Sweet Silly Sara

Advice For Building A Fun Home Media Room

Building a great home media room may seem like an intense and expensive task to begin with, but with some basic consumer goods and design know-how, you may curate a space much more worthwhile than you had initially assumed. That’s because you don’t need the latest and greatest 80-inch television to enjoy your moviegoing or home entertainment experience, just a nice atmosphere and the amenities for real comfort.

So, in this guide, we hope to provide some budget-friendly suggestions for building a home media room. No matter if you prefer lounging on a sofa playing video games, enjoying virtual chess, watching movies, or reading, we believe that the following options could be a good idea for you.

Consider Sight Lines & Comfort

It’s a good idea to ensure that everyone in the room has a clear view of the screen without having to strain or adjust too much. This can be achieved by arranging seating in a way that provides a good angle with the screen, possibly in a slight arc or with staggered seating if the room size allows.

Comfort is equally important of course. Investing in comfortable seating is a good way to feel more at home in your media room, though any nice sofas and armchairs you have are usually fine, but upholstered chairs with good back support can be great for longer viewing sessions.

Adding some throw pillows and blankets can increase the coziness factor, especially during the winter, making the space inviting for family and friends to gather as well. If you can, having a separate dog or cat bed for them to relax with you (and to feel less inclined to jump on the sofa when you’re not there) will be helpful.

Natural Soft Lighting To Avoid Eye Strain

It’s tempting to go for complete darkness to emulate that cinema experience, having some natural soft lighting can prevent eye strain, especially during very long periods of screen time or if you have a bright screen. This doesn’t have to limit the colors on your display if you angle them behind the television so the glow doesn’t affect it, meaning that visual purists can still enjoy a great viewing session.

However, we’d recommend avoiding harsh, overhead lighting if you can - as this can also strain your eyes. Instead, you might use ambient light sources like floor lamps, table lamps, or wall sconces to give a more comfortable glow in the space, and even better, dimmer switches can also be a good investment because they help you get that perfect shade just right.

Blackout curtains or shades can also help you control natural light from windows, which can cause glare on the screen. This means that if you just want a day inside watching movies, you can feel like you’re in a theatre all day long.

Speaker Systems With Good Coverage

Sound quality is what turns a home TV space into a media room most of all, because few people really invest in it. Opting for a good speaker system can be a great improvement, especially if it’s 7.1 and surround sound around the space, as you can hear your content from almost any direction and these are no longer prohibitively expensive as they once were.

We’d recommend placing speakers at different points in the room to create an immersive sound environment, and reliable soundbars are also a budget-friendly option that can provide excellent audio quality without the need for multiple speakers either, should you prefer it.

TV Mounting (Not Too High!)

Mounting the TV at the right height is very important for a comfortable viewing session. A common mistake homeowners make is mounting the TV too high, especially over the top of a fireplace or mantle, which can cause neck strain over time and may prevent you from viewing content as well as you could. A good rule of thumb to follow is that the center of your screen should be at eye level when you are seated. Don’t have your media room featured on comical forums like r/TVTooHigh!

Of course, it’s not a mortal sin to place your TV above the fireplace, so if it works for you go for it. That said, if you are unsure about the correct height, sit in your preferred spot and have someone help you hold the TV at different heights until you find the most comfortable position. You can do this at various spots if it helps. Moreover, adjustable TV mounts are also a thing, and can help you adjust it based on who might be using the space or if you’re entertaining.

Cabinets & Storage Slots

Good storage is valuable in a media room, because it lets you keep all of your devices and physical media safe and presented well. Cabinets and storage slots are essential for keeping everything tidy and accessible too, because they can help you route cables more comfortably behind furniture instead of being out in the open.

If you choose cabinets that can hold your devices like gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and streaming devices, they can be easy to access. Just make sure there is enough ventilation to prevent overheating of the electronic equipment - some space is often recommended.

Of course, if you enjoy physical media, then shelving units can be used to store DVDs, games, books, and other collectibles. Floating shelves are another option for a modern look and can be used to display decorative items or small speakers at the same time.

Coffee Tables & Portable Food/Snack Surfaces

Coffee tables and portable food surfaces are pretty helpful additions that not only make refreshments during movies easier to handle, but also help your children avoid spilling their snacks and drinks without the support they needed.

While you might not go “full TV dinner,” having a nice platform or surface trays you can use for a cheese board to share with a loved one, or even just a place to hold a wine glass, can be relaxing and let you relax knowing that cleanup won’t be as messy.

With this advice, you’re sure to enjoy a fantastic media room.

Copper Accented Cement Leaf Faux Fossils

These stunning faux fossils are just the thing to make with a small amount of leftover cement. They add the perfect touch to your garden and are ultra easy to complete. They would also make a wonderful gift option.

I love to create stunning accents for my home and garden with cement. Over the years I have made quite a few gorgeous items, from a dessert stand that was show stopping, to adorable little toadstools and even jewelry holders.

