Your home theater doesn’t need to be huge — just well designed.

It’s not enough to have a television in your family room these days! More and more we are being asked to create a home theater in a room especially for that purpose. And why not? It’s a fun way to relax with television shows, movies, gaming or even big-screen Internet use.

Any room can work for a home theater from a 10 x 10 bedroom on up. But for the best results, you want to use a bonus space or larger enclosed space that allows you to be seated farther away from the screen. Ideally we like to build terraced seating so everyone has a sightline to the screen from front to back. Depending on how spacious the room is, the best seating is individual loungers or theater-style seats with arm rests and recline. Pub tables in the back allow people to sit or stand and eat while still seeing the screen.

A side table with movie snacks is colorful and useful.

We always bring in an electronics professional to install the actual equipment with a red-eye feature so it can be tucked away in a closet or console. Everything else, though, is a design element. Walls should be dark or draped, eliminating hard surfaces. Carpet is best for the same reason. Our electrician adds dimmable lighting to help set the mood for dark or near-dark viewing.

Now for the fun stuff! Framed movie posters are a festive way to bring in the theme of a home theater. A popcorn machine and a mini-fridge stocked with beverages are helpful so you don’t have to trudge all the way to the kitchen for a snack mid-film.

Home theaters can be massive and pricey or smaller and affordable — or in between. For a complimentary consultation about your San Diego home theater, or any of your San Diego home design and remodel needs, please contact us.