Windex, so purchase a cleaner specifically designed to be gentle on screens. The cloth that you use should be soft and either dry or nearly dry – most LCD screens get damaged by moisture and too much rubbing, so treat this delicately. If you must use a cleaner for that stubborn dirt, try a small amount of water first.

Your TV might not be the dustiest thing in your home theater. In fact, the nature of Blu-Ray players, DVD players and gaming consoles make them highly susceptible to dust and dirt collection. The fans that are used for ventilation often make dust settle on the back, around the cables, and when you’re doing your general sweep of the room with a duster, you will often miss those areas around the buttons and underneath the devices.

In order to do a thorough job of cleaning these devices, you should pair your regular cleaning with something a bit more rigorous. Try using that same soft, dry cloth that you used for your TV. You’ll want to start with the device that is on top of the stack and move downward, because dust will likely fall from the top down. On the chassis, keep the dusting motion designed to dust away from the vent holes to preserve the delicate inner workings. When you move to the front panel, you might want to use a soft paintbrush, as this will get you precision without being so rough as to knock around your settings. For the inside of your device, keep an optical lens cleaner disc handy. These are versatile little discs that spin and use small brushes or holes to pull away the dust and dirt.

Cleaning your home theater properly will not only make it look great and highlight your modern flat screen TV frame, but it will also prolong the life of your components. The tips above are all great to follow, but just to reiterate an important point – because not all devices are created equal, check out the cleaning section of the manufacturer’s manual before diving in to your home theater dusting day.

It is all well and good to have the latest devices in your home theater: that massive LCD HDTV, a surround sound system, theater seating and great lighting. But what makes your home theater your own are the little things, the details, the finishing touches on a room that will make your guests go “oooooh…aaahhhh…” and then hush when the movie starts. You can design your home theater on your own, consult magazines and online design ideas, or hire a designer to create your entertainment space. However you approach it, there are certain guidelines that will ensure that your home theater has all the personality you want to give it.

A rule of thumb when designing your home theater is to plan ahead. You don’t have to get all the details down right away, and of course there is plenty of room for experimentation and changing your mind with your design. But you should have a general idea of where cabinets, speakers, ventilation and lighting are going to be placed before you being construction. As construction goes on, you will want to bring in more and more details. For instance, are you going to have in-ceiling lighting or sconce? You do not necessarily have to pick out the exact lighting fixtures right away, but you should have an idea of where and what category of lighting you are going to incorporate so that you can get the wiring done in the construction phase.

Once the room has all of the major elements in place (or at least it has been sectioned off for future incorporation of these elements), you can begin to think about the specifics. One of the first things people turn to at this point is the color scheme. You want the walls and ceilings to match the carpet and the chairs to blend in with the accents, right? The colors you choose can create a sophisticated theater experience, or a fun playroom feel. Whatever design you are going for, color will play a major part. One important thing to keep in mind when splashing your home theater with color is to keep visual enjoyment of the movie or TV show in the forefront of your mind. Bright colors and lights surrounding the actual TV can look stunning when nothing is playing, but it can greatly distract from the image on screen. Most home theater experts will tell you that a neutral grey should directly surround the screen in order to get the most out of your viewing experience. You can frame this with any color or style you like, but it is something to keep in mind when you are at this stage of designing your home theater.

Acoustic panels can be a great touch to not only fill out the sound in your room, but to enhance the design as well. They are thin acoustic fiberglass panels that are wrapped in acoustically transparent fabric, and you can customize these in nearly limitless possibilities. You can have red, blue, checkered, or zig-zag patterns, and some companies will even print an image of your choice on the fabric. You can make acoustic panels appear as windows to a Roman coliseum or as aquarium glass with swimming fish behind it.

Your home theater should reflect you, in everything from the seating to the lighting, from the color to the size of the room. You want to be surrounded by an atmosphere that is unique and appealing, and one that enhances your visual and audio experience. By paying attention to the details, your home theater will become a piece of art unto itself, and your next movie will be one to remember.

