Bring Hollywood Home With These Cinematic Solutions
Home cinema solutions for every preference, what kit you need and how to set it all up
Malcolm Stewart
21 February 2015
For anyone passionate about sound and vision, there’s no limit to what can be achieved with home automation, especially when it comes to the realm of the home cinema. Technology has never been better, which means you can actually exceed the audiovisual quality on offer at your local cinema in your very own home.
However, for those who are more design orientated than tech savvy, it can be difficult to make an informed decision on how to go about achieving the best possible home cinema experience for your family. Before you start counting decibels and lumens, it’s essential to get a clear vision of how, and how often, you’ll be using your cinema. Whether you want to host the perfect film night, entertain after a dinner party, or simply keep the kids quiet for a few hours on a rainy afternoon, there’s a home cinema solution out there to suit your needs. Here are 10 suggestions for bringing Hollywood magic into your home.
However, for those who are more design orientated than tech savvy, it can be difficult to make an informed decision on how to go about achieving the best possible home cinema experience for your family. Before you start counting decibels and lumens, it’s essential to get a clear vision of how, and how often, you’ll be using your cinema. Whether you want to host the perfect film night, entertain after a dinner party, or simply keep the kids quiet for a few hours on a rainy afternoon, there’s a home cinema solution out there to suit your needs. Here are 10 suggestions for bringing Hollywood magic into your home.
Designate a room
For those with the space to spare, nothing beats having a separate cinema room in your own home. It’s a sure-fire way to make any film night you host unforgettable. Be warned, though: your guests will be so impressed, you might have a hard time convincing them to leave!
For those with the space to spare, nothing beats having a separate cinema room in your own home. It’s a sure-fire way to make any film night you host unforgettable. Be warned, though: your guests will be so impressed, you might have a hard time convincing them to leave!
Integrate it into your living room
Most people don’t quite have the space for a designated home cinema room, but integrating similar features into a living room can create a comparable cinematic experience. You will need to be extra careful in order to avoid compromising the existing style of your space, though.
Consider having your screen mounted on the wall, instead of perched on top of a cabinet. This way, the screen is less obvious and the space can be used as you would a typical living room, with the option of enjoying a superior home cinema experience when you have a film to watch.
Most people don’t quite have the space for a designated home cinema room, but integrating similar features into a living room can create a comparable cinematic experience. You will need to be extra careful in order to avoid compromising the existing style of your space, though.
Consider having your screen mounted on the wall, instead of perched on top of a cabinet. This way, the screen is less obvious and the space can be used as you would a typical living room, with the option of enjoying a superior home cinema experience when you have a film to watch.
Make it 7.1 surround sound
The latest in surround-sound technology requires eight separate audio channels to truly immerse viewers in the film. But it can be difficult to decide whether you should try to disguise the speakers or make them a feature of the room.
Plenty of speaker manufacturers make devices that both sound good and look beautiful. Timber panelling offers a great combination of acoustics and aesthetics. Remember to check the wiring options when looking to make a purchase – no matter how good the speakers look, a tangle of cables is always a turn-off.
The latest in surround-sound technology requires eight separate audio channels to truly immerse viewers in the film. But it can be difficult to decide whether you should try to disguise the speakers or make them a feature of the room.
Plenty of speaker manufacturers make devices that both sound good and look beautiful. Timber panelling offers a great combination of acoustics and aesthetics. Remember to check the wiring options when looking to make a purchase – no matter how good the speakers look, a tangle of cables is always a turn-off.
Put speakers in the ceiling
You can have an entire sound system completely hidden from view with ceiling-integrated speakers. This is an excellent way to achieve both high-fidelity audio and free up space in your home to get creative with your design.
When it’s time to watch a film, speakers integrated into the ceiling make the viewer feel as though they are right in the middle of the action – perfect for a nail-biting thriller or spellbinding fantasy flick.
You can have an entire sound system completely hidden from view with ceiling-integrated speakers. This is an excellent way to achieve both high-fidelity audio and free up space in your home to get creative with your design.
When it’s time to watch a film, speakers integrated into the ceiling make the viewer feel as though they are right in the middle of the action – perfect for a nail-biting thriller or spellbinding fantasy flick.
Integrate your lighting
Home automation can help replicate that real cinema experience by adding those special touches, such as lights that automatically dim when the film begins, or LED step lighting that comes on when the film is paused for a bathroom break.
Lights and film have always gone hand-in-hand – a smart host, like a smart director, should use lighting to create the perfect atmosphere for a film.
Home automation can help replicate that real cinema experience by adding those special touches, such as lights that automatically dim when the film begins, or LED step lighting that comes on when the film is paused for a bathroom break.
Lights and film have always gone hand-in-hand – a smart host, like a smart director, should use lighting to create the perfect atmosphere for a film.
Sort your seating
What good is a home cinema without cinema-quality seating? With a home control system and D-BOX technology, you can have your seating rumble and vibrate in time with the action up on the big screen!
