If you are a movie-lover, you often balance between seeing movies in the theater or at home. Home theaters are still worth it, even if you enjoy going to the movie theater. But you may have wondered “why” or “how” home theaters or home cinemas are worth the time and effort to truly form a final consideration.
Home theaters are worth it for reasons ranging from adding value to your home to using your home theater for not just movies but other media entertainment. Home theaters are the best investment, but a first-timer must know what a home theater is.
As we read through this article, we will learn about what a home theater or home cinema is, the estimated cost of a home theater, if they are worth it and the reasons behind it, some tips for building a home theater, and what not to do when you are considering building a home theater.
Table of Contents
What Is A Home Theater?
A home theater, in nature, is similar to a movie theater, but it is at home and can use at your leisure. When some people reference home theaters, they may be referring to home theater systems. In this case, we refer to a designated area, a home theater room, designed to simulate a movie theater.
Home theaters enhance the visual and audio experience, furthering the entertainment experience.
Building a home theater can be done in various ways, from DIY to professionally built, and the cost can vary.
What Is The Cost Of A Home Theater?
Building a home theater can take up to a few weeks or longer, depending on the room size. Still, the cost can vary if you are hiring professionals or doing it yourself can range up into the thousands, but that would depend once you’ve received a quota or established a budget.
Despite the cost, a home theater is an investment that is well worth it, but others are not convinced.
Are Home Theaters Worth It?
Are home theaters worth it? Yes, they are the most convenient thing to have in a home. There are many reasons why home theaters are worth it. Some reasons why they are worth it includes:
- Best investment in the long run.
- Adds value to your home.
- You can have at-home snacks.
- They are used for more than movies.
- You can use it at your leisure at any time.
- The ability to pause.
- You can watch movies in peace.
- It will be designed to your liking.
- Every seat will be your seat.
- Experience the best sound and visuals.
Let’s continue reading more to learn about the 10 reasons home theaters are still worth it.
10 Reasons Why Home Theaters Are Still Worth It
For some, having a home theater could be a waste of time, but overall, it is still worth it for many, including you. A home theater is what you make it, and what you make of it ensures the many reasons why they are still worth it.
Best Investment in the Long Run
In the long run, home theaters are the best investments. Money invested into a home theater means less money coming out in the future for payments of gas, snacks, and movie theater tickets. A home theater in your home will be cheaper, meaning less traveling for you and others if you want to hang out with friends.
Adds Value to Your Home
An added home theater can add value to your home. Yes, you built a home theater for yourself, but due to the nature of the world within the last two to three years, home theaters are a bonus for what people add as a potential benefit to have in a home and are willing to pay more if there.
At-Home Snacks
Snacks are cheaper at home. You won’t have to purchase snacks that would cost an arm and a leg, and you won’t also have to feel guilty if you were one of those people who brought snacks from grocery stores or home into the theater. And your snacks won’t have to be based on a small selection and can be more thought out.
Use For More Than Movies
Home theaters are used for more than just watching movies; you can watch your favorite television shows, play games, or watch videos online. Unlike a movie theater, a home theater is a jack of all trades and can be used for your liking while maintaining the audio and visual experience.
Use to Your Leisure at Any Time
Home theaters are open to you 24/7. You can watch movies and television shows or play games in the middle of the night, and you won’t have to worry about rushing to watch a movie you want because it’ll be in your home. You will have control over what time and day you watch movies.
Ability to Pause
You can use the bathroom whenever you want without having to miss anything. Pausing the movie or whatever you are watching or playing with no problem. You can pause, slow down, rewind, or fast-forward your film whenever you want and then resume the movie once you return from your bathroom break. Simple.
Can Watch Movies in Peace
No distractions. You can finally watch your movies peacefully without distractions from others talking, cell phones loudly ringing, babies crying, or people making out. You’ll be able to watch a movie, on your lonesome, in peace. A distraction-free movie experience will allow you to enjoy the film more in your home than in a movie theater with others around you.
It Will Be Designed to Your Liking
Your home theater will be designed to your liking, and you will feel more comfortable in your surroundings, enhancing the home theater experience. A home theater can become worth it if you take the time to design and build it how you envision it within budget.
