How to Design a Home Theater

Do you enjoy—and miss—seeing films in a commercial movie theater? That’s understandable. Unlike watching TV in your living room, the cinematic experience is fully immersive. The dialogue, sound effects, and music don’t just emanate from the big screen in front of you—instead, the sound surrounds you, allowing you to become completely engrossed in the action.

With a professionally designed and built theater room that is equipped with the right seating configuration and audio/visual equipment, you can replicate the movie theater experience at home. In fact, with some careful planning, your customized home theater setup might even provide a more impressive experience than many small multiplex cinemas. If that sounds like what you’re after, here are some design points to help you get started:

The Optimal Size of the Room

If your remodeling project involves a room addition, you’ll have the freedom to decide on the precise size of your home theater. Some key factors to consider include the number of chairs you want and how much space you need to accommodate a bar, countertop, refrigerator, or any other amenities you would like to incorporate. As a starting point, two rows of four chairs would generally require a 14′ x 21′ room. For each additional row of chairs or amenities, you’ll need to increase the length of the room by approximately 6′. Overall, the room should be approximately 36-72″ wider than your seating configuration.

The Right Audio/Visual Equipment

The size of the screen is a key component of the overall theater experience. The optimal viewing distance is approximately 1.5 x the diagonal length of the screen. This means a larger room will require a wider screen. On the other hand, don’t be tempted to go with a wider screen than the dimensions of the room call for; otherwise, the seats will be too close to the screen to allow for comfortable viewing.

For the surround sound, consider purchasing ceiling-mounted speakers or in-wall speakers that can be easily hidden behind acoustic panels or placed in columns. Some people don’t like the look of wall-mounted speakers, which could also interfere with your overall design.

The Design Concept

You might want your theater décor to be consistent with the general vibe of the rest of your home, and while that’s perfectly fine, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Remember: You’re building a truly unique space, so why not have some fun with the design? Feel free to get creative, think outside the box, and express your true individuality and passions. Perhaps you’d like to create an ornate movie palace straight out of the Roaring 20s. Or, maybe you’re looking for the ultimate sports cave where you can cheer on your favorite teams with abandon. The possibilities are virtually endless.

Ready to Get Started?

There’s nothing quite like enjoying a movie in the comfort of your own home, surrounded by no one other than your family and guests. Just think: No more sitting in a cramped and uncomfortable seat, walking across a sticky floor, standing in line for greasy and overpriced popcorn, or peering around the head of the tall stranger seated in front of you. And forget about paying constantly escalating movie ticket prices!

If you’d like to talk with a professional builder about your home theater design, reach out to G & S Remodeling. Having built many custom media rooms for homeowners in Plano and throughout the Dallas, Texas, suburbs, we can provide you with a thorough understanding of what it takes to design the perfect home theater. Contact us today and allow us to help you elevate your home entertainment experience to the next level.