7 Ways to Have an Immersive Home Theatre Experience
Want a home theatre that will make trips to the movie hall passe?
So you have finally decided to have a home theatre? Now you need to navigate through umpteen options to make some key decisions – about the gadgetry, the furniture, the lighting etc. Here are the essentials for creating a truly relaxing space that is capable of suspending reality. A rectangular room with the screen on the shorter wall works best with sound transmissions. According to the area of the theatre room, it is a must to have a right sized screen – neither too big, nor too small. Now, what about the perfect ambience? A suitable environment is favourable to oomph up any theatre experience. Consider these seven essentials to get most out of your movie night!
Aamir and Hameeda Associates uses leather finished seats for this home theatre in Hyderabad. Leather gives better sound absorption over fabric, plus they are easier to clean.
Know more about this home here
Know more about this home here
2. Be on top of sound control
You should ideally cover 60-70 per cent of the room’s wall with absorptive materials like fibre, cotton, PVC, fabric wrap, foam, charcoal and wooden acoustic boards to shun echo. The false ceiling would need acoustic panels too. It is also essential to keep the rest of the house at peace while you enjoy a surround sound system inside.
The home theatre in the image has sound absorbing panels on the longer walls. The further you go from the speakers, the less sound proofing that space would need.
You should ideally cover 60-70 per cent of the room’s wall with absorptive materials like fibre, cotton, PVC, fabric wrap, foam, charcoal and wooden acoustic boards to shun echo. The false ceiling would need acoustic panels too. It is also essential to keep the rest of the house at peace while you enjoy a surround sound system inside.
The home theatre in the image has sound absorbing panels on the longer walls. The further you go from the speakers, the less sound proofing that space would need.
3. Manage clutter
Declutter the room by organising the DVDs and CDs in closed cabinets. You should also hide equipment and wires within storage boxes. The one shown in the picture acts as a centre table that demarcates two areas.
Tip: Use matte textures for surfacing the cabinetry to avoid reflecting light and sound.
Declutter the room by organising the DVDs and CDs in closed cabinets. You should also hide equipment and wires within storage boxes. The one shown in the picture acts as a centre table that demarcates two areas.
Tip: Use matte textures for surfacing the cabinetry to avoid reflecting light and sound.
4. Carpeting is a must
Wall-to-wall carpeting is considered to be the best option for flooring home theatres, because they not only absorb sound but also make the space feel intimate. Carpets are great at absorbing bass frequencies that travel low near the floor. This results in clarity of hearing high frequency portions of the movie, without the need to lower the volume time and again.
Tip: If wall-to-wall carpet is not what you wish to choose, then go for carpet tiles or rugs, though we wish you don’t.
Wall-to-wall carpeting is considered to be the best option for flooring home theatres, because they not only absorb sound but also make the space feel intimate. Carpets are great at absorbing bass frequencies that travel low near the floor. This results in clarity of hearing high frequency portions of the movie, without the need to lower the volume time and again.
Tip: If wall-to-wall carpet is not what you wish to choose, then go for carpet tiles or rugs, though we wish you don’t.
5. Insist on the right amount of darkness
If you have windows that bring in a lot of light, mask it! Windows could be a drawback in a home theatre room. Cover the glass with acoustic blackout curtains or shades. Here The Ashleys uses heavy grey curtain to seal the light out of the living room of a luxury apartment in Mumbai. For an immersive home theatre experience, keeping the light out is imperative.
6 Window Treatments That Will Change Your Perspective
If you have windows that bring in a lot of light, mask it! Windows could be a drawback in a home theatre room. Cover the glass with acoustic blackout curtains or shades. Here The Ashleys uses heavy grey curtain to seal the light out of the living room of a luxury apartment in Mumbai. For an immersive home theatre experience, keeping the light out is imperative.
6 Window Treatments That Will Change Your Perspective
6. Why not a themed decor?
The home theatre should not feel like a dark pothole. An aesthetically pleasing space is as much the need of the day as good acoustics. Establish an essence (could be contemporary, traditional, rustic, of your choice) with the help of surfacing materials, furniture and upholstery, wall treatments and lighting design and carry that theme through.
This grand home theatre in the picture flaunts designer furniture, thought-through wall decor and back-lit panels. These elements complement each other and come together to form a space that will give any movie hall a run for its money.
The home theatre should not feel like a dark pothole. An aesthetically pleasing space is as much the need of the day as good acoustics. Establish an essence (could be contemporary, traditional, rustic, of your choice) with the help of surfacing materials, furniture and upholstery, wall treatments and lighting design and carry that theme through.
This grand home theatre in the picture flaunts designer furniture, thought-through wall decor and back-lit panels. These elements complement each other and come together to form a space that will give any movie hall a run for its money.
This home theatre brings in a traditional theme using warm coloured furniture teamed up with a lattice screen, golden wall decals, sculptured columns, wooden ceiling and spot on lantern lights.
10 Interior Design Styles Explained
10 Interior Design Styles Explained
7. Of course, the accent lighting
A little amount of ambient lighting is necessary to locate the remote or eat snacks without having to search aimlessly. Apart from the ambient light, accent lights (or mood lights) are best to perk up the character of the home theatre. Install a cove ceiling to hide lighting fixtures. The indirect lighting illuminates the space without creating shadows. Introduce wall scones to mark walls and perimeter. If your home theatre is stepped, use floor lights to highlight the risers.
Tip: Avoid using hanging lights, lamps and tubes. These reflect on the theatre screen and cast uninvited shadows. Keep the rear wall of the theatre dark to avoid shadows on the screen.
Read more:
5 Tips on Lighting Your House Right
Houzz Tour: An Indoor Drive-In Theatre
Tell us:
How did you style your home theatre? Share pictures in Comments.
A little amount of ambient lighting is necessary to locate the remote or eat snacks without having to search aimlessly. Apart from the ambient light, accent lights (or mood lights) are best to perk up the character of the home theatre. Install a cove ceiling to hide lighting fixtures. The indirect lighting illuminates the space without creating shadows. Introduce wall scones to mark walls and perimeter. If your home theatre is stepped, use floor lights to highlight the risers.
Tip: Avoid using hanging lights, lamps and tubes. These reflect on the theatre screen and cast uninvited shadows. Keep the rear wall of the theatre dark to avoid shadows on the screen.
Read more:
5 Tips on Lighting Your House Right
Houzz Tour: An Indoor Drive-In Theatre
Tell us:
How did you style your home theatre? Share pictures in Comments.
Soft, melt-into sofas are one of the primary requirements of a home theatre. From couches and recliners, choose the number of seats according to the size of the room and the regular audience expected. It is not necessary to have the cinema-style layout. Bean bags are great for this space – and very budget friendly too. Style the room with some Bollywood inspired memorabilia and accessories like cushion covers.
Tip: Make sure all seats get a clear view of the screen. Work out the correct distance of speakers from the seats, minimum and maximum viewing angles, viewing distance and viewing height to make sure you do not end up with a neck pain and a bad eyesight.