I love DIY projects that make use of items I have around the house. This one was perfect as it used a freshly discarded plastic lid, a small amount of leftover cement from a project at the house, and a leaf plucked from my yard.

I added the cement to the lid and tapped it level. I pressed a leaf that I found appealing, into the wet cement. Then I let it dry for 24 hours in the sun.

I carefully peeled the leaf out and painted the imprinted area with copper paint. I allowed it to dry for another 24 hours inside, to keep it free of dust.

It was easy to pop the cement disc out of the lid, but if yours is stubborn, you can cut the side with a box cutter or a knife.

I thought about painting my leaf fossil green, but I had a little copper paint in my collection. I thought it would be interesting, and add a great pop of color to my lush green flower beds.

As you can see, I needed several coats of paint . But, in the end, it turned out pretty nicely.

Find more great cement projects here:

Cement spoon garden markers

Grass imprinted concrete garden art

7 Fun Activities Parents and Kids Can Do Together for Keeping Minds Sharp

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While boredom is okay sometimes for you and your kid, sometimes being entertained to the point it’s mind-numbing (like watching TV) is okay, too. But when it comes to activities, when you both have free time, it’s beneficial to try and do things that sharpen the mind, things that really just tease it! But what better way than to do things together? But what exactly? Well, here are some ideas you should definitely try together!

Exploring the Great Outdoors

First up, let’s talk about nature! There’s nothing quite like the great outdoors to stimulate our brains. It doesn’t matter too much what it is actually, it can be a hike through the woods, a walk in the park, or a day at the beach, being outside offers endless opportunities for mental engagement.

But how? Well, just think about it: when you’re out in nature, your senses are bombarded with new sights, sounds, and smells. This sensory overload forces your brain to process and adapt to the new environment, which is great for cognitive health. For the kids, it’s a chance to explore, ask questions, and learn about the world around them.

It depends on the age of your child, but ideally you should try turning your nature outings into mini-adventures. Maybe it’s a scavenger hunt where you look for different plants, animals, or insects. Or perhaps a simple game of I Spy. These activities are not only fun but also help sharpen observational skills and encourage curiosity. It’s mostly for them, but as a parent, it can still help you too.

Cooking Up a Storm

Who doesn’t love a good meal, right? For the most part, cooking with your kids can be a fantastic way to engage both their minds and yours. But how exactly can this help? Well, there are the measuring ingredients for following recipes, and cooking is a practical application of math and reading skills. Plus, it’s a great way to teach your kids about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

For the most part, if you’re cooking from scratch, it’ll be a good idea to involve your little ones in the entire process – from planning the meal to shopping for ingredients and finally, cooking. It helps create a good association with cooking, your brain needs to be active and it teaches them as well. You could even make it a fun challenge by trying out new recipes from different cuisines (ideal for getting them to be less picky with food).

Playing Video Games Together

Okay, so now, let’s talk about something that might surprise some of you – playing video games! Yup, you heard that right. Video games can be a fantastic way to keep both your mind and your kid’s mind sharp.

It really depends on the video game itself, but most games require strategic thinking, problem-solving, and quick decision-making. Even something like Mario Kart can be fairly stimulating to the mind. However, overall, most games often involve complex narratives and characters, which can improve memory and comprehension skills. Plus, playing together gives you a chance to bond with your kids over something they love.

Technically, you don’t always need to play games together, like the same game at the same time; you can even watch them play. For example, if you have a computer or even a tablet, you can watch them play games that they can play alone, such as Solitaire or a crossword puzzle, and just see how well they do (and in your mind, you can make moves or suggest moves).

Now, this is just an example, but overall, you need to choose games that are actually going to provide value to them and, of course, something age-appropriate too. The goal is for both of you to be entertained, but again, the game shouldn’t be mind-numbing; there needs to be some thought in the process, too.

You Can’t Go Wrong with Card and Tabletop Games

We went over video games above, but you just can’t beat the classics either! So, card games and tabletop games are timeless ways to engage your brain. Games like chess, checkers, Jenga, and Scrabble are fantastic for developing strategic thinking and vocabulary skills. Of course, you need to pick something that’s age-appropriate for your kid, but that shouldn’t be hard; for example, it’s pretty common to get preschool-aged children in Go Fish.

Getting Crafty with Arts and Crafts

It’s never a bad idea to get those creative juices flowing! Honestly, you can’t go wrong with this because arts and crafts are fantastic for engaging the brain and encouraging creativity. Basically, it can be painting, drawing, sculpting, or even simple coloring, these activities can be incredibly therapeutic and mentally stimulating.

Puzzles and Brain Teasers

Who doesn’t love a good puzzle? Puzzles and brain teasers are excellent for keeping our minds sharp. They challenge our problem-solving skills, improve memory, and enhance spatial reasoning. For kids, puzzles are a great way to develop cognitive skills in a fun and engaging way. For parents, they’re a wonderful way to relax and unwind while still giving your brain a workout. Plus, working on a puzzle together is a great bonding experience.

