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RESEARCH PAPER

ON

HOME CINEMA

In Partial Fulfillment

to the Requirements for the Couse of

BUILDING UTILITIES 3: ACOUSTIC AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS

NAME OF STUDENT

Bernante, Christian Rod D. | TUPM-20-9606

BSA – 3B

ARCH. TERRENCE JAN R. MILO, uap

Instructor

S.Y. 2023 – 2024

WHAT IS HOME CINEMA?

 House theater is an audio and video equipment combination in your house that
simulates a movie theater experience. A decent home theater system may deliver a more
spectacular experience than many modest multiplexes cinema display.

Figure 1. Home Cinema

https://
www.acousticpixel.co.uk/inspiration/creating-a-home-cinema-room/

The use of home theater might vary greatly. With a little planning, putting together
your home theater can be simple, resulting in an orderly, functional, and visually appealing
arrangement.

An elaborate, custom-built home theater may cost thousands of dollars and contain
the following:

 High-end large screen TV or projector,

 Blu-Ray Disc/Ultra HD Blu-ray player,
 Media server
 Cable or satellite
 Separate amplifiers for each channel controlled by a preamp or controller
 In-wall speakers
 And a couple of subwoofers (some people include up to four subwoofers in their
setup)

THE KING’S CHAIR

Consider how often

movies versus how often you (and your spouse) will enjoy your
media room alone. You will probably not have many guests. So,
you must design the room around what we refer to as the "King's
Chair".

The king's chair is the seat you'll be sitting in. This is the greatest
seat in the house, and it is reserved exclusively for you. Normally,
Figure 2. The king's
the king's chair is located in the center of the room, but depending on the size of your room
chair is the best seat
and projector screen, it may be moved somewhat back.
in the house.
 Once you know exactly where you want the chair to be, you can start planning the
additional seats, the appropriate size projector screen, the sound system, and the lighting.

WHAT SIZE SHOULD A HOME THEATER BE?

When it comes to constructing a home cinema, the only limitations are your ambition
and, more crucially, your budget. You'll need to start with or build a room that is at least 15
feet broad by 20 feet long. If you opt for a smaller area, the space may feel tight. A smaller
space will also limit the size of your screen and projector location, resulting in a less
immersive cinema experience.

When considering how big your home theater should be, make sure to also consider
space for other things in the room, such as an A/V rack, speakers, aisles, concession kiosks, a
bar, and décor.

HOW TALL SHOULD THE CEILINGS BE IN A MOVIE ROOM?

Ideally, your ceiling should be at least 7 feet high. This is because for optimal
viewing, your projector screen should be at least two feet from the ground. If your media
room's ceiling is less than 7 feet high, the size of the screen you can utilize will be limited.

HOME CINEMA ROOM DIMENSIONS

When it comes to establishing a home theater, the first step is to plan out the room
layout. The form of your specialized film room is an extremely significant consideration. A
properly structured space will significantly increase acoustics and allow you to get the most
out of your sound system. Audio difficulties, such as trouble comprehending dialogue, are
frequently caused by incorrect room design.

BUILDING A NEW MOVIE ROOM

While there is no single ideal design for a movie viewing area, a decent rule of thumb
is to keep the room's width at least 1.6 times the ceiling height and its length at least 2.3 times
the ceiling height. If you have the ability to design your own media room, attempt to adhere
to these ratios. Before you begin any work, plan out the speaker placement, screen size, and
layout. If you're creating new walls, make sure they're up to code.

CONVERTING A ROOM INTO A HOME THEATER ROOM

If you're transforming an existing room into a theater, a rectangular space is perfect.
Even if your space does not conform to the golden ratio of home theaters, you should be able
to place the layout to optimize its potential. We do not propose making a theatrical area out of
a cube-shaped room. The worst shape for a media room is a cube with equal dimensions since
a square space provides poor acoustics.
 Now that you've seen the basic structure of our home theater room, you can pick on
the most important components for creating a truly immersive movie watching experience:
the projector and screen combo.

