Home Theater Special Features: How to Transform Movie Night from Ordinary to Extraordinary

The finishing touches on a home theater space can make a measurable difference in the overall home theater experience. There are special features that many choose to add to their home theaters that are not necessarily a requirement for a high level of entertainment; however, their presence drastically, and positively, affects not only how but how much the audience members are able to enjoy the home theater presentation.

Special features can range from the simple to the complex and the possibilities are endless. Beginning with automatic door closers, and stretching to motion technology for seating, the special features added to any home theater can change a generic family room into a full-blown theater experience. Special features do not have to set the homeowner back financially, and what they add to the home theater is priceless. For example, automatic door closers integrated into the home theater are most often a small commercial type that may be purchased at popular do-it-yourself retailers. They basically mount on the top of the door and they resemble the larger ones that are seen at commercial locations in function yet are smaller in size. Often times when automatic doors are used for a home theater, the knobs and latches are omitted. In their place are the door closers and other commercial features like a push/pull handle to create the feel of a real theater. Another special feature that has become popular among owners of home theater technology is D-box motion technology built into the seats. D-box motion technology is used in high tech motion chairs that actually move with the movie. Although high definition is a goal for many theater owners, the experience comes full circle when the viewer becomes part of the movie itself.

Home theater special features are not necessarily limited to movies and cinemagic. There have been projects constructed for families that create a multi-media all-purpose room. For example, for the family who enjoys karaoke beyond the basic sing along may be fitted for a system that has a wireless microphone with a karaoke player. By installing a stage in front of the theater and using the large screen display in place for the theater, any family member or guest can stand up on the stage, look back across the seats to the back wall where a smaller LCD monitor is installed for the lyrics. Yet another special design idea may allow the owner to incorporate a special sports affinity or thematic affiliation into the scheme. What any home theater owner must remember is that special features are so-named for a reason. There are features that are commonly found in all home theaters, such as a large screen TV and platform seating. However, what makes features special is how they affect those who use them.

A correctly designed theater is like a custom-fitted puzzle. Many factors need to come together in harmony to create the desired effect. Because a home theater has is expected to generate a lot of entertainment and excitement in a compact space, it is very important to think through the design plan and fine tune it before any building begins. If one aspect is sized wrong or improperly configured, the results can be devastating. Regardless of what, and how many, special features are incorporated into the home theater space, it is most important that the home theater owner carefully plan for the space while taking the time to add those special touches that will make the space a unique experience each time it is used.