We’re all spending more time at home at the moment. If you’re missing the cinema experience, you can recreate the movies at home. A home cinema isn’t just for the rich and famous. There are options for all budgets and spaces if you’re clever with your design. Here are some of the best ideas to fit a home cinema in your home.
1. If you don’t have a separate room spare to turn into a home cinema, you can trick out your existing living room. If you have the budget, invest in some state of the art equipment, including a TV and speakers. Surround sound is a good investment if you watch a lot of movies. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have very fast, stable WiFi so you get the best picture quality if you’re streaming your movies.
2. Build a den. If you do have a spare room, such as a converted basement, you can go for a classic home cinema design. Think media room, or den, with a big TV, a bar, recliners, or a bar. Display things like sports memorabilia or movie collectibles.
3. Make the family room do double duty. If you’re decorating on a budget, you can save some money by making your family room also work as a movie space. Hang a large screen TV and a soundbar on the wall. Add plenty of storage, so when the kids go to bed, you can hide away all their clutter and turn the room into a cinema for the grown-ups.
4. Embrace the built-in. One of the problems of creating a media room or home cinema is the amount of cabling. If you still want the room to look good, it can be tough to do that when you have wires trailing everywhere. Hide those away by embracing the built-in. You can use custom cabinetry to hide wires, DVD storage, and the other less visually pleasing aspects of having your own cinema.
5. Convert a space you’re not using. If you’re lucky enough to have a usable basement or a poolhouse in your home that you aren’t using for their intended purpose, both are ideal for being converted into a home cinema. By treating yourself to a flatscreen TV and make the space as comfy as you can by opting for day beds instead of a sofa. If you’re using a room away from the main house, you can get a little more adventurous with the decor. Paint the walls black, hang neon lights, or put in a popcorn machine. Why not?
6. Buy a projector. For the try movie experience, you need a projector. There are lots of great options on the market for use in the home. You can use a projector with a permanent set-up, or use it to turn another space into a cinema. For example, fit a retractable projector screen, project onto a white wall, or hang a white sheet outside to take the cinema outside for something different.
