Get More Out of Your Southlake, TX or Vail, CO Entertainment Space
For many homeowners, the dream of owning a customized home theater is not only possible, but it’s completely attainable. Having a room specifically optimized for perfect audio and video entertainment, that mimics the feeling of going out to the movies, is some of the most fun you can have on your property. However, many homeowners also know it’s not enough; whether they want to entertain guests or enjoy a different environment with their content, secondary home theaters are becoming a popular option. In this blog, we’ll show you how you can enjoy one for yourself.
Selecting a Space
Just like with a primary home theater, you’ll need to select a space. Oftentimes this has less to do with optimal room for high-end equipment and more to do with the areas you like to use most frequently. This could be a pool house, room above the garage or even your backyard. The goal is to upgrade a commonly used space with access to endless entertainment options.
Choosing the Technology
Because the space you’ve selected will likely not have the same conditions as the primary home theater, you’ll want a system that makes the most out of what’s there. Below, we’ve listed a number of types of tech to get you started:
AV (obviously): You can’t have a home theater without audio video equipment. In your primary, you probably have a 4K UHD HDR projector and full Dolby Atmos surround sound. In a pool house, you may not have the appropriate conditions for Atmos. Many homeowners choose wireless options like Sonos, though most AV specialists recommend hardwired options to ensure reliable usage.
Screen: The white screen you have in your primary probably won’t do in pool house or above-garage room lighting conditions. Consider a high-contrast gray or black screen that rejects light from any source not directly in front of it. For outdoor options, consider a rear-projection setup, which we’ve covered in previous blogs.
Lighting and Shading: While many home theaters are designed in windowless rooms, your secondary probably won’t have that option. Automated lights and motorized shades are a great idea that helps add privacy to any space.
Connecting Your System
There are two options when it comes to connecting your secondary home theater system, and depending on your home and your budget, either may be the right one for you. The first is integrating it with the smart system you use for your regular house. The benefits of this are obvious: a single controller for every piece of technology in your home and access to a single server full of your movies and TV shows. It often works best when the secondary home theater room is connected to the main house, which can make wiring simpler.
The second is installing a separate system. While it’s possible to connect a satellite house to the main system, many homeowners choose to integrate a separate one-room system for pool houses or other remote areas. This has the benefit of avoiding undue strain on your network bandwidth when multiple displays are running at once.
Does a secondary home theater sound right for you? Contact Futurian Systems today for more information!