Contrary to popular belief, a home theater doesn’t have to be a sprawling mini cinema in a spare room or the basement in your home. That said, you don’t need a lot of room or state-of-the-art audio/video equipment to make your home theater dreams materialize. If you don’t have space or a big budget to make a traditional home theater, why not create one in your very own bedroom?
No, this doesn’t just mean buying a TV and stopping at that. To create a home theater that actually feels like one in your bedroom, here’s a list of the things you need:
1. A TV or projector
A flat-screen TV is the best option for a home theater in a bedroom, and it doesn’t even have to be half the size of your wall. Pick a TV that’s just the right size for you to watch your favorite movies from the bed or the sofa. A TV that is too large can take up a lot of precious space in your bedroom, and a TV that is too small makes viewing not enjoyable, so be sure to pick the right one for your needs and the size of your room.
Alternatively, you can buy a projector, which is significantly less expensive than a flat-screen TV. A projector is a great option if you don’t have the space for a TV in your bedroom; all you need is a blank wall or a hanging projector screen that you can use to project what you want to watch.
2. Surround sound speakers
A home theater is not a home theater if you don’t have surround-sound speakers that will help you truly immerse in whatever you are watching. Depending on your needs, you can choose between different types of speakers, such as 5.1 or 7.1. But for an average-sized bedroom, a 5.1 surround sound system with 3 front speakers and 2 surround speakers is generally the most ideal.
If you are concerned about the noise, you can also look into installing soundproofing material around your walls or using furniture and rugs to deaden the sound coming from your bedroom.
3. HDMI cables
You need HDMI cables to get a 1080p HD picture on your screen and the highest-quality home audio possible on your system. Before, people had to use five different capable to get HD pictures, but with an HDMI cable, you can just connect it to the system in one go.
4. Blu-ray or cable
If you don’t have Smart TV, you can use a Blu-Ray player to connect to Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and other streaming sources (as well as play DVDs, if you’re still into that). Alternatively, you can connect to your cable/satellite to watch your favorite channels.
But if you don’t want a Blu Ray player and don’t watch cable TV that much, you can simply connect your system to your laptop using an HDMI cable and play anything you want from there.
5. Surge protection
With all the A/V equipment that you now have in your bedroom, plus all the other electronics and appliances that you plug into the sockets, you need a surge protector to avoid overloading the electrical system. Aside from allowing you to plug all of your electronics into one location, you also get to protect them from inconsistent voltage.
6. Furniture
The bed can be a comfortable place to watch movies from, but what if you get sick of it? Or perhaps have friends over to watch the latest episode on your favorite Netflix show? If you have the space, consider investing in a comfortable sofa that can also act as a ‘separator’ for the room. But if not, bean bag chairs can be a great option and you can just put them away in the corner when you don’t need them.
It’s also a great idea to invest in some throw pillows to make guests (or yourself) more comfortable.
7. Remote control apps
There are tons of smart apps available that offer total control of your home theater system right from your smartphone. Basically, they allow you to change the channel, pick a movie, control the volume, and turn the system on and off without using a traditional remote control. Another great thing about these remote control apps is that most are free, and you don’t have to pay for anything unless you want to remove the ads.
If you want to set up a home theater but don’t have enough space elsewhere, your next best option is your bedroom. With the items mentioned above, you can create your very own mini cinema in your bedroom–just don’t be surprised if everyone else in the family suddenly wants to hang out in your room, too.