Are you a movie fanatic, always reaching into a catalogue of classics and B-movies with friends? Maybe you’re a gamer who wants a lot more out of their online experiences? Or maybe you just want somewhere to binge your latest favorite box set? For personal enjoyment, socializing, and just getting the best out of your favorite media, a home cinema is a much classier addition to the home than a man cave. But keeping it classy means you have to do it right. Here are a few pointers worth taking on board.
Sitting comfortably?
This is perhaps the most important part of any good home cinema room, even more so than the visual technology you choose. It doesn’t matter how good the sound and visuals are, if you’re not comfortable, you won’t want to spend time in there. The best home cinema seating options are both comfortable and versatile. They have to allow for some adjustment so that people can find the position that works ergonomically for them and allows a little movement during your favorite 3-hour epic. Don’t ignore the floor, either. Hardwood might look good, but you need plush carpeting or at least some rugs for the people who like to watch sprawled out on the floor. That’s especially important if you have any kids.
Size matters
TV size, of course. When fashioning a home cinema, you’re going to have to make the choice between a projector or a TV. However, quality projects cost a lot more than a TV and require a little more work, too. If you want to keep your budget realistic, you can still end up with a quality picture large enough for everyone to get the full picture. Look for the best 50 inch TV that won’t leave your wallet empty, you don’t need to go any bigger than that. In fact, if you do, you better make sure you have a huge room to make sure you have adequate space between you and the screen. As for spacing, you need to make sure that everyone is a good enough distance to get the whole view and that the TV is high enough that heads and seats won’t be blocking the sight of anyone sitting behind another.
Don’t reach for those volume buttons
If you have to turn the volume up or down depending on what part of the movie you’re in, or how the game audio changes, then you need to upgrade your audio setup. A simple soundbar with a wireless subwoofer can make sure that your channels are distinctly separated, rather than coming out with a jumble of noise. However, the best setups are the surround sound ones. When using surround sound with multiple seats, you have to make sure you get all of them caught the “triangle” of speakers. Otherwise, some people are going to be hearing one side much more than the other.
Any feedback?
The room itself can ruin your audio, however. When sound is allowed to travel and reverberate freely, it can spoil the soundscape you’re trying to create by jumbling it all up. However, there are a lot of ways to soundproof your room and take control of your acoustics. If your budget is on the smaller side, then you want to think about fabrics, which are great at absorbing sound. That’s another reason to choose comfier chairs and plush fabrics for the floor rather than hardwoods. But you can go more extensive than that, applying acoustic standard plasterboard to the walls, covering the door with draft excluders and even soundproof strips.
Set the mood
You want to really get in the zone with your movie or your game, so décor matters. You want it to contribute to that home cinema feeling but you don’t want it to be too distracting. One of the most important things in setting mood is the lighting of the room. Total darkness isn’t very comfortable, but having the lights fully on detracts from the movie. Instead, look at smart light controls you can use to dim and brighten to find that perfect middle. If you don’t have the budget for it, then smart placement of lamps can create it nearly as well.
The right look
Beyond lighting, what should you care about? You don’t want to over decorate the room and make the walls more distracting than they should be. However, it can be a great mood-setting to line the walls with classic and modern movie posters. You can display a few of your favorites while keeping the aesthetic in theme, rather than detracting. You don’t want a lot of unnecessary furniture in there, either. If the chairs don’t have cup-holders, keep little tables between every couple of them so people have a place to put their snacks and drinks. Speaking of, consider keeping a mini-fridge in the back of the room so people don’t have to miss the best bit of the movie to get a cold one.
Wrap it up
It’s not something that as many people talk about, but the wiring of the home cinemas can cause some real problems. The speakers, the TV or the project, whatever input you’ve got going in there, they all contribute to a lot of wires. Make sure that you spend a little time on proper cable management so you don’t end up with a tangled nest that just hangs beneath the screen. Using cable ties and even cable holders in the wall isn’t too expensive. Just make sure you keep any unnecessary wires away from the power outlets, as well.
When done right, a home cinema setup creates the kind of room you and your friends will be loath to leave. See which of the tips best fit the space you have, as well as budget. Above all else, plan. Don’t deprive yourself of good seats because you spent tons on acoustic walling. Budget it all out beforehand and get prepared for the work that some of it will entail.
