There are some basic things you need to know to create or adapt a room for a home theater. We will discuss only the basic need to know parameters. The actual design will be dealt with in future articles.

The first thing you should know is: are you going to work with an existing space? If so is it a shared space living room, family room, or den? Or, are you going to create and/or build a new space.

Let's discuss first the use of an existing space. We'll assume it is a shared family/living room. Whether the room is large or small does not affect the final design. Almost any room can become a satisfying home theater. The basic things we will need to know are room dimensions, furniture placement and type, as well as where the doorways, windows and adjacent walls exist. (one side open to another room or just a door etc,). What are the surfaces covered with? Are the walls hard or softened by draperies and wall hangings. Is the floor hard or carpeted? This information will be important in deciding speaker and equipment placement. In this scenario be prepared to move things around.

The other basic information required in this shared room scenario is wire run access. Is there access from below or above, are the walls interior and therefore hollow or exterior and therefore insulated and blocked. This information is helpful to the technician or self installer in running the necessary wiring to the speakers etc. as well as whether to use wired (better sound) or wireless speakers.

Once this information is compiled and mapped out it becomes much easier to design a home theater that will bring you the nuance and excitement the movie was created to instill. Check Back often for more about designing a home theater.