The most versatile space in your Austin, Texas home is your media room or living room. It may vary slightly from family to family, but in most cases, it's used to watch TV, read, listen to music, and host friends. Entertainment systems need to be optimized for more than one function to get the most out of your multi-purpose room. With a professional whole home audio video installation, it's easy to consolidate your equipment and control to create the perfect environment whether you're watching the Texans score a touchdown or hosting friends for Christmas.

SEE MORE: 4 Reasons to Embrace 4K Ultra HD Technology

Hide Away Your Components in an AV Closet

As you think of the ways you want to use your media room, consider the equipment you might need: a cable box, Blu-ray player, AV receiver, turntable, etc. The more you want to do with the room, the more crowded it gets. With a whole home audio video system, you can hide all your equipment in an AV closet, leaving only your speakers and TVs in the room. This way you’re not forced to sacrifice entertainment due to limited space or style considerations.

Consolidate Control on a Dedicated Touchpad

For many people, it can be difficult to find efficient outdoor audio solutions that let them enjoy their favorite artists or playlists on the porch, patio or pool. The most popular approach is opting for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speakers that are easy to move around and let you stream music directly from your phone. While these makeshift solutions can work in the short term, using outdoor speakers linked to a whole home audio system will yield better results in the long run for four main reasons. Keep reading to learn what they are. 

SEE MORE: Best Speaker Layouts for Outdoor Audio

Damage to Your Equipment

Most wireless speakers are not meant for outdoor use and can be prone to damage caused by water, humidity, or dust.  If you're careful not to take the speakers out in bad weather and bring them back in as soon as you're done, you might be able to keep the speakers safe from serious harm. But if you think outdoor audio is something you'll often be using, the small damage can pile up over time, so even if you're extremely careful, your wireless speakers are likely going to suffer from too much outdoor use. 

Lower-Quality Sound

For many people, it can be difficult to find efficient outdoor audio solutions that let them enjoy their favorite artists or playlists on the porch, patio or pool. The most popular approach is opting for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth speakers that are easy to move around and let you stream music directly from your phone. While these makeshift solutions can work in the short term, using outdoor speakers linked to a whole home audio system will yield better results in the long run for four main reasons. Keep reading to learn what they are. 

SEE MORE: Best Speaker Layouts for Outdoor Audio

Damage to Your Equipment

Most wireless speakers are not meant for outdoor use and can be prone to damage caused by water, humidity, or dust.  If you're careful not to take the speakers out in bad weather and bring them back in as soon as you're done, you might be able to keep the speakers safe from serious harm. But if you think outdoor audio is something you'll often be using, the small damage can pile up over time, so even if you're extremely careful, your wireless speakers are likely going to suffer from too much outdoor use. 

Lower-Quality Sound

While lighting control can offer a lot of futuristic technology –from voice control to access from a mobile app—many of our clients want to stick with the familiarity of their light switches. They’ve grown accustomed to managing their lights this way and change seems more trouble than anything. Does that mean home lighting control is not the right choice for their Memorial, TX property? No, it just means that their system will focus initially on upgrading the light switches in their home.

SEE MORE: 4 Unique Ways to Control the Lights in Your Home

Gain Efficiency With Dimmers and Scenes
A smart lighting control system can increase wall switch efficiency in two simple ways: by incorporating dimmers and scenes. Customarily wall switches are pretty straight forward. They connect to one particular fixture and turn it on and off. With a smart upgrade, you can access multiple fixtures at once and go beyond the limited on/off controls:

• Dimmers: Many clients are surprised to find that most rooms could benefit from not having lights on at a 100 percent intensity. Not only can this help reduce energy usage, but it leads to a more elaborate lighting design. Depending on whether you have a romantic date, are hosting a party, or watching a movie you can find the light level that makes the most sense.
• Scenes: Scenes within your home lighting control system let you manage multiple fixtures at once. You can access these scenes straight from your wall switches. This not only lets you make adjustments quickly, but it also reduces the amount of switches you need so you can eliminate some of the wall clutter. For example, a dinner scene dims the lights in the living room while raising the ones right above the dining table.

See More: 4 Great Lighting Control Scenes for Your Home

Incorporate Other Technology Options
If you have a smart home automation system, you can also manage other technology from your light switches. An easy way to do this is to incorporate volume control in rooms where you regularly play music like a media room or bedroom. Raise or lower the volume of your background music from a switch on the wall. The scenes on your wall switches can also include other technology. An ‘away’ scene on a switch by your front door turns off all lights and TVS, locks the doors and arms the security system