A home cinema gives you a luxurious space that you and your loved ones can settle down in on the weekends or evenings. There is plenty that you will need to consider when creating this space, such as who will be using it, what your budget is, and is it going to solely be a cinema room or one that can be altered into a regular living room. That is all before you get to the material details that make up your room. The technology available to us has greatly improved over recent years, allowing us to create a setup that can compete with the actual cinema. We’ve compiled some of the best tips to get your home cinema looking gorgeous and a space that you look forward to snuggling in.
Be Satisfied with your Seating
Satisfied is an understatement; ideally you want to be as comfortable as possible when you’re spending time in your home cinema. Once you figure out how many people will be regularly using this space, you can then determine how much seating you require. Choosing a corner recliner sofa or sofa-bed is an ideal option for families or couples, letting you snuggle right next to each other. Ensuring whatever you pick is comfortable should be the primary focus, enabling you to be calm and relaxed when watching a movie or show. How your seating looks is also something that should play a big part in what you eventually opt for, focusing on how it works with the rest of the room. It could be the comfiest seat you’ve ever sat on, but if the aesthetic doesn’t match up with your preferences, then you won’t fall in love with the space. Where you decide to position your seating is heavily dependent on other factors in the room, such as the position of the projector. Why not try a couple of bean bags and include pouffes or cushions to add extra comfort to you and your guests. One of the best things about having your own home cinema is that you aren’t restricted to the typical red box-type seats that you see in cinemas, so have fun with it and be creative.
A Projector with a Purpose
If you’re on the hunt for a screen that’s over 100 inches, the only option you have is a projector. Of course, you could choose a TV for your room, however, you lose the cinema feeling that a projector brings. A drop-down screen can be incredibly convenient, as you can shut it away when not in use and leave the space open for other activities. When using a projector, light levels are an important aspect to get right, ensuring windows are preventing outside light from entering effectively. The price of a projector can range from under £100 to multiple thousands of pounds, so choosing the best one for you and your budget is something that will require a bit of research. Some of the high-end projectors can be noisy and produce heat, so mounting it on the ceiling and venting the heat outdoors is an excellent idea.
The Audio is Essential
One of the most important aspects of any cinema space, focusing on how your movie or show will sound is something that should take hefty consideration. Whilst you don’t want it to feel exactly like a cinema, you want the audio to be close to the real thing as it will enhance the overall experience. It’s important to think about where your home cinema is, in relation to other areas of the home, ensuring all walls that lead to another important room in the house is soundproofed so that you don’t disturb other areas of the home. Most cinemas use five satellite speakers, three behind the screen and two towards the back of the room, with one subwoofer that gives you the bass or low-pitched frequencies. Getting the surround sound right is essential in creating a cinema-like experience, so using the formula that is used by the actual thing isn’t a bad idea. Your budget plays a part in what you can strive for, but experiment with the positioning of your speakers until you get a sound your happy with.
Focus on Cosy
As previously spoken about, comfort is something that should be high on the priority list when you’re creating your own home cinema. Having dedicated blankets in your room and at the ready, allows you to instantly settle down and feel warm before you’ve even chosen a movie. Cushions are another great way of maximising your restfulness and can also help you sit at a better angle, preventing any neck strain. Cushions and blankets are an excellent way of making your home cinema feel less like the real thing and more like a personal place of solitude.
When it comes to lighting, it’s wise having the option to fully illuminate the whole room as this will massively help with setting everything up and being organised. Once it’s time to settle down however, the big lights go off and cosy lighting takes centre stage. Of course, you want the room to be dark when watching a film, but implementing lighting is a good idea for when people want toilet or snack breaks, and you want them to be able to see where they’re going without ruining the snug vibe. Table lamps work wonderfully as they can be left on or turned off whilst the movie is playing, and it won’t impact the visual quality. The best way of giving your room a soothing glow is via cove lighting. Using LED strips and neon lights around the room is an excellent and extremely popular way of implementing this type of lighting, and with the ability to change colour, you can alter the mood at any moment.
Key Questions
What Does a Cinema Room Require?
The first thing to focus on when creating a home cinema is the budget you’ve got to work with. Once that’s been worked out, you can plan where you want things to go and how you want it to look. You will need seating of some sort, with a sofa proving to be the most popular and potentially cosiest option. Ensuring you have somewhere to put your feet up is a good idea, whether that be on the sofa itself, or on a separate item like a foot stool. Appropriate lighting, a quality projector, and a screen that fits your space are all essential areas to focus on, making sure you can see your film not just clearly, but in exquisite detail.
Don’t forget to kit out the room with things that you like. For example, as it’s a movie room, framing your favourite film posters and putting them on the wall is a great touch, giving your space a sense of personality and style. The audio system can also play a big part in how successful your room is, ensuring you feel immersed while watching. Arguably the most important thing to remember is to grab some company, whether that be friends, your partner, or family members to gather round and enjoy your home cinema. You can use your home theatre by yourself if you’re looking for peace or to get completely get engrossed in a particular movie. The last thing that will make your home cinema complete, is to grab some snacks. Whether you opt for the quintessential cinema snack of popcorn or venture to something different; the choice is completely yours as you don’t have the fear of annoying strangers with loud or smelly foods. If you have kids using this area, creating a station entirely for snacks is a fabulous way of getting them in the mood for a movie. You can push the boat out even more by creating your own cinema-style boxes, cones, or buckets, adding your own unique twist to the design.
How Big Does a Cinema Room Need to be?
Whether you have a room in mind or are planning on fashioning a home cinema space, there is plenty to consider when you take the entire room into account. A cinema room should be at least 7ft in height, as any shorter would limit your space for a projector. If you’re building a new room from scratch, focus on ensuring you have enough space for everything you need. The length of the room should be at least 16ft whilst the width should be 11ft or more. If you are converting a room into a home cinema, you don’t get as much specification when it comes to the size. However, it is wise to choose a rectangular room that allows you to fit everything you need in. Avoid cubed rooms as it will give you sub-par acoustics and ruin the room somewhat.
Conclusion
Implementing a cinema room into your home or creating one from scratch can give you a space that is fun, relaxing, and cosy. In many people’s idea of a dream home, a cinema room is a luxury that isn’t conceivable for everyone; so, if you are movie lover and have the disposable money for it, then give it a go. It’s important to get the balance between copying an actual cinema and making it your own space. Whilst there is a lot to consider in terms of getting the full cinematic experience, you can’t forget that it’s still a room in your house and to include elements of your own personal style within. Whether that be through artwork, quirky ornaments, or simply the wall colour, the details you put into your room make it less of a corporate cinema and more of a personal place to settle down and watch movies in a luxuriously high quality.