I'm building a new house with a basement for a dedicated theater room. Below is my first attempt at coming up with a room layout. Feedback and suggestions appreciated. The dimensions are 17'3" x 24'3" x 9' ceiling. I'm considering a JVC RS1 or similar with a 16:9 128" wide Dalite HiPower retroreflective screen. The entry needs to be at the rear since the other walls are concrete.

http://home.avvanta.com/~sesmith/house/theater.jpg
http://home.avvanta.com/~sesmith/house/theater1.jpg
Steve

Why are you creating an odd shaped area for your equipment closet? Wouldn't it make more sense to make the room rectangular with straight lines and a continuous flow? Have you thought about building the riser to encompass the entire back portion of your theater? If you have the ceiling height, a soffit would look nice in this space. What about sound isolation, proper speaker and seating placement, screen size and screen location in relation to proper sight lines? A proscenium with a stage would look spectacular in this space. Did you consider that in your design? Finally, many DIY'ers forget about the HVAC system for cooling. Don't overlook this important necessity!

There are many factors to consider when building a home cinema. The items I have mentioned above just scratch the surface. Good luck with your build!

Why are you creating an odd shaped area for your equipment closet? Wouldn't it make more sense to make the room rectangular with straight lines and a continuous flow?

I had a media storage cabinet in that corner but decided to move it because the speaker was too close.

Have you thought about building the riser to encompass the entire back portion of your theater?
I thought about it but thought it might look odd with the entry in the rear.

If you have the ceiling height, a soffit would look nice in this space.
Ceiling is 9'.


What about sound isolation, proper speaker and seating placement, screen size and screen location in relation to proper sight lines? A proscenium with a stage would look spectacular in this space. Did you consider that in your design? Finally, many DIY'ers forget about the HVAC system for cooling. Don't overlook this important necessity!?

There are many factors to consider when building a home cinema. The items I have mentioned above just scratch the surface. Good luck with your build!


For sound isolation I was thinking about using double drywall with green glue. Still working on the rest. Thanks for the advice!

Here's what I have after making some more changes. Moved the seating, door, speakers, added stage.

http://home.avvanta.com/~sesmith/house/theater2.jpg
Steve

Looks good. That's a really nice sized space. You should be able to get excellent performance if you pay attention to the details.

Excellent advice from Marc about the HVAC too. Look at it not only from a comfort aspect but also plan way ahead from an isolation standpoint.

Bryan

Why did you move the seating back in your diagram?

My first drawing had the front row at about 1.1 screen widths which is pushing it.