1. ADD A SOUNDBAR
When thinking about living room TV ideas, it's often about enhancing their audio quality rather than relying on the set itself to give you home theater vibes. “Modern TVs don’t generally sound great," Gary says. "But if you want to enjoy truly immersive audio such as surround sound and Dolby Atmos, then one of the best soundbars like the Sonos Arc will make a big improvement without much effort."
2. OPT FOR BUILT-IN SPEAKERS
The best home theaters are actually completely hidden from view, integrated into your home at the design stage so as not to intrude on your aesthetic. “Built-in speakers solve lots of design issues as you simply don’t notice them," Gary says. "They can be placed wherever you want them, although compromises in sound often need to be made simply because a door or window is in the wrong place. The direction of sound is always an important consideration, as in-wall speakers are better for surround sound; in-ceiling speakers can feel very disconnected from the action.”
3. GO BESPOKE FOR THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE
Just as when choosing between a soundbar or surround sound system, there is no one size fits all answer to the perfect home theater system. Each option has its own pros and cons and depends on your space, budget, and requirements. This is why a bespoke option is likely to be the most satisfactory.
4. PLAN AHEAD
Ideally, you would think about how to create a home theater at the top of the renovation before you'd done any plastering or painting, or perfecting. “Physically installing a speaker is in many ways the easy bit of any home cinema installation as the tricky work goes on behind the scenes," Gary says. "This is where forward planning helps - and thinking about your home technology as part of your renovations, not just a fun afterthought - as running cables and power throughout a property is much more difficult if you’ve already decorated.”
WHAT DOES EVERY HOME THEATER NEED?
– TV or projector with screen - this can be built-in or added to the room. – Surround sound speakers - preferably in-wall rather than in-ceiling, for a more inclusive sound. – Surround Receiver to amplify your sound. – Comfy seating to sit back and enjoy your movies. – Dimmable lighting to control the ambiance. – Curtains, so as to dim outdoor light – Popcorn