The term "home theater" is used to cover a wide variety of home entertainment situations – some little more than an arrangement of speakers and a television. A true home theater, however, is much more than a collection of components. And unlike "home-theater-in-a-box" systems, a real home theater faithfully replicates the experience of going to the movies.

If you are interested in a true home theater, the first thing to know is the advantage of a "designated space." A designated space is a room in the home that is reserved exclusively for a particular activity. The kitchen, for example, is a designated space for preparing food. A home theater is a designated space for enjoying movies.

Everything that will go inside the home theater, from the seating to the wall treatment, will be chosen to create the best possible environment for viewing movies. But it all starts with the room itself. A true home theater doesn't double as a guest bedroom or an office or anything else; it is what it is: a home theater. It does its job and it does it well.

What sort of room makes a good home theater? The choices are many. If you are adding a home theater to an existing home, there are many options – a spare bedroom, an unused office or storage area, an area over the garage. Pretty much any room of adequate dimensions can be converted into a home theater. The minimum dimensions of a room suitable for a home theater are about 10 feet wide by 15 feet long and about 8 feet high.

If you are building a new home, designate a room with sufficient dimensions and appropriate accessibility. If you anticipate using the home theater for business entertainment, a ground floor room or a space away from the family living area, such as a garage or pool house, might be preferable.

The layout of a Hollywood post-production dubbing stage is based on what acoustical experts have determined is the optimal arrangement of equipment and seating. It's no coincidence this same set-up is used in commercial movie theaters. Clearly the best way to reproduce the sound filmmakers put into their films is to make a listening area (the theater) as much as possible like the place where the soundtrack was created.

The same kind of planning goes into the acoustical design of a home theater. After a careful analysis of the size and shape of the space, the appropriate speakers and subwoofers are selected and are precisely arranged around the room. Each component is then calibrated (in other words, balanced) in relation to the other components, the screen and the seats. This creates the wonderful rich sound associated with commercial theaters.

Designers of commercial theaters also have to think about sightlines. Every person in the theater has to have a good view of the screen. To achieve this, risers are used to elevate succeeding rows of seats. Risers are also a useful element in a home theater. Not only do they enable the theater to accommodate more guests with additional seating, they provide an excellent hiding place for wiring.

By incorporating the main features of a commercial theater, home theater designers can effectively recreate the sound and picture quality of a commercial theater. The result is that home theater audiences, like those at the Cineplex, enjoy a film to its fullest.

Proper theater seating is a crucial part of a successful home theater. Seats need to be attractive, of course. But unlike other furniture in the home, great theater seats have specific characteristics.

Theater seats are pleasantly comfortable but not so much so as to encourage napping. They might recline, but because space in a home theater is at a premium, they might "incline" instead: An inclining seat moves forward as the seatback reclines, thus requiring less room. Theater seats also feature "articulating headrests" that support the neck without blocking sound, as would conventional high-back chairs.

Home theater seating comes in a wide variety of styles. In addition to single chairs, loveseats and three-seat sofas are also available. Seat covering materials include leather, suede and fabric. Homeowners can also select a covering material of their own choosing.

A home theater is a natural gathering place for guests to the home. As such, it needs to be impressive, welcoming and reflective of the personal style of the homeowners. Great design, rich in authentic detail, makes visiting a home theater a truly special event. Visually, everything in the home theater --from floor to ceiling-- refers to the cinema. The main focus of the room is always the screen area. Decoratively framed, the screen may be hidden behind a velvet curtain. Walls are generally adorned with beautiful woods or fabrics that enhance the acoustics. Indirect lighting provided by wall sconces or recessed fixtures sets the mood for a genuine theater experience. Homeowners can further the movie experience by adding features like a popcorn machine, a snack bar or a complete lobby area outside the theater with a display of coming attractions. There are many home theater styles to choose from. Some are highly ornate, like the movie palaces of yesteryear. Others are more subtle in their design. Go to the Designs section to view a wide selection of home theaters.

To learn more about home theater, consult a professional home theater custom installer. To find a qualified installer, contact a professional association such as the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) or the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).