A home theater is a dedicated space in your house that is set up with AV equipment for viewing and listening to movies, TV shows, and other media. You can create a simple entertainment system in an attic or basement, or a more elaborate one in a rec room, converted bedroom, or media room. Regardless of the size and complexity of your project, it is important to carefully consider your home theater setup. The most successful home theater systems offer both high-quality video and immersive audio that make the experience of watching a film come to life.
When you’re ready to start putting your home cinema together, the first thing to consider is your screen and seating arrangement. You want to be able to sit comfortably within two to five feet of the screen for the best viewing experience, so choose your seats accordingly. If you can, choose seats with special movie theater features such as cup holders and swivel trays. Many seats also include power controls and built-in USB chargers, allowing you to charge devices while you watch.
The size of your home theater screen will dictate the type and size of AV components you need. You can purchase large, flat-screen HDTVs that are designed to work with your system, or you can opt for a projection system that gives you a larger image. Projectors typically perform better in light-controlled environments, and you’ll find they can be much more affordable than buying a large flatscreen.
Your home theater’s lighting and sound will play a crucial role in your movie-watching experience. Ideally, your space should be self-contained and quiet, so you can focus on the movie or TV show without disturbing other members of your household. A dedicated media room is ideal, but even the smallest spare bedroom or garage can be transformed into an immersive entertainment space with the right gear and planning.
You can purchase a complete home theater package at a consumer electronics retailer, or you can build your own customized home cinema from individual AV components. Most stores bundle a variety of home cinema components into a single package at a lower price than you would pay to buy each item separately. Some of these packages are even designed with your specific screen size in mind, saving you time and effort when compared to purchasing a separate display screen and projector.
If you’re creating a home theater in a room with windows, it may be necessary to install blackout curtains or blinds during the design phase to ensure that ambient light isn’t interfering with your viewing and listening enjoyment. Similarly, if your space has an open layout, you’ll probably want to block the sound from other rooms with walls or sound-absorbing materials like QuietRock. This will prevent noise from dishwashers, clothes dryers, and other appliances from leaking into your home movie room and distracting you from the experience. Adding an additional layer of drywall or replacing existing drywall with sound-reducing foam will also help to dampen echoes and background noise.
Creating a Home Theater
A home theater is a dedicated space in your house that is set up with AV equipment for viewing and listening to movies, TV shows, and other media. You can create a simple entertainment system in an attic or basement, or a more elaborate one in a rec room, converted bedroom, or media room. Regardless of the size and complexity of your project, it is important to carefully consider your home theater setup. The most successful home theater systems offer both high-quality video and immersive audio that make the experience of watching a film come to life.
When you’re ready to start putting your home cinema together, the first thing to consider is your screen and seating arrangement. You want to be able to sit comfortably within two to five feet of the screen for the best viewing experience, so choose your seats accordingly. If you can, choose seats with special movie theater features such as cup holders and swivel trays. Many seats also include power controls and built-in USB chargers, allowing you to charge devices while you watch.
The size of your home theater screen will dictate the type and size of AV components you need. You can purchase large, flat-screen HDTVs that are designed to work with your system, or you can opt for a projection system that gives you a larger image. Projectors typically perform better in light-controlled environments, and you’ll find they can be much more affordable than buying a large flatscreen.
Your home theater’s lighting and sound will play a crucial role in your movie-watching experience. Ideally, your space should be self-contained and quiet, so you can focus on the movie or TV show without disturbing other members of your household. A dedicated media room is ideal, but even the smallest spare bedroom or garage can be transformed into an immersive entertainment space with the right gear and planning.
You can purchase a complete home theater package at a consumer electronics retailer, or you can build your own customized home cinema from individual AV components. Most stores bundle a variety of home cinema components into a single package at a lower price than you would pay to buy each item separately. Some of these packages are even designed with your specific screen size in mind, saving you time and effort when compared to purchasing a separate display screen and projector.
If you’re creating a home theater in a room with windows, it may be necessary to install blackout curtains or blinds during the design phase to ensure that ambient light isn’t interfering with your viewing and listening enjoyment. Similarly, if your space has an open layout, you’ll probably want to block the sound from other rooms with walls or sound-absorbing materials like QuietRock. This will prevent noise from dishwashers, clothes dryers, and other appliances from leaking into your home movie room and distracting you from the experience. Adding an additional layer of drywall or replacing existing drywall with sound-reducing foam will also help to dampen echoes and background noise.