Big screen at home

Home theatre is an add-on to a well-designed house and it's also a way to convert an extra room into an entertainment zone. Well! If you think that having a home theatre itself is enough and requires no attention, then experts have reasons to think otherwise.

Bouncing back
An important aspect of any room is the carpeting. A nice rug can add charm to an otherwise dull setting. But for the home theatre room carpet serves an additional purpose. "Carpeting is important for a home theatre room as it helps in absorbing sound. Textured carpet can achieve this. As the focus in this room should rest on the screen, a subtle or quiet carpet should be preferred over the loud counterparts. Opt for mellow colours, and avoid other glitter elements," says Suresh Rateria of Rugs and Riches.

An ideal theatre room shape is rectangle. "Try to go for a 10/20 feet room. Square, circular and tunnel shaped rooms get too loud. There is no thumb rule for the distance between the viewer sitting area and the screen. It largely depends on a person's choice and the shape and size of the room," says Himanshu Kumar, an acoustic interior designer.

Avoid wooden paneling, glass, hard stone floor or steel furniture as they get reflected by the sound.

Colour threat
When selecting colours for the walls, opt for colours such as: red and black or light shades of beige and yellow. Dark brown or polka dots fabric texture can be also be used.

"Extra furniture such as: side-tables, stools, bulky sofa sets, beds should be avoided. Normal sofas and recliner is advisable. A small cabinet for equipment and small bar or counter for popcorns can be used. Don't use low seating furniture as they will not make for a comfortable arrangement," says Kumar.

Lighting is another important area for the home theatre. "Opt for LED's and not florescent lights," adds Kumar.