THE HOME THEATER PROJECTOR AND SCREEN

Once you know roughly where you want the king's chair to go, the following step is to
select the appropriate movie screen. The projection screen is unquestionably the focal point
of any home theater. This is after all where the movies will be shown.

HOW BIG OF A PROJECTOR SCREEN SHOULD I GET?

The primary aspect determining your cinema display size is, of course, the
proportions of your wall. Obviously, you cannot get a home movie theater screen that is
larger than your wall. However, your goal should always be to have the largest screen
feasible. Nobody has ever stated, "I wish I got a smaller projector screen for my home
theater."

To select the largest size projector screen you should purchase, you must first
consider a number of other criteria.

HOW YOUR PLANNED SPEAKER SETUP WILL AFFECT THE SIZE OF YOUR
SCREEN
Depending on your intended speaker configuration, you may want to leave space on
the sides or beneath the screen for your front speakers. Alternatively, get an acoustically
transparent projection screen and set it in front of the speakers. These screens include
microscopic perforations that allow sound waves to flow through without producing ripples
on the screen or degrading sound quality.

ASPECT RATIO
The next selection is which aspect ratio you desire. The aspect ratio defines the
screen's dimensions. As a result, the width of the display may be determined, potentially
limiting its height. Most home cinema installations have two aspect ratios. 16:9 and
Cinemascope.
 Figure 3. Aspect Ratio for Screen

16:9 ASPECT RATIO

Most television and streaming services employ a 16:9 aspect ratio for their
programming. As a result, it's a superior option for folks who prefer to watch TV, sports, and
streaming content. The disadvantage is that when watching movies, you'll see black bars at
the top and bottom of the screen.

CINEMASCOPE 2.35:1 ASPECT RATIO

Cinemascope is a superior option for cinephiles because most recent films are created
in a 2.35:1 ratio. However, if you wish to watch standard TV, you will see black bars on the
sides.

WHICH SCREEN ASPECT RATIO SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR MY HOME

THEATER?
The width and height of the room might also help you determine which aspect ratio to
use. As a general guideline, if the width is limited and the walls are narrow, use a 16:9
projector screen to maximize the overall screen width for both 16:9 and wider Cinemascope
content. When the height of the space is limited, you should optimize the height of your
screen by using an extremely wide screen format, such as 2.35:1.

MULTI-FORMAT SCREENS
If you can't decide between a 16:9 and a Cinemascope home cinema projector screen,
consider a multi-format screen. These screens allow you to mask a portion of the screen and
display the correct size of the media you're projecting without the unsightly black bars.

BRIGHTNESS OF THE PROJECTOR AND SCREEN TOGETHER

Once you've settled on an aspect ratio, you'll need to consider the ambient light in the
room and the brightness of the image reflected back at you.

Another factor influencing screen size is your projector's lumen output. As the
screen's surface area increases, the light from the projector spreads out. The brightness refers
to the amount of light that is reflected back.

The brightness is affected by two factors: the projector's lumen output and the screen's
gain. The lumen output indicates how much light the projector throws onto the screen.
Below, we'll go over projector lumens in greater detail.

The screen gain indicates how reflective the screen is and how much light is reflected
back to the viewer. Because you'll be able to manage the lighting in the room, you probably
won't need to purchase a cinema screen with a screen size more than 1.3.
 Together, these criteria determine the system foot lamberts of your projector and
screen. To have a good image on your screen, you must have enough system foot lamberts.

HAVING ENOUGH SYSTEM FOOT LAMBERTS

The motion picture business uses foot-lamberts (ftL) to indicate how much light
should be reflected off the movie screen in a 1-foot by 1-foot region.

The greater the ftL,

the brighter the image will
appear to the audience. A
decent rule of thumb when
creating a home theater is to
have a total luminance of
16-30 ftL in a dedicated
theater space. Anything less
than 16 feet long in a completely
dark environment is not advised.

