Who wouldn’t want a home theater room? A dedicated movie-watching space with theater furniture and a little popcorn machine in the corner – it’s a great place to escape, relax and unwind after a long day. Somewhere to watch all the latest movies, and have big game night parties with friends and family. Nevertheless, many of us simply don’t have the extra room. Just the TV and the speakers take up significant space, and let’s not even start about all the theater seats!
Worry no more! Home theaters can be built in small spaces – you’ve just got to be a bit more creative than someone who’s blessed with a huge bonus room in their house. Every day, more people are building their own home theater without having a lot of extra space. Really, you just need speakers, a screen, and comfy theater-style media room furniture.
In fact, small spaces have their advantages. For example, you won’t need super-loud speakers, because sound transmits well in small spaces. You don’t need as powerful of a projector or as large of a screen, and you don’t need rows and rows of movie theater chairs. You might just need a row of 4 seats, 2 and 2, or a home theater loveseat. Know what all that means? Your budget just got way less intimidating than one for a huge home theater room. Win.
How to make your small room into a big-time home theater space
Bringing big-theater energy to a small room is easier than you’d think. Check it out!
1. Measure your space: Big or small, this is always a first. You need to know what you’re working with. One of the most important measures is the distance between your planned seating and the screen and speakers. Then, use this handy TV viewing distance chart to calculate your optimal viewing distance. You should coordinate your theater seating with the central viewing cone, and set your speakers up accordingly as well. This is a lot easier in a smaller home theater because you have less options and you don’t have to worry about whether the speakers’ sound will fill the space.
2. Turn off the lights: For real! This will make it easier to check whether your screen placement works or you’d better place it in the opposite wall. Check if there are any lights that would reflect directly on the screen: these can be either lights in other rooms, or on the street (i.e. through a window). Cover windows with heavy blackout curtains. Oh, by the way, if you haven’t already, make sure your overhead lighting is recessed can lights. It eliminates any light reflecting off the screen when they’re on, and it also doesn’t encroach on people getting up and down from the movie theater chairs, which might be especially an issue if your home theater is in the basement.
3. Use vertical space: This means mounting everything you can. Even if you’re renting, mounting a TV and speakers is easy, and you can easily patch the drywall if and when you decide to move. More floor space = more of an open feeling = room for more home theater furniture. Mounting speakers and using a theater riser for your back row of seating are both great ways to maximize on space for home theatre seating by using the room’s vertical space. That means more room for family and friends for movie nights or the big game on Saturday.
4. Find some solid home theater furniture: You need comfort as well as space optimization, and in this regard, you’re in luck. We have developed ergonomic seats that also feature wall-hugging design, meaning you can fit more seats in small spaces. Our technology allows you to comfortably fit seats in your small room, without sacrificing reclining or leg space! We can also make a curved row of theater seats, which optimizes space and viewing angles of wider rows. All of your guests will be comfortable – nobody will even notice it’s a small room.