A movie theater outing can become quite pricey these days. Tickets alone seem to cost more and more each year and that's even before you get to the concession stand. If you're looking to still have that movie theater experience for a smaller price tag consider creating a movie theater inside your own home.
It might take some time and money but think of how convenient it will be to just go downstairs to your living room and have all the comforts of the movie theater without leaving your house.
Unlimited budget
If you've got an unlimited budget then you probably don't worry about spending too much at the movie theater, but if you're hoping to recreate the experience at home, start off with a prime location. The ideal space is a room that's at least 20 feet long and 13 feet wide that is somewhat isolated from the rest of the home.
Once you've picked your spot you should consider adding more insulation to the walls to help contain the sounds of movie explosions from disrupting the rest of your home.
While adding insulation, pre-wire the room for
surround sound and the video projector. For a large-screen theater experience, pre-wiring a projector system only takes two cables: an HDMI cable and a CAT5 control wire for accessing the projector with a radio frequency (RF) remote. This remote allows you to start and stop your movies without pointing it directly at the projector.
Once you're all pre-wired for sound and visuals, you'll need some light. Floor lighting is also recommended, especially if you'll be adding stadium seating.
Comfortable seating
Start off your move experience with some comfortable seating. There are plenty of options online for movie theater-style seating if you're dedicating an entire room in your home to this project. But if you're looking to just make a few upgrades to your current living room, comfy chairs are the best place to start.
Recliners with cup holders are a good standard for movie watching, but if you're not interested in the look of multiple recliners in your living room, consider a deeper set
couch for optimal lounging while watching your favorite movie.
Equipment
When shopping for your movie projector, look for something that is extremely bright so you can enjoy it during the day. Projectors that offer 2,500 lumens is enough for viewing in daylight. Consider the lamp life of anything you're considering buying and how much replacement lamps cost. An inexpensive high-definition projector might sound like a good deal, but are the replacement parts easy to find
and afford?
Picking out a movie screen is a bit easier than a projector because there are only a few options: pull-down or a fixed frame. A pull-down screen goes up and down like a window shade whereas a fixed screen is always visible. Look for a screen that's at least 90 inches so you can get the full theater effect.
Unlike a TV, the primary speakers won't be next to the projector in your movie theater -- they'll be across the room. You'll have to run a wire from the projector (or sound source) to the speakers. A wireless audio transmitter might be a good option for you if you are unable to hide the wire.
Put it all together
Figuring out the perfect placement of your projector might be the hardest part of the entire process. You'll have to do some calculations to help you find out the right distance but it will be worth it. Use this
online distance calculator from Epson to do all the math for you.
Once you've figured out the perfect spot for your projector, get ready to pop some popcorn and enjoy your favorite movies!