Home theaters are becoming increasingly popular for many homeowners, whether they are tucked away in the living room, or the centerpiece of an entire room.
They can be equipped with the latest digital video and surround- sound audio technology to take you way to another world without ever having to leave the house.
What's involved in building one, and how expensive are they? What can you expect for this technological "family room" of the 21st century?
To answer those questions, first you must decide if you want a media room or a home theater, and then where it should be located. A cousin to the home theater, the media room can be used not only for watching movies but also for listening to music and using a computer, as well. If you don't have a spare room or basement to convert to a media room, an attic or bonus room might do.
Budgets for home theaters can range from $5,000 or $6,000 for a family room location to $70,000 or $80,000 for a full-fledged media room. A dedicated theater, with all the ambiance of the real thing, can venture into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How do you get started? Usually, an architect and a home-theater expert work side-by-side to design a room that suits your needs in a given space. Here are some design elements you'll want to consider when working with these professionals:
The placement of the screen and the seating around it is the most important element.
Sometimes there are several or only one obvious choice. Do you want the screen to be hidden and made retractable?
Long, flat walls won't work for a home theater or media room. In this configuration, the sound will bounce off and ricochet around the room.
Access to the room should be such so that furniture and equipment can be brought in fairly easily, to accommodate larger numbers of guests.
Once the plans are laid down on paper, here's what you can expect to happen:
The framing begins (a double 2x4 wall is often used to isolate sound).
The wiring is installed, both for the electrical needs of the room as well as the home theater electronics. Insulation is added for climate and noise control. The room is sheetrocked and painted.
The furnishings are installed, followed by the home theater equipment.
Get advice from an expert about how powerful your system needs to be. There's no reason to spend a lot of money on a system designed to accommodate a room twice the size of the theater you're designing.
Research products and prices so that you can make informed decisions. Form a budget that will cover your needs, and stick to it.
Visit several stores and demo as many different systems as possible. And don't forget: Last year's hot new item might be just what you need, and it will be cheaper than paying for this year's hot new item.
