Buying appliances and implements that go together to make someone’s own home theater system can be quite a herculean task. With all the technical difficulties and instructional brouhaha that end up confusing and misleading an ordinary buyer, the simple acts alone of knowing what to and choosing which to buy can be a nightmare. Hence, WestFair TV has come up with a list of basic tips to guide its customers and potential clients as they dive into the world of home cinemas. Being in the business of audio-video equipment, supplies and furnishings for over fifty (50) years, they are a trusted name in the state of Connecticut. Here are tips you need to muse over before making any purchases:

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1. Space.

They emphasize on how much space is available or can be spared by the client in their homes to give way to a whole new set of implements. This may mean that certain upholstery may have to be moved or transferred, if not redone altogether.

2. Buy new or upgrade.

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3. Features.

All in all, WestFair TV  also recommends that the potential buyer be aware of warranties that go with the equipment they purchase. Buying from a dealer with a service center is also a must, since it will be easier for the customer to seek help and assistance for any technical difficulties. WestFair TV is one of the few home theater system appliance dealers that have such perks, and friendly and efficient staff that go with it. So, for further inquiries and a quick look on the appliance models they have in store, do log on to, www.westfairtv.com, and make that home cinema viewing dream come true.

Jacquiline Grant is a small business owner who sells various audio video systems for home entertainment. Along with her family, they started the business 3 years ago as they got inspired with the services of Westfair TV; supplier of high quality audio and video systems.

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These days there’s a lot more to a media center than just a TV. Remember when adding a VCR and an Atari to your setup was the height of home entertainment luxury? Okay, you probably don’t. But there was a time, not so long ago, when a TV was it. They all operated on standard definition (shudder) and cable was like, 30 channels. But mom, dad, how did you ever survive without Xbox? Well, kids, it wasn’t easy. In any case, those days are long gone now. It seems that every household not only has a 50-inch LCD TV (in every room), but also 1,000 channels of satellite cable (with hundreds of HD selections), a DVR, and so many game stations that the entertainment center is starting to look like the command deck of the Starship Enterprise. The point is, you may have a lot more media devices than you can reasonably handle looking at in your living room (not to mention the movies and games stacked on every surface). But there is a solution and it starts in your basement.

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Finishing off your basement

If your basement is of the unfinished variety you’ve got some work ahead of you what with installing carpeting, drywall, and lighting (other than the naked bulb currently hanging from the ceiling). Once you’ve got the basic setup in place, though, it’s time to think about what you want to include in your media center. The first matter to address is the TV situation, and because you likely have a lot of space in your basement you could (and should) opt for a fairly large monitor so that even those in the back of the house (so to speak) can see every detail. You might even consider installing a projector of some sort, but keep in mind that these only work really well in the dark (an environment that the average basement is ideally suited for). Once you’ve got that step figured out, you need to think about how to handle storage.

Installing electronics

Okay, so you don’t have all of your electronics in place yet. But you can probably guess that you’ll have several “boxes” (cable, game consoles, etc.) as well as a ton of media, mainly in the form of plastic DVD cases. When you know how much space your TV will consume you can start to plan built-in (or moveable) storage around it. The nice thing about built-ins is that they’ll blend seamlessly into your floor plan; but it behooves you to be fairly certain about the placement of your monitor (or monitors) beforehand since built-ins can’t be moved after the fact. You should arrange for some closed storage (to hide DVDs), some open (to showcase books and display items), and plenty of shelving with notches cut in the back corners to accommodate cables.

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Wiring

Of course, before you get that far you may want to consider the wiring. Do a broadband comparison of services in your area to see about setting up the cable modem, DSL, or T1 line you need to stream Netflix, Hulu, and other online options straight to your TV (not to mention getting your Xbox Live account up and running). You’ll definitely want to install fiber-optic cable and plenty of independent outlets before the walls go in to ensure that your space is ready for all of the electronics and communication devices your modern media center requires. From there it’s just a matter of placing a superior surround-sound system and throwing in some comfortable seating, and you’re all set to be entertained.

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Just about every home has what could be considered a standard living room, a place where family members and friends go to lounge and enjoy their leisure time. Often the accommodations in this space are comfortable and inviting and there are multiple forms of diversion to relax and amuse inhabitants, from television to video games to music. But if you’d rather reserve this space for family time that is not impaired by a multitude of electronics, you might be considering turning that extra room or unfinished basement into a home theater. Or maybe you consider yourself a cinephile and you simply want to display your favorite classics films in a theater-like environment. Either way you’ll have to include the proper furnishings to outfit your space for functionality. So here are a few tips to help you select the right items to flesh out your home theater.

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Finding home theater components

If all you have to go on in terms of inspiration is the local movie theater (replete with sticky floors, glaring lobby lights, and seats that are torn and stained), it may be time to take a closer look at what goes into making a great home theater setup. This could require some research on your part, but luckily the internet can offer you plenty of help when it comes to regurgitating what others have done with their home theaters. Why not start with the biggest and best by doing a search for celebrity home theaters? Although many of the amenities could be well out of your price range, it’s always fun to see how the other half lives. And some of these truly spectacular temples of technology could give you some great ideas to mimic (although likely in a scaled-down fashion).

