Englewood Cliffs, NJ — Incorporating home theater systems into an existing space can be tricky for many consumers. With technology constantly evolving and design elements always changing, it can be difficult to purchase the right home theater for an existing room. In fact, a recent survey found that more than 70% of Americans are unsure of how to integrate technology into their home décor, or “techorate,” as LG Electronics has dubbed this marriage of modern technology with interior decor.

Celebrity designer Doug Wilson, best known for his work on TLC's Moving Up and Trading Spaces programs, is the “LG Techorator,” and is helping consumers understand how to “techorate”, or seamlessly integrate design and technology in their homes so that a “techorated” room works together as one, unified space.

According to Wilson, individuals often don’t take sound into consideration when upgrading a room with new technology.

When consumers invest money in a home-theater system, they should ensure they’re getting a great sound experience. He offers these tips:

• Speaker Position: Properly position speakers in relation to the absorptive and reflective surfaces in the room. Place the speakers next to curtained windows or behind the couch to help reduce the amount of sound that bounces off empty walls.
  
• Adding Curtains: Curtains and wall décor can help absorb the sound in a room, while also adding a burst of color and style to a room. Add curtains to provide a more robust sound and a larger sweet spot by reducing the amount of sound that bounces off empty walls and windows. Adding thicker curtains is also an inexpensive way to make the room feel like a movie theater.
  
• Flooring: Bare floors tend to reflect sound waves, dulling the sound, so try using harmonizing area rugs to maximize the sound quality of your home theater system. To get the best sound quality in rooms with hardwood floors, try covering the floor with rugs or upholstered furniture to absorb the sound. Use harmonizing rugs instead of matching colors to add visual interest to the room.

Wilson also offers these “techorating” tips to improve the quality of a home investment:

• Televisions can actually add to the aesthetic of a space rather than detracting from the design. With sleeker flat screens and new design elements available, the TV no longer has to be hidden or stick out like a sore thumb.
  
• Try painting the wall behind your flat screen a darker shade than normal. If you want to be daring, a dark charcoal will help your black frame blend in. If you are looking for something more subtle, paint the wall a shade or two deeper than the others to add contrast and for a better view.
  
• If you’re planning to purchase a new TV, try one with ”invisible” speakers and color accents (like new models from LG) that make great design possible without sacrificing the integrity of the space.
  
• Table top or simple wall mounting for a flat screen TV can add space to your room and streamline the look and feel of the room.
  
• Don’t let your flat screen be the only thing on the wall. Fill out the space using symmetrical design and equal proportions that still let the eye focus on the TV – such as matching pictures on either side of the screen with high gloss frames to mimic the television to achieve balance and symmetry.
  
• Fill in the space below the TV by adding a credenza or long table underneath the set to get extra space for DVDs and remotes while also drawing the eye into a larger design.

Visit www.lgusa.com/techorator for more of Wilson’s “techorating” tips.

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