Design 101

Designing Your Home Theater

September 19, 2024

If you're a movie lover, a home theater probably sounds like the perfect addition to your home. It's a common misunderstanding that home theaters must include high-end speakers, expensive projectors, and theater seats. Anyone can find the right home theater design for their home, but first, you must understand how to build one.

Take a look at our guide before setting your budget, choosing your furniture, and deciding on a theme for your space.

What Is a Home Theater?

A home theater is more than just a TV placed in front of a couch. 

Ideally, you'll include these elements in your home theater design:

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Comfortable seating

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A projector and screen or a large TV

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Audio equipment such as a surround sound system, an audio/video receiver, and speakers

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Lighting

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Remote control or automation 

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Multimedia source components (like a Blu-Ray player or a media server)

Home Theater Design Tips Before You Start Your Project

Home theater design leaves a lot of room for creativity and personal taste. If you're unsure where to start, consider these steps before assembling your home theater.

1. Set your budget

Whether you have $1,000 or $50,000 to spend on your project, you should first decide where the money is going. Is it more important to you to purchase the best audiovisual equipment? Or, perhaps you've decided your large-screen TV will work as the centerpiece, and you want to focus on upgrading your seating or lighting.

Many sound experts recommend spending about 30% or less of your funds on the display, which refers to the TV or projector and screen combination. This might leave you with 40% for the sound system and another 30% for seating. 

For example, if you have a budget of less than $5,000, you could spend $1,500 on the display, $2,000 on the sound system, and another $1,500 on seating. Play around with the numbers until you find something that works for your household and budget.

2. Measure your space

Be careful not to start buying your favorite items before measuring your future theater's physical space. Like TVs, projector screens come in different shapes and sizes. You should also determine the placement of any furniture. Remember to find spots for other new items, such as rugs, lamps, and decorative tables.

It's possible to use a smaller room as a home theater — especially if, for example, you're only designing it for two people — but you must be judicious with your use of the space. Measure everything beforehand, and consider marking off where items will go with painter's tape designed to not leave glue residue on your walls and floor.

3. Decide your theme

This part of home theater design is entirely subjective. If you're a huge Star Wars fan, you might choose a space theme. Or, if you love Hollywood's Golden Age, you might decorate with framed portraits of stars.

Your theme will also influence the type of furniture and colors you choose. For example, if you decide upon an Old Hollywood theme, you might decorate the room to look more like an Art Deco-inspired 1920s movie theater — think angular geometrics, patterned carpet, and moody lighting. 

Your aesthetic choices won't affect the sound or picture quality, but it's a good idea to have a plan in place so you don't struggle to pull the look together later.

Home Theater Design

Now that you've laid the groundwork for a successful project, you may be wondering which step to take first. Follow this framework to start designing your home theater.

Select your audio system and screen

If your budget is under $1,000, you may want to choose a prepackaged "home theater in a box" system. This set usually includes basic equipment like a subwoofer, speakers, and connecting cables. If you have a bigger budget, you can also include equipment like a soundbar, an A/V receiver, and larger speakers.

Choose your furniture and room layout

Decide whether you want to completely replace your furniture or keep some existing pieces. If you're looking for theater seating, choose comfortable, well-reviewed chairs. High-quality sectional sofas, ottomans, and side tables can help you convert a standard living room into a home theater.

Add accessories and accents

Your home theater won't feel complete without a few finishing touches. Consider accessories like the following:

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Recessed lighting or warm-toned lamps

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Carpet and a ceiling design or color that speaks to your chosen theme

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Festive curtains for the screen

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Movie posters

Home Theater Design Tips

Mapping out the big picture is the first step, but you likely have several lingering questions about the specifics. After you've planned your home theater design, consider the answers to these frequently asked questions.

What type of furniture is best for a home theater?

If you're really attached to the idea of theater seats and have the budget for them, go for it. Movie theater-style seating can cost around $300-$1,500 per seat, depending on its brand and whether it's constructed from cloth, imitation leather, or genuine leather.

If you simply want to upgrade your existing living room, a sectional couch or comfortable chairs can work just as well. Consider a triple-reclining sofa with a matching chair to imitate the feeling of a movie theater without giving up your regular daytime living room. A wraparound sectional can also elevate the look and feel of a smaller home theater design.

The best fabrics and materials to use in home theater design

Have you ever wondered why movie theater spaces don't echo? It's because they're built to contain sound rather than bounce it from surface to surface. Likewise, choosing the best materials can make your home moviegoing experience more enjoyable. 

Consider soundproof or sound-dampening materials in the following areas: 

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Floors: Carpet is ideal for a home theater space because it absorbs sound. A large, durable rug would also work well in a space with hardwood floors.

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Walls: If you're starting from scratch, it's best to soundproof your walls with a double layer of drywall that includes blown-in or sound-dampening insulation. These dense materials keep sound trapped in the home theater room. If you don't have a construction budget or want to avoid opening up your walls, consider hanging acoustic sound panels for a similar effect. 

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Furniture: You have a wide variety of furniture materials to choose from. If you're considering eating meals or snacking on popcorn while sitting on this furniture, leather may serve you better than cloth. Microfiber is another durable, cleanable option.

Small home theater room design ideas

Small home theaters don't have to feel inferior to larger ones. Focus on the quality of your equipment rather than the size of your theater, and choose furniture that fits the space well.

You won't notice the room's size once the movie starts playing if you're very selective about your furniture pieces, lighting, audio aesthetics, and seating. 

Get Started on Your Home Theater Design Today

We've got home theater design ideas for any budget. Browse our seating, lighting, and rug options to complete your home theater exactly as you envision it.

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