A guide to custom Entertainment Centers

The need for entertainment centers has become widespread in recent years. With the drastic changes in televisions and other audio-visual technologies that consumers are purchasing and the prevalent trend of home builders creating niches for built-in units, many homeowners now find themselves in need of an entertainment center that fits both their electronic equipment and the aesthetic style of their home.

Entertainment Centers and more

The need for entertainment centers has become widespread in recent years. With the drastic changes in televisions and other audio-visual technologies that consumers are purchasing and the prevalent trend of home builders creating niches for built-in units, many homeowners now find themselves in need of an entertainment center that fits both their electronic equipment and the aesthetic style of their home.

There are many questions on the minds of consumers as they approach this issue; the two foremost are cost and design. The cost of an entertainment center can, of course, vary greatly. As a general rule, homeowners should be prepared to spend at least as much on the entertainment center as on the television, and often up to three times the cost. As the TV gets larger so does the cabinet, in order to accommodate not only the television itself but also all of the associated equipment. Though some of the cabinetry options now available may seem superfluous at first glance, they often prove to be the very elements which make custom cabinetry worthwhile. The majority of the cost associated with building a custom entertainment center goes into the labor to build and install your cabinet. The small cost difference associated with enhanced detail becomes insignificant when compared to the benefits gained in both form and function. Our recommendation is that you approach your project as a whole and not in parts.

Now on to the exciting part: the design element.

As you will quickly discover, the sky is the limit! Advances in materials and design for cabinetry have led to many benefits for today’s consumer. There are two simple approaches to begin with as you seek to determine what type of entertainment center is right for your home: you can choose to have your entertainment center coordinate with your existing cabinetry, or you can choose to have a piece that stands all on it's own. Either approach is acceptable, but this is an important decision to make.

It can also be helpful to begin a dialog with a cabinet provider as you begin your search for a television. This conversation can help you to anticipate what types of limitations, if any, your choice in TV may bring in the future. For instance, one customer purchased a television which stood on a futuristic pedestal with a glass base. This became a limiting factor as they sought to incorporate it into an entertainment center. You may also discover that your cabinetry designer can make some unbiased recommendations when it comes to purchasing your new television; working with a variety of clients affords a unique perspective on in-home technology.

An entertainment center typically consists of three elements: the television space, home audio equipment housing, and storage/display space. Obviously, adequate room for your television is of foremost importance; next is how and where you store your audio equipment. Over the few years home audio equipment has become much more sophisticated and, in some cases, quite a bit larger. Many of these components require space for air circulation in order to keep the equipment cool and working properly. Another important consideration is how these components will be accessed. We recommend that your equipment be stored, at minimum, on a roll-out shelf that will enable you to access the rear connections. Hardware is available for larger units which will allow all of the equipment to slide completely out of the unit and rotate 90 degrees with no difficulty. For the consumer who has a lot of equipment or the need to regularly access your components, you may also want to consider placing these components at a more convenient working height in the cabinet.

Another advance in technology has solved the dilemma of components needing to be placed behind unattractive smoked glass or tacky speaker cloth for remote control use. Your cabinet provider or home audio specialist can install an IR module that will allow you to keep your components tucked neatly away in your cabinet, completely out of sight. You will never need to open the doors unless to change CDs or DVDs.

Many people also find themselves wondering if they want a big screen TV to be the visual centerpiece of their living room. In response to this, most televisions can be covered with a set of doors, allowing the “technology” to be tucked away and softening the look of any room. Another consideration is whether the television will stay in a fixed place in the cabinet. Depending on the location of the entertainment center in the room, it may be desirable to have the television on a slide that comes out of the cabinet and pivots in either direction. This can be a great option for the sports fan preparing snacks in the kitchen during the big game.

What is frequently the most attractive element of an entertainment center results from the homeowner’s use of whatever space is left over after the television and components are installed. The space above the television usually becomes home for a cherished plate, a plant, or nick-knacks that really need a place of their own. When incorporated in the original design, these areas can become perfectly tailored locations for glass shelving and special cabinet lighting to beautifully display your treasured items. You may also want to consider if it would be appropriate to your home to top off your entertainment center with an arch and, perhaps, a bold crown molding. These finishing touches will grant your home entertainment center the detailed, custom- crafted look often desired when considering custom cabinetry.

As you begin to consider a custom home entertainment center, we encourage you to evaluate all of your options. Consult with your cabinet provider early, and work with them to develop the cabinet design that best accommodates your equipment, suits your style, and enhances your home.

This article was provided courtesy of Ohana Home Concepts, a Sacramento Area specialist in custom cabinetry, storage solutions, and personal organizing and a member of the Referred Excellence.com family of superior companies. Visit their website at OhanaHomeConcepts.com