How to Create Your Ultimate Home Theatre

by Carlisle Homes

1. Choose your visual and audio tech carefully

There are home theatre audio and visual options that will suit just about every style and budget. The important thing is to consider what you really want out of your home theatre.

If you’re wanting to recreate a true cinema experience, then a projector has a lower cost-per-viewing inch over a big-screen TV. And the newest projectors on the market are designed to work in smaller spaces and rooms with natural light through windows - making them a great option even for those with limited space.

If it’s picture quality that floats your boat, then an LCD LED TV is a great option – they work well with all types of lighting and Smart TV technology makes them very user-friendly.

A good quality sound system doesn’t come cheap but there is a range of options that will enhance your home theatre experience.

If you’re after movie-quality sound, left and right floor standing speakers combined with a centre channel speaker will provide a well-balanced soundscape. Add smaller satellite speakers at the back of the room to achieve a surround sound effect.

Installation of your tech should be carefully considered – TV’s should be wall-mounted with the cables run on the inside of the wall to keep them out of sight. Projector screens tend to be roof mounted and the distance from the lens will depend on your product specs so make sure you know your limits in terms of room size, before buying anything!

2. Sound-proof the room

There’s no point shelling out for a state-of-the-art sound system if you can’t enjoy the full experience.

Sound-proofing your home theatre will allow you to turn up the volume to your heart’s content without disturbing the rest of your household (or your neighbours!) as well as ensuring that outside noises don’t ruin your movie night.

The best time to install soundproofing is during construction. The most effective solutions need to be installed during your home’s construction, as retrofitting can be more expensive and less effective.

Audio insulation, absorptive wall materials, double glazing and the use of thick carpets and curtains will have a huge impact on the noise and vibration levels of your home theatre. For more information about acoustic insulation, read our blog: Quiet Comfort – the benefits of acoustic insulation.

3. Set the scene with a perfect layout

The placement of your furniture is key to getting the home theatre experience right.

The distance between your sofa and the screen will vary according to the screen and room size. As a general rule, your sofa should be placed 3 x your TV width away from the screen.

This formula will depend on your screen resolution and the number of viewers you’re catering for, so make sure you test what works for your space – the screen should be comfortably viewed from multiple locations.

And don’t forget about comfort! The home theatre is all about creating the perfect cozy space for watching the big game or the latest blockbuster. Choose a large, soft sofa with cushions and a chunky throw blanket you can curl up into. Or perhaps you’d prefer several reclining lounges (one for each of your family members) for the ultimate in luxury viewing.

Don’t forget to allocate space for side tables or a coffee table for drinks and nibbles!

4. Lights, camera, action!

While our home designs make the most of natural light, your home theatre is the one room where too much light will disrupt your viewing.

A solid block-out blind layered with curtains will block most of the natural light. You can also consider external window shading to further stop any light from coming through.

For your electric lighting, choose dimmable soft downlights so that you’ve got the option of no/low lights for a true movie experience or medium to full lighting when you’ve got friends over to watch the big game.