At DB Media Solutions, it’s our job to provide direction, recommendations on products, and of course excellent home theater services.

But as a homeowner in the Dallas, Texas area, it’s always a good idea to contemplate exactly what you want before making any big moves. When it comes to your home theater, you should consider themes, locations, décor and layout.

So why is it that a lot of home theater installers don’t do anything beyond just installing the equipment? We don’t take that approach.

Instead, we offer services that result in a home theater that is completely in line with your goals and personality, from start to finish.

Theme and Design Recommendations

Don’t overlook the overall design when working with an AV installer. We’ve done many home theater installations over the years, and we know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to design.

Bringing the movie-going experience to your own home means upping the immersion factors, and truly engaging with films on your screen.  But half the riveting atmosphere is due to clear, high-end audio enveloping you from all sides.  Along with a 4K Ultra HD screen, perfected surround is one of the many features that will considerably enhance your home theater system in your Dallas, TX space.  Read on below to learn more about these essential audio and video components.

Surround Sound

Where you place your speakers is a vital decision.  To create the ultimate surround sound system, setting multiple speakers around the room, depending on your theater’s size, will create the best sound and help the existing acoustics.  Install your seating in the “sweet triangle” precisely between the left and right speakers, so that nothing muffles the sound – and be sure to choose leather or another fabric that doesn’t absorb noise!

If you don’t want that many speakers messing with your home cinema’s theme or décor, there are plenty of hidden options available.  Whether concealed within the walls or hung from the ceiling, you can still maintain your design without the equipment taking up space in the room.

However, bookshelf speakers are a great option if you don’t mind the look of the components, and want to place them on top of cabinets, tables, and other furniture easily.  Perhaps your theme is a more traditional theater feel.  If so, standing speakers are sure to be the focal points of the room that will make your space look like a downtown commercial theater.

SEE ALSO: HOW TO DEAL WITH AMBIENT LIGHT IN YOUR HOME THEATER SYSTEM

To create a space that is perfect for movie or television enjoyment, you have to think carefully about every element—the projector, seats, acoustics, etc. Today, we’re going to discuss one of the most important aspects of a home theater system: the screen. To learn how to choose the best screen for the theater in your Colleyville, TX home, read on.

Step 1: Assess the Space

Your room will have a big impact on the type of screen you purchase. When looking at the space you’re going to convert into a home theater, there are several considerations to keep in mind:

• Shape: Most home theaters are rectangular for a reason. A long, deep room provides better viewing angles and a longer throw distance for your projector, which in turn allows you to have a larger screen. If your theater is shaped like a square, it will likely impact how large of a screen you can fit into the room while still giving the audience a comfortable view.
• Size: The larger the theater, the more space there is for seating and a bigger screen. Keep in mind that just because you have a certain amount of space on one wall doesn’t mean that you can buy a screen exactly that large. Depending on the room, you may need to put A/V equipment on either side of the projector, plus you don’t want a screen that is so big that the movie-watchers have to crane their necks from side to side.
• Lighting: Screen manufacturers now provide different materials that are designed to optimize visual quality based on how much light is in the room. For traditional movie theaters without any windows, your best bet is to go with a white screen, but if you do have ambient light in the room, you should consider a gray screen. Darker screens will block out light that isn’t coming from the projector so that you don’t have a washed out image.

SEE MORE: 5 Design Tips for Your Home Theater System

Step 2: Decide on Style

When it comes to screen styles, you’ve got two main options. First, choose whether you want a screen that is fixed in place at all times or one that retracts into the ceiling when not in use. With traditional home theaters, most homeowners opt for fixed placement, but if your theater is more of a media room with multiple purposes, a retractable style is worth considering.

The second choice you need to make is the frame style. You can get a regular, flat frame, or you can install a curved frame. Just like curved TVs, curved frames may provide a better viewing angle and help dispel ambient light. However, you’re not likely to find a retractable curved frame, and if you have a lot of theater seats, the curved style might impact visual quality for the fringe seats.

If you’re considering designed a home theater system for your Southlake, Texas home, we have a question for you: how do you plan on making it unique? You don’t have to settle for a cookie-cutter home theater design. Instead, you can make your space as personalized and fitted to your needs as you’d like. Of course, to achieve that custom theater look, there are a few design tips you should keep in mind, and you can read about them below.

SEE MORE: How Can You Upgrade Your Home Theater System?

Choose a Theme

If you have a hobby, movie, or location that’s important to you, why not use that as a theme for your home theater system’s décor? Choosing a theme, whether it’s your favorite sports team or a binge-worthy television show, makes it much easier to create a cohesive design for your theater.  

Use Every Space

Yes, it’s easy to plan out the screen and the seating, but what about the ceiling? A popular design choice for home theater systems is to recreate the night sky above you. Twinkling lights provide ambiance to the space without causing too much extra light on your movie screen. Tie in the carpet pattern and lighting sconces into your chosen décor theme, and you’ll have a truly immersive theater experience.

Hide Your Speakers

A blatantly obvious speaker can break through the immersive décor scheme in your home theater, so avoid the clutter of devices entirely by hiding them behind the screen. In order to do this properly, you need the right type of screen—an acoustically transparent fabric that allows the speakers to transfer high-end audio without any loss of quality.