CREATING A SMALL HOME CINEMA
SMALL HOME CINEMA IDEAS
If you’re passionate about films and want to create your own home cinema, then you don’t need a large room to create an authentic cinematic experience. There are plenty of small home movie room ideas here in the UK that can turn any space into a private screening room.
No matter the size of your home, you can create a cinema room that will blow your friends and family away. You don’t need large houses to have ultimate home cinema rooms; all you need is some creativity and imagination. Here are some ideas to get you started on creating a perfect cinema in smaller rooms.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPACE IN YOUR HOME FOR YOUR CINEMA ROOM
DEDICATED CINEMA ROOM OR MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM?
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want a dedicated small home cinema room or an occasional set-up. If you don’t have the space for a dedicated room, then an occasional set-up is still possible and can be a more affordable option. If you want to create a multi-purpose spaces set-up, then as a bare minimum you will need a projector, screen and speakers to watch your favourite movies.
SURROUND SOUND SYSTEMS
A good quality sound system will go a long way to creating an authentic small cinema room feel. Consider a sound bar or go for a full surround sound system for stunning audio, to get the best out of your movies and immerse your friends and family in the experience.
PROJECTOR AND PROJECTOR SCREEN
If you want to create a cinema-like experience, then you will need a projector and projector screen. The size of the screen will be determined by the size of the room and how far away you will be sitting from it. There are various types of projector screens available on the market, so do your research to find one that is best suited for your needs.
BLACKOUT CURTAINS
Look at adding black-out curtains to your room to ensure no light enters the room when you want to watch a movie. This will also help with any reflections on the screen. These could be in the form of roller blinds that would not detract from the decor of the room when it was in normal use, or blackout lining could be added to curtains to cut down on ambient light.
While creating an occasional small home cinema might meet your needs, if you have even a small room that isn’t in use you can go all out for the full cinema experience by creating a dedicated home cinema room.
HOME CINEMA ROOM COST
The main advantage of an occasional set-up is that it is less expensive than a dedicated home cinema room. However, the main disadvantage is that it can be more difficult to achieve good sound, and image quality, and therefore the experience is likely to be less cinema-like than in a dedicated room.
CREATING A DEDICATED HOME CINEMA ROOM
Designing and furnishing a small room to create the perfect cinema experience is entirely possible, and you don’t need a large budget to do it. With careful planning and some imagination, you can transform any small room into an intimate cinema that will amaze your friends and family.
Your small cinema room doesn’t need to be big to make a big impact. By following a few simple tips, you can create a space that looks and feels like a real cinema.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPACE IN YOUR HOME FOR YOUR CINEMA ROOM
You don’t need a huge house to create an amazing small home cinema room – a small space can be beautiful, and more importantly, cosy. You can create your own bespoke boutique cinema feel in your own home. But there are certain things you need to take into account when choosing the right place in your home for your cinema room.
HERE ARE FOUR KEY CONSIDERATIONS:
1. AMBIENT LIGHT
Ambient light can be a real issue for your small home cinema room. You want to avoid any light sources that would reflect off the screen and cause glare or wash out the image. A small loft space or garage is often a good choice, as they tend to have fewer windows and more control over lighting. Avoid rooms with large windows, though you can of course use black-out blinds or window treatments if necessary.
2. NOISE
Another consideration is noise. You want to minimise any external noise that might distract from the movie-watching experience. So avoid rooms that are next to busy roads or have a lot of foot traffic passing by. If your garage cinema room is near the road you will have to incorporate more acoustic treatments to walls and floors to absorb sounds which may spoil your home cinema experience. A basement or small attic cinema room can often be a good choice, as they tend to be more secluded from the rest of the house and isolated from external noise sources.
3. ROOM SIZE
Of course, you’ll need to take into account the size of the space when choosing where to locate your small home cinema room. It’s important to strike a balance between having enough room for all your equipment and having too much space, which can make the room feel empty and impersonal. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 1 square metre (11 square feet) of floor space for every person that you anticipate will use the room. The screen size will dictate how far away from it you need to be able to see it clearly, and you’ll also need to leave enough space for speakers and other AV equipment.
4. ACOUSTICS
Finally, you’ll need to consider the acoustics of the space. This is particularly important if you’re planning on using surround sound. You want to avoid any spaces with hard surfaces that can cause sound to bounce around and become distorted.
GARAGE CINEMA ROOM
Creating a garage cinema room may require a bit of thought on the finish and the soft furnishing to help with the acoustics. Ultimately you want to create a small home cinema room that looks as good as it sounds so you will need to research various finishes and how they affect sound quality.
A concrete floor isn’t only not a great look but it will affect the sound quality and overall cinema experience. If you are creating a full-time cinema room then you will be able to change the acoustics by using sound proofing boards, soft furnishings etc. but if this is a secondary use for this space you might be better looking at other room options.
ATTIC CINEMA ROOM
Another option might be to look at loft space. These often have sloped ceilings which can create interesting design possibilities and the eaves usually provide good storage. If you are planning on having an attic cinema room then you will need to consider the height of the ceiling as this will affect both the screen size that you can have and also how immersive your sound system can be. If a large screen is important to you then the whole room size will need to be in proportion.
You will also need to consider what kind of access you have to the space as small, cramped ladder access is not going to be conducive to getting your equipment and seating in or for regular trips to the cinema!
CINEMA ROOMS AND INTERIOR DESIGN
SEATING
Talking of seating, this is another important consideration for your small home cinema room. You need comfortable seating for a good viewing experience, so choose furniture that is supportive and ergonomic. Reclining seats are a popular choice, as they allow you to kick back and relax in style. If space is limited, consider a cosy cinema room sofa or love seat instead.
No matter what style you choose for your cinema room, make sure that your cinema seating leaves enough space for walkways and that the furniture is arranged in a way that doesn’t block sightlines to the screen.
LIGHTING
Proper lighting is essential for any home cinema room. You’ll need to be able to control the light levels in the room so that you can create the perfect atmosphere for watching movies. Good, well-designed lighting can really add to the ambience of a home cinema installation and help create the mood.
With careful planning and a good home cinema system, you can create a big-screen feel home cinema and media room for you and your friends.
If you are looking for a home cinema that optimises the space, consider one of the ideas we have explored in this blog post. Whether you want to create a mini theatre or just improve your current viewing experience, there is an option for everyone.
If you need any help putting these ideas into practice, our team at Finite Solutions assists with everything from product selection to installation. Why not get in touch with us today and start your dream project.
