Create a Home Theater on a Budget

Create a Home Theater on a Budget

There are many reasons to add a theater to your home. With increasing movie prices, coupled with the quick home releases, it is simply more cost effective to create the movie experience in your home.  Home theaters are the perfect environment for scheduled family time. Yes, going to the movies gives you a huge screen and excellent sound, but the truth is that you can get that in your home for a lot less than  you imagine — adding value to your home in the process.

A Common Misconception

Building a home  theater doesn’t have to be expensive. The truth is that the cost of large screen HD televisions have  dropped drastically over the last several years and you can find some great deals on high quality theater seating packages.  With proper planning and a little help you can have an extremely functional and comfortable theater right there in your own home.

Choose Your Preferred Hardware

One of the first  steps that you will need to take is choosing your hardware. Will you go with a traditional flat screen high definition TV or choose a projector screen. There isn’t much of a difference in cost either way. The thing that you want to keep in mind while you are planning your project is that you don’t want to welsh on quality in the process of finding the best deal. Paying a little more for higher quality means your theater will last longer and provide a better overall experience. This is not a product promotion so we will refrain from making suggestions concerning any specific type of TV or projector. Most of the major brands provide some good options. Take the time to do your homework. It would be wise to spend some time researching products online before you head into the store. This will allow you to make an educated decision instead of allowing the salesman to talk you into making an emotional purchase, which can create a case of buyer’s remorse.

Consider Your Space

A common mistake that home owners make when building their home theater is failing to consider the dimensions of the space they will be using. You don’t want to purchase electronics and furniture that is too large for the specific dimensions in the theater. Take the time to measure and visualize. Draw up your plans to establish placement. You want to create an optimal view while maximizing sound quality.

Acoustics Placement

There are a number of sites online that will advise you on speaker placement and how to use walls to get the most out of your sound system. Have you ever noticed how all of the high-end audio stores demonstrate the quality of their sound systems in a special room? This is because the acoustics of the room have just as much to do with the sound quality as the speakers and the system being used.  This is not to suggest going with a subpar system, but that you should perform your due diligence to ensure that you understand how to maximize the acoustic impact of your room.  Acoustic tiles for your ceiling is another inexpensive way that you can improve the overall sound.

Choosing the Right Furniture

An important aspect of creating your home theater is the comfort of the experience that you are creating. You want to use theater seating that is functional and comfortable. You can choose connected seating or individual chairs for more seating flexibility. There are theater seats that have electronic adjustments that allow an individual to make multiple adjustments at the touch of a button. There is not much difference in the cost of seats with manual adjustments and those that have electronic adjustment capability. Once again, your focus should be on maximizing the existing space without creating the need to make major renovations.

Wall Colors

Most theaters use certain colors to control the reflection of light on the walls. The right color will also make the room look and feel larger.  Darker colors for the ceiling and walls seem to work best while lighter carpet works best for the flooring. This not only provides a better viewing experience, but it will make the room appear larger.

Lighting is Extremely Important

You want lighting that you can dim at numerous variations. You will also want to have directional lighting that is positioned in a manner that allows it to provide lighting indirectly by shining primary on the walls. There are many different variations that will allow you to individualize your theater without going overboard with the coast.

If you remember to manage your space so that you aren’t forced to make structural changes, you will find it easy to stay within your set budget.