How Can I Make My Home Theater Look Like a Real Cinema?

You know the difference when you see it. Even with high-end equipment, some “home theaters” still look like a basement or living room with surround sound speakers plopped around the sofa. 

Then there’s the luxury home theater—seamless, sleek, with no wires or equipment boxes in sight. It looks so good, you could sell tickets to it like a real cinema. 

How can you get that level of quality in your home theater? Find out below how a professional home theater design can work wonders for your Glen Head, NY, home. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Home Theater Design Project 

Pre-Wiring & Hidden Equipment 

If you want to achieve that professional appearance, it’s best to build a home theater from the ground up. A home theater designer (like our team at Home Theater of Long Island) generally starts the installation by discreetly running power and data wiring through the walls. In-wall and in-ceiling speakers eliminate clutter for a seamless, high-end appearance. We can also install retractable TVs, projector screens, and projectors that are disguised in the ceiling when not in use. 

Intentional Lighting Design 

Any-old lights and lamps don’t exactly convey ‘home theater.’ To make the space more cinematic, you need an intentional lighting design. Lighting design considers the human experience in a room and how light angles, brightness levels, and color temperatures affect the space. Linear lighting, wall sconces, under-seat track lighting, and dimmable recessed lights all come together to create a theater. Your home theater designer can help you with lighting design and can even connect lights to a smart control system. 

Blackout Shades & Drapes 

We just talked about the light you do want—what about the light you don’t? Ambient light from windows or doorways can cause glare or fading on projector screens. To create true immersion, we recommend installing blackout shades or drapes on any windows or doors. Motorized shades make it easy to lower or close shades with one press of a button. 

Acoustic Treatments 

If you’re investing in high-end surround sound, acoustic treatments ensure you’ll get the best audio performance. Without acoustic treatments, audio reflects against the walls and furniture and can cause distortion. Some sound frequencies may overpower the space, while others are lost in the sound. Acoustic wall panels balance the sound in the room and take your theater to the next level.  

Home Theater Seating 

If you want the classic theater aesthetic, install home theater seating! When you partner with a home theater company, you’ll have your pick from loungers, sectionals, and seats in custom fabrics and colors. If you’ll have more than two rows of seats, consider installing tiered flooring so that every seat in the house has a perfect view.  

Looking for home theater seating, lighting, acoustic treatments—or all the above? Home Theater of Long Island designs and installs custom home theaters to match your unique vision. We do it all—contact us here to get started