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CREATING YOUR VERY OWN HOME MOVIE THEATRE

If you and your family are movie lovers and think there is nothing more fun to do on a
Friday night than settling down to watch a great film, with a big bowl of hot buttery
popcorn, having a dedicated theatre in your home might be an amazing experience,
bringing you many years of enjoyment.

What kind of room will I need?
Let’s look at what building a room like this would involve. You’ll need to have a
dedicated space for just movie-watching. When this room shares a space with other
home activities, the sounds, cooking smells, people coming and going, outdoor sounds
– these all interfere with the movie experience. A basement can be a great conversion
into a home theatre, because they are removed from the main living space and have
less ambient light. But you can control the ambient light in other rooms with light
blocking curtains and a few other treatments.

How can I get the best sound?
You will also want to minimize the ambient sound, things like a dishwasher,
washer/dryer, people living in the home and noise from the outside. Doing the following
will help you achieve a quiet space:
• Soundproofing the walls can be done with a second layer of drywall or with special
sound-reducing foam or wallboard.
• Replace hollow-core doors with solid doors.
• Use light and sound blocking curtains on any windows.
• Pay attention to what kind of materials you are using in the space and ensure that you
don’t have surfaces that will bounce sound around. Install carpet instead of hard floors
and have soft cushiony furniture.

Where do I put my components?
You will need some kind of rack or cabinetry for housing all the components to the TV
and sound system. The wires and cables should be hidden, and the equipment will
need enough space to be well ventilated so that nothing overheats.

And finally, a large screen TV or dropdown screen will need to be installed.

What about lighting?
Lighting is another important piece of setting up your home theatre for maximum
enjoyment. As we discussed earlier, reducing the amount of ambient light in your room
is key, with the right window treatments. Here are a few other tips:
• Use darker shades and flat paint for the wall color.
• Limit the number of reflective items in the room and use matte finishes on all possibly
shiny objects like doorknobs, light fixtures and countertops.
• Recessed lighting that can be dimmed is an excellent choice.
• Keep the décor simple – no knickknacks or decorations that will distract or bounce the
light around.

How should I arrange the seating?
Whatever you choose for seating, whether it’s big reclining seats like in an actual
theatre, comfy couches, or a combination of both, make sure everyone can see. It’s
common to install a raised tier in the back so no one’s view is blocked.

At RWT Design and Construction, we have considerable experience building home
recording studios. We totally understand how to build a soundproof room and can help
you design and build an amazing movie theatre in the comfort of your very own home!