Steps to your own home theater / cinema
The experience of watching television within the confines of your own home has taken on a whole new dimension. With the advent of large-format televisions and immersive sound systems reminiscent of the cinema, exceptional TV enjoyment can now be achieved in the comfort of your living room. Creating your own home cinema involves a careful blend of space, technology, and acoustics. In this guide, we have compiled valuable information on the key factors to consider during the planning process, as well as the available options.
Step 1: Measure and Sketch the Room
Thorough planning serves as the foundation for any successful project, and setting up a home cinema is no exception. The more meticulously the project is planned, the smoother its execution will be. To begin with, it is advisable to create a detailed sketch of the room, typically the living room. The sketch should include all fixed components of the room, such as cupboards that need to remain in place, doors, and windows. Pay particular attention to the natural light entering through the windows, as it can potentially impact the viewing experience. The sketch can be hand-drawn or created digitally using suitable software, ensuring a consistent unit of measurement, typically centimeters (cm).
Measurements and details to be included in the sketch:
- Length, width, and height of the room
- Position and dimensions of doors and windows
- Any angles and recesses within the room
- Location and size of fixed elements like radiators and cupboards
- Placement of sockets, light switches, cables, and other connections
The room sketch or floor plan serves as a valuable tool for optimal positioning of equipment (next step) within the room, and it also provides essential information for cost estimation (e.g., cable duct lengths, flooring, cables, etc.).
Step 2: Technology - Equipment Planning
Simultaneously, it is time to consider the equipment and furnishings for your home theatre. A tried-and-tested approach for room setup is to create paper cutouts of furniture pieces at the same scale as the room and maneuver them around the sketch until you find the perfect arrangement. This can also be done digitally on a computer. The fundamental question is whether you have a dedicated room for your home cinema or if the living room will serve this purpose. Accordingly, the choice of furnishings, such as seating options (e.g., couch, sofa, armchair) and tables, may vary. When it comes to equipment, there are various components that require decisions on specific solutions.
Are you considering a home cinema setup using a screen and projector combination?
To achieve an authentic home cinema experience, a screen is almost indispensable. However, due to the increasing size of modern televisions, a regular TV with an appropriate screen size is also a viable option.
Screen: Several factors come into play when considering the screen. The typical screen size is around 2.5 meters, but various other sizes are available in the market. The first question to answer is: What screen size is optimal for your setup? Additionally, the mounting of the projection screen is crucial. In most cases, the screen is ceiling-mounted, necessitating sufficient space and ensuring proper load-bearing capacity. Therefore, the second question becomes: Where can the screen be securely mounted? Another aspect to consider is the screen's storage when not in use. For added coziness, an electrically retractable screen could be an appealing option. With a simple touch of a button on the remote control, it retracts and extends as desired.
Projector. A projector is an essential component for displaying content on a screen. The third question to address is: Where can the projector be mounted? Typically, it is ceiling-mounted using a suitable ceiling projector mount. However, alternative options such as mounting it under a table or on the wall using a wall mount are also conceivable. It may be necessary to consider minimum distances between the screen and the projector, which depend on the specific projector model. In such cases, short-throw projector mounts can be considered. Hence, the fourth question becomes: What is the minimum distance required between the projector and the screen? If the ceiling allows, electric ceiling mounts can be a suitable option, allowing the projector to retract when not in use.
The connection of the projector to an image source, such as a satellite receiver, DVD/BluRay player, computer, or game console, should also be considered, along with the necessary cable connections.
Are you opting for a large TV with a wall mount for your home cinema?
TV sets. TVs with a screen diagonal of 195 cm or 100-inch TVs—everything is possible. The latest curved models enhance the television experience, making it more immersive. Once you have found the right TV, the next question is where it should be mounted.
Wall mounting is usually preferred. It is important to ensure that the wall can support the weight of both the TV and the mount. Drill-free wall brackets offer a successful alternative. Apart from wall mounts, ceiling mounts, floor stands, or table mounts are also possible. Therefore, the first question is: Where should the television be mounted?
Once the decision has been made, the exact position needs to be determined, and if necessary, cables should be routed accordingly. Cable ducts can help bundle and conceal the necessary cables neatly. Question 2: Where exactly should the TV set be mounted?
The various functions offered by TV mounts are worth considering. For example, a swivel arm allows you to watch TV from different angles. A monitor holder that is rotatable, height-adjustable, or tiltable enables optimal alignment of the TV picture. To avoid a conspicuous "black hole" in the living room when the TV is switched off, a TV lift can be considered. It allows the TV to retract into a sideboard, fold parallel to the ceiling, disappear into the floor, or have a picture slide over it. The world of monitor mounts offers nearly limitless possibilities! The final question when using a TV with a mount is: What functions should the monitor mount have?
How much sound are you aiming for?
Loudspeakers. To recreate a cinematic surround sound experience, appropriate loudspeakers and, if necessary, amplifiers are necessary. The speakers should be arranged in a circular configuration, although shelf speakers or wall-mounted speakers can also be used. Classic speaker stands are still popular and come in various sizes, shapes, and colours.
Soundbars, which provide an impressive sound backdrop and can be discreetly placed on cabinets or sidebars, are increasingly gaining popularity. There are also televisions available with integrated soundbars.
Choose the suitable equipment and either create paper cutouts to scale and position them on the room plan or utilize computer software for visualization. This type of visualization aids in addressing acoustic considerations, for instance.
An interesting gadget is controlling the equipment through a tablet. If the appropriate apps are available, the tablet can be integrated into the setup as a control unit using attractive tablet mounts.
Step 3: How much of a home cinema experience do you desire?
Essentially, the question revolves around how exclusively the room can be dedicated to a home cinema setup. For a genuine home cinema experience, the possibility of having rows of seats can be considered, and a small platform may need to be constructed for the second row. Tip: You can inquire at cinemas for discarded cinema seats to add some flair! Depending on personal preference, discreetly lit showcases can display film memorabilia, film posters on the walls can enhance the cinema atmosphere, and film characters can be used as decorative highlights. An R2-D2 placed next to a counter already catches the eye...
For optimal visual quality, black walls are ideal to enhance contrasts. External light, such as sunlight, should be avoided by using shutters or blinds.
Improved acoustics can be achieved by covering the walls with fabric. Foam absorbers in the corners and sound diffusers for optimal sound optimization are also worth considering. Soundproofed rooms provide the best conditions for cinema-quality sound, ensuring that the volume doesn't disturb neighbors or children.
Service & Support for questions
If you have any inquiries regarding suitable monitor mounts, cable management, or projectors, please feel free to contact us via phone or email. We are here to assist you and will be delighted to provide any necessary support.