Most of us would love to have a dedicated home theater room. A place to call our own when we want to hunker down for the night with a bowl of popcorn, a nice plush leather seat and this week’s latest blockbuster. However, for some of us that’s just not possible – we have to use our home theater space for other purposes when we’re not in movie-mode.

If you’ve found that your house is short on space, or you just want to convert your home theater/family room into a more versatile area, read on. Being economical with your space doesn’t mean that you have to give up any of that great audio or video you’d expect from a dedicated home theater, nor does it mean that you have to give up the stylish elements like a custom frame from HD Envy. It just means you’re going to have to get a little creative.

The most common alter-ego of a home theater is a games room. This usage is pretty consistent with the ethos of a home theater. It requires some additional equipment and media, but most of the hardware, like your flat screen TV and your surround sound system, are left intact – but you can get a flat screen TV for the gamer if you want to upgrade. For a games room, you will need a gaming console, some games, and any of those little extras like special controllers needed to play the game. That’s the basics. From there, you can add a great lounge chair for leaning back and enjoying a few hours of immersing yourself in an interactive world, and you can set up your audio and video to perform better based on the requirements of the game.

So what about something not as simple? Some people use their home theater as a business presentation location. Especially for small business owners, this room is great because it has the multi-media aspect, but it also has the professionalism that one would expect from such a meeting. For this purpose, you might need a large conference table and some additional seating. You can buy stackable chairs and a folding table, if this is just going to be an occasional event. You can also set up your computer, such as your Mac Mini, to connect to your home theater devices and play your Power Point presentations with the click of a mouse.

Other, less common conversions of home theaters include adding a stage for children’s plays, adding some tables and chairs to throw a CD release party, or screening a photo slideshow. The sky’s the limit if you want to convert your home theater for other uses, especially those that use audio/video.

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.

A home theater should reflect a part of you: your creativity, love of movies, music obsession, inner interior decorator. Whatever part of yourself you want reflected in your home theater, the Traditional TV Frame from HD Envy can be incorporated as a finishing touch. By framing your flat screen TV in this simple and elegant frame, you will create a unique look that can be customized to highlight your entire room.

The Traditional TV Frame is constructed from solid wood and stained in your choice of eleven sophisticated and tasteful colors. By using only top-quality wood and industry guidelines in its construction, this flat panel TV frame will be a durable addition to your home theater that is able to easily mount to any make or model HDTV.

Because you get to choose the stain, ranging from brushed aluminum to colonial maple to Sedona red and many more, you can have the TV frame blend in or stand out from your décor and be as vivid or as subdued as you like. This TV wall frame looks best when coupled with more traditional décor, as it will reflect the timeless beauty of its surroundings.

The Traditional TV Frame is the most popular frame from HD Envy. It uses simple but detailed lines and superior construction, and has quickly become a favorite for those who invest time and energy into making their home theaters look top-notch. The detailed black lacquer on the inside grooves increases this frame’s appeal, as it draws the eye to the TV and surrounds it with a firm but subtle outline. And the satin gloss finish is enough to keep the eye lingering on the beauty of the TV frame itself.

HD Envy constructs all of its frames with care. Each flat panel TV frame from HD Envy is backed by years of construction and design experience. The Traditional TV Frame itself is the flagship model, the pride of HD Envy and the frame that can change your home theater from ho-hum to dazzling in a matter of minutes.

You can order the Traditional TV Frame in sizes ranging from 30-inches to 60-inches directly from HD Envy’s website, or you can purchase the frame at select Best Buy locations.

It is all well and good to have the latest devices in your home theater: that massive LCD HDTV, a surround sound system, theater seating and great lighting. But what makes your home theater your own are the little things, the details, the finishing touches on a room that will make your guests go “oooooh…aaahhhh…” and then hush when the movie starts. You can design your home theater on your own, consult magazines and online design ideas, or hire a designer to create your entertainment space. However you approach it, there are certain guidelines that will ensure that your home theater has all the personality you want to give it.

A rule of thumb when designing your home theater is to plan ahead. You don’t have to get all the details down right away, and of course there is plenty of room for experimentation and changing your mind with your design. But you should have a general idea of where cabinets, speakers, ventilation and lighting are going to be placed before you being construction. As construction goes on, you will want to bring in more and more details. For instance, are you going to have in-ceiling lighting or sconce? You do not necessarily have to pick out the exact lighting fixtures right away, but you should have an idea of where and what category of lighting you are going to incorporate so that you can get the wiring done in the construction phase.

Once the room has all of the major elements in place (or at least it has been sectioned off for future incorporation of these elements), you can begin to think about the specifics. One of the first things people turn to at this point is the color scheme. You want the walls and ceilings to match the carpet and the chairs to blend in with the accents, right? The colors you choose can create a sophisticated theater experience, or a fun playroom feel. Whatever design you are going for, color will play a major part. One important thing to keep in mind when splashing your home theater with color is to keep visual enjoyment of the movie or TV show in the forefront of your mind. Bright colors and lights surrounding the actual TV can look stunning when nothing is playing, but it can greatly distract from the image on screen. Most home theater experts will tell you that a neutral grey should directly surround the screen in order to get the most out of your viewing experience. You can frame this with any color or style you like, but it is something to keep in mind when you are at this stage of designing your home theater.

Acoustic panels can be a great touch to not only fill out the sound in your room, but to enhance the design as well. They are thin acoustic fiberglass panels that are wrapped in acoustically transparent fabric, and you can customize these in nearly limitless possibilities. You can have red, blue, checkered, or zig-zag patterns, and some companies will even print an image of your choice on the fabric. You can make acoustic panels appear as windows to a Roman coliseum or as aquarium glass with swimming fish behind it.

