How to Create a State-of-the-Art Home Cinema

A small home theatre transforms the simple act of putting a film on into a whole experience – without even leaving the house.

You don’t even need lots of space to build your at-home cinema; it can be anything from a couple of speakers to a whole cinema room. This guide will help you work with your space and interior design choices to create a relaxing and immersive film experience you’ll want to enjoy every evening.

How to Create a State-of-the-Art Home Cinema

1. Space and Layout

As mentioned, your at-home cinema choices will have to work with the space you have. Consider where the screen will go and how big it can be – take your measurements and check them thoroughly before making your purchase. Also important here is where the seating will go in relation to the screen and the placement of the speakers, especially if your home theatre is small; you want the experience to be like the cinema, but not a sensory overload.

2. Lighting Schemes

The next thing to get right is the lighting. Of course, you want it to be dark and atmospheric when the film is playing, but make sure there’s enough lighting that you can switch on before and after the film, so that people can comfortably get to their seats.

If you have a dedicated cinema room, floor lighting makes an eye-catching feature that also keeps the way out illuminated, even when the room is dark. If not, LED lights behind the screen make for an eye-catching alternative.

3. Screen Position

The centre of the screen should be positioned at eye level for comfort. There are a few different calculations used to work out how far the screen should be from the seats, but the consensus is that you should be able to see the whole thing without turning your head, and watching it shouldn’t cause feelings of eye strain.

4. Sound and Speakers

If you love your tech, this one’s for you: it just wouldn’t be an at-home cinema without a quality speaker setup. The number, type and arrangement of the speakers all impact the overall effect, so when you’re planning your layout, think about how large the space is and how close the speakers might be to where people are sitting to achieve an immersive, but not overwhelming, experience.

5. Seating Options

With all the technical considerations done with, all that’s left is seating, where comfort is the only thing that matters. Your layout will dictate whether you go for one row or multiple, comfy armchairs or a big sofa and so on - just make sure it’s comfy enough to sit in for hours on end.

So, whether you’re a sci-fi fanatic or a rom-com devotee, bring the excitement of cinema to your very own home. Work with what you have and keep the preferences of family and friends in mind – be it a show-stopping movie theatre to a cosy nook to watch the classics.