From Gloomy To Getaway: Turning The Cellar Into An Entertainment Venue

If you’ve been looking at the cellar for a while wondering what you can do to make it a useful, productive part of your home, you might consider transforming it into your very own theatre. Movie theatres are getting more and more expensive, and fighting the traffic is sometimes hardly worth the experience.

Instead, you could stay in and relax in your cosy basement watching your own big screen. Plus, the concessions are far less expensive, and the selection is better, too. Below are a few things to consider when making your basement into the home theatre you’ve always dreamed of.

The Screen

If it’s not a big screen, there’s no point in having your own home theatre. So when it’s time to go pick out that television screen, make sure you purchase the largest and highest quality television screen you can.

If it’s within your budget and it fits in the basement, the sky’s the limit. Anyone can sit in a living room and watch a small screen; this is a theatre in your own home, so keep that in mind when purchasing the electronic equipment for it.

Seating

Comfort is key when it comes to your seating arrangements. The more plush your seating is, the better it will be for those who come and visit. Make sure your seats have a cup holder, also, since it’s a rare occurrence for someone to not snack or have something to drink while watching a movie. Ensure comfort and your cellar cinema will be the neighbourhood hot spot, particularly with the kids.

Lighting

Adequate lighting is incredibly important. As you design your theatre space, keep in mind that you’ll want to have lighting that is bright and welcoming when the switch is on, but which can fade as needed.

Sometimes you don’t want a totally dark room when you’re watching a film, if for no other reason than safety concerns, so be sure to purchase a light that can be controlled with a dimmer.

Snacks

The last thing you want to do is make your guests (or yourself) run up and down the stairs when they want snacks. This is, after all, a home cinema, so make provisions for your own concession stand when drawing up the designs! Having a fridge and your own snack bar is a great way to keep treats close by and convenient.

Evaluation

When homeowners conduct their seasonal home maintenance, sometimes the basement gets forgotten. After all, until now you haven’t really used it, so why spend a lot of time and money in upkeep, right?

Well, if you’re going to host events in your cellar and use that area of your home in a functional manner, it’s crucial that you ensure all necessary maintenance has been done before embarking on your transformation. Not only will this help you avoid coding violations and fines, but it ensures the safety of all who use your basement theatre.

If you’re not sure where to start, your local home warranty company can be of help. These companies can help you prioritise your maintenance needs and assist you in making the necessary upgrades. A little bit of pre-planning will allow you to rest easy in your new home cinema.

Transforming the cellar into a home theatre of your dreams is possible, and it will be a very exciting project. In addition to the above considerations, make sure you have a decent audio and speaker system, as well, as studies have shown that quality audio can make or break a home theatre system. Be safe, plan well, and design an efficient space for entertaining, and soon your house may be the new local movie theatre.