15 Genius Tips For Designing The Perfect Theater Room

Everyone has different priorities in their dream home, with some preferring a massive kitchen for whipping up holiday meals and others valuing an abundance of green space to create an outdoor oasis complete with a vegetable garden and greenhouse. However, for movie buffs or simply those who love to binge watch their favorite shows, one fantastic addition to a home is a theater room. Sure, you can watch movies and television shows on any type of screen, but there's just something special about having the full experience, per HGTV.

However, beyond buying a large screen that can display whatever you're watching, it can be a bit intimidating to think of what exactly you need in the room. How big should the screen be? What type of seating do you need? Is added audio essential? And, when it comes to extras like snack bars and refrigerators, what should you splurge on and what should you ignore? Whatever your genre of choice, there are multiple elements to consider when designing the perfect movie viewing space — here's what you need to know to ensure you craft the ideal home theater room.

Too much ambient light, or light coming from the wrong places, can wreak havoc on your viewing experience and impact the quality of the picture you're seeing. Controlling the lighting in a theater space is important, and is one of the first things you should consider when planning out your space, says Audio Advice. 

If you're determined to set up your theater room in a space with endless windows, you'll need to find solutions that can darken all those light-emitting areas. If you've selected a room that doesn't have much ambient lighting, you may simply need to invest in some curtains, screens, or blinds in order to craft the ideal viewing experience. As an added bonus, many of these light-blocking solutions are relatively easy to install and can be found in a variety of styles that will match your home aesthetic.

Unless you've made the decision to paint them a certain color, chances are the ceilings in your home are a standard white. According to The Spruce, white paint is commonly used on ceilings because it reflects light, which can help make a space seem more open and airy. 

However, that reflective quality is exactly what you don't want in a theater space; so, you may want to get a can of dark paint when you're creating your ideal set-up. Having a dark hue on the walls — like a deep charcoal or dark eggplant purple — as well as on the ceiling can help to control the lighting in the space, which is of utmost importance in a home theater. 

Today's technology means there are a host of options to consider, from the size of the screen to the type of screen. Consider the space itself first when deciding on size — you want about three feet of space below the screen for an optimal viewing experience, and if you go for a large size like 120 inches, you want to make sure your seating is far enough back that you can take in the full screen at once, per Audio One. 

Then, decide whether you want a traditional flat-screen television or a projector with either a fixed frame or pull-down screen. Either way, make sure to properly survey the options and pick the one you like best; as it displays the graphics you're enjoying, the screen is one of the most important parts of your home theater.

Once you've eliminated any ambient noise in your theater room as effectively as possible, the next step is to find the sound configuration you want for an optimal viewing experience. One of the primary ways you get so immersed in a movie when watching in a theater is because the sound seems to echo all around you, enveloping you in the experience. 

According to DIY Network, most home theater rooms will feature an AV receiver as well as a subwoofer and about five or so speakers. The placement of your speakers will depend on the space you're working with, but often you'll want a center channel loudspeaker as well as one to the left and right front, placed equal distances from the television, and two rear surround sound speakers. That's what will give you the full immersive experience.

Seating is another area where the sky's the limit, and you can really get creative according to what your overall vision for your home theater is, as noted by HGTV. Some individuals may prefer a solo viewing experience with separate armchairs for everyone. Others may want to recline, and place a high priority on seating options with that possibility. Or, maybe your ideal viewing experience means having your snacks close at hand, so you want a chair with built-in cup holders or a flat arm that something can be balanced on. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, perhaps you love movie nights and would prefer a couch or loveseat that can seat multiple people. Whatever your personal preference, make sure your seating options reflect it. Even things like the material might be worth considering — while softer fabrics can be cozy, you may want to go with leather for durability, if people may be spilling their popcorn and sodas.

Design plays a major role in tying things together, and you have a ton of freedom and flexibility when it comes to creating your theater space, says Sebring Design Build. Perhaps you prefer a modern design aesthetic, and want a theater with sleek lines and a simple color palette. Or, maybe you're utterly charmed by the theaters you see in classic movies, and you want to add retro touches. Perhaps it's the time to invest in a few large posters of your favorite movies. 

While there are certain necessary elements that go into a theater space, such as the audiovisual equipment, there's a lot of room for your own personal touch. Functionality is key, but remember to consider form as well, selecting items that fit your desired overall aesthetic to create a particular mood.

One of the benefits of creating your own theater room is that you can add exactly what you want in your movie or television-watching space. For example, if you can't sit through a movie without a freshly popped bowl of popcorn, you may want to add a microwave or even a popcorn machine to have your favorite buttery snack on hand, suggests HGTV. In order to ensure everyone has their drink of choice, you might consider incorporating a wine fridge or mini fridge to store a few bottles of crisp Sauvignon Blanc or your preferred non-alcoholic beverages. 

Finally, if you're a fan of a particular franchise or even certain films, consider adding a few decorative touches that pay homage to that, whether it be in the form of some themed pillows, movie posters, etc.