Rooms With Views

What's the right kind of home theater space for you?

Imagine going to a the local multiplex, buying your ticket and being asked whether you'd like a dedicated theater room, a media room, a recreation room, a family room, a kitchen, a bedroom or an office to view your movie. Well, you can have that choice when you shop for home theater systems. You can place your system in any one of a variety of rooms -- or in several, if you wish.

What follows is a general rundown of your home theater options. It's a veritable concession stand of choices. And yes, you can still get a "small" size.

A Theater of Its Own

There's nothing quite like entering a beautiful theater. The space opens up before you and is adorned with lavish details. You've already entered another world, and the show hasn't even begun. That's what a dedicated home theater space can provide in your home. It's the ultimate for movie buffs and those wishing to recreate the theater experience in their own abodes. Theater designs can range from traditional settings that recall the ornate commercial theaters of the past to contemporary, even futuristic decor.

Dedicated theaters often include very high-end systems and can be very expensive, sometimes costing five figures or more. These theaters are typically located in a basement or in an addition that can be acoustically isolated from the rest of the house. The rooms vary greatly in size but are usually at least 12 feet wide by 15 to 20 feet long.

Seating in these spaces is generally theater style, with riser steps and a staggered seating pattern that can accommodate anywhere from two people to more than 20. Much of the home theater equipment is concealed in a closet or in another room. A projector may be mounted on the ceiling or in a booth to the rear of the theater. Large and powerful speakers are often concealed within columns, behind fabric in the walls or behind the projection screen.

Who's it for? The movie buff who wants a high-end theater experience.

Advantages

• It's a room designed just for home theater enjoyment.
• You can re-create a real theater experience in your home.
• It's a great place to escape or to entertain guests.

Disadvantages

• It typically requires a big investment.
• A dedicated home theater is often separate from the rest of the house, inhibiting spur-of-the-moment entertainment.
• Most are designed only for watching movies or shows and can't be used for anything else.

The Entertainment Haven

Suppose you don't have the money or space for a big dedicated theater room -- at least not yet. But you still want good audio and video performance in a room that's pretty much dedicated to your home entertainment. How about a media room? Think of it as a high-tech den. You can have a media room designed specifically for you to enjoy everything from movies to music to video games in an environment that facilitates better audio and video performance.

Media rooms can be created in virtually any size space and are great additions to basement areas, bonus rooms, spare bedrooms or rooms above garages. These areas often feature somewhat casual seating arrangements, with sofas or lounges. Equipment and big-screen TVs or flat-panel monitors are typically housed in large wall-unit consoles and cabinets, which may have storage areas for CDs, DVDs, video game cartridges, discs and more. Front speakers can be concealed in this cabinetry as well, while surround-sound speakers for the sides or rear may be mounted to the wall with brackets or flush-mounted into the walls or ceiling.

Who's it for? The home entertainment enthusiast who demands a good performance.

Advantages

• The media room is a space dedicated to home entertainment and includes movies, music and video games.
• It's usually in a fairly accessible room.
• Comfortable seating inspires a casual, kick-back feel.

Disadvantages

• Who gets to use the media room, and for what?
• Loud sounds could disturb others in rooms nearby.
• The room can often be too small for the audio and video performance you may prefer.

Multi fun Space

Shoot some pool and watch a movie? Have the guys over for the big game and saddle up to the bar? Host the entire family for the holidays and have a room to fit them all? That's what today's multipurpose recreation rooms can help you accomplish.

Rec rooms are increasingly popular ways to use the basement, a room over the garage, a bonus room, even a large family room space. Seating is typically rec-room casual, with thick-padded sofas and chairs, maybe some stools and a wet bar in the back. Because the space may be large and not dedicated to audio and video reproduction, performance can be compromised. Chances are, the room won't be acoustically perfect, and you should plan on being able to watch movies and sporting events with some lights on, especially if people are doing other things in the room. With proper planning, though, most people won't notice much of a difference in the audio and video performance. For many, the small compromises in sound and image quality are well worth it, if it means having a multipurpose space that's perfect for doing so many different things -- and having so much fun.

Who's it for? Active families and hosts with the most.

Advantages

• The room is used for a variety of activities.
• Larger rooms can accommodate many people for parties and gatherings.
• It's the perfect place for large families to play and kick back.

Disadvantages

• Larger or segmented spaces can compromise audio and video performance.
• You may have to watch movies with the lights on.