Table 1. Foot Lamberts Table for Brightness

However, if you intend to hold social activities in your home media room, such as a
Super Bowl party, you'll probably want to be able to keep the lights on to some extent. In that
situation, we recommend a total brightness of 27ftL for dimly lit areas, 40ftL for moderately
illuminated areas, and 60ftL for well-lit areas.

VERTICAL VIEWING ANGLES

Assume you're in a commercial movie theater and sit in the very back row; your
viewing angle is lower. If you are in the front row, you are craning your neck to look at the
screen. If you are in the center of the theater, your viewing angle is slightly higher. The same
logic applies to home theaters.

While a floor-to-ceiling display is enticing, it is not the best plan. When constructing
your home theater, make sure the top of the lower third of the screen is eye level.
Figure 4. Viewers in the king's chair should not have to look up more than 15 degrees for comfortable
movie watching.

The THX standard states that viewers in a commercial movie theater should not have
to look up more than 15 degrees to watch a film comfortably. This also applies to home
cinemas. Remember that just because you have mounted your screen does not imply you
cannot replace it. Watch a few movies; if you don't like where the screen is, you can easily
move it up or down or upgrade to a larger screen.

Figure 5. Ideal Viewing Distance from the Screen

Because the average American man's eye level ranges between 42 and 48" when
seated, you should position your screen at roughly that height. While this reduces the viewing
angle for those in the elevated rear rows, keep in mind that your design is centered on the
king's throne. However, if you have a raised second or third row, you can position the screen
higher, closer to 48 inches.

Because the lower third of the screen should be 42-48 inches above the ground, the
vertical dimension of your screen may be limited due to your ceiling height.

That being said, if you're creating your movie room from the ground up, be sure your
ceiling is tall enough to support the size screen you want.

HORIZONTAL VIEWING ANGLES

The horizontal viewing angle, also
known as the field of vision, is the angle
between each corner of the cinema screen
and the center of where the seats are. Your
ideal horizontal viewing angle determines
how far you should sit from the screen.

An appropriate viewing distance is

recommended by two major
organizations: the Society of Motion
Picture and Theater Engineers (SMPTE)
and THX. For 16x9 projector displays.
SMPTE recommends a 30-degree viewing angle from the screen, while THX recommends a
36-degree viewing angle. By increasing the viewing angle, you can get closer to the screen.
Which one to follow is entirely up to your preference. In a commercial movie theater, use the
SMPTE guideline to sit away from the screen. If you prefer to sit closer, follow the THX
recommendation.
WHERE DO YOU PUT THE PROJECTOR IN A HOME THEATER?
Where you install your home cinema projector has an impact on the layout and
appearance of your room. Typically, you should set the projector high on a shelf behind the
home theater seating area or mount it to the ceiling over the viewer's head.

PROJECTOR MOUNTING
In a home movie theater, you don't want someone strolling by to interfere with the
projected image on the screen, so conventional and short throw projectors are commonly
mounted on the ceiling. To do this, you will need a projector mount. You must purchase a
projector mount that can support and securely retain your unit.

Some individuals install a shelf in the back of their movie room to house the projector
and other components such as a media player and home theater receiver. This is typically
more convenient than mounting the projector to the ceiling. However, you must ensure that it
is high enough to prevent someone from walking in front of it by accident. Also, installing it
eliminates the risk of accidently shaking the projector out of alignment.

The placement of your home movie projector is determined by two factors: throw
distance and lens shift.

THROW DISTANCE
The throw distance of a projector is the distance between it and the projected picture
on the screen. You should ensure that your projector has the appropriate throw distance to
display the image correctly on the screen size you have.

