UPDATE: Summer 2014: I’ve had a lot of questions about our La-Z-Boy sectional and how it’s holding up with kids and dogs. Two years later I’m happy to report it’s been wonderful. The dogs test it regularly and so far it’s standing up to everything. We love snuggling on it in the evenings — it feels luxurious, everyone has room to spread out, and spills are easy to clean. I’m very pleased with our choice. Click here for an updated post about the media room progress after we added brass sconces.
Some time ago I decided to convert an underused upstairs bedroom into a media room — a cozy spot where our son could hang out with friends, where we could have family movie nights, or where I could enjoy a movie with friends. The room is small, so we wanted one large, comfortable sectional instead of several pieces of seating. We also wanted the space to feel separate from our main living area so it could be dedicated to relaxing and entertaining.
When La-Z-Boy offered to send us a sectional, the timing was perfect and I gladly accepted. Knowing the sofa would arrive in the fall gave us a deadline to clear and reorganize the room. We started by removing excess items and rethinking how we used the upstairs space. It hadn’t been a priority amid many other projects, but little by little we made room for the new sofa.
That summer we chose the Collins sectional in fabric # C982054. My daughter and I spent a lot of time in the showroom picking a fabric that feels like velvet — soft, cozy, and durable enough for family life. The color is a grayish navy that shifts with the light, exactly what we wanted. The fabric feels luxurious to the touch and is sturdy for everyday use.
The sofa included a white pillow with a gray medallion — and it came with four of them, which was a great bonus. Additional pillows are from Target and our own collection. I love an abundance of pillows so everyone can get comfortable for movies and lounging.
We’re still adding accessories, but a large clock and a vintage-style movie reel from Pier 1 helped set the tone for the room. They bring a bit of personality and reinforce the media-room vibe we’re aiming for.
We plan to add a few cube ottomans so seating can be rearranged easily and to allow access to the sleeper function. We chose the sleeper version of the Collins so the sofa doubles as a guest bed. The pull-out is a double, which is perfect for kids or extra guests.
Next steps include adding shades and curtains for the windows and an area rug to define the seating area. I’ll share updates as we finish those details.
So far the sofa has been a joy. It’s the kind of sectional you sink into and don’t want to leave — warm, comfortable, and family-friendly. I’ll report back on how it holds up to regular use. Our dog Jack doesn’t spend much time in the room yet, but he’ll likely want to join us eventually. He might get his own corner with a blanket, depending on how strictly we enforce furniture rules. This winter it should be the perfect nest for cold evenings.
Keeping it real: one corner of the room still needs decluttering, as you may have seen on Instagram or Facebook. Our plan is to clear that area and mount the flat-screen TV above the desk so the space functions fully as a media room. I’m excited to finish it and make it feel complete.
*Update – below is our media room as shown in our 2014 Fall House Tour.
Do you have a cozy room for family nesting?
La-Z-Boy provided this sectional for review. All opinions and experiences are my own.