4 Tips for Building Your Dream Home Theater

Whether you’ve just bought a new home and are looking to customize it or are wanting to spice up a home you’ve lived in for years, adding a home theater might just be the best way to turn your house into a haven.

There are many advantages to having a home theater, from being able to skip long lines for movies and sporting events, to not having to sit in traffic or pay high parking fees.

But aren’t home theaters expensive and a hassle to install? Not when you let Underground Sound do the work for you. We’ll work with your lifestyle, house, and budget to design your dream home theater! To begin the process, here are four quick tips.

Location, Location, Location

When planning your home entertainment center, the first thing you want to consider is where it will be installed. While many people choose to set up their theater systems in the living room for ease of access, there are several disadvantages to that location.

In the living room, it’s hard to control ambient light and sound coming from other areas of the house. A spare bedroom, basement, or finished attic might provide a better overall experience. In those spaces, you’ll be able to create a more customized home theater atmosphere.

Surround Yourself in Sound

We may be back in the 20s, but we are far from the days of silent films. Today, with audio engineering, sound design is as important as any other visual aspect. If the studios are spending the big bucks to create tantalizing treats for your ears, then having a system to fully appreciate those sounds is key to any home theater.

There are a few things to consider when choosing your sound system. You’ll want to think about the size and shape of the room and if there are any noise control regulations in your neighborhood. You’ll also want to consider if a surround sound system or sound bar is better for your home audio.

There are many different surround sound options to choose from depending on the size of your space. The most common is a 5.1 surround sound system. You can also get other sizes such as 2.1 6.1 and 7.1 depending on your needs.

If you’re wondering what these numbers mean, the .1 refers to the subwoofer and the larger number before the decimal point let you know how many speakers you are getting.

Depending on what room you chose for your home theater, a sound bar may be a better option for your space and budget. Sound bars are easier to install, have less wires to deal with, and many can provide a “surround sound speaker” listening experience in smaller spaces that stereo speakers provide in larger rooms. To help sound bars be more versatile, some units come with wireless speakers you can set up in other parts of the room.

VIP Seating for All

Seating is one of the most important aspects to crafting your perfect viewing experience. While you could go for the vintage theater feel and get a set of row seats, more often than not, single or dual recliners and reclining couches are what you’ll find in modern home entertainment centers.

When choosing the right seating, pay attention to cost, comfort, and add-on such as TV trays, cup holders, and remote storage or USB ports. The idea is to maximize comfort and reduce the need to get up or reach for things while in the middle of your movie, show, or game.

Lights before Camera and Action

Great lighting isn’t only needed when shooting the movies you’ll be enjoying, but it’s also needed when planning and creating a great home viewing experience.

In general, most lighting options in the room should be dimmable. Various sources of lighting to think about include overhead, accent, and safety.

Overhead lighting is best used while setting things up or cleaning after a family movie night. You won’t want to keep it on during viewing unless it’s dimmed and closer to the walls versus the center of the room.

Some forms of accent lighting include wall sconces, cove lighting, and star field or fiber optic lighting.

Safety lighting is primarily for rooms where you have a raised floor for various seating levels. If your home theater offers this, you’ll need to make sure guests can see steps clearly when moving about.

Regardless of how you choose to design your personal theater, what matters is that the space provides you with a place to relax, unwind, and be entertained in the comfort of your own home. If you have any questions about creating a space like that, contact Underground Sound and let us help you design the home theater of your dreams for a price that won’t break the bank!