how do you build a movie theater room

How do I make my room into a movie theater?

1. Paint it Dark. Get the theater vibe by painting your room with dark colors, like burgundy or navy blue.
2. Move the Furniture.
3. Install Dimming Lights.
4. Add New Lighting.
5. Hang Light-Blocking Drapes.
6. Build a Riser.

Full Answer

How to build the perfect home theater room?

How to build the perfect home theater

• Choose a room. The room should ideally be separate from the rest of the house as otherwise, you might end up disturbing others.
• Plan the seating positions in accordance with the screen size. ...
• Choosing between a TV screen or projector. ...
• Choosing a sound system. ...
• Consider the lighting. ...

How to set up a theater room?

The Basics of a Home Theater

• The Visual Part. For the visual component, you have more than one choice, and that is not always easy to get it right.
• Projector. By selecting a projector, you may have a larger viewing surface that will be much cheaper than a TV of the same size.
• TV. ...
• The Sound Component. ...
• Acoustics. ...

How much does it cost to build a home theater?

How much does it cost to build a home Theatre? A home theater can cost as little as $500 for a beginner's setup, but the upper end of the budget is basically infinite. For a good home theater setup, with all the trimmings, you could expect to pay anywhere between $5,000 and $50,000.

What do you need to build a home theater?

7 Gadgets to Help You Build the Coziest Home Theater System

1. Epson EpiqVision Ultra Short Throw LS300 3LCD Smart Laser Projector. ...
2. Sony X900H 65” TV. If you prefer a good quality TV instead of a projector, you're at the right place; and if you are asking which one stands out ...
3. Sony HT-G700 Soundbar. ...
4. Roku Express Streaming Media Player. ...
5. Govee Immersion TV LED Backlights with Camera. ...

More items...

Step 1: Picking the Room or Not

For me the choice of which room and how big it was, was not really much of a choice. The room I had to work with had been an extra bedroom in the basement.

Step 2: Modifying the Room

The room was originally 11.5' X 13' with a closet and one basement window. The first thing I decided to do was to eliminate the closet and extend the room 3' making the room 11.5' X 16'. This would allow for better acoustics and make having two rows of recliners a better fit. There was also an issue with a duct in the room that could not be moved.

Step 3: Creating a Raised Seating Area

I wanted the people sitting in the back of the room to have a good view, so I acquired some oak pallets and some other reclaimed wood. I managed to find everything I needed except for the face board for the new raised area which I bought from the local lumber yard.

Step 4: Painting

On the wall that would house the TV, and on the recessed part of the ceiling, I decided to go with a flat black since it wouldn't reflect other light in the room and distract from the screen. On the other walls I went with a classic maroon satin finish. I wanted it to be easy to clean but still not reflect light.

Step 5: Selecting a Carpet

When shopping for the carpet, this is what I had in mind. 1. Low pile 2. Easy to keep clean and hide stains 3. Low cost 4. Fitting for a movie theater I went to the local carpet / remnant outlet store and walked in on the right day. I was able to find a remnant that just fit the room and fit my color choices perfectly.

Step 6: Decorating and Furnishing

Kirkland's and Hobby Lobby have some very nice home theater accessories at a relatively low cost. We first used some low end recliners in the room but later upgraded to a set of electric recliners. I used black shears in front of the shelf unit to reduce the visibility of the electronics while still being able to shoot a remote through it.

Step 7: Closing Off the Window

I used a left over piece of plywood and a remnant of carpet to make a cover for the window. Is fits snugly in place but could be removed if needed.

How to connect a projector to a theater?

This involves just two cables: An HDMI cable to carry high-definition video to the projector A CAT5 control wire for accessing the projector with a radiofrequency (RF) remote. This will let you start your movies without pointing at the projector. One end of these cables should extend from the ceiling at the rear of the theater, where the projector will hang. The other end should connect to your equipment hub. Be sure to pre-wire the hub with your cable or satellite feed, as well as high-speed Internet for streaming video.

How big is a home theater?

The ideal space for a home theater is 20 feet long by 13 feet wide and relatively isolated from the rest of the house. "It has to be in a place that does not interrupt the business of the home," says Rob Rickel, president of RSR Custom Renovations and Additions. "You don't want the sound disturbing everyone."

What is the insulation rating for a home theater?

