How to Design a Home Theater in Your Custom Built Home – Part 3

If you have missed Part 1 of this series, click here. To review Part 2 of this series, click here.

We have covered the top two components of creating a home theater, so now we are going to cover the final two areas: lighting and risers.

Lighting and Wall Colors

There is a reason most movie theaters have dark walls… to ensure there is no glare coming in that will take away from the images on the screen. You should treat your home theater the same way, especially if you have windows in the room that could create possible glare. If there are windows, consider adding blackout shades to them to ensure they do not ruin the experience. Greys are very popular right now, so dark grey could work very well in most modern home designs.

The actual lighting in the room may require a specialist to ensure you have the room properly lit to enhance the viewing experience rather than detract from it. Again, if the architect is not familiar with this, there are plenty of outlets online to help you create the proper lighting.

Home Theater Risers

If the room is big enough and you plan on having multiple rows of seating, a riser is a must. If you do not elevate the rear seating, you are going to have guests that are staring right into the back of the head of the person in front of them. You want to have every person in the room able to see the TV from top to bottom without obstruction.

You will see some recommendations for something in the six to eight-inch range, but I really do not believe that is enough, especially if a friend with big hair sits in that front row. Ideally, you are going to get a riser between 12 and 16 inches tall.

One final note we will add regarding a riser… if you do install a riser, do yourself a favor and install lighting on the riser so the steps are clearly visible in a dimly lit room. The last thing you want is a result because a friend you invited for movie night tripped up or down the steps and was injured.

That is just about it. If you have more questions about creating a home theater in your custom-built home and would like to bring Better Build Now on as a consultant or residential construction project manager, please give us a call at 888-402-4180.