Creative Home Theater Design on a Budget

Everyone wants a home theater and it's possible to design one on a budget. There are plenty of stunning designs on the Internet that you can select from, but these can get very costly - especially when you talk about the different themes. If you don't have the $2 million laying around for a Pirates of the Caribbean themed home theater, you don't have to worry. You can still get amazing sound and image resolution on a budget.

Before you can proceed with anything else, you have to determine where your home theater system is going. You need enough space to be able to accommodate everyone that could be coming over and you need the darkest environment possible. If you have a basement, this can make your theater design more affordable because you don't have to worry about windows causing you problems with seeing the screen.

You will need some basics for your home theater - a TV or projector, a receiver, speakers, seating, and if you want to go all-out, a movie-style popcorn machine. No one says that you have to go to the top of the line electronics store to get everything. There are a lot of deals that can be found on such sites as eBay and Craigslist. You can even find new ones on the sites.

Tips for crating the ideal home theater:

When you start looking at a TV that will fit the space, you may be able to have a 100" TV. If you look at the cost of such a TV, it may not be within your price range. This is why it may be more cost-effective to get an HD projector. This can provide a quality image and then you just buy a screen. Until you have the money for a screen, a white wall or even a white sheet will work in the meantime.

Know where the money needs to be spent. Buying fancy HD cables aren't going to provide you with any added benefits. Forget the gold-plated HDMI cables. Don't worry about the top of the line stadium seating recliners. You can always get a leather sofa to put in the home theater and everyone will be just as comfortable if not more so. You want to spend your money on things that will have a significant impact on the quality of the sound. Surround speakers can make all the difference in the world. Don't rely on the ones built into your TV. Also keep in mind the importance of HD options. DirecTV is a popular source for a wide variety of HD channels. Pick up DirecTV using www.SaveonTVDirect.com and you can also get three free months of Starz and Cinemax.

It's entirely possible to design a home theater on a budget. Use your friends and what they are good at to help you take the DIY approach as much as possible. Exchange it for an invitation to have a movie marathon or come over and watch the big game when it's on. You may be surprised by just how creative your theater can be.

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