How to Build a Home Theater

Want a movie-theater experience in your home? Learn how to build a home theater with step by step instructions from the pros at HGTV.com

By Sherry Rauh
Filed under: Home Theaters, How To, Bonus Rooms

Step 7: Set Up Video and Sound Systems

Once your drywall is painted, you can hang your speakers, projector, and screen. In a theater of 20 by 13 feet, the ideal screen size is 110-120 inches. For a professional feel, frame the screen with a proscenium – a set of black acoustic panels that hide the left, right, and center speakers.

Camouflage the remaining speakers with acoustic panels that double as artwork. These panels can be printed with custom designs, including family photos or favorite movie posters.

The speakers and projector will connect to the receiver in your equipment hub. The receiver accepts content from a wide range of multimedia devices, such as:

? Blu-ray player
? Cable/satellite feed
? Game console
? Home theater PC

A good Blu-ray player will do far more than play discs. Through a pay-per-view service like VUDU, you can stream high-definition movies off the Internet whenever you like. Some Blu-ray players also network with your personal computer, making it easy to enjoy photos, music, and home videos in your theater.

Step 8: Install Theater-Style Seating

You can furnish your theater with comfy sofas and loveseats. But for the real deal, you'll want to install authentic theater-style seating. Two rows of four seats will fit comfortably in a 20 by 13 theater. For better viewing, elevate the back row with a pre-built platform.

Theater seating comes in a wide range of styles, including genuine leather with cup-holders in the armrests. These are the kind of seats that beckon you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the feature presentation!