A home theater is a wonderful addition to your home. These days, thanks to Netflix and the quick turnaround of blockbuster films being feature on On Demand, more and more people are considering making movie night be a matter of strolling a few feet over from one room in their house to another, rather than spending as much as $12 per person for the price of admission at a local movie theater. Sure, the initial cost of converting, say, your garage into a home theater may seem a bit steep, but if you do it well, it can be an investment that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.

Do you want to know how you can change it for yourself? Here are a few tips.

How to Convert Your Garage Into a Home Theater

Consult with a contractor

OK, you may have watched it being done in HGTV, you may have even check out a couple of YouTubes, but if you want to go all out, money is often wasted not so much in the project itself, but in not knowing how to properly use the materials that are purchased. This is why, even if you want to do the project yourself, you should still consult with a contractor that can provide you with guidance (and some money saving tips) along the way; especially when it comes to wiring and wall insulation (which is a big part of this particular kind of project if you’re wanting to totally renovate the space).

Cover the floor

If you’re not looking to exactly replicate your favorite movie theater, there are things that you can do for yourself when it comes to transitioning your garage over from where your car resides to where you sit. For one, if you have a concrete floor, putting down carpet is one way to go. Either way, if you’re going to use carpet, tile or even leave it bare, you’re going to be spending a lot more time in there so make sure to use some concrete sealer to protect your floor from dampness and mold (this is especially wise being that you’ll be having electrical equipment in that space). Concrete Treat is a popular easy-to-use brand.

Soundproof the walls in your home theater

Now this is a bit more complicated, but who wants to have a home theater without theater sound? Audimutesoundproofing.com features an eco-friendly insulation product that you can use to apply to your garage walls. Experts recommend alternating standard insulation with fiberglass and then covering it up with drywall. You can put “How to Soundproof a Wall” in a search engine for step-by-step details or you can visit GarageEnvy.com from some tips too.

Home theater: Get movie theater equipment

When people are on a road trip, sometimes they’ll use car hire (they’ll rent a car) so that they can get the luxury traveling affect that they want. If you’re going to a bed and breakfast on the beach, why not ride in style in a convertible, right? In the same vein, if you’re going to create a home theater, the most important part of the experience would be to get the right kind of equipment. You could always go to Best Buy or even WalMart to purchase a large flat screen, but if you want a literal movie screen, Cinemaequip.com, SonicEquipment.com and HTMarket.com are all companies that specialize in home theater equipment.

Get movie theater furniture

After all of that work, who wants to settle for some big pillows or folding chairs to sit on? There are websites that sell actual movie theater furniture including chairs, panels, wall accents and poster frames. 4Seating.com and SeatandChairs.com are two of them. If you’re looking for some affordable shelves, Target and even Overstock.com has a good variety. When it comes to lighting, StargateCinema.com and CinemaShop.com are two companies that can brighten the room up for you, and thanks to Nextag.com and Soda-Machines.com, you can end up with at-home vending machines that will have you feeling like you’re “front row and center” in no time!

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