New house build: Media/Projector room decisions

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33coupe

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#322774 21-Sep-2025 18:15

Hi all,

We're close to building a new house, and will be having a 6x4m media room and am stuck on a couple of things like door placement and a/v media rack location

As per below pic, I think the red circle would be ideal placement for the door, but doesn't meet WAF. So another option would be a double barn door slider in the middle. But this option is dependant on that I can get my surround speakers in journal position, and some slight concern regarding speaker reflections.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qqADXhBKxu8BR8N99

For the AV media rack the only place I can think of would be at the back middle of the room.

If anyone has any tips or suggestions I'm all ears, don't want to make a mistake with this.

Many thanks

In case it helps, I'm planning on having 130" fixed screen with floor standing speakers (although I might run speaker cable behind the screen in case I want to go the acoustic transparent screen one day.

7.1.4 (will prep for 2 subs tho)

Talkiet

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#3417254 21-Sep-2025 20:06

Heavy black curtains around entire room, yes even behind the fixed screen.

If it's GENUINELY a media room then you gotta make the carpet and ceiling really dark. I have been there. I have large black rugs covering the entire floor although in hindsight I should have just got carpet cut to shape and laid it down (unattached) on top of what I had. If you already have dark carpet then don't worry

For the ceiling, I got black cotton material in a 36 insh (ish) width and pinned it to the ceiling as far back as the projector.

I can't overstate how big an improvement these three things made. Dark (and soft) walls, dark floor, dark ceiling.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Dunnersfella

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#3417264 21-Sep-2025 22:14

TBH the AV rack can go anywhere... many will put it in the comms area of the house if you have one.

HDBase-T or a fibre / copper hybrid HDMI cable from an AVR to the projector means it's easy to achieve.

It's the same deal with running speaker cables - so basically, you can have everything well and truly out of the way.

The exception is if you have a physical disc spinner or a gaming console... as having a rack a long way away and having to swap discs is a complete faff, and with games consoles you will need them close to the seated position due to limited range / latency caused when the console and controller are a long way from each other.

33coupe

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#3417327 22-Sep-2025 11:20

Thanks for the replies and info. Definitely going dark carpet and walls/ceiling. Will either need to do fabric like you suggested or panels on ceiling for acoustic treatment (still needs WAF tho..)

Do you have any pictures of your room?

Good idea with the AV rack but I do have a PS5 and Wii, so might be easier to keep it all in the media room

mentalinc

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#3417331 22-Sep-2025 11:39

33coupe:

(still needs WAF tho..)

Make it so dark she cant see anything that doesn't meet WAF

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bfginger

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#3417575 23-Sep-2025 06:24

Acoustics with the door and shared wall between the media room and the rest of the house need to be considered or else you may find yourself wanting to keep the volume down. Barn doors that sit next to a wall when retracted aren't going to stop sound travelling past them. I doubt cavity sliders could work as well as a solid swinging door either but they should be better than barn doors.

Maybe go for 13mm soundline gib and acoustic insulation of a high grade like Autex AAB 48 in the adjacent internal wall. If there's a window in the room do have a laminate in the glass to reduce sounds coming and going.

33coupe

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#3417775 23-Sep-2025 10:07

Thanks for the tips. Good idea with Acoustic gib and insulation on that internal wall at least.

I think the Mrs wanted big opening (to see the sofa/socialise for people in living and media room, but I don't think it can work as the surround speakers need to be inline with the sofa. I will have to draw up some options with measurements to see what will work.

We've now moved on to the next problem (1st world problems I know..) how to layout the kitchen / Scullery.

As we want the sink/dishwasher in scullery we think we need another sink in kitchen area.

Current options I can think of are

1) sink on island - probs most practical but my least favourite. I detest sinks on island's

2) wall oven in scullery - as will be used the most maybe not ideal

3) fridge in scullery - can be busy area, bit confined

4) random idea create a fridge nook - probs not good

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bWFmWwAxqaPYB2aLA

If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears

(Just for reference, the room is 6m wide, which makes kitchen benchtop 4m wide, and scullery 5m). The top of pic is door to bedrooms, bottom of pic is door to garage.

Thanks

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Senecio

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#3417813 23-Sep-2025 10:58

FWIW, I believe the only appliances that should go in a scullery are bench top appliances. Think air fryers, mixers, food processors, slow cookers etc...). Fixed appliances like fridges, wall ovens etc... need to be out in the open kitchen.

mentalinc

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#3417827 23-Sep-2025 11:14

Suggest new thread for Kitchen questions, as different target to media room.

But please study up on the kitchen triangle, and make it work for you. very much need fridge and sink in the main kitchen. Scullery is designed to 'hide the bench mess' or 'the help'. you dont want to have to walk into the scullery several times during meal prep

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wellygary

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#3417840 23-Sep-2025 11:26

33coupe:

Thanks for the tips. Good idea with Acoustic gib and insulation on that internal wall at least.

I think the Mrs wanted big opening (to see the sofa/socialise for people in living and media room, but I don't think it can work as the surround speakers need to be inline with the sofa. I will have to draw up some options with measurements to see what will work.

You could have a double door set (one left hand swing , one right , meeting in the centre) - also what's the ceiling height, (reg 2.4m?). could you wall mount the surrounds above the door opening to allow then to remain in line with the sofa?

33coupe

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#3418989 26-Sep-2025 13:24

Thanks all. I didnt want to create a new thread going backwards and forwards etc but also couldn't edit the title.

Thanks for the replies/info, I think I've found a solution as per below pic (nothing to scale btw).

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HxYBppJEJhJGga9o8

I will make sure there is still enough access room with the fridge door being open to pass the worktop (oven will go to other end)