Bespoke Home Cinema
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on how we as a society live, work, and choose to spend our free time. Not so long ago a home cinema was a rarity that only the super-rich could afford. Today, this entertainment space increasingly appears on the wishlist of homeowners who want to enjoy the benefits of a commercial cinema without experiencing any of the drawbacks. Not only that, they want a design that suits the aesthetic of their homes and delivers the ultimate in relaxation.
The marketplace has evolved to meet the increasing demand for home cinema technology, with a greater variety of options available. Ultra short throw projectors have brought high-quality visuals into smaller spaces, while Dolby Atmos has become accessible for private as well as commercial customers. Now more than ever, a premium viewing experience is achievable and affordable, making a home cinema more of a luxury essential than an almost unreachable aspiration.
The appeal of a bespoke home cinema
A bespoke home cinema is an appealing proposition for many reasons. Not only does it provide an exceptional audio-visual experience that presents content in high definition as the director intended, it is also tailored to your exact space. Everything from the location of the projector and the calibration of the sound system to the seating and decor are designed to perfectly suit your chosen space, whether it’s a loft, basement or garage conversion, or another room in your house. The equipment can even be linked to a smart home automation system such as Control4, offering further benefits.
Not only that, the design is also customised to your requirements. Whether you need to accommodate three people on a comfy sofa or eight people in state-of-the-art seats; whether you want your setup to facilitate gaming; or whether you need certain accessibility features, every detail is personalised to suit you.
All this is accessible without the drawbacks of visiting a commercial cinema. Distractions such as the light of phone screens or popcorn munching are reduced, there’s no-one in the row behind having a not-so-quiet conversation, and if you need to grab snacks or use the bathroom you can simply hit ‘pause’ so you don’t miss a crucial part of the plot.
Technological advancements: making the home cinema an essential
As we mentioned above, technological advancements have been key to making the home cinema a luxury must-have for homeowners. Brands such as Sony have developed projectors specifically for home cinema use, delivering native 4K resolution images with crisp, sharp pixels and impressive brightness for a fully immersive experience – even if you can’t totally block out all the natural light in the room. Equally, short throw and ultra short throw projectors ensure that even the smallest spaces can be transformed into a custom home theatre.
Meanwhile, speaker systems such as Artcoustic are optimised for Dolby Atmos applications, creating a richer, more nuanced experience. In the past, such systems would have required large, intrusive speakers to be placed on the walls or floor; today they can be set into the walls or ceiling, colour matched to your decor or even disguised as artworks.
For those who require a media room – a space that serves multiple purposes from playing with the kids and entertaining guests to providing an immersive setting for movie nights – motorised technology has made clean, clutter-free design and seamless transition easy. Brands like Future Automation offer bespoke motorised furniture, enabling you to hide screens, projectors, speakers and more when they’re not in use. This offers the chance to create a home cinema when you need it without any impact on your day-to-day spatial requirements.
In addition to home cinema specific technologies, the rise of home automation systems has facilitated a more personalised experience. Audio-visual equipment, lighting, temperature and more can be automated, enabling you to enjoy content in an environment that’s tailored for your optimum comfort. Systems such as Control4 also enable you to control other areas of your home from your cinema, locking doors, activating security devices and more.
Aesthetic considerations: your tailored home cinema design
There are certain elements that are necessary for a luxury home cinema. Aside from the audio-visual equipment, it’s likely your space will need some acoustic treatment to help optimise the soundscape. The beauty of your own tailored space is that this can be incorporated into the overall aesthetic, complementing the colours and textures you choose for your decor.
Depending on the requirements for your space, your home cinema experts can recommend products that will add interest to your room and match its colours while absorbing and diffusing soundwaves. This results in a bespoke, cohesive design that delivers not only a high-quality experience, but aesthetics that match your preferences and the overall style of your home.
The decor itself is a personal choice too. You may want a feel that matches the rest of your home, or you may decide you want to step into another world each time you sit down to watch a film. Your home cinema design can be as creative or minimalist as you like. From a starscape ceiling, minimalist walls and blue plush upholstery to retro uplighters, gold accents, red velvet chairs and a shelf of movie collectables, you can work with your installers to bring your perfect space to life.
The installation process: bringing your dream to life
Close collaboration with professionals is part of what makes a home cinema a luxury essential. From the initial consultation through to the finished space and beyond, you and your home cinema experts can create a bespoke viewing environment from the ground up.
The initial consultation will include an assessment of the room you have chosen, as well as discussions about your budget, requirements and preferences. With New Wave AV, you will also be invited to one of our showrooms – based in Kent and Surrey – to interact with the technologies yourself and discover the extent of the possibilities for your space.
Designs are then presented, which you can offer feedback on. You’ll be able to specify everything from the audio-visual equipment to the seating, lighting and flooring. Once you’re happy with your chosen design, it’s simply a matter of booking a date for your home cinema installation and allowing the professionals to do the job. Installation may take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on whether structural work needs to be completed, and how complex the project is. Your installers will give you a clear estimate of times and costs prior to your approval of the design.
Once installation is complete, you’ll be walked through all the technologies so you know exactly how to use them. You’ll also have access to any ongoing support that you need – and should you require upgrades in the future, the team can install them at your convenience.
The cost of luxury: how much is a home cinema?
If you’re wondering how much a home cinema is likely to cost, the answer is ‘it depends’. A wide range of factors influence the final outlay for the project, including the size of your space; your chosen audio-visual equipment, acoustic treatments, seating, lighting and flooring; and whether any structural work or home automation setup is required. You can check out our blog post on the cost of a home cinema for a more detailed breakdown.
While investment in a home cinema is significant, there are numerous benefits to engaging professionals for the job. You can be sure, for example, that your equipment will be properly and safely installed, and that it will work as you expect. The project will take less time than attempting a DIY installation, and you have the advantage of ongoing support for troubleshooting, upgrades and more. Not only that, a home cinema can increase the value of your property and make it more attractive to potential buyers.
Why choose New Wave AV for your home cinema installation?
Founded in 2003, New Wave AV is an award-winning specialist in the design and installation of luxury home cinemas. Over the past two decades we have undertaken over 100 projects of varying complexity across the South East, delivering customised spaces that meet the highest of standards. We have been a proud member of CEDIA since 2014 and also have strong relationships with industry-leading brands including Control4, Lutron and Artcoustic.
View our portfolio for home cinema inspiration, or contact us today to book a private consultation at one of our showrooms. We look forward to making your dream a reality.
