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How Do I Choose the Best Home Theater Ideas?

Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen

The best home theater ideas can depend on your budget and the type of space you have available in your home. There are many different places to find good home theater ideas, from the Internet to print magazines that are dedicated to the subject. One great way to find good home theater ideas is to check online real estate sites for listings that include home theaters, since the listings often have pictures that may provide you with ideas. Some sites also publish pictures specifically of innovative home theater designs that might provide you with ideas of how to best use your space. In general, you should choose a television screen that is sized properly for your room, arrange all of your seating options to make use of the best viewing angles, and consider the acoustics of the space when installing speakers.

Home theater installations can be incredibly complex or deceptively simple, and can be either designed professionally or be the result of do-it-yourself (DIY) efforts. Some home theaters are set up to look like real theaters, with individual reclining chairs set up in descending rows, while others simply consist of a television, surround sound system, and a nice couch. The best home theater ideas can be highly dependent on the available space and budget, so those are the primary factors you should consider.

Some home theater systems use a projector.
Some home theater systems use a projector.

When you first start looking for home theater ideas, you may want to consider the available space first. Since a good home theater experience can depend on shutting out all exterior light and sound, one good idea is to place your home theater in a room with thick walls and no windows; basement rooms often work well for this purpose. If your home has no rooms like that, and there is no money for extensive remodeling in your budget, there are still a few ideas you may want to consider.

Having separate components is one idea for creating a home theater.
Having separate components is one idea for creating a home theater.

Designing a home theater can allow for a lot of creativity, but it can be important to choose a room that is rectangular, rather than square. If that is not possible, then you can outline a rectangular space within a larger or oddly shaped room instead. Should you find that your space is severely limited, some solutions are to use a projector screen, wall-mounted flat panel television, or install a television into one of the walls. If your floors are bare, it can be a good idea to either use a throw rug or carpeting, since bare floors can result in poor sound quality. For home theater rooms that have large windows, an idea to help achieve the best sound and picture quality is to use two sets of drapes or blackout curtains.

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    • Some home theater systems use a projector.
      By: M S
      Some home theater systems use a projector.
    • Having separate components is one idea for creating a home theater.
      By: Pavlo Vakhrushev
      Having separate components is one idea for creating a home theater.
    • The TV or projector display is generally the centerpiece of a home theater system.
      By: karam miri
      The TV or projector display is generally the centerpiece of a home theater system.
    • If space is limited, a wall-mounted flat panel television is an option for a home theater.
      By: Peter Högström
      If space is limited, a wall-mounted flat panel television is an option for a home theater.
    • A projection screen may create a more realistic movie experience than a television.
      By: ludmilafoto
      A projection screen may create a more realistic movie experience than a television.
    • Use two sets of drapes or blackout curtains for home theater rooms that have large windows.
      By: ep stock
      Use two sets of drapes or blackout curtains for home theater rooms that have large windows.
    • Turning a basement into a home theater is a great idea.
      By: Elenathewise
      Turning a basement into a home theater is a great idea.