Family Room Values

The family or living room that may formerly have housed a medium-sized TV and stereo is a prime candidate for a home theater system. That 27-inch TV can often be replaced by a flat-panel or rear-projection set with a larger screen, and setting up a few surround speakers usually isn't difficult. Speakers can be placed inside or on top of the cabinets, or you can get floor standing models. A great choice for surround speakers are in-wall or in-ceiling units. In fact, some people are opting for in-wall or in-ceiling speakers all around to preserve the room's decor.

The biggest challenge in integrating a theater system into an existing room is often running speaker wire from an entertainment center to surround speakers, but this can be made much easier if you have an unfinished basement, attic or crawl space below or above the room to route the wire. Seating is casual, and the equipment is often housed in a cabinet or console.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of the family room home theater system is its convenience, as the space is usually centrally located in the home. It's often near the kitchen, so it can be a spontaneous gathering place for family and friends. The one big disadvantage is that audio and video performance can be compromised by light from windows, open floor plans, fireplaces and harsh surfaces like stone or hardwood floors. And you may not be able to play the system as loud as you'd like, out of courtesy for others.

Who's it for? Everyone in the house.

Advantages

• It's convenient and usually near the kitchen.
• It usually includes casual, kick-back seating.
• A family room is an easy gathering place for the brood.

Disadvantages

• Space for a really big screen and speakers may be an issue.
• Open space, fireplaces and windows can compromise audio and video quality.
• With other rooms nearby, you may not be able to crank up the volume most of the time.

Theater and a Blanket

Ever start watching a DVD or a favorite show and decide you want to finish viewing it from the comfort of your bed? That's the allure of integrating a home theater system into a bedroom. And with flat-panel plasma and LCD video monitors and in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, it's possible to have a system that doesn't intrude on the aesthetics. Small sitting spaces can allow for quiet enjoyment of music and movies, enhancing the sanctuary of the master suite.

Equipment can be housed in entertainment armoires or custom cabinetry. Unobtrusive in-ceiling speakers provide surround sound or even just two-channel stereo. Flat-panel monitors can be mounted above master bedroom fireplaces. Audio and video performance is typically not on par with the quality of a media room or other dedicated room setup, but it is more than good enough for a secondary home entertainment system. Make sure the speakers can play low and slow for romantic moments as well.

Who's it for? Any couple that has ever disagreed on what to watch on the home's primary TV.

Advantages

• You can enjoy great video and surround sound from the comfort of your bed!
• Soft music over the speakers in the bedroom equals romance.

Disadvantages

• Flat-panel TVs, hidden speakers and other equipment can be pricey.
• A media system in the bedroom may mean noise when you or your spouse is trying to sleep. Invest in some headphones instead.

Kitchen Cookin'

A home theater in the kitchen? Sure, especially when you're cooking, cleaning or preparing a meal for friends who are gathered there. The ingredients for home theater success here are flat-panel video monitors and in-ceiling or in-wall speakers or perhaps even small bookshelf-sized speakers that can be placed above your cabinets. Mix well, and you can entertain your guests while you're dishing up something special. And if the kitchen opens to a family room slated for a home theater, try to run the audio into the kitchen speakers as well.

Who's it for? The cook in the house and all those who gather in the kitchen.

Advantages

• It's where everyone gathers anyway.
• The cook doesn't have to miss a critical play in the big game or an important movie scene.
• It's where the great hors d'ouevres are. Don't tell the others in the theater room!

Disadvantages

• Seating probably isn't very comfortable for enjoying an entire movie.
• Space for a video display may be an issue, but you could always budget for a good flat-panel screen.
• TV and speakers should be located away from the stove and grease.

Filing, Faxing and Fun

Dad or Mom's work hideaway usually has a big wooden desk, computers and fax machines. But nowadays, it can also be outfitted with TVs or video monitors and surround-sound systems for moments when one person is watching a movie in the family or media room and someone else wants the ball game and a beer. Furniture can be whatever flavor of office style you choose.

The equipment is often housed in a console of built-in shelves, and speakers are often bookshelf, on-wall, in-wall or in-ceiling models. The audio and video performance here is typically of secondary quality, but that's fine because let's face it: We don't want Dad parked in there all day.

Who's it for? The thinker.

Advantages

• It's the perfect place for a personal, secondary surround-sound system.
• It's a great place to watch a ball game or golf and take a lazy afternoon nap.
• Some TVs can also function as large computer monitors to keep you alerted to business news.

Disadvantages

• It probably won't be used for surround sound most of the time.
• Audio and video can be a distraction in an office space.
• There typically isn't much room for additional seating.

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