Thinking about a home theater? If you’re a film buff, an avid gamer, or big sports fan, a home theater might be the perfect space to invest your home building or remodeling budget in. Because home theaters are all about entertainment and fun, they provide homeowners with a ton of opportunity to express their personality and indulge their creativity. It’s also a space guaranteed to make any guest smile.
Most people considering building a home theater have three major questions or hesitations: where should I locate the theater, what kind of equipment will I need, and what kind of design or aesthetics do I want? We’ll take a look at some of these considerations below. If you don’t have a lot of technical questions and are looking for a guide to styling, you can skip down to the How Should I Style My Home Theater questionnaire below.
Where Should I Locate My Home Theater?
The traditional wisdom is that if you have a basement, this is probably where you should set up your home theater, for several reasons. First, a basement location will cut down on ambient noise coming from either direction–you won’t be hearing Hollywood explosions in your office, and conversely, you won’t have the dishwasher interrupting your movie. Second, while there are ways to maximize acoustics and lighting in above-ground rooms, basement theaters allow you to get the best lighting and acoustics with the least amount of work. For example, the best room shape for good acoustics is a rectangle. Most design experts suggest an area that measures about 20′ x 13′. This is fairly easy to pull off in a basement. The concrete walls of a basement also absorb sound well–plaster and drywall tend to reflect sound, which is what you find in the upper stories of most homes. Basements also let in minimal sunshine, making the lighting of the theater easier to control.
If you don’t have a basement in your house, or simply want to attribute that space to another purpose, you can get creative and transform a walk-in closet or garage, spaces which also minimize natural light. Spare bedrooms or even sheds can be converted with the help of blackout curtains and acoustic tiles to absorb sound. Of course, if you’re building a home, it’s possible to work a space dedicated to a home theater into your floor plan on the upper level, or lower, whichever you choose.
The basement, in short, should be your first consideration, but not your last.
What Equipment Do I Need in My Home Theater?
Sound:
We suggest a surround sound system, rather than a pair of stereo speakers. Usually this means a speaker on either side of the screen, There are two on either side of the screen, the center, and in the two back corners. A larger speaker (a subwoofer) should also be mounted in the back. But unless you are really into DIY sound systems, this setup is really best left to the professionals.
Gadgets:
You’ll want to be sure you’ve got the basic gadgets: projector or big-screen television, a DVD or Blu-ray player, a satellite feed, and a game console. Whether or not you choose a big screen TV or projector set up depends on what your entertainment focus is. If your main interests involve Netflix or cable programs or playing video games, a flat screen TV can provide better image quality.
If you’re aiming for the most authentic movie experience, however, projectors do provide the biggest pictures and the right ambiance. If your aim is to gather your friends and watch the classics, a projector is absolutely the way to go And yes, you can hook your video game console and Blu-Ray to your projector using a regular HDMI port (though some projectors even have a VGA port).
If you want to go beyond basics, you might also consider a universal remote or controlling the components of your lighting, audio and visual from a designated IPad. Or, go for broke and fully automate and digitize your home, including the theater and everything else. Homes move increasingly toward this option, and if you are going to have more elaborate media setups, like you find in home theaters, it might be the most convenient option for you.
Lighting:
Lighting is another aspect of home theater setup that you will definitely need some professional help with, unless you are an experienced electrician. But in terms of setting expectations for what features you’ll need, you should expect to have lights in your theater that are dimmable and remote-controlled. Beyond that consider the inclusion of the following–even though theaters are supposed to be dark, they actually need several light sources to be safe and practical, as well as capture the essence of a real theater. Consider the following from HGTV’s article on how to set up theater lighting.
•Recessed lighting
•Wall sconces
•Ambient lighting
•LED or fiber optic lighting strips in the floor or baseboards
•Task lamps next to seating
How Should I Style My Home Theater?
Here comes the fun part–how should you style your home theater? If you browse online, you’ll find a ton of great inspiration, but to get a baseline for what you’ll want, and really tap into your unique style and interests, consider the following questions:
- What’s your favorite movie?
- What’s your favorite genre of movies/shows?
- Do you like video games (classic arcade or modern)? If so, what is your favorite?
- What’s your favorite era of cinema?
- Do you love sports? If so, what’s your favorite sport or team?
- Is the space mostly for children, for adults, or is it a family affair?
- When it comes to room decor, are you a minimalist, or do you have a flair for drama?
- Does your theater have an alter-ego (for example, does it double as a playroom or game room during the day)?
- Do I want traditional theatre-style row seating, cozy cuddle seats, or informal couches?
- Do I want to include a bar or “concession” area for drinks and snacks?
Let these questions guide you as you make decisions about your room! For example, if you have a flair for drama, and a love of westerns, you might style your theater with western themes. If your theater has to double as a playroom, choose a dark color with playful patterns on the walls and consider movable seating.
Ultimately, no matter what design decisions you make in terms of aesthetics there are a few things you will want no matter what: plush carpet to absorb sound, comfortable seating that allows everyone a view of the screen (this normally involves creating at least one elevated riser), and seating that is low to the ground (think squat armchairs, not tall stools.)
Home theaters are absolutely one of the most decadent, playful features a home can boast, and it can have a “wow” factor for guests that trumps even that of a palatial pool or a chef’s-level kitchen. Of course, if you love the idea of a home theater, but simply feel it won’t fit into the home space you currently have, you might consider constructing a home that already has that space included. This way, you can have complete control of how the space is laid out, as well as professionals to guide you every step of the way. At Hamilton Homes, we’re expert home builders who love to build unique residences for our creative clients. If you’re itching for a home theater, there’s no reason you can’t make it happen! Contact us to get started. {link}
