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5 Steps to Planning the Ultimate Home Theater

The perfect home theater combines high-tech audio and video capabilities with the sumptuous comfort of relaxation.

With the right set-up, watching movies at home in a comfy recliner is even more fun and enjoyable than going out. Here are four steps to help you plan the home theater of your dreams.

1. Get Inspired

Whether you’ve got a dedicated home theater, are building one, or are transforming a multi-functional space, your options are limited only by your imagination.

Get inspired by browsing magazines and websites to find the furniture styles that most appeal to you. Are you looking for a dramatic movie theater look, or a sleek, contemporary space, or a comfy retreat that matches the rest of your home?

2. Define your Space

Once you’ve got an idea of your style direction you can start planning the room. Create a basic drawing of its layout and its dimension on paper.

Note the location of doors, windows, and electrical outlets. These measurements will be invaluable as you locate your TV/screen and seating.

As you design your space, you’ll want to focus on both seating and the technical setup (audio/video) so they work in tandem.

3. Choose your Seating

Today’s home entertainment seating is as stylish as it is comfortable. Recliner models range from casual to contemporary and are designed to fit every home décor aesthetic. In addition to impressive styling and extreme comfort, you’ll also find a variety of innovative features.

Look for comfort features such as power operation of both seat recline and headrest. Ask about memory buttons that help you return to your favorite positions, and USB chargers to keep your devices ready for use. We have a selection of models that feature power headrests to provide complete head support in a full recline position.

Other options you’ll want to explore include: in-arm storage, LED cup holders with removable liners, ground lighting, and wireless bass shaker features. Some sofa models even have accessories available such as a fasten-on table, glass holder, tablet holder, and LED Flex Light.

4. Maximize the Viewing Experience

The technical aspects of your home theater will drive many of your decisions. If you’re not an A/V aficionado, hiring an expert or consulting a sales associate at your local retailer can save both time and money.

As you create your dream entertainment space, you’ll be choosing from an array of high-definition technology choices for both audio and video. Whether you choose a flat panel TV or a projection system, you can use the size of your viewing screen to determine your optimum viewing distance for seating placement.

For 1080 HD TVs and projectors:

Multiply the width of your screen by 1.5 and then divide by 12 to get the closest distance (in feet) you’d want to sit to it, and multiply it by 2.5 for the farthest away you want to be. For example, for a 60-inch-wide TV, you’d want to sit between 7.5 feet and 12.5 feet away. This formula works in reverse as well if you’ll be purchasing your TV after you have the room configured.

For 4K Ultra HD TVs and projectors:

To see 4K’s finer picture detail and depth, you can position your seating closer to the screen. For these video systems, multiply the width of your screen by 1 and then divide by 12 to get the closest distance (in feet) you’d want to sit to it, and multiply it by 1.5 for the farthest away you want to be. For example, for a 60-inch-wide 4K Ultra HD TV, you’d want to sit between 5 feet and 7.5 feet away. Keep in mind, the best media viewing height is where the center of the screen is at the viewer’s seated eye level.

5 . Sit Back and Enjoy

Now that you’ve designed a home theater that fits your home and lifestyle, there’s only one question left to ask: What movie should we watch tonight?

These tips are courtesy of Palliser, one of the nation’s top home furnishings brands. Browse our selection of Palliser home theater furniture today.