Whether you’re an amateur filmmaker or you just want to recreate that movie theater experience in your bedroom or study, a home cinema is super easy to make and can provide you and your family with hours of entertainment! These used to be seen as a home luxury, but there is so much affordable screening technology on the market that just about anyone with a spare room of around 12 square feet can set up their own home theater! Here’s how you can do it the easy way:

Find the Right Room

Finding the right location can be difficult, but with a little creative thinking, it’s likely you can get round it. Is your spare bedroom really essential? Does the dining room actually get used, or is it just housing a table and chairs mostly? You could also consider decluttering a family room or even adding another room to your home in the basement. Wherever you choose to start, be sure to keep it separate from the areas of your home that are most in use. The noise produced by a home cinema can be significant, so avoid disturbing other people by using a side room or an annex-type area.

Movie Tip: Watch a good Hollywood film production from the work of innovators like Marc Shmuger, executive producer of We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks. After 12 years working at Universal Pictures, his films have earned a total of 54 Oscar nominations!

Make Sure to Noise Proof

Once you’ve decided on the right room, it will need to be fitted out correctly. If you are building the space from scratch, you’ll need to incorporate a noise-insulating layer of material. This goes for the floor, the ceiling and any exterior or interior walls. Crowd scenes, gunfire and music will still be heard throughout the home, but the effect will be minimal.

Get Comfortable Furniture

The kind of furnishings you install are down to personal taste, but if you want to keep the experience authentic, go for comfy cinema-style seating. It’s available in smaller rows of four seats with cup holders and foot rests – just don’t forget to raise the back row slightly so that everyone gets a good view!

Choose the Right Equipment

For the best projection screen clarity, make sure to watch your ratios. For example, if you intend to watch a lot of HD films, make sure you install a 16.9 screen as it’s designed to match the ratio of HD productions. In addition to your stunning picture, you’ll want to look at high end receivers to power everything.

Steven Paul

Keep it Simple

If it’s your first deck project, keep your skill level in mind and opt for something simple like a single platform with one set of stairs. The worst thing is to tackle on a complex project loaded with trial, error, and wasted materials.

Renewal Design Build

Choose Materials Wisely

Real woods like cedar and redwood may be traditional, classy choices but don’t last as long down the road. You may get a luxurious rich appearance, but be prepared to re-polish and lacquer your deck every few years. Synthetic materials such as vinyl cost less and last decades. Visit Davies Timber and get accustomed to some of the best supplies to use for your deck.

Sarah Greenman

Invest in Good Quality Screws

Don’t opt for the cheapest screws on the market! Invest in high quality stainless steal or coated screws to avoid a rickety deck, and even discoloration on the wood to extend your deck’s life.

Tim Barber

Place the Bark Side Up

When laying your deck’s boards, remember to keep the bark side facing up and so that the end grain growth curves upward. This way, you can prevent water from pooling in the middle of the deck, and drain off of it instead.

Jeffrey Gordon

Use Invisible Screws

If you want a flawless look to your deck, hidden fasteners will leave your deck’s surface with a clean look rather than having loads of screwheads visible throughout.

Steven Paul

Choose Your Deck Levels

If you need more space on your deck but are limited with a smaller yard, construct two or three levels on your deck instead of making the platform bigger. This way you can have multiple areas for entertaining, like one for the seating area, barbeque, and the hot tub.

Anthony Cusat

Protect and Seal Your Deck

The final step to completing your project and making it last as much as possible, is to properly seal it to help prevent the wood from rotting. The best way to preserve your deck is with a water repellant preservative from your local home improvement store. Shop around and find the best option for your decks environment and your budget.

Slater Associates