Enjoy a cinema experience from the comfort of your home. Advances in technology mean that this luxurious option is now available to nearly everyone, even those on a limited budget. If a fantastic new home theater is on your wish list, our real estate agents will be delighted to help you find the perfect venue in the Brighton area. Once you find it, here's how to turn your vision into a reality.  

1. Determine the location 
   If you were building a commercial theater, you would build a long room with no windows, high ceilings, and thick walls to prevent outside noise from disturbing the audience. Translating those aspects to a home version, the optimal space would be twenty feet long by fifteen feet wide with high ceilings. This room would allow ample viewing distance to a large screen and, by mounting it high above the spectators, minimize the heat and noise produced by a projector. This is not to say that a family room in a ten-foot by ten-foot space couldn't suffice.  

2. Place the furnishings 
   In a living room, the furniture is normally arranged to accommodate conversation. In a home theater, the focus will be on one end of the room and furniture should be arranged so that everyone can see the screen comfortably. If using a projector, it should be mounted above and behind seating. If possible, the door should also be behind the seating so that family members and guests can go in and out as necessary without disturbing other viewers.  

3. Eliminate invasive light 
   If the room is serving multiple functions, there may be several windows or even sliding doors to the exterior of the house. There are a few ways to prevent sunlight or street lamps from interfering with the viewing experience such as shutters and blackout curtains. Roller blackout blinds are a popular option and are available in both black and neutral colors to allow flexibility in interior decorating. In addition to light from the windows, consider indicator lights on electronic equipment. Even though very small, the constant blinking may prove to be an annoying distraction. You can cover them with a bit of black electrical tape, or purchase LED-blocking vinyl dots sold for this purpose. Block every source of light possible.  

4. Soundproof the room 
   It may not be feasible to completely abolish all exterior sound, but soundproof curtains can go a long way towards dampening it. Made from heavy canvas, they may also serve to block out light. You know that mirrors reflect light, but did you realize that hard surfaces reflect sound? That is what creates an echo. Sound bounces back from hardwood floors and bare walls, diminishing the quality of sound from your speakers. You can minimize this problem with rugs or carpeting and art on the walls. 

5. Install electronic equipment 
   Once you have completed the room treatments, it's time to install the electronics that complete the transition into a home theater. The two items that are most critical are the television or projector and screen and the sound system. Shop carefully for the highest quality of each within your budget. Speakers and soundbars help immerse the audience in a total theater experience. 

Somewhere in Livingston County is the perfect place for your home theater. Contact us at Griffith Realty and our agents will be happy to help.