Do It Yourself: Custom Home Theater Installation And Construction Guide

Installing a home theater system may be one of the best 'decorating' decisions you'll make, since it can serve a number of functions, depending on the room you select. If you are installing an advanced sound system or a larger television set in the family room or living room, it's best to make sure that your speaker system or wiring is tastefully hidden, and if you're purchasing larger pieces like speakers or a DVD player, matching the equipment with the other furniture in the room is a nice touch.

If you're using a separate room for your home theater, you have a little bit more room to play around with the type of environment you want. Do you want a theater with rounder tables or benches that will allow people to still talk casually and socialize with one another while the movie is playing? Or do you want a home theater with rows of seats, and even a concession stand?

Choosing which room you want to dedicate to your home theater, or making the basement into your new place to watch movies should be determined before you decide which equipment to buy, as well as the size of the new theater furniture. You may also need to purchase a new television stand or entertainment center to hold your new TV, so make sure that you allow for this in your home theater budget.

Next, you'll begin 'building' your theater. This is probably one of the easiest home improvement projects that you'll ever take on, so you can get a little creative once you have the basics taken care of. You can purchase a windscreen television, or at least a TV that is larger than the one you currently own if you are using the family room as your home theater. Or, to make your home theater even more authentic, you could purchase a projector to play the movies on. These are usually a little more expensive than purchasing a new television (projectors are usually between $1500 and $2350), but this feature works great if you have set aside a separate room for your home theater. Then, you'll need to choose a speaker system and install amplifiers. This will usually only require some simple wiring, unless you're buying an advanced speaker system with smaller speakers that have to be installed in different places on the walls.

Following the manufacturer's instructions for speaker installation should be sufficient. Now you'll have to decide on seating. If you want rows of seats, purchasing inexpensive chairs from a home improvement store and add cushions so that seating is comfortable. For a more relaxed setting, you can purchase a sectional sofa with seats that recline so that everyone can relax while enjoying the movie. You can also construct a small little snack bar, so that you and your guests can enjoy food and beverages while the movie is going on without walking back and forth to the kitchen. You can even install the same speakers to your stereo system and use your theater (if your chairs are mobile) for a party space if you want to extend your get-together after the movie is over.