Home cinema design
When it comes to home remodelling, creating a home cinema is where you can have lots of fun. Kitchens and bathrooms need to be utilitarian, living rooms practical and comfortable – but a home cinema enables you to get creative while styling something that’s purely for your entertainment. Whether you want the full works, with a state-of-the-art audio system and reclining cinema seats, or something a little more modest, there are a few rules you’ll need to follow to get the best result. Here are our top tips for designing your ideal home movie room.
Choose a dedicated room
The first thing a budding home cinema designer needs to know is that their space should be used solely for watching films, streaming TV shows, and video gaming. To create the most immersive experience, furniture should be kept to a minimum, and your room should be rectangular in shape to allow for adequate projection and optimal acoustic performance.
Control ambient light
Ambient light means disruption to your viewing experience, particularly if you’re using a projector and screen. With that in mind, choose a room that has little or no natural light, or aim to block out any natural light that comes in from windows or beneath doors. Blackout blinds and drapery are a good place to start, and a draught excluder can serve the dual function of keeping the room warm and blocking light beneath the door.
Control ambient sound
There’s a multitude of sounds from outside that can cause a disturbance: voices, the washing machine, the kettle boiling…so controlling this is vital to a fully immersive experience. Soundproof your room with acoustic boards or glass wool, and replace hollow doors with solid ones. Sealing cracks with caulk can also make a difference.
Install lighting
Soft, glare-free lighting that’s easily dimmable is the key to an atmospheric home cinema space. Consider what sort of lighting you want before furnishing the room, and if you have a smart automation system, integrate the two for convenience. LED strips are an excellent way to create ambience without the need for large fixtures, but if you prefer, wall sconces are a classic and stylish source of illumination.
Contain your AV stack
Your AV stack is all the equipment you need for streaming or playing your content. It might include a Blu-ray player, network media streaming box, Wi-Fi booster and/or home cinema tuner. Keeping these hidden in a strong, well-ventilated cabinet not only ensures your space looks uncluttered, it also hides any ambient light that’s produced, so that it doesn’t impact your picture.
Select your equipment
With all the key elements in place, you can choose the AV equipment you want to use. You’ll need to decide whether to have a television or projector, and if you choose a projector, select one with a lumens rating that matches the amount of ambient light – a higher rating means the picture will be less affected by ambient light. Speakers can be positioned either at the front by the screen, or around the room; achieving the best results can be more complex than it seems, so you can always seek help with this from specialists in home cinema installation in Kent.
With these top tips, you’ll have an impressive viewing space of your own – perfect for a relaxing night in or entertaining guests.
