As we could have seen during previous months, it’s no longer uncommon for a streaming service to release a movie on the same day as its premiere in theaters. Moreover, there are more streaming service exclusives getting filmed than ever before. This means that having a movie premiere in your own home is no longer a euphemism or make-believe.
Now, in order to get the most out of this idea, it’s essential that you provide yourself with everything necessary for an ideal movie premier. Needless to say, this is a lot easier to achieve once you build yourself a perfect home movie room. With that in mind and without further ado, here are a couple of tips on how you can get the most out of this idea on a budget.

Start With the Screen


When it comes to choosing the screen, you’ll start out with a bit of a dilemma – TV vs. a projector. Both of these solutions have something unique to contribute to the setting, which is why you need to consider their pros and cons quite carefully.
First of all, a projector provides you with a larger screen and a far superior cost-per-size ratio. Huge TVs can be insanely expensive, although they provide a far superior quality of an image. Now when we mention the budgeting difference, we can’t possibly stress out just how big it really is. A 108-inch TV would cost you tens of thousands (provided that you’re able to find one in the first place).
Another pro of a projector lies in the fact that it gives you a more of an old-school feel to movie-watching. After all, it’s what they use in movie theaters until this day.
Some argue that the projector provides less brightness. However, the issue is still not settled on whether this is a bad or a good thing. The downside of the projector is that it simply won’t give you a decent screening experience unless you can dim the room in its entirety. Fortunately, this is something that you can solve with a relatively inexpensive heavy curtain.
In the end, our advice is that, unless you have unlimited means, you should go for a quality projector and use the rest of the intended “screen money” on other aspects of your home movie room.

Focus on the Sound

The next thing you need to do is focus on the sound, which comes in two layers. First, you need to pick the right audio system. Second, you need to make sure that the room is soundproof.
Depending on the size of the room and your budget, you might settle for a specific manufacturer. Sure, the number of speakers is important, but a 3.1 sound system from a more reliable manufacturer can be superior to a 7.1 budget sound system. Does this mean that the number of speakers doesn’t matter? Of course not. However, it does show that there’s more at play than simple numbers.
Soundproofing your theater will make all the difference when it comes to the overall cinematic experience. Having to lower the volume in order to not disturb other inhabitants is a bit restrictive. The same goes for scheduling these movie-watching sessions in order not to disturb others. Instead, you want to have the freedom to use the home movie room whenever you want.
Moreover, the sound gets reflected off of certain surfaces, which means that you might want to cover your windows. Heavy drapes will do the job, and they will also allow you to completely dim the room in order to put more focus on the screen. As for your walls, getting quality acoustic panels solves this issue quite efficiently.

Consider Your Seating Options

Another crucial aspect of building a perfect home movie room lies in resolving the issue of seating. Now, keep in mind that you’re not building a real theater but a home version. By definition, having a home movie room is supposed to be more comfortable and convenient. Why not let that reflect in your seating option.
Now, it all comes down to the intended audience. Clearly, in a traditional theater, the emphasis is on the number of seats, seeing as how it directly impacts the profit potential. Of course, the total audience in your theater will be much smaller but is it really just for you and other residents, or do you expect to have some people over?
If you’re going for individual armchairs, you’re looking for a recline, headrest, lumbar support, and even some hidden in-arm storage. Naturally, the cost is going to be significant, but it’s a one-time investment that is definitely worth it.
Then again, you can always go for something simpler, like a couch or a sofa. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a completely viable solution, and some may even prefer it to individual armchairs (collective viewing gives it a cinema-like vibe). You can even get two identical seats and slightly elevate the area behind the front couch (a sort of a plateau). This way, you get a real cinema vibe without much effort and at a reasonable price.

Think About the Aesthetics

In the end, when making a designated movie room, it’s essential that you go for a unique design, as close to a traditional theater as possible. Sure, this is not mandatory, but you need to remember that you’re not just making a place for you to watch movies. If that were the case, you could have just done it in the living room and spared yourself the trouble (and the expense). In other words, you’re investing in an experience.
You should start with the major surfaces of the area – the walls and the floor. One of the walls (the biggest surface) is definitely going to go to the projector sheet. Although you could (technically) project straight onto the smooth, white wall, this will simply up the quality of the image by quite the margin.
As for the floor, you can go with whatever you like. A wall-to-wall carpet, nonetheless, might be the most iconic for a movie theater. Just remember that where there’s a home movie room, there are snacks. In other words, it’s a good idea for you to think about maintenance (vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning in general) before committing to a certain flooring type.
Lastly, you want to decorate the place with some movie posters. Now, these can be ordered online or printed out and then framed. If you have a talented friend, you may even hire them to do a mural on the wall. Now, when it comes to the selection of movies, you are free to go with your favorites.

In Conclusion

In the end, it’s hard to tell when the job is done (or done right). As we’ve already said, you’re actually investing in an experience, and this is a highly subjective notion. Therefore, once you feel proud of the work you’ve done and feel confident to start with your first projection, it would be safe to say that the task has been completed successfully.
Also, seeing as how you’re probably not making this home theater just for yourself, it might be a good idea to get the input of others during the planning stage (and their feedback later). This way, you’ll be 100% sure that you’ve done the job right.