You'll want to pay special attention to insulation. A rating of R30 is standard for the floor, ceiling, and exterior wall insulation, but don't neglect the interior walls. Loosely packed R11 can help keep the sound of movie explosions from rocking the rest of your home. It won't block the noise completely, though. You'll need to add additional sound barriers after you pre-wire the room.

What color seats are best for a home theater?

Comfy brown leather seats offer prime viewing of the screen in this stylish home theater. The seats complement the room's neutral palette, which is a perfect backdrop for enjoying favorite movies with family and friends.

How big is a projection screen for a theater?

Once your drywall is painted, you can hang your speakers, projector, and screen. In a theater of 20 by 13 feet, the ideal screen size is 110-120 inches. For a professional feel, frame the screen with a proscenium – a set of black acoustic panels that hide the left, right, and center speakers. Camouflage the remaining speakers with acoustic panels that double as artwork. These panels can be printed with custom designs, including family photos or favorite movie posters.

Where should the projector cables be?

One end of these cables should extend from the ceiling at the rear of the theater, where the projector will hang . The other end should connect to your equipment hub. Be sure to pre-wire the hub with your cable or satellite feed, as well as high-speed Internet for streaming video.

What kind of sound does a home theater use?

Some home theaters now use 9.1 surround sound, says Michael Fox of Cinema Sound. This adds another set of speakers in the front of the room. "If there's a helicopter flying overhead (in the movie), you'll hear that sound from those top speakers," Fox says.

How to decorate a room for a movie?

Decorate the room to look like the home theater of your dreams. Add framed movie posters or other types of artwork. Wall textiles help decorate the room and absorb sound. Avoid placing decorations near the screen, to limit distractions.

What is home theater design?

Home theater designers are skilled at providing the perfect balance of video, audio, and aesthetic design. Call a professional design company for a fully integrated home theater.

What is sound control in theaters?

Sound Control: Sound-absorbent insulated walls provide better sound quality within the theater and prevent noise from migrating to other rooms.

What color paint is best for a home theater?

Darker colors are best for home theaters because they reduce ambient light. Matte, flat, or eggshell paint glosses, too, are better than semi-gloss or glossy paint for toning down the ambient light. Paint the wall chases the same color as the wall to help the chases blend in.

How to decide on a dedicated theater?

Theater Style: Decide if this will be a dedicated theater with screen-facing seats or more along the lines of a living room with occasional screen viewing. Determine the direction the viewers will face. Decide if you want extras that will need to be installed, like a wet bar.

How to run electrical cables into a home theater?

If the theater space currently has no electrical wiring, you will need to run new circuits from the electrical service panel and pull those circuits into the home theater. If the space has electrical power, you may be able to extend cables to necessary locations by splicing cables together .

What are the seats in a movie theater?

Theater seats are comfortable and provide a leg rest as well as places to put remotes, drinks, and food.

How to get streaming into home theater?

There are a couple of different ways to factor streaming into your home theater: Smart TV: A smart TV is an easy way to ensure you have access to streaming services in your home theater. Purchasing a smart TV also reduced the number of additional accessories you’ll need in your theater room.

What does a home theater look like?

One of the classic looks of a home theater is having the back row of seats higher than the front row. That’s what makes it feel like a home theater, not just a den!

What to do if you have a projector instead of a TV?

In addition to the need to purchase a screen, you’ll also need to make other additions to your home theater, like black out curtains and a device to play your movies on.

What is the heart of a movie theater?

Since the heart of any home movie theater is the screen you’ll be watching your movies on, it’s important to invest the bulk of your budget to a good TV or projector. Do your research to find the TV with the features that are important to you. When thinking about the television or projector you’ll use in your home theater consider:

How to get full theater effect?

To get the full theater effect, surround sound speakers with a subwoofer is your best option. But it doesn’t have to be the only option. Start by determining the number of speakers you’ll need in your room based on the size of the space.

Can you wrap around curtain rods?

But if you are converting a room with windows into a home theater, be sure you get wrap around curtain rods!

Can I use a sound bar in my home theater?

Another budget-friendly option for your home theater is a sound bar. While you may not get the full surround sound experience with the use of a sound bar, it does make your movies sound better than traditional television speakers. I admit, I tried using just the TV speaker with a couple large screens we have.