Most video projectors for home theaters offer optical zoom, which allows you to
position the projector as needed. However, you must ensure that your projector's throw ratio
allows it to fit in your media room with the screen size you have chosen. There are three
different throw distances: long throw, short throw, and extreme short throw.
 Figure 7. Types of Throw Distances

LONG THROW PROJECTORS

Long throw or standard throw projectors are the most common choice for a home
cinema projector, provided you have enough space. These projectors typically have a throw
distance ratio of approximately 1.5:1. This means that for every one foot of image width, the
projector must be 1.5 feet distant. To project an image onto a 120-inch diagonal screen, you
would need to relocate the device around 15 feet away. With a standard throw projector, be
sure your space is deep enough to support the throw ratio.

SHORT THROW PROJECTORS

Short throw projectors use less space than conventional throw projectors. These
projectors normally operate between 3 and 8 feet from the projection screen, making them
perfect for home theater spaces with limited depth.

ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTORS

Ultra short throw projectors are located right beneath the projection surface. UST projectors
are typically best suited to places with strong ambient light levels, such as a living room.
However, for small theater spaces, these space-saving technologies may be an excellent fit.

LENS SHIFT
Lens shift permits the projector's lens to move vertically and/or horizontally within
the device, resulting in a perfectly straight-edged image with consistent focus. This allows
you to be more flexible with projector positioning while maintaining resolution. A vertical
lens shift allows the projector to move the image up and down, whereas a horizontal lens shift
moves the lens from side to side.

If you have a support beam in the middle of your ceiling with a horizontal lens shift,
you can position the projector to the side of the support while still projecting a rectangular
image on the screen. Not all projectors include built-in lens shift.

PROJECTOR LUMENS
As previously stated, lumens describe the brightness of a projector. The more lumens
you have, the brighter the image on your screen. The brightness of your projector might also
limit the design of your in-home theater because lumens directly affect system foot lamberts,
therefore the more lumens you have, the wider your movie screen can be.

When it comes to brightness, you'll want a home movie theater projector with at least
1,500 lumens. You'll need at least 2,500 if you intend to watch content with the lights on.
 HOME THEATER SOUND SYSTEM
So far, we've discussed all of the visual aspects of a home cinema projector and
screen. The next factor to consider is your home theater sound system. In this section, we'll
go over the various surround sound formats that are now in use, explain how many speakers
you'll need, and offer speaker placement tips.

Figure 8. Surround Sound System

WHAT TYPE OF SOUND SYSTEM DO I NEED FOR MY HOME THEATER?

The purpose of an in-home cinema is to provide a completely immersive media
viewing experience. The home theater sound system is an important element of it. A simple
pair of speakers or a soundbar will not suffice. To provide a real cinematic experience, you'll
need a surround sound setup.

Surround sound is a speaker arrangement in which the audio surrounds you. This
entails encircling yourself and other viewers with speakers in the front, sides, rear, and even
above in certain setups. Each speaker delivers high-quality sound from all angles, just as in a
movie theater, making you feel like you're in the heart of the action on screen.

HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO I NEED FOR MY SURROUND SOUND SETUP?

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?
Before we get into how many speakers you need, we should first explain what the
numbers mean when you see a 5.1 or a 7.1 or 9.2.4 surround sound setup. When working
with a surround sound system, numbers like 7.2, 9.2.4, 5.1, and so on are frequently used. It
may appear hard, but these statistics are actually fairly simple.
The first number identifies the number of regular speakers, while the second specifies
the number of subwoofers. Sometimes you'll notice a third number, such as with a 9.2.4
surround sound system, which indicates the number of above Dolby Atmos speakers.

WHAT KIND OF HOME THEATER SPEAKERS DO I NEED?

There are potentially four sorts of speakers for a home theater system. Center
channel speakers, side speakers, subwoofers, and overhead speakers.

Center channel speakers are located in the center of the configuration, usually below
or behind the projection screen. The subwoofer only plays the deeper bass sounds. Using a
subwoofer as an independent speaker for the base reduces distortion from the mid and high
notes on the other speakers.

