4 Tips When Designing a Home Theater

What could be better than having a theater quality experience without leaving the house? Few things, as it turns out. We’ve seen the evidence first-hand and can confirm such a statement. But, where does one begin when setting out on such an endeavor? Good news, this article will detail just that. Whether you’re planning to overhaul an existing room, upgrade what’s currently installed, or are building from scratch, here’s four tips to get you started.

Location

Consider this one carefully. The best home theaters are located in quiet, dark places. Got any of those? Sure, you do! It’s the basement. Dedicated home theaters naturally gravitate towards a space where variables are easily controlled, or non-existent. As such, we recommend a subterranean room as the combination of low-traffic and minimal lighting make for an ideal choice.

Some homeowners don’t have this luxury, though. So, what qualities do you look for in a room if your home is constructed slab-on-grade, or the basement is already spoken for? Find a space that doesn’t have many windows (preferably none), boasts wall-to-wall carpeting, and is slightly rectangular in shape. If those conditions are met, the rest will be much easier.

Equipment

We could drone on for days about the many different brands, styles and types of equipment (so specifically you’d find it obnoxious) any given situation might merit. You, however, are a busy person and don’t have time for superfluous spreadsheets. Instead, here’s three basics.

Screen: Simply put, go with a projector, unless room dimension prevents it. It’s the best option as of today.

Audio: 5.1 surround sound is a minimum. Anything less will yield subpar results.

Lighting: Install sconces capable of remote dimming. It may sound like a distant third to the first two, but lighting plays a major role in atmosphere and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Design

Designing your very own home theater is a wonderful experience. The best advice we can give is to have fun with it. Remember, this space is a reprieve from the ordinary. Model it as such!

As far as rules go, there aren’t many. Try to avoid any sort of sheen on the walls if you can; eggshell is better, flat is best. Also, try to go with a darker, neutral color/base. Brighter colors reflect light, and can be a bit distracting alongside the screen. Lastly, avoid hanging anything with a glass front, like a framed picture. It’ll throw off the acoustics and reflect light as well.

Installation

This one’s simple. Go with a professional like us! While it may be self-serving to say so, it’s the truth. Modern components have grown in complexity, and exposed wiring not only looks awful, (we seriously have nightmares about it) but may prove dangerous as well.

What you’ll end up with is the theater you’ve always dreamt about. That is, one where only you and your family are allowed in, there are hopefully no strange smells or sticky spots on the floor, and the snacks aren’t exorbitantly priced. Happy viewing!