Choosing the Room

The next step is to consider the location of the room and your construction options. After you identify the room to be used or the room you will need to build, you'll be able to make a basic diagram of the room with the layout of seating and placement of equipment.

Ideal Home Theater Room Characteristics:

• Large enough for the desired seating and with appropriate viewing distances to the screen
• Few doors (one is best, but two is safer)
• Free from outside light (the ideal room does not have windows)
• Located where sound can be isolated from other rooms and neighbors
• High ceiling for mounting projector high above seating to avoid heat and noise produced by it
• In, or over, a basement since running wires is easier from a basement as opposed to a concrete slab or crawl space
• Walls closer together near the front of the room and the viewing screen and farther apart in the back
• Tiered flooring for better viewing positions in the rear of room

If you plan to use an existing room, the equipment checklist will help identify remodeling issues early on. If you are designing or constructing a new home or planning an addition to a current home, you will still need to consider the location carefully due to the unique qualities a home theater demands.

Some of the benefits of retrofitting an existing room include lower cost, fewer construction requirements, and a good use of existing space. However, the room might not provide the ideal theater layout, windows and doors could present a problem, and theater noise could become an issue throughout the rest of the house.

When remodeling, the basement is often the best choice. It is relatively easy to control light, run wires and isolate sound. Many basements have low ceilings. When projection displays are used, this is a major concern, but with the availability of super-sized LED/LCD displays, even a modest ceiling height in a basement is practical.

If you're building a home theater in an addition or a new home, you'll be able to configure the layout properly, the size and shape of the room can be planned in advance, and the room can be situated in the ideal space within the home. However, this approach will only work with a lot that accommodates the new construction, and it comes with a higher cost because it's a major project.

For new construction, be sure the room is large, free from windows but with good ventilation, and that walls are soundproofed by starting with thick (at least 1 inch or better) drywall. Double-wall construction can be used for audio baffles by creating a dead space between two sheets of thick drywall separated by about 4 inches of space. Floor electrical outlets and ambient lighting strips also should be built in. In addition, wiring for speakers and lighting should be run throughout the room.