If you’re thinking about installing a theater in your home, there is only one question you must ask yourself. How much do I want to spend? At the very least, a midsized television and a simple surround sound system will set you back about $800 to $1000. The prices climb from there.

For a modest home theater, constructed in a dedicated space such as your basement, you can spend just about as much as you would like to. To put some numbers on the equipment, let’s say a decent projector starts at around $5000, but with so many choices and options to choose from, this number can be drastically higher. A common 5.1 channel surround sound system, such as Bose offers, ranges from $2000 to $3000 depending on the exact model. To their advantage, these surround sound systems often come with speakers, meaning there is no added expense to add them. Source equipment such as DVD players, Blue-Ray players, or any of the many computerized versions also vary wildly in price. If you are computer savvy, you may very well use one for your source, giving you an excuse to go buy a new model for the home office.

For the home theaters that use a projector (rather than a television) the screen is yet another expense. While most people think of the old fashioned pull-down projector screens, there are actually many more options. Motorized versions of the standard screen will let you retain the look of the theater space when not in use, while a painted wall screen will look much more like a real movie theater.

Using a ceiling mounted projector keeps the expensive bits up and out of the way of seats and sodas, and keeps the image free from the shadows of those who get up in the middle of a movie. For those who really want to wow the crowd, a motorized projector mount will automatically raise and lower the unit from a hidden space in the ceiling. When planning the projector location, remember that small movements in the projector will produce large distortions in the on-screen image. It may be necessary to beef up the structure where the projector is mounted to avoid a shaky movie when people walk around or close doors elsewhere in the house.

Lighting in a home theater is a critical area. Basements are the most common place to install a theater, primarily due to the previously unused space, but also due to the lack of daylight. Projector based theaters will suffer poor image quality if the amount of ambient light is too high, so you’ll either have to choose a space with no windows, or invest in thick dark curtains.

It’s also a good idea to install dimmers on any light fixtures in the theater space in order to get that authentic movie theater experience. Dimmers let you see where you’re walking if you have to get up during the film without washing out the picture. For a few dollars extra, there are dimmers that come with a remote control so you can adjust the light level from the front row.

If you’re constructing the space specifically for use as a theater, consider how many people will be watching with you. If there will be more than 4 or 5, multi-level seating might be something you should consider. It doesn’t take much of a rise in floor height to allow the people in the back row to easily see over your head. An 8 inch high platform for the rear row of seating is usually sufficient.

While we think of controlling light by the use of shades and dimmers, there are still a lot of little blinky lights and indicators on most of today’s audio and video equipment. Better installations typically hide these components in a cabinet or other out of the way spot. In order to avoid having to open he cabinet door and point your remote control directly at the equipment, and IR repeater can be used to redirect remote control signals from the screen area to the equipment location (it’s much more intuitive to point the remote at the screen, even if there’s no actual equipment there).

Stop in at just about any electronics store and you’ll be assaulted by the dizzying number of options in surround sound equipment. 3.1, 5.1, 7.1, subwoofers, center channel speakers, the list goes on and on. For a decent theater experience, 5.1 is the way to go. Basically, the 5 means that there are 5 speakers, the 1 means there is 1 subwoofer. The 5 speakers in this configuration are left front, right front, left rear, right rear, and center front. The subwoofer can be placed anywhere in the room, and provides only very low frequency sounds, such as explosions and other thumps and bumps. 7.1 adds 2 more speakers, left and right, which are placed opposite each other, on either side of the room. For those who want to move up to the next step in movie audio, 10.2 (sometimes referred to as IMAX) adds yet another subwoofer (the .2), 2 overhead speakers (yes, overhead), 2 more front speakers, and 3 more rear speakers. While this is (currently) the ultimate in home theater audio, it is uncommon in all but the most expensive home setups. The next step would be 22.2 surround sound, which actually exists, but this author has yet to find a commercially available system.

Now that you’ve chosen your equipment, it’s time to decorate. Besides the aforementioned lighting and curtains, other areas to concentrate on serve multiple functions. Large comfortable seats, or maybe a nice couch will provide hours of comfortable seating. While it does keep you from having to stand throughout the movie, large plush seats also absorb echoes and other noises for better sound quality. Carpeting has the same effect, and should be installed with the thickest padding possible.

Wall paints should be subdued colors, in either flat or eggshell finishes to avoid reflecting light. Ceilings are typically painted flat white, but flat black is better if the projector is ceiling mounted.

If using a raised platform for the rear seating area, consider installing small step lights at the edge of the platform. While this will make your theater look more authentic, it will more importantly keep you from spilling your soda when returning to your seat. Not much light is needed for these lights, as they are simply marking the edge of the step, rather than illuminating the step itself.

There are some finishing touches that can make your home theater an even better experience. Find a spot near the rear of the theater to put a microwave oven for the popcorn. A storage area for the DVD collection that is easy to see and access will avoid the inevitable pile of empty DVD cases piled up in the corner. Classic movie posters are always a welcome addition, particularly if they are framed, or even better, placed in lighted frames.

Now that the lights are dimmed, and the popcorn aroma is wafting through the air, it’s time to start the movie. Grab the remote control for the projector and turn it on. Find the remote for the DVD player and turn that on. Which remote turns on the sound system? This one I think. Maybe it’s that one. Uh oh, batteries are dead. Ugh!

There’s a solution. The universal remote control. These all-in-one units combine all of your remote controls into one unit, allowing you to control everything with one device. While some TV and stereo remote controls will allow you to program an additional device or two to control, these usually don’t offer the same functionality as the universal remotes. The better universal remote controls have backlit keypads for easy operation in the dark, and some models use a touch screen for even more control. The models designed specifically for home theater use typically allow you to create macros, or shortcuts, that can perform multiple functions with a single button press. Press the Movie button, and the projector turns on, the DVD player starts, the surround sound system powers up, and the lights dim down. While they are often battery hogs, at least there is only one set of batteries to change. A few models combat this by using rechargeable batteries.

While there are many options to choose from for both equipment and location, installing a home theater can give both your home and your family a boost. If you have a large family, it might even pay for itself by avoiding the high prices of the movie theater. The key point to remember is to decide on a budget first. This fact is evident if you hire an audio visual company to build your theater. It is typically the first question they will ask.