Are you a serious movie buff who’s on a mission to create the ultimate home theatre room in the comfort of your own home? For many of us, a dedicated home theatre room is the epitome of luxury and relaxation. Picture this: you get home after a long day at work, kick your heels up, and enjoy your favourite flick, all in the comfort of your very own home cinema. Sounds like a dream? Well, we’re here to let you know that it’s not as far-fetched as it may seem.
From recreating your favourite movie theatre aesthetics to securing your new home entertainment investments in your home and contents insurance policy, here are 7 practical tips to keep in mind when designing your very own home theatre room.
1. Carve Out A Dedicated Space
One of the most magical aspects of having your very own home theatre room is the fact that you’re able to create a tailored space where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. This is why choosing a dedicated room for your home theatre setup is such a great idea. If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room, basement, or underutilised garage space, consider converting these spaces into your ultimate home theatre.
Alternatively, if space is a luxury, another great idea is to make use of room dividers or curtains to section-off a specific area of your home as an entertainment hub. Regardless of which route you take, the idea is to design a designated space where you can unwind and enjoy your favourite films without interruptions from the outside world.
2. Invest in Lighting
Step into any movie theatre, and the first thing you will notice is how lighting creates the perfect mood. To create a suitable lighting setup in your home, consider both your natural and artificial light sources, the angles at which light is coming in, and the positioning of light in a way that deters screen glare, which can ruin your viewing experience.
We also recommend looking into dimmable lighting that will allow you adjust brightness levels according to the mood or specific scenes in your movie. This is not the time to rely on overhead lighting or down lights, but rather, the perfect opportunity to make use of accent lighting such as fairy lights, uplights or colourful LED strips. Good lighting can turn your home into a place where watching movies feels just like a big-screen adventure.
Top Tip: If your movie theatre room has a window, it’s a great idea to invest in block out curtains or blinds to ensure that you’re limiting external light.
3. Control Ambient Sound
Acoustics make up a huge component of any movie theatre experience, and to ensure that you are experiencing your movies to their fullest potential, it’s crucial to control ambient sound. But what exactly is ambient sound? Well, it’s essentially the background noises in your space. Think of the sound of your air-conditioning unit, a noisy blender in the kitchen or the hustle and bustle of busy traffic on the streets outside your home.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to block out ambient noise by making use of rugs, curtains, and wall panels to absorb sound. If you’re looking to go the extra mile, investing in soundproofing materials will also go a long way in helping you create the ultimate movie-theatre experience.
4. Think About Screen and Projector Placement
Of course, no home theatre room is complete without an impressive screen or projector. However, before you excitedly run out to make a big purchase, take some time to consider the placement of your screens. The size of your room will play a huge role in determining what screen size suits your setup best, so be sure to take specific measurements and do some research into optimal viewing distances.
In addition to size, you’ll also want to ensure that your screen is at the right height and angle for everyone in the room to have a clear view. As a general rule, you’ll want to mount the screen at eye level when seated, and consider angling it slightly downward to minimise neck strain. Ultimately, it’s all about creating a comfy environment for everyone to enjoy their favourite films and movie theatre snacks!
5. Provide Plenty Of Comfortable Seating
No home movie theatre setup is complete without plenty of comfortable seating for the whole family, so be sure to invest wisely when choosing your seating setup. For starters, consider the number of people you want to accommodate and arrange the seating to provide everyone with a clear view of the screen.
If you’re working with a smaller room such as spare bedroom or study, a great option would be to look into space-saving options like sectional sofas, compact recliners and plenty of fluffy cushions and blankets that are perfect for intimate movie sessions and small groups. For larger spaces like garages or basements, opting for dedicated home theatre seating with fancy cup holders and reclining features are a great way to truly recreate that cinema experience.
6. Optimise Your Wiring
The last thing you want is for messy wiring and cords to take away from your home theatre experience, and this where optimising your wiring comes into play. For starters, consider planning for concealed wiring to create an organised and clean look. Fortunately, this is easily done by hiding wiring behind drywall, or using nifty cord concealers that blend seamlessly with your decor.
Optimised wiring not only enhances the aesthetics of your home theatre setup but also ensures a safer kid-friendly environment, allowing you to focus on the movie magic without any trip hazards or distracting cable chaos.
7. Update Your Home and Contents Insurance Policy
Now that your home is decked out with its brand spanking new movie theatre setup, it’s time to update your home and contents insurance policy to ensure that all your new home theatre tech investments are covered in the event of damage or theft. This is a crucial but often overlooked step for many DIY home decorators whenever they invest in high-value home appliances and decor items.
Simply put, the last thing you want is to deal with unnecessary losses after spending so much time and effort designing your home theatre room, so don’t forget to contact your insurer to discuss any necessary updates to your policy. This way, you can rest easy knowing that your new additions are covered in the event of theft, fire, or any other disaster.
_________________
And there you have it — 7 practical tips that will help you design the ultimate movie theatre that dreams are made of. By taking a few of these suggestions on board, you’ll be well on your way to creating the ultimate home theatre room that rivals even the biggest cinemas in your area. All the best and happy designing!
