Kim, Fix My House!
SCREEN CITY There are a variety of
technological options available to screen
film and television in your home. A simple
option is a large LCD TV and a home theatre
in a box system. If you want to get a little
fancier and pricier, a sophisticated custom-
built system complete with a video projector
and wall speakers is a good option as well.
In terms of selecting the size of screen that
best fits your viewing needs, both the room
and budget will be your deciding factors. It
is best to discuss your options with the pros
to establish the ideal size for you. They may
ask you to divulge details such as the existing
lighting in the room, the distance from
seating to screen, your preferable viewing
angle, as well as, your interest in screening in
3D.
THE AUDIENCE IS LISTENING Put
careful thought into how you can customize
the acoustics in your space to optimize
sound quality. Consider all of the hard
I love going to the movies, how can I create a home
theatre area at home?
and soft surfaces in your media room and
take into account their affect on sound.
Improve acoustics easily by adding a plush
carpet to the room and soft fabric shades
to your windows instead of hard blinds.
This helps to control the echo effect. For
the ultimate indulgence, hook everything
up to a universal remote to control the AV
equipment, the lights and even the shades
with the touch of a button.
VIP SEATING One of the most important
components is great seating. Comfy sofas
and recliners are standard options but
for an authentic viewing experience, you
will want to shell out for real theatre style
seating. Typically, 2 rows of 4 seats will fit
comfortably in a 20 x 13 foot theatre. For
even better viewing, elevate the back row
with a pre-built platform to really wow your
guests. There are several design options
available and some even come in genuine
leather with cupholders in the armrests while
others require zero wall clearance, reclining
forward into the room instead of back
against the wall which makes the most of a
tight space.
HIDDEN DETAILS The technical specifics
of a home theatre or media room are more
important than other spaces in the house.
Custom wiring is a smart, effective choice
that will improve both the functionality and
the look of the room. Between the lighting,
video, audio and internet access (if streaming
videos or playing games online) there are
lots of wires and cables accessing the room.
Placing unruly wires behind the basement’s
drywall, in low-profile tubing throughout the
room, or even in floor receptacles beneath
electronic seating will prevent them from
becoming an eyesore. -Text by Kim Bartley