A classic choice for an outing or a date night is going to the movies. But with movie ticket prices soaring higher, it may be about time to consider another option such as a home theatre
installation.
Most people think having a home theatre is a huge, unnecessary expense when in fact, having one at home means enjoying the luxury of watching your favorite movies, TV series, and games without having to get up, get dressed, commute, and buy tickets.
Installing one doesn’t require you to break the bank either. However, before you rush to a store to buy the biggest TV screen you can find, you need to know first what mistakes you should avoid when setting up your home theatre:
Ignoring the arrangement of seats
Don’t focus solely on the television and speakers. You also have to pay attention to the way you arrange the seats in your entertainment room to guarantee a great viewing experience for everyone.
Moreover, plenty of seats doesn’t always mean a great home theatre.
If you want to have multiple seating, do the math to ensure that such a layout will pay off by ensuring everyone in the audience gets to enjoy the maximum benefits of home movie viewing.
Your calculations should include:
- Room size/area
- Ceiling height
- Screen height
- Optimal viewing distance from each seat
Consider using risers so that you can elevate 2-3 rows to the perfect height. Make sure that in the end, all viewers can clearly see the screen without any obstructions.
While you’re taking these preliminary steps, also consider rat eradication and control to ensure that your new home entertainment system is protected from wire-damaging rodents.
Exceeding your budget
It’s understandable that you want your home theatre to last for years. But that shouldn’t compel you to spend more cash on the latest electrical devices on the market. This is an easy trap most homeowners fall into especially with the hardcore advertising done by salesmen.
Until you know for certain what features you will need for your home theatre, hold off splurging on high-end products. You will get an unpleasant surprise later to find that there are other less expensive options that work as well as the most expensive ones.
But, this doesn’t mean you should go under budget either especially if the quality of your home theatre will be compromised.
Find a good balance between finding good deals and spending cash on quality products. You may decide to upgrade your home theatre, in the long run, so save money for the upgrade than splurge unnecessarily now.
Placing the screen too high up
Unless you want to build a full IMAX theatre at home, don’t place your television far too high up on the wall or ceiling. Placing it too high will cause your viewers to sustain shoulder and neck pain from straining their muscles.
Place your screen in a way that your viewer’s gaze will fall on the top quarter. This means your television should be roughly 3 to 5 feet above the floor but this may also vary based on the elevation of your seating.
Neglecting door location
If people will constantly have to pass by the front of the screen, it will negatively impact everyone’s viewing experience.
You already find it annoying at public movie theatres, so why do the same in your home theatre? When building your home theatre, consider the room arrangement in relation to your door location.
You can solve this problem by changing where the television is or placing your home theatre in a different room. You can also move your seating a bit forward while keeping the optimal viewing range.
Forgetting to factor in lighting
No person will want a home theatre flooded with light. Don’t place your television near or in front of a large window as sunlight may fall on the screen and ruin image quality. Consider placing blackout shades or blinds on your windows as well for an authentic theatre feel.
The wall color can also affect the lighting in the room. As much as possible, stick to black walls and insulation to minimize light reflection.
Doing everything yourself
Attempting to DIY is not a great idea when you don’t have enough technical knowledge to install a home theatre. You may end up connecting the wrong cables and equipment that will place your home theatre in disarray.
What’s more, the television and speakers sound different in the store (as the acoustics would be different) so don’t rely on the instructions that the store personnel told you.
Hire a professional to do the installation for you to ensure that everything is in its right place in your home theatre. A professional has the skills and knowledge to guarantee you the best viewing experience.
Time to set it up
By avoiding the blunders above, you can make certain that you are on the right path when planning the setup of your home theatre.
And don’t hesitate to seek professional help when it comes to the actual installation.
Home theatre installation experts can even advise you on which equipment will best complement each other so you always get a true one-of-a-kind, impressive theatre viewing experience in the comfort of your home.
