5 Tips to Design the Perfect Room for Your Home Audio System
Written by Jules Hopkins from HouseTipster.com
More homeowners than ever are looking for ways to integrate technology into their homes. Smart devices that connect to the internet and can be controlled remotely are making their way into the building phase.
Today, buyers move in with more technologically advanced options than anyone thought possible only a few years ago. Smart TVs, refrigerators, central air, and other devices communicate with owners and with each other so that houses operate efficiently.
Now that connected devices and integrated technology have become more common, interior designers are finding ways to weave décor into houses to make technology most effective. One of the best ways design enhances technology is with acoustic design.
In-home integrated audio systems are a sought-after option for many homeowners. Audiophiles love being able to control sound throughout the house from a central location and look for ways to design their homes to improve sound quality. Here are the top five ways homeowners can design the perfect room for a home audio system.
1. Examine Speaker Options for Living Spaces
Speakers range widely in price, size, and power. The kind of power and sound zones you want to create need to go hand in hand with designing livable spaces. To keep a room livable and looking nice, you need to consider what kind of speakers to choose.
What to Consider for In-Wall and Ceiling Speakers
In-wall or ceiling speakers are a popular option because they blend in so well with the room. Homeowners can enjoy top-quality audio without intrusive speakers lying around the floor or jutting out from walls. Modern in-wall speakers require more expertise for installation because they need to be cut into walls and have wires run behind them. They also need to be painted or manufactured in colors that match the room. Once installed, it’s almost impossible to obstruct their sound with furniture.
What to Consider for Floor and Bookshelf Speakers
Floor speakers and bookshelf speakers can work but require more planning. The most dedicated audiophiles know that it’s hard to beat high-end floor and bookshelf speakers. They’re large and can be placed around the room for perfect effect. However, they also stand out. For people who want speakers to blend into the room, large speakers can be a challenge. Homeowners also have the challenge of having running wires across the floor. As a solution, keep large floor and bookshelf speakers on the edge of rooms out of the way of traffic.
2. Lighting Options Can Accentuate Sound
A simple home option for the perfect audio room is installing great lighting. New LED changeable lights are cheaper than ever and can be customized to user preference. Parents can relax to some cool-colored lighting after work at night, and the kids can pump things up with warmer colors when mom and dad aren’t around. Different colored lights can change based on the music and mood homeowners want to achieve in the room. Modern applications can control the light change intervals on a schedule from a central location. They’re easy to use and a fun way to liven things up.
3. Work with Professional Audio Integrators for Acoustic Design
When people drop a lot of money on home audio system, they should consider hiring an audio integrator to optimize the system. This means getting a consultation on perfecting the room’s acoustic design.
Believe it or not, but some people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on home audio systems. Even if your budget is nowhere near that much, having a couch or table in the wrong location can interrupt the flow of sound.
Audio integrators are able to look at a room and decide where furniture, shelves, TVs, and other items should be placed to achieve the highest sound quality. They’ll make sure the speakers are in the right spot in the initial planning phase, so you’ll hear the music the way the artist intended.
Whether you’re designing a music listening or producing room, or you just want the movie to sound the best it possibly can, hiring an audio integrator can make your audio system work great.
4. Using Furniture as a Natural Diffuser
Diffusers are used in studios and high-end listening rooms to bounce sound waves around the room to achieve maximum listening quality. One of the main problems with diffusers is they stand out. They’re immediately noticed in a living space.
Unless you’re a diehard who doesn’t care about natural décor, diffusers can be an eyesore. Modern diffusers look much better than their predecessors, but they still have a long way to go.
One thing you can do to get the effect of diffusers without installing bulky panels on your walls is to use furniture as natural diffusers. Soft furniture like sitting chairs and sofas can work just as well as a costly diffuser. Position them in even spaces around the room to reduce the amount of sound waves that are reflected off walls and windows.
Another thing you can do is install heavy curtains on windows to reduce the glass surface area that reflects waves. It will also cut down on outside noise that interrupts whatever you’re listening to.
5. Think About Installing Sound Absorbers
We mentioned in the last tip that sounds get reflected off walls. Diffusers bounce sounds around the room evenly, but the best audio rooms find a way to absorb low and high-pitched sounds that impact sound quality.
Now, the key to installing sound absorbers is to use them in critical areas that don’t impair a room’s design. Homeowners should prioritize corners where two walls meet the floor and ceiling. This is where most sound reflection occurs, so absorption will have the greatest effect.
Corners also amplify low-frequency reverberation like bass. Heavy-bass music listened to at high volume can bounce around the room without absorption. Bass traps placed in the corner of rooms absorb bass, so the music stays crystal clear. Absorbers have made strides in the style column as of late. They come in a variety of colors and styles, so they can work with more interior design styles.