How to set up a cinema at home? film screening at home
The pandemic period has meant that we have stopped going to the cinema or theatre and spend most evenings in our own homes. Fortunately, this does not mean that we have to forget about entertainment or give up access to culture. All we need to do is to arrange a comfortable cinema in our own home.Properly arranged space will make us feel the magic of the big screen, sitting on our own sofa. What should you keep in mind when arranging a cinema at home?
Over the years, we are paying more and more attention to the space around us, while adapting it to our needs. A beloved bedroom turns into an office for remote working in a moment, while the kitchen table acts as a tabletop for entertaining and studying. One idea for adapting the space to our requirements is to create a cinema at home for all family members and invited guests to enjoy.
How do you make a cinema at home? Find out where to start
A cinema screening has its own unique charm. The smell of popcorn, the crowd reacting lively to the action and the long preparations for departure all give us a pleasant thrill at the thought.
The weather is not always conducive to getting out of the house, but fortunately we can take matters into our own hands and organise a space where we can sit comfortably in our favourite armchair and indulge in the pleasure of watching a film or looking forward to a concert. Where to start? First of all, it's worth considering the choice of a particular location. A home cinema in the living room, bedroom or a separate room?
Then, we should choose the right equipment. It is certainly worth taking into account the size of the room where the films will be shown and the distance separating the wall on which the TV or screen will be hung from the place where we place the sofa or comfortable armchairs. An important element will also be an appropriate sound system to ensure that the films we watch are accompanied by exceptional sound effects. When choosing equipment, it is also important to place it correctly so that every sound can be heard.
The last thing to remember is the right mood. A cinema auditorium is usually accompanied by a pleasant twilight, so we can create a similar atmosphere in our home cinema. Special blackout blinds and dresser lamps providing pleasant, soft light can help. If you want to create a warm and cosy atmosphere, it is worth considering LED light spheres, which can be installed anywhere.
Home cinema: which interior is best?
If you want to create a real cinema entertainment centre in your home, it is worth dedicating and thoroughly preparing one of the rooms for this purpose. If we have the conditions for it, it may be an unused room, an attic or a cellar, which usually has no access to daylight. The lack of windows in this case will be a huge advantage and will add to the experience of watching your favourite films.
If you don't have any such space, there is nothing stopping you from creating a home cinema in your living room. However, this will require some creativity and work. Arranging a cinema room in the living room requires the two worlds to be neatly combined, and due to the large number of pieces of furniture, it may not produce such spectacular surround sound effects as a cinema created in a separate room. However, if we choose the right equipment and take care to maintain the required distances, there is nothing to prevent us from enjoying the magic of the cinema in the room where our daily lives take place.
When arranging this room, however, it is worth bearing in mind a few rules. First of all, pay attention to the size of the room. A home cinema room should be at least 20 m2 , although the best acoustic parameters can be achieved with an area of approximately 38 m2 . What is more, the room should not be too low for the acoustic properties to be maintained.
Quiet as in a cinema
Sound certainly enhances the experience of watching action films, which are suspenseful for the most part, but also musicals or blood-curdling horror films. If we want to provide ourselves with unforgettable emotions, it is therefore worth taking care to ensure adequate soundproofing of the room which will serve as our home cinema. There are two important parameters to consider: sound insulation and sound absorption.
Sound insulation is a parameter that determines the degree to which a room is separated from outside noises. These, to a large extent, can spoil the atmosphere of even the best film. It is therefore worth thinking about insulation when arranging a home cinema room and making sure it is around 60 - 65 decibels. When thinking about the walls, we shouldn't forget about the internal doors, which also allow uninvited sounds to pass through. Ideally, these should have an insulation level of around 42 decibels.
Another parameter that plays a big role when designing a cinema in the home is sound absorption. This property shows us to what extent the walls and the ceiling absorb sound and thus prevent it from being reflected. The higher the index, the better the sound quality we will be able to achieve.
Information on the magnitude of a parameter such as sound absorption can be extremely helpful, especially when choosing the right equipment. It is worth remembering that the sound coming out of the speakers will never be as clear as we would like it to be, as it may be subject to unwanted modifications by external factors related to the shape and size of the room.
And let's not forget the furnishings. While a comfortable sofa will prove indispensable, some accessories will be worth dispensing with. One of these will be, for example, a mirror. The sound reflected from its smooth and hard surface causes more reverberation and the quality of the sound will be degraded.
Home cinema: how to finish off a room?
When arranging the interior of our home, we try to think of all the accessories: from lamps to paintings, ending with cushions and blankets that decorate comfortable armchairs and sofas. However, before we start thinking about decorations, we are usually faced with a dilemma: what do we finish the walls or the floors with? When choosing materials for a room that will soon become the centre of home entertainment, in addition to aesthetic and practical considerations, there is another factor to take into account, namely how the material in question interacts with sound.
In a room such as a home cinema room, a so-called floating floor will work well, which is an effective way of soundproofing the ceiling. It can be made with mineral wool slabs, damp proofing, a concrete subfloor and a finishing layer of natural wooden planks or vinyl panels.