Another option to consider, especially if the room will be used by children, is soundproofing. Not only does this mean you can turn up the volume, it also ensures the little ones’ shouts of excitement won’t be heard by the adults next door.
What good is a home cinema without cinema-quality seating? With a home control system and D-BOX technology, you can have your seating rumble and vibrate in time with the action up on the big screen!
Another option to consider, especially if the room will be used by children, is soundproofing. Not only does this mean you can turn up the volume, it also ensures the little ones’ shouts of excitement won’t be heard by the adults next door.
Hide away your projector
Another way to have the technology of our dreams without compromising on style is by using a motorised projector lift. It’s even possible to activate the lift from an app on your smartphone.
A projector can be concealed in the ceiling or in a tabletop. Then, whenever you want to watch a film, your living room or kitchen can be transformed into your own private cinema.
When looking for a motorised projector lift, having a device that works quietly is essential. The experience isn’t quite so magical if the motor is too loud or the hinges squeak!
Another way to have the technology of our dreams without compromising on style is by using a motorised projector lift. It’s even possible to activate the lift from an app on your smartphone.
A projector can be concealed in the ceiling or in a tabletop. Then, whenever you want to watch a film, your living room or kitchen can be transformed into your own private cinema.
When looking for a motorised projector lift, having a device that works quietly is essential. The experience isn’t quite so magical if the motor is too loud or the hinges squeak!
Keep the screen hidden, too
It’s not only the projector that can be concealed, but the screen itself. With a motorised projector lift, some ceiling-integrated speakers and a drop-down projector screen, the transition from living room to home cinema can be as smooth as it is impressive. The space freed up while the screen isn’t in use can be used to display artwork or any other more aesthetically pleasing pieces.
It’s not only the projector that can be concealed, but the screen itself. With a motorised projector lift, some ceiling-integrated speakers and a drop-down projector screen, the transition from living room to home cinema can be as smooth as it is impressive. The space freed up while the screen isn’t in use can be used to display artwork or any other more aesthetically pleasing pieces.
Tuck away your TV
While a drop-down projector screen is great, it doesn’t get much more impressive than an entire drop-down TV. No matter the weight or the angle, an experienced professional can mount a television wherever you want it.
This is another option for those who want to make a seamless transition between dinner party and film night. When the after-dinner conversation reaches a natural lull, you can adjourn to the living room and relax with the latest Hollywood hit or cult classic.
While a drop-down projector screen is great, it doesn’t get much more impressive than an entire drop-down TV. No matter the weight or the angle, an experienced professional can mount a television wherever you want it.
This is another option for those who want to make a seamless transition between dinner party and film night. When the after-dinner conversation reaches a natural lull, you can adjourn to the living room and relax with the latest Hollywood hit or cult classic.
Link multiple screens
If you have multiple TV screens in your home, then it’s likely you’ll want to have access to the same channels, content and films on each screen. Traditionally, this required multiple (and messy) set-top boxes and complicated subscriptions, but now centralised TV distribution offers a more elegant solution. It allows you to store all of your television sources and subscriptions in a separate AV rack. The content can then be sent directly to any screen in your home in high definition.
TELL US
Which of these home cinema features most appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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If you have multiple TV screens in your home, then it’s likely you’ll want to have access to the same channels, content and films on each screen. Traditionally, this required multiple (and messy) set-top boxes and complicated subscriptions, but now centralised TV distribution offers a more elegant solution. It allows you to store all of your television sources and subscriptions in a separate AV rack. The content can then be sent directly to any screen in your home in high definition.
TELL US
Which of these home cinema features most appeals to you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Abracadabra! Introducing the Great Disappearing TV Act
Celebrate Your Telly in Style
A Night at the Movies: 10 Epic Outdoor Cinema Ideas
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Heres a media room we recently installed. We used KEF recessed speakers in the ceiling to create a 7.1 system, allowing the home owner to maximize space. a custom built in unit houses the av equipment (receiver, cable box, DVD etc), a URC control system allows the home owner to control the hidden equipment, HVAC, and lighting with either a remote or tablet. I would have like to haven seen a control system added to the list. Control systems simplify the use of the space and maximize enjoyment for the family
Every three months we re-visit the Home Cinema space to ensure that we always offer the best value for money solutions for our Clients. We believe, this quarter is probably the most significant period in the past decade for large screen entertainment. 4K Projectors have really come of age, as has "better than cinema quality sound". Now has never been a better time to invest in Home Cinema given the recent cost reductions and technology improvements.
Our "Bespoke Luxury Cinema" Division removes all the hassle of creating your dream Cinema Room, whilst also addressing acoustic treatment and soundproofing. Most importantly, we will customise the look of the room and seating to YOUR specific requirements, so that it is a room that you will absolutely LOVE and ENJOY sitting in with your friends, for many hours, in complete comfort.
Our complete Home Cinema Room solutions range from £35,000 to £500,000 - "just give us the walls and we will do the rest".
The Pleasure Home
Create a cinema atmosphere with TV backlight system - AmbiVision PRO.
It is an affordable system which can be installed on every TV. More info on the website: https://ambivision.tv/