The Hour

The family room, the TV room, whatever you want to call it, it’s the informal room you hang out in, usually known as the TV room. Interior designer John Amabilie uses the principles of central feature (in this case the television) to build the room around. It’s all about having fun, accessorising the space, and making it practical.

The award winning designer has three simple principles for making the best use of your TV room.

1) Make sure you have a clear view of the screen

2) make sure you're overall design is not distracting form the central feature (the TV)

3) Keep it comfy.

For lighting, John recommends that you, "think of your lights as pieces of art. Usually when you watch TV the room is a bit dim so bear this in mind."

In terms of what else to include, the main rule should be not to clutter the room. " Don't make the design of the room over-the-top. The focus should always be on the television. If you want to hang pictures or display pieces of art, make sure they are behind you."

As for what curtains to choose, John's own preference is for "a good black-out blind for the true cinema experience."

If you follow these simple rules you will be able to create a relaxing and fun environment for the whole family. As John explains, "make the design effective but not distracting, ensure you are sitting comfortably, don't forget the popcorn and no snogging in the back row!"

www.cala.co.uk
www.amabiledesign.com