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" Design aficionados would never let a flat screen TV dictate our decor. But as designer Jamie Drake says, &amp;quot;The world&amp;#039;s a techno-driven place today and the reality is that we all watch TV or movies at least a little, and maybe a lot.&amp;quot; And considering that by the end of 2009, according to a recent survey by the Consumer Electronics Association, 44 percent of homes will have a TV that&amp;#039;s at least 40 inches in size\u2014it&amp;#039;s time to admit we love entertainment and tame the elephant in the room. A media room on our terms will be a space comfortable enough for a three-hour film and sophisticated enough for entertaining. To conquer this ongoing battle between the living room and media room, we&amp;#039;ve tapped into the creative circuitry of Jamie Drake and Vicente Wolf, two stars of the design elite, and Doug Wilson, who&amp;#039;s known for his no-nonsense design approach on Trading Spaces. From these experts, here&amp;#039;s what you need to know to transform an existing living room into a double-duty media room that&amp;#039;s high-tech savvy without sacrificing one ounce of style. Furnishings Surprisingly, many practical picks for media rooms make sense for chic living rooms too, so merging the two worlds may be easier than anticipated.  Upholstery &amp;quot;Upholstery should have a good pitch to support the neck and back,&amp;quot; says Vicente Wolf. &amp;quot;Look for fabrics that are practical, yet soft, like leather.&amp;quot; Because guests will likely be snacking, pick fabrics treated with a soil protectant so spills aren&amp;#039;t fatal attractions. Slipcovers are an easy and an inexpensive way to protect furniture upholstered in light or neutral fabrics. Seating Choices Although nice if space allows, it&amp;#039;s not necessary to provide a traditional chair or sofa for every guest. A large ottoman gives guests a place to rest feet and can double as seating. Let some guests lounge on large pillows tossed onto the floor. Prior to guests&amp;#039; arrival, furniture should be repositioned so it faces the TV from a desirable angle. &amp;quot;And banish the recliners\u2014if the show is that boring, go to bed!&amp;quot; muses Jamie Drake. Lighting Lighting should be on dimmer switches. &amp;quot;I &amp;#039;gang&amp;#039; lighting so areas can be lit at different times and to ensure no glare or visual discomfort,&amp;quot; says Wolf. Balancing the need for dark with safety is important and can be achieved with floorlevel night lights placed in outlets along side walls or low lighting at the back of the room. Storage Place components and DVDs behind closed doors in storage units that complement decor found elsewhere in the room. Guests also need places to store refreshments. Drop-leaf accent tables, cubes or nesting tables can be scattered around the room easily. &amp;quot;Make sure there are tables within easy reach of each seat. &amp;quot;Nothing&amp;#039;s more annoying than having to search for a surface in the middle of a big scene,&amp;quot; adds Drake. Protect table surfaces with coasters and keep a stack of napkins nearby so sticky fingers don&amp;#039;t spot upholstery.  Layout Monitor &amp;quot;I take the honest approach and don&amp;#039;t hide the screen,&amp;quot; says Drake. &amp;quot;I often hang it directly on the wall in all its naked tech glory.&amp;quot; If the room contains a fireplace, installing the monitor above it is popular with some designers because it capitalizes on an existing focal point instead of creating a competing secondary focal point that disrupts the visual flow of the space and competes for attention. Others contend that doing so ruins a great focal point so follow the direction that all designers agree on\u2014decide for yourself based on your own personal preference. Speakers &amp;quot;Surround sound&amp;#039;s very important and now there are speakers that offer high-quality sound and are aesthetically pleasing,&amp;quot; notes Wolf. The shape and style of speakers run the gamut so there&amp;#039;s something for every room size. Small-shelf speakers can be hidden between books. Tall, narrow wall speakers can be disguised with grilles that resemble art. Sculpture-shaped floor speakers can be tucked between furniture or artistically grouped. A Practical Note Before you shop, take measurements of the room along the wall where the monitor and speakers will be placed. &amp;quot;Consumers need to be particularly aware of the size and shape of TVs or home theater screens,&amp;quot; says Doug Wilson. Pulling the Look Together Once the monitor, components and speakers are in place, turn your sight to finishing details. De-clutter the room by hiding cords and remotes. &amp;quot;Some existing furnishings may need to be moved around a bit to best incorporate the size of these new elements,&amp;quot; adds Wilson. Then think like your guests. Sit in each and every seat. See if any furnishings like lamps or floor sculpture block the view and need to be moved. With a purposeful and thoughtful approach, it&amp;#039;s easy to take the drama out of home theater and create a sophisticated space that performs its dual role without missing a stylish step. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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