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Read for soome entertainment system ideas? Want to recreate the magic of the cinema in your own home?
Are you missing the cozy seats, the fresh popcorn smell, the surround sound experience? If so, it might be time to create your own home cinema room.
Not sure how to design and build this type of room? Read on for some tips.
In This Post:
1. Create a Budget
The first step to take when creating a home theater is to figure out your budget. How much can you afford to spend on a theater room?
It’s a good idea to do this part early. That way, you won’t get in over your head and fall in love with a home theater style that you can’t afford.
Remember, there are a lot of elements that go into designing a home theater, including the price of a screen, sound system, and seats, as well as decorations, and tv setup design.
Be sure to factor all of these in to avoid running into unpleasant surprises later.
2. Choose a Room
Once you have an idea of your budget, it’s time to choose a room to install your home theater ideas. Most people set up their theaters in their basements, but you can create a theater anywhere in your house into a small living room home theater.
If you’re lucky enough to have multiple rooms to choose from, consider the ideal size for your theater. Do you want a mini home cinema room that’s just for you, or do you want a space large enough for the whole family or friends to join in on the fun?
Keep in mind that room shape and windows matter, too.
In general, rectangular rooms are better for theaters because they present fewer sound issues. Your theater room should have as few windows as possible as well. The more windows you have, the more likely you are to experience sound distortion, as well as potential light intrusions.
3. Figure Out Flooring
After choosing a room, you’ll need to pick out flooring for your media room. Wall-to-wall carpet will be your best friend when you’re designing a home theater. It’s best if it has a cushy pad underneath it, too.
Soft, wall-to-wall carpet will absorb sound and create a cozier environment. This is especially nice if you suspect your kids will be lounging on the floor watching movies and you want to ensure they’re comfortable.
4. Set Up Your Sound System
Second to the screen (we’ll talk about that in a minute), your sound system is the most important thing to consider when you’re setting up your theater.
Here are three things to keep in mind when choosing and installing your theater’s sound system:
- Speaker placement: 5.1 surround sound (five full-range speakers plus one low-range specialist, also known as a woofer) is typical for home theaters; three speakers and the woofer should be placed toward the front of the cinema room, and the last two speakers should sit on either side, slightly behind the seats
- Speaker distance: Ideally, your ears should be equidistant from every speaker; try to get as close to this goal as you can when arranging speakers around the room
- Woofer position: The woofer should sit at the front of the room, but you have to decide which side; in general, the corner position distributes the sound more evenly, but play around to see what works best in your cinema room
Setting up the sound system might be overwhelming at first. If you remember these tips, though, it’ll be much less daunting.
5. Choose the Right Screen
Of course, it wouldn’t be a home cinema without a great screen to watch all your movies on. When it comes to installing a screen in your home theater, your two main choices are a big-screen TV or a projector:
TV
If you always want the screen in your theater to be visible, a TV is a good pick.
Since this is a home cinema, a good rule of thumb is to aim for the largest screen that will fit on your wall. Remember, though, that your screen can be too big. If it’s too large for the space, it’ll end up overwhelming you and anyone else who watches movies in your theater.
Projector
If you want a more authentic theater feeling (and don’t want the screen to be visible 24/7), a drop-down screen and projector might be a better fit. You can choose between a manually raised and lowered screen or one that lowers and rises electronically.
8. Install Your Seats
Now, it’s time to talk about home cinema room furniture. Do you want traditional theater seats, or would you prefer comfy couches or beanbag chairs? There are tons of seating options, so pick the ones that work best for you and your movie-watching companions.
If you are going to install theater seats in your home theater, though, be sure to talk to a theater seating specialist. They can help you narrow down your options and find seats that are comfortable, look great, and will last.
9. Add Décor
Finally, the fun part. You need to choose home cinema room accessories (like a popcorn machine!) and decorations.
As a general rule, less is more when it comes to your theater. A minimalist, modern home cinema room will help you avoid feelings of clutter and chaos. You’ll also be less likely to deal with sound distortion from things like glass picture frames.
If you feel totally lost when decorating your home cinema, do some research online. Look up home theaters on a site like Pinterest to see what other people are doing in their homes.
Create Your Dream Home Cinema Room Today
Are you ready to design and build your dream in-home cinema room? Is it time to take movie night to a whole new level?
Follow the steps listed above and you’ll have no trouble putting together an attractive, comfortable room that you and your family will love.
Need more advice on turning your home into an oasis? Visit our blog for more home improvement articles today.