Lauren is a writer for the HD Envy blog. HD Envy works tirelessly to produce the latest LCD TV wall frame styles for you. The design experts have created a variety of LCD TV wall frame solutions in wood, leather and other materials, or you can custom create your own LCD TV wall frame to match your current home theater décor. The LCD TV wall frame solutions from HD Envy are built to last and built on years of engineering expertise to allow for easy installation. Their designs are inspired by some of the top casinos, hotels and corporate locations in the world that are equipped with LCD TV wall frame products, so you know you are getting only the best quality with HD Envy.

While it isn’t always easy (or even financially possible) to change our décor as interior styles come and go, it’s nice to know the trends. The top color picks of the season can be incorporated into your home theater as a few accent pieces, as a total revamp, or as your foundation if you are just starting out. Whatever your situation, we’ve got you covered: here are the three top color trends of 2009, as defined by the Pantone Color Institute and the Color Marketing Group, two of the design industry’s color experts.

Blues and greens are going to stay strong, but compared to the previous years, which saw vibrant and lively tones, this year they will be more muted. Some experts believe that they will go so far as to become earthy and natural tones, to align themselves with the eco-movement that is happening even in our home theaters. Whether it is to match that EnergyStar seal of approval on your HDTV or not, prepare for some mixtures of grey- and darker blue-based tones in with that sky blue and grass green from last year.

Speaking of greys, that’s the next color on trend-watch. You’ve no doubt got some stainless steel appliances in your kitchen, right? Well this year the grey is moving to the walls and accent pieces. Grey is a good choice if you want to go neutral, but don’t want to fall back on the over-used creams and beiges that plague many an interior. There are many types of grey: blue-toned, green-toned, smoky. Grey goes well with many colors, so it is a great starting point for creating a unique room that retains its versatility.

And the third color trend is one that will definitely stand out among all the greys and muted blues and greens: vibrant, lively purple. Although lilac and lavender have been favorites for interior accents in years past, they are now getting illuminated, brightened up, and put in the spotlight. Purple is a rich color, whatever the variety. You could go with plumb or with raspberry, grape or blackberry and it will be a delicious addition to any room this season. Because purple is associated with posh and royalty, many people are turning to it to give their rooms a little more character.

So what should you take away from this overview of this year’s hottest interior trends? Well, they can be great jump-off points for inspiration. Looking at color combinations and design ideas can really get your imagination rolling, and can bring out the creative decorator inside all of us. In the end, remember that your home should be a reflection of you, and does not have to look like it’s straight out of a magazine. Be as creative or as conservative as you like. Express yourself and find the design and the color that makes you feel most at home, because after all, it is your home.

Lauren is a contributing author to the HD Envy blog. HD Envy is a custom TV frame manufacturer that is dedicated to bringing you stylish, high-quality and easy-to-install frames for your home theater. Your LCD or plasma TV will look stunning in a custom TV frame that is designed to fit with your color-scheme. Any palette can be complimented, any stain can be matched. The professionals at HD Envy will work with you to create a custom TV frame that suits your needs. Whether you want a custom TV frame for your living room, your home theater, your office or your home bar, HD Envy will create the perfect framing solution for you.

There are many different considerations when you make the choice to frame a flat screen TV, not the least of which is the type of wood used for the frame itself. Although you might be tempted to just dive in and let your gut instincts guide you, choosing one based on how it looks alone, you should know some basics about wood stains and wood species to ensure you get the longest lasting, most compatible TV picture frame for your needs.

The type of wood you choose for your frame depends on your current décor and your needs, but keep in mind that a frame is meant to last the life of your TV – so you should avoid plywood or any cheap composite wood. You want to opt for the premium grain, such as ash, oak, walnut, cherry or mahogany.

HD Envy offers a custom design experience where you can choose the type of base wood and the stain to give it its color. The combination of wood type and stain is important, and rather than creating a DIY project that will end in a headache, talk to the professionals at HD Envy to ensure that your combination will look appropriate.

