Best Home Theater - How To Build The Best Home Theatre On A Budget

I got confirmation from the woman I love.  She’s going to let me build the Ultimate Home Theater System in the basement.  It’s been a dream of mine for a very long time to have a place in my home that reflects my personality and what I am passionate about.  I am really into movies.  But not in the sense most people are.  Most people love movies because they allow them to live vicariously through the characters on the screen.  That is part of why I love movies but mostly it’s because I’m a screenwriter and movies, for me, are like being in a classroom.  I learn from movies the elements which people enjoy and the elements to avoid.

I’m building this home theater system to be a focal point of our home but also to be functional for all the members of our family.  So in order to do that I have to take into account what it is that everyone else wants in this entertainment Mecca.  So, for this project I’m going this ultimate home theater system is going to incorporate a sound and entertainment center, a media center, and a gaming center.  Oh yea, I cannot forget the faux vintage popcorn maker.

I like to call myself an artist and as such it’s always good to start with a blank canvas. In this case, it would be nice to begin this project with an unfinished basement, like in the image to the right. The basement is my choice because it is the least used space in the home. Where you choose to place your home theater system depends on the space you have available.

I’m lucky because I’ve been exposed to the remodeling industry since I was a little boy. My father was a General Contractor for a very long time and I worked for him while going to college. So, I shouldn’t have too many problems constructing my space. And if I do, dad is just a few miles away. The layout of the home theater room should take into account all the other uses the basement can have as an entertainment area. So it’s a good idea to draw up some plans. You need to find out if a permit is going to be needed prior to starting your project. If, you’re not handy with tools or remodeling then I would suggest you hire a contractor and a designer so you get exactly the look you are going for.

If you choose to work with a designer then you have to let that person know some of the elements you want incorporated into the home theater design.  One of the most important things to consider is how much actual space are you going to require for your home theater room.  How much seating will you require? 

You’re going to want acoustical ceiling tiles because they can absorb a lot of the sound that is generated from your surround sound system.  Being in a basement is clearly the choice for me because I won’t have to worry about soundproofing the walls.  Now if a basement is not an option for you then you have to consider soundproofing your walls, not just for your neighbors peace but also from the members of your home that will be in other rooms.  We don’t want the sound of your home theater system to become a problem for other family members.

It’s not necessary to add decorative panels to your walls especially if it does not reflect your personality or the personality of the rest of the home.  However, if you intend to make this the focal point of your home then by all means, find a style that is right and in your budget.  It can add great value to your home especially in the type of market we are in today.

In your new home theater room, you can choose to go with one of the popular flat screen HD TV’s or you can, and should, opt for the home theater projector.  They come in all shapes and all price levels.  A 720p DLP will give you a very sharp image from 12 feet away projected onto a 100 inch screen.  Check out some of the items I listed from Amazon and read their product reviews.

Choose a good screen that is designed for video projection.  Sure you can use a white wall but you not get anywhere close to the quality image that you will get from a quality screen.  The size of the screen you purchase depends on the type of projector you are using and the distance of the projection.  Some screens come with frames that make hanging them easy and some come motorized which means you can hide the screen and have multi-use of the space behind the screen.  Remember to read the product reviews before making a purchase.

No home theater setup is complete without a proper surround sound system.  Ideally, you will choose a sound receiver and connect your surround sound speakers to the receiver.  Most electronic stores that sell surround sound systems also have installers in place to help you with the layout and installation process

Now that you have this awesome high definition projector, you’re going to need to get some HD video through it.  You’ll need a HD receiver from you cable or satellite provider and also you should invest in the Blu Ray dvd player.  Blu Ray has won the high definition battle and is the preferred option to watch movies in High Definition.

Home theater seating is also a priority.  It doesn’t make much sense to build an ultimate home theater system and use any old seating.  You want this to be a comfortable and beautiful experience.  You want your guests to be in awe when they visit your sanctuary.  The good news is, most of the attractive leather seating is very affordable now.  Plus, they have many options such has recliners and cup holders in the arms.  Plush seating is a must for the ultimate home theater system.

I would be kicked out of the house if I didn't include a high definition gaming system to the mix.  Fortunately, we have the Wii and the Xbox 360.  Unfortunately, they want the Playstation 3.  But what the heck, I am building the ULTIMATE HOME THEATER SYSTEM.

And lets not forget the things you are going to need for your system.  If you hire someone to install this, they will know but if you are on your own, you will need: 

• A mounting system for your projector.
• At least 2, 25ft HDMI cables to hook up your gaming systems and computer to the entertainment center.
• A decent power supply and surge protection for all of this expensive equipment.