Creating A Home Theater

Dear Jon,

My family and I are big movie buffs and would like to create a special space to enjoy them. Any suggestions?

Hooray for Hollywood


Dear HfH,

What a great opportunity to create a special place for cherished family times

A room dedicated to movie watching is the ultimate luxury for movie buffs. Find a quiet out of the way location. Have a qualified professional determine the best audio video equipment for your space and budget and have it professionally installed. Now the fun part!

Padded and/or upholstered walls will give your home theater a cocoon like silence and add an air of sophistication and luxury. A dark rich tone will help focus your attention at the screen while a lighter shade will help expand small spaces and bold primary colors can create a fun and playful ambiance.

Think of the grand movie palaces of old when considering the style for your new space. A home theater is a great place to have some fun with your decorating style. Some classic choices include:

Art Deco- sinuous curves, metallic finishes, crystal and big black and white publicity shots are hallmarks of this style.

Neoclassic – black painted furniture with guilt accents, animal prints, small geometric and jewel toned accents are perfect for this look.

Edwardian- Red velvet, big gold braided fringe, carved dark wood accents and plush upholstery fabrics will all contribute to this lush and luxurious look.

Egyptian- Yes Egyptian. It was a classic look for movie theaters early in the last century and a fun and unexpected look to resurrect today. Sand colored carpets, billowing gauze fabric, sarcopogus and busts of King Tut and Nefroterri are obvious choices for this classic movie theater theme.

Obviously the most crucial piece of furniture is the seating and for that real movie theater feel nothing beats “theater seating” Reclining, with built in headrests, cup holders, and storage compartments these units offer the best in both comfort and style. Available in a myriad of fabrics and configurations choose one that is right for your room and your family. For that real theater feel, buy 2 and have a platform built for the back row. As little as 6” can make a big difference in the site lines and the final feel of your room.
Add dimmers to your lighting, a popcorn machine, framed movie posters and even a candy counter to complete your family friendly home theater.

Happy Viewing.

Jon