Have you ever gone to someone’s home and fell in love with their entertainment system? Did it inspire you to upgrade your own? Have you seen some of the screening rooms owned by celebrities like Jennifer Lopez? If so, you’re in the right place.
You can turn virtually any room into an entertainment room for your family. Here are five practical tips to achieve your dream entertainment system.
1. Choose the right room.
When finding the right room for your entertainment system, make sure it’s a room that doesn’t get much traffic. Unused office space or a spare bedroom have the perfect amount of space for a private entertainment system. If possible, build your entertainment room right above your living area.
For a quality entertainment room, you’ll need between a 12 x 12 and a 20 by 13 square foot room. You also need to make sure you choose a room with as little natural light coming in as possible. Rooms with lots of natural light interfere with the quality of your picture, which can be expensive or time consuming to correct.
2. Plan ahead.
Now that you’ve chosen the location it’s time to plan the details of your entertainment room. Whether you want this room to listen to your favorite music or watch your favorite movies and shows, you’ll need the right equipment. It’s recommended you consider sound proofing or electrical work and plan your layout accordingly.
3. Create a budget.
In addition to planning ahead, you may want to create a budget. Typically, audio entertainment centers are cheaper than full entertainment systems. You’ll need to properly plan your purchases based on the allotted space and time you want the project completed in.
For instance, if you have a smaller space, it’s wise to purchase bookcases to hold equipment that would otherwise take up floor space. They’re also great for hiding wiring, which can be hazardous. While surround sound helps complete the entertainment experience, you’ll need a large budget to pay for extra speakers and mounts. Unless you’re trained in this field, leave a cushion for potential installation costs.
When it comes to setting up a home theater, you’ll at least need a television or a projector and screen. However you decide to customize your entertainment system, make sure you have enough in your budget.
4. Arrange your seating away from your speakers.
For the best audio, make sure your seating is at least four feet away from any speaker in your entertainment room. Doing so optimizes surround sound, as well as eliminates bass associated with being right on the speaker.
Your equipment choices should actually center around your seating arrangement. Otherwise, either struggle to see or have to rearrange your room. When you properly place your seating, you’re able to enjoy your music or movies with perfect sound. You’ll also have an easier time seeing without the glare and excess lighting.
5. Invest in backup headphones.
If your sound is still shaky for any reason, consider purchasing headphones. You can use the traditional wire headphones, but make sure the cord is long enough to reach your seat.
Some entertainment equipment allows you to plug in headphones to a remote or console so you have nearly perfect audio throughout the room. You can also connect wireless headphones via sources like Bluetooth.
With the right planning, you can create a quality and affordable entertainment center. Whether you prefer theater seats or couches, make sure you properly space your equipment so you’re not on top of it. Also, if you don’t know how to properly install equipment, invest in professional help to avoid accidents.
Keep in mind, this is a special place for you to relax, so make this place as comfortable as you like. For all you know, your entertainment center may inspire your loved ones to do some renovations of their own.