So video games were mentioned earlier, but there’s other types of puzzles you both can do together, technically Legos could be considered a puzzle, especially if you buy one of those comprehensive Legos like the Orient Express, Titanic, or basically anything else that’s more on a grand scale.

Reading Together

There’s something magical about getting lost in a good book. As you might already know, reading together is not only a wonderful way to bond but also a fantastic way to keep your minds sharp, it depends on the book itself, but for the most part, you can expect that this will improve vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

But ideally, it’s best to start making reading a part of your daily routine. This could be something like bedtime stories for the little ones or a family book club for the older kids, find books that everyone enjoys. If you want to try, you could even take turns reading aloud and discuss the stories together. Ask questions, make predictions, and dive deep into the characters and plot.

Learning Through Play: The Educational Benefits of Introducing Kids to Gaming

In today's digital world, it is typical for children to grow up playing video games. Despite being often seen as entertainment alone, they can also be an educational influence. Introduction to gaming can bolster children’s learning outcomes, develop soft skills, and help them learn without getting bored. This guide will help you understand how video games help kids learn, and how it might benefit your child's development.

1) Improved Cognitive Skills:

Cognitive functions’ or thinking abilities refer to memory, attention, and problem-solving. Video games are effective at improving cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. Many games involve understanding and executing complex strategies through sequences, or memorization, and adapting to the needs of the moment with player-operated tools.

Games such as “mahjong” challenge the young to think abstractly and use deductive reasoning to solve puzzles. Making strategic decisions, navigation, and problem-solving are part and parcel of video gaming these days.

Via Pexels

2) Fostering Cooperation and Communication:

Apart from in-class lessons, multiplayer games in particular provide a valuable extracurricular platform for children to learn working together and clearly express themselves. Titles like “Minecraft” and “Fortnite” are much more crafted for teamwork; players can help each other out, give away resources, coalesce to achieve mutual objectives, etc.

These interactions through gaming are more fun and engaging than isolated efforts and help the young ones understand a few other necessary social cues such as teamwork, and negotiation, and have confidence in putting forth original ideas. Secondly, these games train kids in a lot of social skills that are necessary for group projects and collaboration with a team once they start their jobs.

3) Raising Historical Awareness:

In some cases, video games serve as an interactive history lesson by placing players in alternate cultures or historical periods. These games use historical settings to educate players about various periods and locations, including Egypt, Rome, and France.

These games enhance historical interest among players by highlighting historical facts and events. Games such as these let children grasp the complex parts of many civilizations throughout human history and different historical contexts, which can be used to augment textbooks’ accounts and lessons given in class.

4) Building Technical and Digital Literacy:

In this ‘always on’ digital economy, technical skills are available to almost all. Video games usually present complex user interfaces that players must navigate while troubleshooting problems and mastering unfamiliar forms of digital experiences.

With games such as “Roblox” users run through coding and development resources. While not sinking as far in touch typing as some of the other games, it does tick off several other soft competencies through its fictional narrative story-driven content as well.

Via Pexels

5) Language and Reading Skills VR Games:

This happens to erudition because the video games’ stories require type understanding. Role-playing games (RPGs) like “Final Fantasy” or “The Elder Scrolls” series make players read a lot through quest text dialogue options and item descriptions.

Many games feature words and sentences that are rich in complexity, which helps children improve reading comprehension. Games with stories such as these hooked adolescents up by having them invest time in thinking of ideas that make narrative sense.

6) Strategic thinking; Planning:

Conversely, playing a strategy game requires it. This is why all names such as “Civilization” and “StarCraft” require players to plant crops and mine ores all while demanding constant observation and tactical decision-making. For one to succeed, they must consider many other aspects as well as what is immediately in front of them.

Through taking part in these strategy-based games, kids can garner the importance of foresight, resource management, and strategic planning. These abilities can be utilized in real-world scenarios such as having to balance doing homework for all types of classes, something that requires changing between subjects now and again.

7) Medium for Relaxation and Stress Relief:

The emphasis has been placed on education, learning, and skills training, but the importance of relaxation and stress relief should not be neglected. Children these days are overburdened with assignments and other commitments put by the schools and so going back home, turning on their favorite game will let them unwind rather than get busy all over again. Ensuring her balanced approach toward these games will give the benefits of education along with the fun.

In conclusion, colorful, relaxing, and multi-layered fun video games can inspire child-friendly, real-world learning in all sorts of tools’. Opening a new world can support your child in various ways, with the necessary supervision and adult control, parents can relax and allow their children to develop.

Citrus Candles

If you are looking for a cheap and easy DIY that makes use of food scraps, adds elegance, and can be tossed after use, then you are going to love these easy candles. These are just the right size to burn on the deck in the evening and are so cute!

This project is so easy to complete. I had a few candle wicks and a small bag of wax melts to use. I also had a few bruised and battered citrus fruits. This idea was born from a way to add ambiance to a date night at home, by using items I already had on hand.