You usually just need one subwoofer, but two sound better. A.1 represents a single
subwoofer, while.2 signifies two subwoofers, both left and right.
WHERE DO I PUT THE SPEAKERS?
The subwoofer should sit on the ground. The center channel should be situated as near
to the sitting height as practicable while remaining below the cinema screen. You can place
the center and subwoofers behind the projection screen, but be sure to use an acoustically
transparent projector screen. Without one of these specifically designed screens, soundwaves
(especially those from the subwoofer) might cause your screen to ripple and muffle the
sound. Acoustic screens are woven or have microscopic openings that allow sound to flow
through while preserving the projected image.

WHAT HOME THEATER SYSTEM SETUP SHOULD I USE?

In technical terms, the most basic and typical surround sound setup is referred to as a 5.1
surround sound system. A 5.1 surround sound system will include both left and right front
and back speakers, a front center speaker, and a front subwoofer, for a total of five speakers
and one subwoofer. 5.1 surround sound is considered the minimal number of speakers
required for genuine surround sound and is suitable for the majority of home theater
installations.

Some enthusiasts prefer two subwoofers for more equally distributed deep thundering bass
noises. This would make it a 5.2 system. With a 5.1 system, the two side speakers should be
placed at a 22-30 degree angle to the king's chair. The rear speakers should be positioned at a
110-120 degree slant. Ideally, the center channel and subwoofer should be located below the
center of the screen.

5.1 VS. 7.1 HOME THEATER SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

A 7.1 system (or 7.2 system if you're keen about the bass) is the next step up from the
5.1 system. In a 7.1 arrangement, you place a left and right center speaker at the front of the
room. A 7.1 surround sound system is ideal for larger home theater rooms, because smaller
sound systems may become lost in the wider space. This 8-channel configuration gives a
more immersive surround sound listening experience. Media, such as many recent
blockbusters, is built for a 7.1 system, thus the audio is clearer than on a 5.1 system.
In a 7.1 surround sound set-up, the front speakers should be placed at an angle of 22-
30 degrees. The side speakers should be placed precisely in line with the king's chair or at a
90-110-degree angle. The rear speakers should be set 135-150 degrees from the king's chair.
 Figure 9. 5.1 Surround System Figure 10. 7.1 Surround System
9.1 SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM

The 9.1 system, like the 7.1 surround sound home theater
system, adds two additional speakers to the 5.1. These additional
speakers are often placed on the sides of the room. A 9.1
surround sound home theater setup should contain the front, side,
and rear speakers in the same locations as a 7.1 setup. The
additional forward side speakers should be positioned at a 50-70
degree slant.

Figure 11. 9.1 Surround System

5.1.2 AND 5.1.4 SURROUND SOUND SETUP

A 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 home theater system elevates the auditory experience to new heights.
This Dolby Atmos arrangement adds above speakers to your media room system, giving you
a sense of height to your sound. Consider watching Jurassic Park and seeing the T-Rex on
your projector screen. The sound of it is heavy breathing comes not only from around you,
but also from above, giving the impression that the gigantic beast towers over you. This is the
benefit of a 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 home theater setup.

Figure 12.1 & 12.2 5.1.2 Surround System

With a 5.1.2 setup you’d want to have the two overhead speakers slightly in front of
the king’s chair at a 65 to 80 degree angle.
 Figure 13.1 & 13.2 5.1.4 Surround System

HOME THEATER RECEIVER

An audio/video receiver is a consumer electronics component that receives and
processes audio and video signals from various sources, provides power amplifiers to drive
loudspeakers, and routes the video to a visual display device such as a projector. The receiver
serves as your screening room's brain, processing information from your source and routing it
to the appropriate location.
To choose the best home theater receiver, examine a number of crucial factors:

 You need to identify what you're connecting to the A/V receiver.

