Not every home is large enough for a full-fledged home theater, but some home have a space that can be made into one. If you're considering trying to work on of these into your own home, we've got a few tips you may want to consider before starting the design!

First, consider which room you're willing to give up in your house to create a designated home theater. Consider which rooms are close-by too! You probably don't want a home theater backing up to your bedroom or another area where people could be sleeping while there's movie-watching going on.

If you're just sort-of outfitting your living room for movie watching, make sure to incorporate design elements that will contribute to your movie-watching experience without detracting from the look of the room as it fits into the house as a whole. Do you need the curtains in your living room blackout lined so you can close them while you watch movies? Do you need rugs and pillows so there's some sound absorption and less echo? Consider mounting your television too, for better viewing.

Second, determine how many people you need to seat in your home theater. Since the size of the room can vary, seating should be your first thought! Is there only a couple of you that need to fit or are you wanting to entertain others in this space too. And is that even possible? Once you determine how many people you can reasonably seat in your space, think about the type of seating that would work best to accommodate that many. Is the classic leather recliner going to eat-up too much floor space or do you need a bunch of bean bags and pillows?

Of course, surround sound in a home theater is a must because it's all about acoustics, so that's definitely something that needs to be on your list, but not all audio systems are the same. There are a number of manufacturers that create some very nice home audio systems that aren't ugly! If you're trying to make a living room into a home-theater area, consider purchasing an audio system that is nicer to look at as well!

Lighting is important in any space but especially makes a difference in a home theater. Be sure to select lighting that isn't too harsh--no overhead fluorescents! Go with lighting that is dim-able and gives off softer, subtle light rather than something that will be blinding if turned-on right after the movie is finished when it's been dark for a while.

If you've got the ability, try to disguise certain elements that are necessary but can be an eyesore--like the projector and the screen. If possible, hide these behind other less-distracting items in your room so they don't become the focal point!

Overall, home theaters are awesome but require some planning in order to be perfect. If you need help planning yours, contact us---we can help!

Expert Advice | Ways to Improve your Home Theater