What to Consider When Designing a Home Theater

Installing a home theater in your home may sound like a cool idea but it is sort of an ambiguous term.  When it comes to home theaters there is no simple way to define what exactly it looks like in a home because every homeowner’s home theater is different.  There are simple home theater setups that are less expensive yet achieve everything the homeowner needs and wants and there are complex and elaborate home theaters that transport the homeowner and make them feel like they are in an actual movie theater.  A home theater can be achieved in almost any room in your home but there are certainly rooms that are better suited to a home theater if you want to be able to control things like sound and lighting.  If you are considering installing a home theater in your home, it is important to speak to a professional home theater installer who can offer guidance and expertise and it is also important to consider various factors so that you can maximize your design.

Installing a home theater is exciting but it requires a good amount of planning and anticipation.  One of the first things you need to consider is what kind of viewing experience you want to have.  If you want it to be a dark room with pristine sound you probably need a room that is away from the action of the house and ideally a room that has no windows.  For some homes this is the basement but for others, it is simply a room that is furthest away from places like the kitchen or living room.  Also, there are many ways for a professional to provide room darkening and noise reduction.  Next, it is important to consider how you will use your home theater.  Is this a room in which you will be primarily watching sports?  If so, you may want to install one large television and multiple smaller televisions so that you can have multiple games on at all times.  If you want to use the room to watch television you may simply want a very large television so that you can immerse yourself in your favorite TV show.  If you will be watching a lot of movies and want the true movie theater experience, you probably want a projector and screen for the ultimate viewing experience.  And, if you want a hybrid you could install a motorized, drop-down screen with televisions behind it so that you can choose how you want to use your home theater each day.

Finally, you want to think about your viewing experience and comfort.  Do you want to have movie theater seating?  Do you want to have multiple rows?  Do you want a large comfortable couch or multiple large, plush chairs?  Once you have thought through how you will primarily use your home theater, budget, and expectations you will be able to make the decisions necessary to bring your home theater dreams to life.