Home cinema features
When we think of home cinema features, we immediately picture the audio-visual setup: a large screen with a high resolution image projected onto it and surround sound that enables us to hear the movement of audio around us, from cars driving past to aeroplanes flying overhead. But while the AV technology is an important part of your home cinema setup, the rest of the room shouldn’t be overlooked. Lighting and environment play key roles in your enjoyment of a movie or TV show and should always be given consideration. Here, we explore how the typical features of home cinema design impact your experience.
Lighting
Home cinema rooms work best in spaces with little to no natural light, so the lighting you choose for your setup is important. Not only will it enhance the ambience of your space, it can also serve a practical purpose, lighting any stairs, walkways or furniture in the room. A wide range of options means you can tailor your lighting to suit your needs and the vibe you want to create. For example:
- Wall mounted uplighters are great for a retro-style home cinema
- Spotlights work well for a more modern design
- LED strips provide subtler light and also work well for marking stairs or walkways
- Starscapes using fibre optics create a luxurious, magical feel
You may also choose to have soft lighting around or behind your screen to reduce eye strain while you’re watching a film or show. LED strip lights are popular in modern setups, as their colour can be adjusted to complement the colour palette of the design.
Blinds & curtains
If your home cinema room has windows or skylights, blinds and/or curtains are essential for blocking out natural light and ensuring you enjoy the most immersive experience possible. Choosing well-fitted blackout blinds or thick curtains will prevent reflections appearing on the screen or distracting shafts of light entering the room, but they can also add to the atmosphere. You might, for example, choose plush red curtains for your windows to complement a vintage style home cinema, or select a blind fabric that matches the cushions on your seating.
Heating & cooling
You’ll only enjoy a comfortable viewing experience if the room is at the right temperature. Whether you prefer a cosy atmosphere or an air conditioned space, an integrated heating and cooling system allows you to set and manage the temperature during the film without leaving your seat. Advanced systems can even enable you to heat only your cinema room for the time you’re in there, helping you to reduce energy waste in other areas of your home and save on your bills.
Automation
All of the above aspects of your home cinema can be automated using an operating system such as Control4. This gives you complete control over your settings and adds convenience when it comes to getting ready to enjoy the show. With the touch of a single button, you can dim or turn out the lights, close the blinds or curtains, and optimise the temperature. This is done via a remote control or using an interface, meaning that once you’re comfortable there’s no need to get up.
Seating
Comfort is essential to a pleasant viewing experience, and no home cinema installation should be without comfy seating. Your choice will depend on the size of your space, your needs and your budget, but options include sofas, armchairs and state-of-the-art cinema seating. The latter can be specified with a range of features such as USB ports, drinks holders and reclining functions, emulating a modern commercial cinema. Sofas and armchairs have a less formal feel, complementing a relaxed design and enabling you to stretch out as you choose.
Decor
Decor is the final consideration when it comes to your home cinema design. This is what brings all the elements of your setup together and ultimately creates the ambience of your space. Many homeowners like to opt for dark colours that help them to focus on the film once the lights go down. Blacks and greys are popular choices for this reason, with blue or purple colour accents and lighting providing interest. Those preferring a retro feel can use rich reds with gold accents, matched with warm lighting that delivers a sense of old-school opulence.
Acoustic panels come in a variety of shades and textures and can be incorporated seamlessly into the decor, enhancing the aesthetics. There are also many options when it comes to artwork; whether you want to frame vintage movie posters or include Hollywood memorabilia, your choices will finish the overall look of your space. Some audio brands, such as Artcoustic, even offer the option of printed speaker covers. These allow you to cleverly hide speakers behind your chosen image, whether it’s one of your own photos or a print by a favourite artist.
Media library
Once you’ve considered all your home cinema features, there’s one final step to cover: your media library. While you can use Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV if you choose, you’ll enjoy far better quality with a download service such as Kaleidescape. Software such as this doesn’t require any image compression, meaning movies and TV shows don’t suffer any degradation. Every detail is perfectly preserved, without softness, noise or banding. Equally, the improved audio bitrate means you’ll enjoy sound quality that’s identical to the studio master.
Design your perfect home cinema with New Wave AV
As expert home cinema fitters, we at New Wave AV have designed and installed over 100 home cinemas in Kent, Surrey and beyond. We will help you plan out every detail of your space, from the colour scheme and layout to the audio-visual equipment and lighting. Our professionals will take care of installation, delivering a result that exceeds your expectations. As home automation specialists, we will even integrate your controls so that you can be ready for the movie with the touch of a button. Contact us today to discuss your requirements and to book a demonstration at our purpose-built home cinema in Surrey or Kent.