The room's sound-absorbing qualities will be further enhanced by the installation of a false ceiling, which will make the sound coming out of the speakers clearer and more distinct. This plasterboard construction can also be a good place to install and hide interesting lighting in the form of recessed ceiling fixtures or LED flush-mounted profiles.
And what should we put on the walls? For a better soundproofing effect, use Kerradeco decorative panels. These panels can be used to create the atmosphere of a major cinema complex. The lamellas will also bring an intimate atmosphere of a cinema interior. Their spatial structure silences the room, getting rid of unwanted reverberations, echoes or noises from the neighbours behind the wall. Both of these solutions will give our walls an individual character and certainly make them stand out from other rooms.
Build a home cinema atmosphere: light and colours
When choosing colours for our homes, we often opt for light colours that make the home feel bright and cheerful. When arranging a cinema space, however, it is worth making an exception and reaching for those in darker tones. Our choice is not limited to dark black. Depending on our preferences, we can also opt for deep navy blue, graphite or intense claret. Irrespective of the colour, however, remember to paint the room with a matt paint that does not reflect light or to put special louvres on the wall.
It is not without reason that dark colours seem to be the ideal solution for the design of a home cinema room. Such a room should be as dark as possible, so if there are windows, it is advisable to cover them with thick, fleshy curtains or external blinds.
In the room, let's also bet on discreet lighting points that will give a soft glow, but at the same time eliminate the unwanted contrast that will form between the bright screen and the dark interior. A Lou ceramic lamp with a fabric lampshade will work perfectly on a dresser or table. The subdued light emanating from under the lampshade will perfectly complement the twilight of the interior while watching films. The mysterious atmosphere will also be enhanced by openwork lanterns scattered on the floor and furniture.
Comfortable as... home!
When creating your own entertainment centre, bear in mind that some films, theatre performances or concerts can last for several hours. So make sure you can spend that time in comfort and convenience. Depending on how many members of your household will be using your home cinema, opt for a comfortable corner sofa, a functional sofa or soft armchairs.
The advantage of home cinema is unlimited screening time. It is therefore worth preparing for long film marathons. To do this, choose upholstered furniture that has a sleeping function, so that all viewers will occupy comfortable positions throughout the show. And if your guests get a little too seated, you'll have the option of sleeping them right away. If our home cinema is in the living room, the Conffi or Modus modular furniture can prove invaluable. During the day, they can be used as individual armchairs and in the evening they can be combined to form a comfortable sofa. And don't forget footstools or pouffes on which to comfortably rest and stretch your legs.
At the cinema, during a screening, quite a few people enjoy salty snacks such as popcorn, nuts or nachos. At home, with access to a full fridge and kitchen, our menu during a screening is almost unlimited. For comfort and convenience, opt for a comfortable coffee table or bench where we can easily put down a bowl of snacks or a drink. The 4 You Fresh table on castors can easily be moved to another location when you need more space on the sofa bed. Functional niches will make it easier to keep the tabletop tidy and organise small items.
Clear picture and sound - choosing the right equipment
One of the most important aspects of creating your own home cinema is choosing the right equipment. So let's start with the screen. The choice is between a TV set - preferably as large as possible (42 inches is considered the minimum necessary) - or a projector with a special screen. In addition, it is advisable to choose DLP or LCD technology, which displays the image in high resolution. This will ensure the best possible colour reproduction. It should also be borne in mind that the lower the brightness of the device, the worse the visibility of the projection in a darkened room will be. It is a good idea for future projector owners to check the lamp life and contrast of the device before making a purchase.
If we plan a home cinema in the living room, we should not forget about the appropriate arrangement of the wall with the TV set. The equipment can be hung or placed on a RTV cabinet. If you choose a model with niches or drawers, you will immediately find a place for your favourite collection of discs with films or recordings. If you have chosen a projector instead of a TV, find a suitable place to project the image. This could be a ceiling-mounted retractable screen or simply a piece of white wall.
However, the picture is not everything. What would a home cinema be without a proper sound system? A three-way system consisting of a woofer, tweeter and midrange speaker will provide exceptional sound effects. In slightly smaller rooms, a solution using front speakers (left and right), a centre speaker and two effect speakers mounted on the right and left side may also work well. When choosing the equipment, care should also be taken to ensure that it is positioned correctly, so that everyone watching, no matter where they are, can hear every sound perfectly. When installing the sound system, it is a good idea to ensure that the centre speaker is close to the screen and that the front loudspeakers are aimed at the viewer at a 45-degree angle. Mount the effect speakers on the sides, right and left, slightly above ear level.
Dream cinema at home
Having your own cinema room has long since ceased to be associated with wealth and excessive luxury. Creating your own home entertainment centre seems quite normal. When arranging the interior of such a room, in addition to sticking to the parameters and technical rules, it is worthwhile to fulfil one's dreams by choosing furniture and accessories that are consistent with our expectations.
