Four Things To Consider When Building A Home Theatre Installation

A home theatre installation can range from a theatre setup with speakers and a large screen in the living room, to a dedicated room or space perfectly tailored to watching movies. The exact setup of the room may vary depending on the amount of space available. However, there are certain key elements to keep in mind no matter what kind of home theatre installation you are setting up.

1. Picture

The first thing that comes to mind when considering home theatre installation, is the picture. There are many screen and projector types available, and which option you choose depends on factors such as your budget, the layout of the room, and what kind of viewing experience you are looking for.

Tip: Certain screens might look different at home than they do under store lighting: be sure to ask a salesperson, interior designer, or lighting maintenance expert about what kind of screen or projector will best complement your existing indoor lighting.

2. Sound

There are many sound options for home theatres, ranging from a large tower or ceiling-mounted speakers to more compact and discrete audio units. It is best to determine what kind of sound quality you are looking for by testing out a wide range of speakers. Attributes such as brand, size or shape of speakers, does not always correlate with audio quality. Additionally, the size and layout of the room can influence what kind of speakers you require.

Tip: If you have limited floor space, wall-mounted speakers may be the best option for you. You can purchase speakers that are specially designed to be attached to walls, or have shelving installed by a handyman.

3. Comfort

A home theatre system should be a comfortable place to relax and watch your favourite movies. While it might seem obvious on a list of home theatre essentials, “comfort” in a home theatre installation goes beyond plush upholstered chairs or comfortable and relaxing couches. When setting up seating in your home theatre, keep in mind the distance between the seating and your screen: the optimal viewing distance varies by screen size and type. In general, viewers should be close enough to the screen that they can see the whole screen but are not too far away, which can make certain details and colours difficult to see.

Tip: The angle of the screen is also important: if the screen is too high above viewers’ lines of sight, they will have to strain their neck which can create discomfort after a long period of time.

4. Storage

When creating a home theatre, it is a good idea to create storage space or shelves for items such as video game consoles, DVDs or Blu-Rays, or other items. This can be especially true if your home theatre is set up as part of a living room. It is up to you whether to choose an open storage style such as wall-mounted or freestanding shelves, or a more closed set-up such as cabinets.

Tip: In some cases, shelving for speakers as well as storage can be combined. Talk to your interior designer or handyman about installing a modern version of a home entertainment shelving unit.