A great private cinema is mostly decided before any equipment is chosen. These are the decisions that matter, in the order we make them.
1. Choose the right room
The ideal room is rectangular, with no windows or windows that can be fully blacked out, and away from bedrooms. Basements and rooms over garages often work well. Avoid rooms that are a main route through the house.
2. Plan the seating
Seating comes before the screen. Decide how many people the room needs to seat and in how many rows. The seating position sets the screen size and the speaker layout, and a second row usually needs a riser so everyone can see.
3. Acoustics and sound isolation
Two different things: acoustic treatment controls how sound behaves inside the room, and sound isolation stops it escaping to the rest of the house. Isolation is part of the construction, so it must be planned before the builder closes the walls.
4. Screen, projector and speakers
Only now does the equipment come in. The screen is sized for the seating distance. Speakers are positioned around the listening area, ideally concealed behind fabric or within the walls. Subwoofers are placed for even bass across the seats.
5. Lighting, comfort and control
Lighting scenes set the mood: bright for walking in, dim for the film, low for an intermission. Ventilation must be quiet. Everything should start from one button or one remote.
- Dimmable step and wall lighting.
- Quiet ventilation or cooling.
- Equipment housed outside the room or in ventilated joinery.
- One simple remote or keypad.
Questions we are asked
Should a cinema room be dark in colour?
Darker, matte finishes near the screen improve picture contrast. The rest of the room can be designed with as much warmth as any other room in the house.
How long does a cinema project take?
It depends on whether the room is being built or converted. We set out a programme after the survey.
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