Home Theatre Design - A Starting Point

Turning an extra room into a Home Theatre room is becoming very popular - particularly with remodelers and new home construction. 

But -- there is a lot to consider for a Home Theatre Design.  Space size, budget, noise level, impact on other areas of the house, installation time & mess, do it yourself or professional help, tie in's with computers or Apple Ipod devices, Satellite vs Cable, LCD vs Plasma, etc.

There are really three levels of Home Theatres being installed in homes.  Of course, they range in cost from just upgrading your current stereo and television (several thousand $$) all the way to completely outfitted, professional theatres costing hundreds of thousands of $$$!.

First, you can take any Family room or Living room and add surround sound speakers (5.1 or 7.1), a flat screen LCD or Plasma display and audio / video components like a Receiver, DVD Player, Amplifier, etc.  You will probably need to budget for additional furniture to hold the components in this type of installation which uses free standing speakers.

The second level of installation includes the components above at a higher end quality level in a more dedicated space with special seating, an overhead DPL projector mounted in the ceiling and a special, large movie theatre screen on one wall of the room.

Dedicated screens are installed permanently on the wall or they can be the type that are unrolled & lowered down from an overhead tray by an electrical switch.

Speakers and their wiring are installed in the walls of the room.  One company now produces speakers and installation accessories to make the speakers blend into with the wall so that the speakers are invisible.

Top level home theatres will add special sound design, acoustic wall panels, ceiling and floor materials, special furniture for the seating and other components that may make the entire room look like a small theatre you would find in a town.

If you are contemplating adding a Home Theatre at either level 2 or 3, contact a good, local audio video company who can work with you to design the best component arrangement and has access to purchasing higher end components.

Designers are certified by CEDIA - the Consumer Electronics Design & Installation Association.  Please visit their web site to find someone in your area.  http://www.cedia.net

There are also a variety of Trade Shows to attend around the country to see the latest products and innovations. 

What you may see at Circuit City or Best Buy is only the tip of the iceberg in this fast growing technology field that really can enhance the enjoyment and use of your home.