Home cinemas still the stars of high-end homes

Where better to enjoy the excitement of the BAFTAs or the glamour of the Oscars this year than in your own home cinema? Whether you’re a movie buff, a committed gamer or simply want to indulge in a Netflix binge – and with the pandemic driving memberships to surpass the 200-million-mark last year, you’re far from alone – then your own personally designed home cinema is the place to be.

Home cinemas have gone from being luxury additions to default items in higher end homes, according to design and build experts Oakbridge Bespoke. They can vary wildly in cost; the Oakbridge team has worked on designs ranging from £7,000 to £50,000 over the years.

For those currently considering their own home cinema systems, Steve Merchant, Oakbridge’s M&E Specialist for nearly two decades, is sharing top tips on achieving the ultimate cinematic experience at home.

“Home cinemas are an intensely personal part of the home design process. From flat versus tiered seating to speakers hidden in artwork, there are countless options from which clients can choose when it comes to the design. There are also technical decisions to be made, from screen resolution to the number and brand of speakers and the type of projector.” Steve Merchant, M&E Specialist, Oakbridge Bespoke

Steve’s advice is to focus on location first. The basements in our new build developments are ideal, as they are much easier to isolate from external light and sound.

It was a basement cinema – along with a sauna and wine cellar – that the Oakbridge Bespoke team included in their classic arts and crafts home for clients Alun and Debbie.
Those sound considerations work both ways. Cranking up the volume to immerse yourself in the cinematic experience can be a great way to escape reality for a couple of hours, but not if the sound disrupts everyone else in the house. This means you’ll likely need to factor additional sound-blocking materials and insulation into your plans – and your budget.

Next, think about the look and feel of the room. Do you want tiered seating or flat? What about active seating that moves and vibrates along with the movie for the ultimate immersive experience?

Your seating arrangement will have an impact on speaker placement. Another key sound consideration is whether you choose carpet or hard flooring, as that can have a huge impact on the way the sound moves through the room. Placing furniture around the side of the room can also interfere with the sound transmission.