Neha Chowdhry tells you how to design your home theatre space.
While the ultimate decision as to how your home theatre system fits into the design of your own home is a personal one, here are some tips to help you along:
- Consider the options of a room exclusively devoted to your home theatre verses a space in your home that can double up as a living as well as an entertainment area. This will help you visualize the design aesthetic you want to create
- To get the best sound quality possible, always opt for rectangular spaces instead of square or circular spaces in your home
- To get the best acoustic effect, avoid setting up your home theatre in rooms that have a lot of pillars, beams and windows
- The room should ideally be at least 18 by 12 feet, with ceilings that are 9 feet high
- Get a sound engineer to calculate the ideal acoustic parameters for the room you choose
- Avoid hard surfaces like POP false ceilings, large glass doors or windows that reflect sound
- For better sound quality, walls, ceilings and floors can be made soundproof by treating them acoustically with special fabrics and acoustic panels
- While the varieties of sound systems available in the market are endless, you should ensure that you meet your personal requirements
- Analog systems should be bought by those who wish to listen purely to music, while surround sound is the choice for those who want a comprehensive movie experience
- Placement of speakers are very important — for example, surround sound speakers should always be placed behind your head
- Apart from choosing the best technology available within your budget, it is important to take design into account
- Surface textures, the kind of lighting you want in the room, the placement of the screen, speakers and seating arrangements should all be taken into careful consideration
- When it comes to the arrangement of the seats, it is important that every seat in the house has a clear view of the screen
(With technical inputs from Mukta Izadar, Director Business Affairs, HKMT Acoustic Designs)
