When that is done, move on to the aesthetic choices that will enhance your viewing experience and create the finished space of your dreams. Once you have identified the room’s location, the next step is to create the “shell” of your media center, select the specific equipment, and plan its installation. That means planning! Avoid skimping on the planning process. Clarity and picture quality are vital, comfort counts, and you want the sound system to be as easy to operate and as attractive as possible. Understand that, whether you create a dedicated home theater or you plan a first-class viewing center in your living room or den, your screen, sound system, and lighting must work in tandem. Investigate the relative advantages of LED, LCD, and plasma technology, or explore innovative OLED that is reputed to be thinner, brighter, and more energy-efficient. A rule of thumb from media experts is that the seating area should be positioned 1.5 times the diagonal measurement of the television from the screen for optimal viewing comfort.Īnd, when it comes to the video display, bigger is not always better. There is an optimal location and placement of your screen so that you can minimize neck and eye strain. 4] Optimize Your Viewing Experienceĭo you remember, as a child, sitting in the front row of the movie theater? By the end of the movie, your neck hurt, and you were squirming in your seat, right? You’ll want to prevent this from happening in your home theater. To minimize sound transmission between floors you can even use acoustic ceiling tiles. Other soundproofing techniques to muffle sound include hanging wool or velvet drapes on the outside of the walls, or quilt batting covered with decorative fabric. If permitted, you’ll also want to consider using specialty drywall such as QuietRock Soundproof as an effective sound barrier. The more soundproofing you can apply, the more functional the media room will be. To keep rumbling movie sounds to a minimum, you’ll also want to consider insulating the interior walls with loosely-packed R11 insulation. An insulation rating of R30 is recommended for use in exterior walls, the ceiling, and floors. To quiet the noise, insulation plays a huge role. Soundproofing a media room involves modifying the surrounding wall, floor, and/or ceiling to minimize the amount of sound traveling to other rooms or adjoining neighbors. You’ll also want to identify a location for the receiver and A/V equipment, which can be placed in a hidden cabinet or nearly closet. Generally, you’ll want to consider wiring that allows speaker placement 1) above or below the viewing screen, 2) at either side of the screen, 3) on the sidewalls, 4) and on the back wall. Your design-build contractor and a qualified electrician will assist you with planning your media room, including proper placement of wiring for essential speaker locations, a receiver, A/V equipment, a video projector, and essential lighting. Even if you have to remove sections of drywall to reroute circuits, it’s better to hide the necessary electric infrastructure than to “make do” with visible cables and wires. Media centers require electrical wiring-and lots of it- to provide proper lighting, video, and surround sound. You might also consider utilizing a section of a garage or unused bedroom that is approximately 20 x 13 feet-an ideal configuration for a home theater. Basements typically do not have large windows, multiple doorways, or high ceilings, making them ideal for transforming a room into a dedicated home theater. Lights! Camera! Action! Pass the popcorn, please! Here’s what you need to know… 1] Choose the Right SpaceĬarving out a section of your basement is an ideal way to make good use of an unfinished or underused space. With the right design, your media room can be an inviting gathering place even when the lights are on, and the sound system is off. It takes thoughtful planning to make your media space turn out exactly as you had planned. So, if a home theater or media room space is on your wishlist, we’ve compiled a list of essential design options to consider. Media rooms or home theaters have steadily gained in popularity, and it’s not surprising after lifestyle improvements have spurred demand for home remodeling projects.
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