 Have enough audio channels for today and in the future in case you wish to improve
your system.
 Choose one with enough HDMI ports to meet all of your demands.
 It should be equipped with wireless connectivity, such as WIFI and Bluetooth.
 It should be compatible with 4K resolution devices and content.
 To futureproof your investment, consider purchasing a home theater receiver capable
of handling 8K signals.
 Get a receiver equipped with Dolby Atmos.
 To future-proof your system, choose one that supports all three HDR formats.

THE BASICS OF ACOUSTICS IN YOUR CINEMA ROOM

Acoustics is the study of how sound interacts with its surroundings. Outdoor and
indoor music venues, for example, are specifically designed to improve sound quality. While
such venues generally have sophisticated and intricate architectural components that you are
unlikely to find in your house, you can still use the same techniques to maximize the
performance of your sound system.

ACOUSTICS 101
Acoustics is concerned with maximizing the quality of sound within a specific space
rather than the technical properties of sound, such as treble and bass. You may be limited in
what you can do with your home theater, especially if you're creating a multipurpose space.
However, there are a few fundamental guidelines you should follow in order to maximize
your resources.

First and foremost, remember that you must optimize the impacts of both direct and
reflected sound. Keep in mind that sound "reflects" whenever it reaches a physical obstacle,
such as a coffee table, a wall, or a chair. You want to arrange your seats so that the direct
sound energy coming from your speakers equals the reflected sound energy in the space. That
entails removing as many reflective materials as possible; ideally, only walls should reflect
sound. Finding this perfect distance will need some trial on your part; there is no universal
concept, and it is highly influenced by the room's layout and direction.

You can also treat your walls with special materials to improve acoustics in a room.
Here are some principles to guide you:
 Cover 20% of your walls and ceilings with sound-absorbing material, which should
be at least 2 inches thick and have a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot.
 Cover around 30% of the walls and ceilings with sound scattering materials. These
should be at least 4 inches deep, but they can be as much as 1 foot deep. Deeper is
better.
 Allow roughly half of the room to generate reflected sound.

SOUND PROOFING
It is generally advisable to soundproof your home theater room. There are several
techniques to soundproof your cinema room.
 Make sure your theater room has carpeting or at least a huge area rug. This will help
to absorb noise and reduce echoes.
 Soundproof your room by applying a second layer of drywall or replacing it with a
sound-absorbing wallboard.
 Make sure you have a solid door.
 Close any openings in the door with draft stoppers, weather stripping, or door sweeps.
 If you don't mind giving the area an industrial aspect, consider installing sound-
absorbing panels similar to those seen in recording studios.

HOME CINEMA SEATING

Ergonomics is essential when it comes to seats. Sitting in the wrong position for an
extended period of time can be detrimental to your health, particularly your neck and back.
Make sure your home theater seats are not only comfy, but also assist you maintain proper
posture and provide enough support.

WHERE DO YOU PLACE THE SCREENING ROOM SEATS?

When designing your own home theater, the projector screen size might help you
determine where to position the chairs. As previously stated, two major organizations
advocate proper viewing distances: the Society of Motion Picture and Theater Engineers
(SMPTE) and THX.

For a 16:9 HDTV cinema screen. SMPTE recommends a 30-degree viewing angle
from the screen, while THX recommends a 36-degree viewing angle. As you walk closer to
the screen, the viewing angle increases. Depending on your preferences, these standards will
provide the most pleasant viewing experience and allow you to properly enjoy what is on
your screen.

Choosing which standard to adopt is a matter of personal preference. You can choose
one standard based on where you choose to sit at a commercial movie theater. If you prefer to
sit further away from the screen, follow the SMPTE suggestion. If you prefer to sit closer,
follow the THX recommendation. The THX standard is much preferred because it provides a
more immersive big-screen experience.

HOW MANY SEATS PER ROW?

To determine the number of seats, you must first know a few details. The dimensions
of the room, seats, and aisle(s). Once you have this information, all you need to do is apply a
simple formula.

With this formula you can figure out the maximum number of seats you can fit in a
row.

