HED Mag

One of the many overlooked aspects of a home entertainment room is the quality of the lighting. Sure you can still enjoy your new plasma TV and surround sound with standard light fixtures, but for the truly optimal experience, explore some of the ways you can install theater lighting for a reasonable price.A popular style of light used in movie and TV rooms is recessed lighting. These are lights that sit inside the ceiling so the bottom face is even with the ceiling. The easiest installation of these devices is done when building a new home, but certain products are made for retrofit and can be put to use without extensive remodeling. These lights can highlight a certain area of the room and they also serve to create a larger more open feel to a space because there is no obtrusive device hanging from the ceiling. When placing your recessed lights, be sure to space them out so as not to create a runway look. (more…)

A home theater is a big investment, and you want it to come out just right. To avoid any head slapping or dissatisfaction, be sure to steer clear of these common mistakes:

1. DON’T buy the wrong size TV: A big TV is a must, but make sure the size is appropriate for the room you’re putting it in. Also take into consideration the viewing distancethe larger the TV, the farther away you need to sit.
2. DON’T place the TV on a wall opposite a window: Darkness is the ultimate lighting for watching TV. Especially if you’re using a projector. While curtains can easily fix this problem, make sure they are thick so no light can pass through them.
3. DON’T settle for cheap speakers: you probably feel like you’ve spent so much money on audio and video equipment that you should save on speakers. DON’T. Take the time to listen to speakers before you buy them. You don’t have to spend thousands, just make sure you’re paying for high quality. (more…)