Create a Home Theater Diagram

Draw a layout that accounts for seating, speakers and wiring placement.
By: Terry Ulick

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After choosing the location for your home theater, refer to your equipment checklist to create a diagram of the room. This will allow you to start shopping and decide if this is a remodeling task you can do on our own or hire a contractor to help. The diagram will help you visualize the room and identify hidden wiring, mounting points and seating locations.

Starting with the interior dimensions, note interior and exterior walls and any existing access points to cable or the Internet. Indicate the location of the seating and devices. Then add the construction tasks, such as wiring runs and lighting locations.

At this point the layout allows for just about any type of design or theme. It's a simple seating arrangement and it puts many of the items on the checklist into play. Next add lighting.

Take a copy of your diagram and using a different color, add the light fixtures. Indicate primary lighting and ambient lighting. Define lighting in a way that a contractor can understand with definitions such as "spots," "recessed" or "directional."

With your diagram complete, you can start pricing and sourcing the wide array of equipment and furnishings.

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