HOW WIDE SHOULD AN AISLE IN A HOME CINEMA BE?

It is advised that you provide at least 20 inches for an aisle. Depending on how you
arrange the room, you can have one aisle on one side or one on both sides of your chairs. At
the very least, 14 inches of aisle room is sufficient; anything less would be uncomfortable.

HOW MANY ROWS? HOW MUCH SPACE BETWEEN ROWS?

Most home movie theaters contain between one and three rows. The number of rows
is determined by the number of persons you want to seat. Of course, the size of your space
can help you determine how many rows you can fit in your screening room.

When creating a home theater, the distance between rows should be at least 20 inches.
At the very least, you can make do with 14 inches of clearance between rows. If you have
reclining seats, consider how far the front row reclines and how far the footrests extend.

HOW TALL SHOULD A RISER BE IN A HOME THEATER?

A riser is a platform in a home theater that raises the rear rows of seats so that those
sitting in the front row do not block their view.

For the majority of individuals, a normal riser is roughly 12 inches. This usually gives
the back row ample space over the front row to see the entire screen.

In terms of riser depth, your platform should be 72 inches deep for recliner seats and
60 inches for non-reclining seats. This will make it easier for your guests to get into their
seats.

A few things to consider about your riser:

 You could wish to add a step to your riser to make it easier to get onto the
platform.
  Consider raising your projector screen so that the bottom third is at least 48
inches off the ground.
 If you have very tall friends and relatives, try utilizing a slightly higher riser.
 If your ceiling is low, ensure that your guests do not have to crouch down to
get to their seats.

TYPES OF HOME THEATER SEATING

Figure 14. Recliners Chair Figure 15. Love Seat Chair

Figure 16. Sectional Chair Figure 17. Loungers

Figure 18. Stadium Seating

 OTHER HOME THEATER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
THEATER ROOM COLORS
You can experiment with brightly colored walls in most of your home's rooms. In a
home theater room, however, brightly colored walls will reflect light about the room,
potentially washing out the image on your movie screen.

What color should I paint my home theater room?

Figure 19. Color Paint Recommended for Home Cinema

You should paint the walls of your home theater a darker color to reduce the amount
of light from the projector bouncing about the space. It makes little difference what hue you
choose as long as you stick to deeper tones.

Dark reds and burgundy can give your home cinema a timeless appearance. Deep,
rich greens and blues are excellent selections. Dark grays and browns might also look great in
a media room with a minimalist or futuristic theme.

WHAT COLOR SHOULD I PAINT THE CEILING OF MY HOME CINEMA ROOM?

Regardless of the wall colors, most rooms in your house should have white ceilings.
However, you would like to paint the ceiling of your home theater a deeper hue. This will
help reduce the amount of light that reflects off the ceiling and onto your cinema screen,
slightly washing out the projected image.

FLOORING: WHICH FLOOR IS BEST FOR HOME THEATER?

Carpeted flooring is widely regarded as the best option for home theaters. They
absorb sound and prevent excessive reverberation throughout the space. This will make the
sound sharper. A deeper tone of carpet, similar to the walls, is usually preferred.

Some home theater designs include carpeting that extends up the walls, which can
help lessen sound reverberation. An extra plush carpet can be comfy enough for children to
lay on, providing you with more seating in your cinema room.

WIRING AND OUTLETS

Wiring your home theater is a more difficult issue than we can cover here, so look out
for future posts on how to wire your home theater. When wiring a movie room, keep the
following considerations in mind.
  Plan your wiring and outlets before beginning any building.
 When you arrange your wiring, add an extra 50% to the length of the wiring.
 Wires are unattractive. You don't want cords flowing throughout your new
home theater. So, either conceal the cables in the walls or use trunking (plastic
strips that cover the wires).
 Install conduits in the walls to make it easy to upgrade your wiring.
 Invest in higher-quality HDMI cables to get a better picture.
 The maximum length of an HDMI cable is around 30 feet. If you require
longer connections, utilize an HDMI extender or premium HDMI cables.
 Ensure that the power drawn by your components and/or other devices on the
circuit does not exceed the power rating of the breaker they are on.
 If you're not completely confident, engage an electrician to handle the
electrical work.
 Install an outlet near your projector to make it easier to power.
 Additional outlets are always appreciated.
 Install an A/V wall plate that allows you to effortlessly connect laptops and
other media players to your home theater system.
 If you are using electric reclining chairs, ensure sure you have floor outlets
fitted to power them.