Once you’ve gotten an idea of what you like and what you could leave behind it’s time to get the ball rolling on furnishing your own home theater space. But there are still a couple of things you need to consider, such as comfort, style, and cost. All three will play a role in the type of furnishings you choose, especially when it comes to seating. Some people put a premium on comfort while watching movies; they want cushy, cozy sofas and recliners that make them feel like they’re floating on a cloud. Of course, this option is probably amongst the most expensive and it is not easy to find a lazy boy that doesn’t look like it came straight out of dad’s den.

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Choose a style for home theater seating

If you want a space that pays homage to traditional theaters, on the other hand, you could look for cinema closures (or check listings on eBay and Craigslist) as a way to pick up real-deal antique rows of chairs to restore. But classic doesn’t necessarily equal comfort. As a middle-of-the-road option you could also purchase seating specifically designed for home theaters. This is more like what you might find in the high-priced movie houses that have sprung up of late with their assigned seating, wide armrests, and overabundance of leg room. Again, this is a more expensive option.

In truth, it’s a toss-up. It can definitely be pricy to outfit this non-essential room, especially considering all of the expensive electrical equipment involved. But when it comes to home theater seating and storage you have many options that fall into a wide range of prices. You may have to sacrifice style for comfort or vice versa, but you can find the furnishings that suit your style at a price you can afford if you simply do some homework and look at all of your options.

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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

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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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Who wouldn’t love to have a home theater like the ones you see in posh celebrity pads on MTV Cribs?  The giant screens and plush seating are the height of luxury, but with the price of attending movies in the actual theater chains these days, it may be worth the expense.  Plus, you might be surprised what you can do yourself or get at a discounted rate (although you’ll certainly have to pay out for some items).  So if you’re interested in converting your basement space from mostly unused storage into a room the whole family will love to hang out in, here are a few tips for creating your very own home theater.

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Flooring

You don’t exactly need to roll out the red carpet, but getting the right flooring is an important part of creating the look and feel of your room, and carpeting is definitely the way to go.  You’ve probably noticed that most theaters use a pretty busy color scheme when it comes to the carpet.  They do this to hide stains from tons of people walking through each day, tracking in dirt and spilling food and drinks.  Since you won’t have to contend with crowds of visitors, you can probably opt for something a little more toned down if you wish, but saturated tones and a repeating pattern will definitely help you get the look you’re going for.

Seating

Although most movie theater seats are kind of cramped, you can still get the basic idea with more comfortable seating.  The trick is to use a system of graduated seating to mimic the theater, and this means you’re going to have to include at least one platform in your room.  You can hire builders to do this for you or try to do it on your own (the DIY Network has a handy tutorial for this very project).  Then all you have to do is put a couch (or chairs) on the floor and some behind it on the platform.  Of course, if you really want to get authentic, check out theater closures (or Craigslist) for actual theater seats.

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Screen

The most important part of any theater setup is the screen.  If you have a smaller space, simply opt for a large HD flat screen to show flicks.  But if your space is large or you have a long room to work with, think about mounting a projector on the ceiling at one end of the room and a pull down screen at the other for a truly spectacular picture.

Accessories

It wouldn’t be a theater without the extra touches, so include a concession stand (or at least a popcorn machine and a mini fridge stocked with candy and sodas), as well as a couple of wall sconces on a dimmer switch and of course, some velvet curtains to frame the screen.

Storage

Unless you want your basement to resemble a DVD manufacturing company, with discs stacked and strewn across every surface, you’re going to need some storage solutions to keep your media contained. Built-ins are the best option, but you can also put together your own setup for less by installing pre-made cabinetry.  For the latter, consider frequenting garage sales or simply stop in at your local IKEA.

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How to Install In-Wall Speakers

 

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Saving space in your home with in-wall speakers

Living rooms are all about style and comfort, whereas home theater rooms are all about picture and sound quality.  Trying to merge these two rooms into one can be a difficult task. Using in-wall speakers instead of traditional bookshelf speakers can make this much easier and more appealing to the eye. The following are three reasons why choosing in-wall speakers are ideal for every living space.

 Reason 1: Unclutter your room

Historically, home theater speakers are large and are installed in giant speaker cabinets. These old style speakers made interior design a nightmare. In-wall speakers can be installed flush in the wall. The result is less space taken up with speaker cabinets and more room to decorate. Once the speakers are in the wall, the room instantly feels more open and relaxed.

Reason 2: Paint to match the room

Many of these speakers come ready to be painted. They usually have a white grill and bezel that is just waiting to be painted the same color as the walls they are installed into. It is fast, easy, and blends into the room’s interior. Once properly painted, these speakers are almost invisible on the wall. The outer bezel can even be wallpapered if that is a better suited for the wall.

Reason 3: Install where you want

Freedom to install these speakers where you want is one of the major benefits of in-wall speakers. No more ugly speaker brackets that stick out of the wall. No more moving furniture to set bookshelf speakers on. Now you can find the ideal location in-between studs and insert the speaker. If walls are not an option, then look up to the ceiling. Speaker placement is just as easy with speakers that install in the ceiling and offers more flexibility.

Sound quality does not need to be sacrificed when designing a living room home theater. With recent improvements in speaker technology, in wall speakers can offer sound quality that is just as good as traditional speakers, if not better. The final result is a room that sounds great, feels spacious, and looks fantastic. Next time you redesign your living room, consider re-locating your speakers to a more concealed location. Your living room will never be the same.

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