Every Seat Is Your Seat
Every seat is your seat. You will not have to struggle for a seat in your theater. You can sit in the front, back, or middle without sitting next to someone loud and obnoxious. Worried about people behind you kicking your seat? Forget about it.
You will have the best seat in the theater, and you can make your seats as comfortable as you want.
Experience the Best Sound and Visuals
You will still be able to experience the best sound and visuals, and you are adding audio and video technology to enhance the best experience in your home theater. What you will be purchasing for the home theater will not be outdated, will be up to date, and can continue to be up to date when needed.
It must be built first to experience the benefits of a home theater.
Let’s continue with the 5 tips for building a home theater.
5 Tips For Building a Home Theater
As exciting as it is to have the finished product, building a home theater in your home is a task that requires planning and having an idea of what to do and how to do it. Let’s continue reading about five tips for building a home theater.
Ask Yourself Why
Ask yourself why you want to build a home theater. Once you’ve determined your reasons, think about whether you or your family will utilize the home theater as much. Because while a home theater is worth it, you also need to ensure that you have it built for the right reasons because it is a financial and timely investment.
Determine the Layout
Determine your layout. Having an idea where your home theater will be built is one of the first things you should consider whether you are doing it yourself or are looking into hiring a professional to obtain a quota. Knowing where you’ll be building your theater will give you an idea of what can or can’t be done or limited.
Determine What You Want in Your Theater
Determine what you want in your theater. After you’ve determined your layout, you will have a good idea of what is possible to add to your home theater. You could add a wet bar, snack section, artwork, etc. You can consider decorating your theater however you can within reason of size determined by your budget.
Install, Install, Install!
Many installations will have to be done throughout your theater, and you must install plumbing if you include a wet bar or anything requiring water. Other structures include drywall, subflooring, wiring, floor covering, projector, etc. Depending on the installation, consider obtaining a permit before pursuing it, and if you need help to do it yourself, hire a professional.
Conduct a Test Run
Test run your home theater. Make sure that your audio is running smoothly. The projector is functioning correctly and is showcasing your movies or video games clearly and crisply. If your projector needs to be adjusted, then do so. Test the curtains, lighting, etc., to ensure the right mood is brought to your theater.
As you are building a home theater, some considerations should be taken in and knowledge on what not to do as you are building, or have built, your home theater.
Next up, we’ll review what not to do when looking to build a home theater.
5 Things To Avoid When Building a Home Theater
In the process of building a home theater, you will come across mistakes that will be made or could’ve been made. Building a home theater is not a walk in the park. Regrets are bound to happen, but researching is essential in knowing what not to do.
Avoid Temptation of Going Overbudget
Do not go over budget if your financial situation doesn’t account for it. Stick to what is within your original budget, and if you have to make a slight increase with it, then that’s fine but don’t go too overboard. Going over budget will cause you to splurge unnecessarily. Best case scenario: find a middle ground in budgeting.
Cheaper and Quicker Does Not Equal Better
Cheaper and quicker sometimes mean better results. While sales are nice, getting things in bundles may sound like the better solution, and usually, it’s not, and you will get what you paid. If you try to build your home theater quickly, you are lessening the quality and will not be able to enjoy the experience of owning a home theater.
Do Not Have Your Seats Sitting Too Far or Close
Keep your seats from sitting too far or close to your projection screen. Sitting too close is unhealthy for your eyes and will cause you to look up more often than necessary. Sitting far away lessens the experience of taking in the video quality projected on your screen, so finding a middle ground for your seats is essential.
Consider the Lighting/Don’t Just Use Any Lighting
Don’t ignore the lighting. Consider your lighting when building your home theater. Having your home theater flooded with dim, yellowish lights may ruin the experience and have too bright overhead lights. Consider the windows you have in your home theater, if you have any, and determine how big or small they are.
Do Not Go In Blind
Do not go into this home theater building process blind. Lack of research on something you are unfamiliar with often leads to many mistakes that cannot be unmade. Study other people’s experiences building a home theater and explore your options on whether you want to do it yourself or have someone more skilled build it.
Closing
Now that you know ten reasons why home theaters are still worth it, you can consider having a movie theater built in your home.
You have also learned how much a home theater could cost if you decide to get it built by professionals and whether they are worth it. And you also know what not to do when building, or have built, a home theater room.