LIGHTING
Home cinema lighting entails more than just the capacity to turn lights on and off.

Figure 20. Proper movie room lighting should be adjustable based on what you’re watching
You should have at least two "scenes" (lighting settings) in your home theater. One
has stronger lighting for setting up/cleaning up the space, and the other has a "movie-mode"
lighting option to improve the in-film experience. If you plan on hosting parties, consider
adding a third or fourth scene.

When designing the lighting for your media room, make sure it does not shine directly
onto the projection screen. This could make the projected image appear washed out and dull,
reducing the experience of watching content with the lights on. Purchasing an ambient light-
rejecting projection screen will make the image seem its best even in well-lit settings.
 In terms of light fixtures, soffits, rope lights, dimmers, and recessed lights are
common components of home movie theater lighting schemes. Mixing and matching light
fixtures can give your room a distinct look. One extremely intriguing alternative is to connect
the lights to a smart home system, allowing you to control them with your voice.

WHERE DO YOU PUT THE DOOR?

You might believe it's better to have the door in the back of the room, but if you open
it from the back, light will reach the screen, disturbing everyone's movie watching pleasure.
Because the door is on the side, the light from outside does not contact the screen, ensuring
that whoever comes in and out does not disturb the other film viewers.

Figure 21. Door at the back (Left) & Door at the side (Right)

It's also a good idea to have the door swing inward on the screen side, preventing
some of the incoming light from reaching the display surface.

UNIVERSAL HOME THEATER REMOTES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS

You'll want to acquire a universal remote for your home theater so you can operate
everything from one location. Here are some key things to look for in a universal home
theater remote control.
 One remote to control AV and non-AV infrared and radio frequency remote
controlled devices.
 In-remote backlit display (LCD screen)
 Illuminated buttons
 Integrated charging stand to prevent the use of batteries.
 Buttons are easy to see and utilize.
 Task controls (controlling numerous operations and devices with a single button).
 Computer interfaces and PC-based programming
 A database of device programming codes provided by the manufacturer
 Ability to regulate the lights and temperature of your home theater.

Many modern home theater systems have speech control features such as Amazon Alexa
or Google Assistant, allowing you to operate your complete home theater setup with your
voice.
 HOME THEATER DÉCOR
More than just a projector, screen, and sound system are required to fully achieve that
"wow!" element in your home movie theater. To go the extra mile, you need the perfect home
theater decor. When it comes to décor, select your personal style that best suits your home
cinema. Pinterest and Instagram can provide inspiration for home theater design.

Here are some entertaining things to include:

 Movie posters
 Acoustic panels
 Movie reels
 Popcorn machines
 Movie memorabilia
 Storage chests for blankets and pillows
 Concession stand
 Hanging art
 Multi-Use Media Room

Figure 22. Décor for Home Cinema

One trend we've noticed is turning the cinema room into a more transitional
environment. We've seen these movie theaters double as gaming rooms, fitness areas, and
home offices. The larger projector screen allows you to see more clearly, and many of them
include the option to plug in your own laptop, making online meetings easier to attend.
 REFERENCES:

How To Design A Home Theater Room. (n.d.). ProjectorScreen.com.

https://www.projectorscreen.com/blog/how-to-design-a-home-theater-room

What Is Home Theater and What Does It Do for Me? (n.d.). Lifewire.

https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-home-theater-1846801