(NAPSA)—Theratings are in— the public thinks television is a prime channel for togetherness and recreation. More than 50 percent of Americans say that their favorite ways to spend an evening are watching TV andvideos and spending time with the family, according to a recent Gallup Poll. It’s no wonder that home enter- tainment purchases are booming and TV screens are growing by leaps and bounds. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, Americans tripled their spending on hometheater systems to nearly $1 billion a year between 2000 and 2002 andsales of consumer electronics products are projected to soar to a record $99.5 billion this year. Even traditional analog televi- sions are growing at a rapid rate; approximately 52 percent of all analog TV sales in 2008 will be in home theater screen sizes of 25 inches andlarger. No longer just a tube in a box, today’s TVs are constantly evolving, with high-definition television (HDTV) projected to replace analog television by the end of 2005. And a host of options continually unfold, including direct-view TVs, LCD TVs, sleek, flat plasma moni- tors and cinema screens with their 16:9 aspect ratio (or widthto-height proportion)—afar different look from the traditional 4:3 ratio for TV screens. “No matter what model they choose, Americansvalue the TV as Critics claim this lean, clean credenza from Sauder’s Euro-inspired Premier Line creates a hip yet practical viewing area. models, 60-inch flat screen sets and cinemascreens.” Krieger offers several tips for harmonizing the TV viewing center with the rest of a home’s decor. Don’t settle for anything less than a perfect fit, Krieger advises. “From trim corner stands to room- spanning home theater units, there’s a furniture size and room style match for every television,” he notes. Check out Sauder’s Web site—www.sauder.com—for a com- decor. A host of contemporary and traditional designs allow enter- tainment components to blend gracefully with any decorating scheme. e “Seek multi-tasking furnishings that hold more than thetelevi- sion,” Krieger advises. Sauder’s sleek Premier Line Entertainment Credenza, for example, boasts drawer, cabinet and shelves in one compact unit. Consider furniture with plete guide to finding the rightsized and right-styled furniture built-in flexibility. Sauder’s Lock- Check for safety as well as good looks. Width, depth and expandable, allowing for a future for your model. port. Entertainment Center for large-scale TVs, for example, is a family andleisure focal point, and seek waysto integrate it into an attractive, relaxing room set- weightare all factors that must be of ever-wideningscreens. e Incorporate electronic games form follows function in today’s hazard. Also, because contemporary TVs tend to be more front- heavy than traditional models, furniture should be designed to family interaction, Krieger suggests. “There’s no limit to the shared protect against tipping. e Select a furniture design and finish that will enhance the room’s can add to the comfort and pleasure of at-homeleisure.” ting,” says Doug Krieger, design director for Sauder. “Fortunately, entertainment furnishings, with designs geared specifically for the full range of television options including 36-inch and 40-inch considered. A TV that is too large or too heavy can create a safety and homevideos into viewing sessions for variety and for increased good times that today’s technology can foster,” he says, “and creating a congenial family viewing center