Talking about stains, there are several types to choose from. You can have a wedgewood blue on ash stain for a deep sea feel, or a clear stain on maple for a lighter, airy feel. Your color options are almost unlimited, and the type of stain depends only on your décor and the advice of your framing specialist.

At HD Envy, the option to customize and frame a flat screen TV is by far the best choice if you are looking to perfectly match your new frame to your current décor. The framing experts will work with you to produce a stain that matched other stained wood in your home theater, that compliments your walls or that brings out a certain accent color.

It is important to take good care of the fine wood that you choose for your frame. You don’t want to see the stain fade and the wood chip over time. There are many wood care kits on the market, so all you need to know is the type of wood in your LCD TV frame and you can go to your local hardware store to get what you need. And remember: HD Envy uses MinWax Wood Finish to stain all of their frames, which is known for its long-lasting, deep color that won’t fade with time.

If you’ve decided to frame a flat screen TV, you’ll want to know your stain and wood options well ahead to decide whether you want a custom frame or a pre-made frame. At HD Envy, you can choose from several stains, including: Sedona Red; Provincial; Old World Mahogany; English Chestnut; Colonial Maple; and Ebony. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for in that bunch, the framing experts are always there to color match any stain you prefer.

Lauren Dugan is a contributor to the HD Envy blog. HD Envy specializes in giving you all the tools and expert craftsmanship you need to frame a flat screen TV. The wide variety of options, including the ability to custom frame a flat screen TV, is what sets HD Envy apart from the competition.

Wall-mounting flat-panel HDTVs is all the rage these days, as more and more consumers realize the benefits of having their TVs flush against their wall. The space that is saved, both on the wall and the floor, by not having a massive, clunky entertainment center is a breath of fresh air to anyone who has, or is considering, a wall-mounted TV.

However, even if you have the sleekest and slimmest flat screen TV wall frame on the market, you are going to have some other considerations before you can sit back and enjoy the stunning action scenes in Spiderman 3 – where are you going to put all that stuff that was sitting on your entertainment center? Those DVDs and game discs, consoles and Blu-Ray players, amps and cable boxes… where does it go now that your TV is floating free from the bulky (but admittedly useful) entertainment center?

All that space you’ve just freed up on your wall and floor shouldn’t have to be filled up again in order to store your home theater accessories. There has to be a better way, but what is it?
The first and more obvious option is to install shelves for all of your storage needs. On the market today are some extremely modern-looking and heavy-duty shelves, so whether your concerns are style or functionality, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for. These shelves can hold everything from your DVD collection to your amp and cable box, so don’t overlook the simple answer when on the hunt for home theater storage.

Smaller racks are also an option. Racks come in a variety of sizes, so in order to minimize their appearance but still benefit from their functionality, you could look into 19-inch or smaller. Racks can hold a variety of electronic modules and can take care of much of your audio and video needs, while remaining relatively discrete in a corner or unobtrusive spot in your room.
The floor space that you’ll save by installing a flat screen TV wall frame or other device can also be used for storage purposes. You can purchase a low-sitting cabinet to sit discretely under the TV itself, or you can use the space for speakers and other A/V enhancements. You can even use the floor space to play Twister between commercials!

The space you’ll save by wall mounting your flat panel TV can be used in a nearly infinite number of ways, limited only by your imagination and your home theater needs. If you are of the minimalist set, you can leave it entirely blank, hide the wires behind your TV and within the television frame, and hook up your cable box and other necessities at the back of the room. Or you can decorate it with pictures and curios. It is up to you.

Lauren Dugan is a contributing author to HD Envy. HD Envy is a quality manufacturer of flat screen TV wall frame solutions. By incorporating a flat screen TV wall frame into your home theater, you will save space and upgrade your style to meet the needs of a modern home. The flat screen TV wall frame products at HD Envy are produced with only the highest-grade material and are fully customizable, to ensure that you get the most out of your home theater.