Basement Home Cinema
If you love nothing more than watching a movie on the big screen as you dive into a huge box of popcorn, a home cinema could be the dream addition to your home. Converting a basement into a place where you can relax and unwind with your favourite film is truly special. So let’s find out more about basement home cinema conversions and what might work for you.
Why is a basement the perfect room for a home cinema?
A basement is a natural choice for a home cinema. This is because it’s separate from the rest of the house and is likely to be naturally dark. With a few tweaks such as blackout curtains where necessary and dark paint on the walls, you can create a space that can be enjoyed by the whole family. From early morning TV for the kids to late night movie sessions with friends, an underused basement can suddenly become a lively hub of activity.
How to turn your basement into a movie theatre
As you’d expect, a basement conversion requires plenty of thought or planning. So here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out.
- Get Building Regulations approval
The good news is you probably won’t need planning permission unless you plan to add doors and windows, or change the footprint of your basement in any way. Cellar conversions, however, may require Building Regulations approval. These regulations ensure a building is safe, hygienic and efficient. Regulations for a basement renovation include details of ventilation, sufficient fire escape methods, wiring, ceiling height guidelines and waterproofing. Renovating a basement that’s already habitable is excluded from Building Regulations.
- Contact a home cinema specialist
Once you’ve got the green light and everything is safe, contact a home cinema specialist to help make your dreams a reality. Expert installers will talk you through 4K video projection and will help you find the best projection screen for your space. They’ll also guide you towards the correct audio setup, introducing speakers at different levels to deliver the very best surround sound. From guns in the distance to planes flying overhead, your cinema experience should be as realistic as possible.
Lighting is also a huge consideration. Do you want strip lighting in stairways or dimmer switches? Perhaps you want twinkling lights in the ceiling that look like stars. Whatever the case, home cinema installers can help.
- Consider Room Acoustics
Home cinema installation is somewhat technical, so it’s best to look for installers with an advanced portfolio who know what they’re doing. One of the biggest considerations for a basement cinema is acoustics. Basements often feature hard concrete surfaces which bounce sound around, interfering with the audio experience. Specialist installers will recommend room treatments to help manage travelling sound. From absorption panels to diffusions, bass traps and sound installation, there are many options.
If you’re interested in home cinema installation and have a basement that can be renovated, contact New Wave AV today. Our expert installers work across Kent, Surrey, Essex, London and Sussex and will help make your dreams a reality.