Your home theater should reflect you, in everything from the seating to the lighting, from the color to the size of the room. You want to be surrounded by an atmosphere that is unique and appealing, and one that enhances your visual and audio experience. By paying attention to the details, your home theater will become a piece of art unto itself, and your next movie will be one to remember.

Lauren is a writer for the HD Envy blog. HD Envy works tirelessly to produce the latest LCD TV wall frame styles for you. The design experts have created a variety of LCD TV wall frame solutions in wood, leather and other materials, or you can custom create your own LCD TV wall frame to match your current home theater décor. The LCD TV wall frame solutions from HD Envy are built to last and built on years of engineering expertise to allow for easy installation. Their designs are inspired by some of the top casinos, hotels and corporate locations in the world that are equipped with LCD TV wall frame products, so you know you are getting only the best quality with HD Envy.

While it isn’t always easy (or even financially possible) to change our décor as interior styles come and go, it’s nice to know the trends. The top color picks of the season can be incorporated into your home theater as a few accent pieces, as a total revamp, or as your foundation if you are just starting out. Whatever your situation, we’ve got you covered: here are the three top color trends of 2009, as defined by the Pantone Color Institute and the Color Marketing Group, two of the design industry’s color experts.

Blues and greens are going to stay strong, but compared to the previous years, which saw vibrant and lively tones, this year they will be more muted. Some experts believe that they will go so far as to become earthy and natural tones, to align themselves with the eco-movement that is happening even in our home theaters. Whether it is to match that EnergyStar seal of approval on your HDTV or not, prepare for some mixtures of grey- and darker blue-based tones in with that sky blue and grass green from last year.

Speaking of greys, that’s the next color on trend-watch. You’ve no doubt got some stainless steel appliances in your kitchen, right? Well this year the grey is moving to the walls and accent pieces. Grey is a good choice if you want to go neutral, but don’t want to fall back on the over-used creams and beiges that plague many an interior. There are many types of grey: blue-toned, green-toned, smoky. Grey goes well with many colors, so it is a great starting point for creating a unique room that retains its versatility.

And the third color trend is one that will definitely stand out among all the greys and muted blues and greens: vibrant, lively purple. Although lilac and lavender have been favorites for interior accents in years past, they are now getting illuminated, brightened up, and put in the spotlight. Purple is a rich color, whatever the variety. You could go with plumb or with raspberry, grape or blackberry and it will be a delicious addition to any room this season. Because purple is associated with posh and royalty, many people are turning to it to give their rooms a little more character.

So what should you take away from this overview of this year’s hottest interior trends? Well, they can be great jump-off points for inspiration. Looking at color combinations and design ideas can really get your imagination rolling, and can bring out the creative decorator inside all of us. In the end, remember that your home should be a reflection of you, and does not have to look like it’s straight out of a magazine. Be as creative or as conservative as you like. Express yourself and find the design and the color that makes you feel most at home, because after all, it is your home.

Lauren is a contributing author to the HD Envy blog. HD Envy is a custom TV frame manufacturer that is dedicated to bringing you stylish, high-quality and easy-to-install frames for your home theater. Your LCD or plasma TV will look stunning in a custom TV frame that is designed to fit with your color-scheme. Any palette can be complimented, any stain can be matched. The professionals at HD Envy will work with you to create a custom TV frame that suits your needs. Whether you want a custom TV frame for your living room, your home theater, your office or your home bar, HD Envy will create the perfect framing solution for you.

There are many different considerations when you make the choice to frame a flat screen TV, not the least of which is the type of wood used for the frame itself. Although you might be tempted to just dive in and let your gut instincts guide you, choosing one based on how it looks alone, you should know some basics about wood stains and wood species to ensure you get the longest lasting, most compatible TV picture frame for your needs.

The type of wood you choose for your frame depends on your current décor and your needs, but keep in mind that a frame is meant to last the life of your TV – so you should avoid plywood or any cheap composite wood. You want to opt for the premium grain, such as ash, oak, walnut, cherry or mahogany.

HD Envy offers a custom design experience where you can choose the type of base wood and the stain to give it its color. The combination of wood type and stain is important, and rather than creating a DIY project that will end in a headache, talk to the professionals at HD Envy to ensure that your combination will look appropriate.

Talking about stains, there are several types to choose from. You can have a wedgewood blue on ash stain for a deep sea feel, or a clear stain on maple for a lighter, airy feel. Your color options are almost unlimited, and the type of stain depends only on your décor and the advice of your framing specialist.

At HD Envy, the option to customize and frame a flat screen TV is by far the best choice if you are looking to perfectly match your new frame to your current décor. The framing experts will work with you to produce a stain that matched other stained wood in your home theater, that compliments your walls or that brings out a certain accent color.

It is important to take good care of the fine wood that you choose for your frame. You don’t want to see the stain fade and the wood chip over time. There are many wood care kits on the market, so all you need to know is the type of wood in your LCD TV frame and you can go to your local hardware store to get what you need. And remember: HD Envy uses MinWax Wood Finish to stain all of their frames, which is known for its long-lasting, deep color that won’t fade with time.

If you’ve decided to frame a flat screen TV, you’ll want to know your stain and wood options well ahead to decide whether you want a custom frame or a pre-made frame. At HD Envy, you can choose from several stains, including: Sedona Red; Provincial; Old World Mahogany; English Chestnut; Colonial Maple; and Ebony. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for in that bunch, the framing experts are always there to color match any stain you prefer.

Lauren Dugan is a contributor to the HD Envy blog. HD Envy specializes in giving you all the tools and expert craftsmanship you need to frame a flat screen TV. The wide variety of options, including the ability to custom frame a flat screen TV, is what sets HD Envy apart from the competition.