Whether you’re looking for that sophisticated, polished look, or you just want to create a home theater that is unified in style, there are some guidelines that you must keep in mind when doing things yourself. The DIY approach is popular with home theater enthusiasts because it gives you complete customization and control over the outcome. So if you’re ready to get your hands a bit dirty, grab your tools, home theater equipment and your imagination, and read on.
The level of hands-on depth you want to embrace while putting together your home theater is completely up to you. Some people prefer to conceptually design the layout and get a professional to do the actual installations and setup. Others take on small tasks themselves: you might decide that mounting your flat panel display is something you can handle, or maybe you want to play with your home theater speaker layout yourself to find that “sweet spot”. If you decide that a whole-room renovation is up your alley, or just a few adjustments, read on for some home theater installation tips and tricks to get you through the rough patches of DIY home theater construction.
Planning is key. Plan out you whole vision before you even pick up a screwdriver. Gather your devices and store them safely before you begin – you don’t want to be halfway through and realize you didn’t leave room for your gaming console or your AV receiver. And planning goes beyond just the handy-man attitude: you should plan out the decor, from the color of the trim to the style and size of seating, in advance as well. This is a “whole-vision” project, and you want to see results that are smooth and coherent.
Something that often gets lost in the shuffle of a home theater installation are the cables and cords. In order to save yourself time and money, thoroughly check your devices and gather the cables they need before you begin your project. Need the latest HDMI 1.4 for your home theater? Get it sooner rather than later. By ordering these cables in advance online, you’ll save yourself the trip, and the expense, of picking them up at inflated prices at the local hardware store.
Check your room for power outlets. Try to place your main equipment near these outlets, or, if your layout doesn’t permit this, be sure to purchase extra-long power cords.
Lighting is as important as the placement of your devices, when all is said and done. If you have your AV rack nicely nestled in a merlot-stained cabinet to bring out the beauty of your Classical TV Frame from HD Envy, that’s great. But if you can’t tell the Blu-Ray player from the PS3, you’re going to run into problems. Many people choose to install wall sconces or ceiling lighting to brighten the whole room, and add dimmer functions for those nights that they want a little romantic lighting. Be sure to sketch in your lighting placement and wires before you begin your DIY project.
By planning everything, writing down directions or sketching out visuals, you will save yourself potentially expensive and time-consuming reworking. You don’t want to have to spend hours fixing the placement of your speakers because you didn’t leave enough room for your soundbar, or be faced with the prospect of constant reshuffling until everything haphazardly fits. A home theater DIY installation can be a satisfying and rewarding experience, but without the planning stage you might end up with more of a mess than when you began.
Tags: audio/video, Design, Home Theater, Install, Layout
