You’ll Love These Top 5 Home Theater Design Tips

Acadian Addresses the Unique Viewing Needs of Lafayette, LA, Homeowners

Not everything in your home theater comes down to your speakers and display quality. Your overall home theater design is just as vital. Having a clear plan when it comes to screen size, AV sources, and speaker layout will result in better quality from each of your components.

But what makes for a great home cinema design? Even though there are standards all installers follow, it will ultimately come down to your unique needs and room limitations.  If you’re looking to upgrade your home entertainment space or start a new one from scratch in your Lafayette, LA, home, you’ll want to address each of the questions below before undertaking the project.

SEE ALSO: Introduction to Home Theaters: What You Need to Know

Location: Where Should You Install Your Theater?

Location is the most crucial part of your home theater design. Everything from ceiling height to windows could affect the rest of your installation. We recommend a rectangular room with no windows and low ceilings. Soft flooring, plush fabrics, and decorations can also improve your theater’s sound quality, dampening sound waves and reflections so that audio remains crystal clear. 

Use technology to counteract common issues if you can’t meet these exact specifications. Install motorized shades to offset ambient light, acoustic treatments to keep sound waves from bouncing around, or short-throw projectors in long, narrow spaces.

Size: How Big Should Your Screen Be?

One of the biggest mistakes we see is a poorly-sized display. Typically, the issue isn't the screen being too small—that's usually easy for homeowners to notice right away. In most cases, the problem is wanting to go as big as possible, but screens that are too big can cause eye and neck strain. Also, if the screen is too large to suit the room’s dimensions, you risk an over-pixelated image. Instead, move the seating back a bit and select an appropriately sized display.

Screen size should be gauged based on how far you sit from the screen. Your home theater seating should be placed at a distance 1.5 times the size of the screen. So if you have a seating distance of 9 feet (108 inches), install a display that is at most 6 feet (72 inches) diagonally.

Speakers: How Many Speakers Should You Have?

Every home theater design should use Dolby Atmos surround sound. Dolby Atmos creates a multi-dimensional sound experience and requires speakers in front, behind, and above the viewer. These setups usually include seven or more speakers, though soundbar options with upward-firing speakers are available for smaller spaces. Let our audio experts figure out the ideal speaker configuration based on the size and shape of the room and your listening preferences.

Media Selection: What Do You Want To Watch?

Are you a movie buff or sports fanatic? Incorporate a media room design that accomodates a wide array of purposes. During our initial consultation, our AV team will discuss your viewing and media preferences to ensure we create the perfect space for your needs.

And if your viewing and listening preferences change in the future, no problem. The best designs are flexible and can accommodate new features and components later on down the line. Whether you’re a big fan of streaming platforms or a late night gamer, you can add all your favorite entertainment components, including Blu-ray, Kaleidescape movie servers, streaming apps, and gaming consoles.

Smart Control: How Can You Manage Your Home Theater?

No home entertainment space is complete without an intuitive solution like Control4 home automation systems. Even the best audiovisuals can't make up for a lousy user experience. A few taps of a finger will pull up media options, as well as let you adjust volume levels, dim the lights, and lower the thermostat from a single device.

Though many of our clients prefer using remotes like the Halo and Halo Touch, you can also use dedicated touchpads, mobile apps, or voice commands to manage your theater experience.

Are you ready to bask in a home theater designed to match your unique preferences and space limitations? Call us at (225) 906-2589, fill out our contact form, or chat with us below to talk with one of our home theater experts.