Home Theater and Entertainment Systems

Home theater and entertainment systems are gaining a lot of popularity in the do-it-yourself and remodeling world. Having a home theater can bring a richness and unprecedented satisfaction to home entertainment. With a room dedicated to music, games and movies, a home can be given a new recreational focal point, a place for friends and family to gather and spend time together. Imagine having a large screen projection unit in front of short rows of comfortable theater chairs, with surround sound, lights on dimmers, and a popcorn machine to boot. All of these things are possible and relatively affordable custom renovations. This home theater primer will explore some of the first steps a homeowner should take when considering a home entertainment remodeling job.

What room will house the entertainment system? The room that homeowners most commonly convert to a custom home entertainment center is the basement. No matter which room you choose, it should be a room that can provide a comfortable setting while still allowing for light and sound control. For a successful home theater, all direct and ambient light needs to be controlled for the sake of optimizing the picture quality of movie screenings. Beyond light control, the color of the room, including the ceiling and floor, will have a significant impact on the movie viewing quality of the room. For rich and full surround sound, the dimensions of the room will need to be analyzed. Different room shapes impact the flow of sound and the quality of bass sounds. The room will most likely need sound treatments to optimize is acoustical quality. Some techniques used to insulate and optimize home entertainment rooms for sound are acoustic ceiling tiles, sound absorber panels and bass traps.

The best way to begin a custom home theater job is to get professional advice. Even if you are an accomplished do-it-yourself renovator, a full room home entertainment system is a unique building challenge. To get the most out of the renovation, hire a licensed contractor with home theater experience. Or, conversely, search out a licensed home theater installer with a strong construction foundation. Most reputable contractors will provide a free on-site consultation. They will come to the room you want to convert and assess it personally, making a list of strong points, weak points, and design options for the homeowner. Also, a professional contractor/installer will have an eye for the small details you may overlook while imagining the renovation. In this way, a homeowner can get the clearest possible picture of the project’s scope and cost.

Professionals consider many factors when installing a home entertainment system to the scale of an entire room. Some of the considerations are the size and acoustical properties of the room in question. The contractor will also note where the audience is intended to sit, where components will be located, and whether the room will benefit most from in-wall speakers or stand alone speakers. Depending on size of the room and the homeowner’s budget, a professional will help decide if a projection system or a large screen TV is the best viewing option. Lastly, the renovated home theater will most likely need additional ventilation to siphon off the extra heat off all the electronic equipment and viewers’ bodies.

Of course a home theater can be constructed without the guidance of a professional contractor. A seasoned do-it-yourselfer, with a little help and patience, can produce a home theater to be proud of without going over budget. Home theaters do not have to be specialized viewing areas. There are two kinds of home entertainment systems. A room can be converted for the exclusive purpose of screening movies, with a big screen, big sound, and total darkness. On the other hand, in the interest of versatility and family interactions a home entertainment system can be a more general design that incorporates family room traits. In the latter version of a home entertainment room, friends and family can gather to enjoy HDTV, watch movies, listen to music, and play video games together.

In the end, a well built home theater or entertainment system can add a lot of excitement and recreational options to life at home. Though it is recommended to hire the services of a professional, do-it-yourselfers have constructed impressive home theaters. Armed with this primer, get out there and do some extra homework. You’ll find a home theater or a multi-purpose home entertainment system may not be as far off as you think. Find a contractor with good communication skills that will come assess your space and give you helpful guidance on design, construction and budget.