8 Home Theater Ideas — and Innovative Products to Build One

Jan 13, 2025 | Art & Entertainment, Decor, Furniture, Indoor, Lighting, Magazine, Tech & Smart Home

Learn how to design and build a home theater with high quality technology, soundproofing, and aesthetic accessories.
Push Home Theater with massive screen, plush red seating, and sound control walls with diamond-shaped theater lighting

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Home theaters are in high demand with homeowners, so as an interior designer or home builder, you may be looking to for a way to fit your client’s request into the build, or ideas for how to transform an extra room into the perfect entertainment escape.

There are a lot of possible sizes and designs for a home theater. Some want a long, narrow room with multiple levels like in a classic movie theater. Others create a more open room, with space for convertible seating and snack bars. Or you could transform an existing family room or lounge into a dual-purpose media space.

No matter your approach, there are a few things every home theater needs to shine! We’ll share some top home theater ideas (for the DIY homeowner too!) and highlight high quality products to help you plan the perfect theater room in home.

Home Theater Projectors

Just because the screen itself is the most important part of a theater, it only needs to be visible when in use. If you plan to create a multi-functional space, consider looking at motorized screens, or ones with a built in masking screen. This way, you can install them in front of windows or other features, and simply tuck them away with the push of a button when not in use. Or go all out with an extra large fixed screen and projector in a dedicated space.

Featured Brand

Screen Innovations

Austin, Texas

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Screen Innovations offers all types of projectors and screens, and they even pair their app and remote systems with their shades. With a click, you can close their light canceling curtains over your windows, and turn on your screen and projector at the same time. They offer a variety of mounting systems, and incredibly high picture quality.

Home Theater Audio

Audio quality is just as important as picture quality. There are a variety of options, including surround sound, sound bars, loudspeakers, or subwoofers. Large theaters with multi-level seating benefit from surround sound speakers in ceiling, while smaller rooms could make do with sound bars.

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Ascend Acoustics

San Clemente, California

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Ascend Acoustics creates award-winning loudspeakers and subwoofers that represent sound as accurately as possible with deeper bass, improved dynamics, and lower distortion levels. They are also designed with aesthetics in mind. You can choose from paired towers or compact speakers in matte or glossy black or white, or faux wood colors to match with your interior paneling.

Home Theater Seating

People are picky about their seating, and everyone has their own preferences. Soft or firm? Low or high? Finding the right fit can make you start feeling like Goldilocks, but many companies offer customization. Make sure to keep in mind how many people will be hosted, their space preferences, and if you’ll need the theater to double for other entertaining needs.

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Salamander Designs

Bloomfield, Connecticut

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Salamander Designs creates a variety of theater seating including reclinable sectionals with built-in drink holders, classic theater seating with ergonomic high or medium-height backs, and a build-your-own option. You can choose from many colors of leather or a variety of fabrics for your upholstery.

Home Theater Lighting

Professional lighting makes the difference between a media room and a truly immersive theater experience. There are many options, including recessed dimmable lighting, LED strip lighting, wall sconces and other accent lights, and dramatic lighting features built into your theater’s ceiling as a centerpiece. Keep in mind function, drama, and convenience. Opt for automated lighting so you can change the color temperature, and dim or brighten the lights from the comfort of your seats.

Featured Brand

Advanced Home Audio

Shelton, Connecticut

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Local to Connecticut, New York, and South Florida

Advanced Home Audio specializes in lighting design and home automation. We loved this home theater design which transformed the ceiling into the night sky and highlighted the edges of the room and stairs with blue LED strips to contrast with the rich warmth of the carpet. Plan to use your lights as a core element of your aesthetic design.

Curtains and Drapes for Home Theaters

Heavy curtains and drapes provide the double benefit of noise-deadening and light-blocking, while adding an old Hollywood flair. Many heavy-duty curtains are automated so you can open and close them on their mounted track through an app or remote.

Featured Brand

Quiet Curtains

Escondido, California

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Quiet Curtains provides acoustic curtains which reverberation, echoes, and outside noise. The lining also acts as a blackout, and helps regulate temperature too. You can choose from linen, cotton, velvet, microfiber, faux suede, or faux satin in a wide range of colors, and high quality drape hardware.

Noise-Canceling and Sound Control for Home Theaters

There are a variety of way to improve the acoustics of a space, including plush carpet and drapes, and wall coverings like sound proof paint, wallpaper, and paneling. Incorporating these details will not only block exterior sound, but combine sound absorption, reflection, and diffusion to improve how the movie’s audio travels around the room.

Featured Brand

CinemaTech

Addison, Texas

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CinemaTech has created patented acoustic panels and diffusers that perform down to 100Hz at only 1.25″ thick, perfect for soundproofing a theater room. They incorporate the panels into your architectural design, using wood blocks, carvings, and premium wall fabrics to enhance both sound and luxury.

Home Theater Bar & Concessions

Snacks and drinks will complete the experience! From popcorn or soda makers and mini fridges, to a full on bar or a custom concession stand, there are options of all sizes to keep the family from having to run back to the kitchen during the peak of a movie or game.

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American Home Bar

Media, Pennsylvania

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American Home Bar creates bar areas of all shapes (straight, L-shaped, wraparound), sizes, and design styles. They’ll make custom pieces for unique spaces, and you can choose from various types of wood, metal, and more. Their bar tops and drink cabinets with colored LED inserts are a great option for maintaining low illumination in a theater.

Home Theater Design

If you’re a homeowner, and planning and assembling a home theater on your own sounds overwhelming, you can consult an expert who will design your space from the ground up, with all your needs in mind.

Pros, like builders and interior designers, also benefit from consulting experts to ensure the space is optimized for their client’s needs.

Featured Brand

Atlanta Home Theater

Roswell, Georgia

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Local to Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Home Theater incorporates lighting, audio, smart home systems, shades, and more when planning gorgeous home theaters. If you’re a designer yourself, check out their gallery for further inspiration!

P.S.

Let us know which of these tips or products will help you the most in a future client project — or in your home theater!

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