Katy Lifestyles magazine: Building, Katy Building and Remodeling, Increasing Home Value

s our lives become more hectic, our need to create a living space that enables us to pursue a more family-centric focus has become more important than ever before. Some homeowners achieve this goal by installing an in-ground pool or by expanding the functionality of the kitchen or great room to encourage family get-togethers. But for a growing number of Americans, the renovation of choice has been to add a home theater or media room.

Ken Erdmann, chairman of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association and owner of Erdmann Electric Inc. in Springville, Utah, thinks he knows why home theaters have become so popular.

“Over the years, our lifestyles have changed,” Erdmann says. “We’re cocooning more—or castling, as some call it. We’re spending more time at home, with our family, and home theaters facilitate that choice. ”

If you’ve been considering this upgrade to your family’s home entertainment needs, you’re in luck. The prices of high-end electronic components have dropped significantly in recent years, while the customizable options for media room designs have expanded. Whatever your personal tastes and lifestyle habits may be, there is certain to be a system configuration that will suit your particular needs.

Designing a Home Theater that Works for Your Lifestyle

So, what constitutes a good place for a home theater or media room? The answer largely depends on the homeowner and design configuration of the home. For some, it may be the corner of a larger living space; for others, it could be a specific room redesigned solely for that purpose, such as a basement or den.

“Room dimensions are key to a successful audio/video placement,” says Erdmann. “Rooms with an arched doorway require the system to compress the bass and square rooms are difficult to get the sound right. Rectan- gular shapes are ideal, but aren ’t always available.”

If possible, choose a location that can be closed off completely from other living spaces to avoid sound distortions. Also, consider sound-proofing the room itself when installing the wiring, so other family members won ’t be disturbed if they’re working in their offices or have retired for the evening while the home theater is in use.

As for the type of equipment to purchase for your new home theater, again, that depends upon your personal taste and budget.

“Essential components in a home cinema system typically include a high definition display unit, be it a flat panel TV or a two-piece projector and screen for larger images, along with an assortment of properly placed speakers, ” says Tom Stone of Stone-Glidden, an award winning AV installation firm in Philadelphia, Pa., that specializes in the integration of audio-video, lighting, security and automation for new and existing homes.

According to Stone, a good sound system is critical for the success of a home theater or media room.

“The speakers should be spaced between 5 and 7 feet from the display unit, depending on the room ’s layout,” adds Stone. “You’ll also need a standalone subwoofer, as well as a sound amplifier and high def video sources, such as a cable box, satellite box and Blu-ray DVD player. ”

Stone also suggests that a single system controller will make it easier to use the system, rather than having multiple remote control units that only add clutter and confusion.

Choosing the Right Furnishings

Can Maximize Your Enjoyment

Once you’ve selected your audio and video equipment, you’ll need to find the right furnishings for your new home theater. In large part, this means finding the right seating arrangements to view the large screen television. Comfortable seating, therefore, becomes as important as style and visual impact.

According to Ken Erdmann of CEDIA, it’s important to place the display unit and speakers toward the center of your seating grouping. However, don ’t feel you have to go with the traditional sofa and chairs arrangement of your great room for your home theater. To emulate a true theater experience, consider going with theater-style chairs with a riser for any seating in the second row.

As for decorating your home theater, go with accent pieces that express your personal style and taste, just as you would when decorating any other living space in your home. To maximize the enjoyment of your home theater system, Stone suggests you pay special attention to elements that affect the sound quality of the room.

“The interior of the space should include a combination of reflective, absorptive and diffusive surfaces so that the system will sound nice, ” says Stone.

Choosing the right lighting is equally important. Natural light and ambient light sources can often cause glare on the display screens and therefore should be avoided. Your home theater designer will likely suggest the use of a lighting control system consisting of a combination of LED ceiling lights, fiber optic lights and wall sconces, along with the use of dark colored paint on the walls, dimmer switches and black-out draperies over the windows.

Stone and Erdmann both agree that having a plan in place before you start your home theater installation will prevent costly mistakes later on.

“Understand what you are buying before you buy it,” advises Erdmann. “Choosing to go with too little power or speakers that are too small for the space usually means you won ’t be