When a person pictures a home theater system, they might envision a large private theater in the mansion of a multimillionaire. What they don’t realize is that the person doesn’t have to have huge sums of money to create a home theater. It is an investment, of course, but not as much as one might think.

Technology has come down in price in recent years for equipment such as flat panels, rear projection televisions, projectors, and speaker systems. Furthermore, the increase in image quality thanks to high-definition televisions and Blu-Ray discs gives the viewer a picture just as clear as would be found at the local movie theater. A home theater can be set up in a modern home for a few thousand dollars rather than for tens of thousands of dollars.

Here are some tips and ideas for selecting and installing the perfect home theater system.

The most important part of a home theater is the television or projector. A projector would seem more fitting for a home theater system, as it emulates the projector commonly found in movie theaters, but in actuality a high-definition television may prove more useful. For instance, video projectors need a bulb light to function. If a person watches many hours of television a night, they may have to replace their bulb upwards of once a year. Furthermore, HDTVs now provide a clearer picture than most projectors. The upside to projectors, however, is that the size of your picture depends on the distance the projector is from the projected surface. For most people, a HDTV is a more practical option.

Just as important as the picture is the sound. After all, having an amazing picture but subpar sound would make for a dull and disappointing viewing experience. Choosing the correct sound system makes the viewer a part of the action. The best type of sound system is Cinema 5.1 surround sound, the most common type of which is Dolby Digital. 5.1 surround sound allows for six tracks of audio through five speakers and one subwoofer. These speakers include front left, front right, front center, low-frequency, back left and back right. This refers to the placement of the speakers in the home theater system. It is a fitting name, as Cinema 5.1 surround sound “surrounds” the audience and mimics the theater-going experience.

Of less importance than picture and sound but still a consideration is furniture. This is one area in which the home theater can be vastly superior to a movie theater. Movie theaters tend to have very uncomfortable and cramped seating. In person’s own home, however, they can include any type of expensive recliner and other seating that they wish. This allows for maximum comfort during an individual’s home theater viewing experience. Also a smaller consideration is home theater lighting. While some choose normal lighting fixtures, others install mood lighting complete with dimmer switches. This gives a person the ability to control the light levels in the room to the most minute detail.

It is plain to see how the right television, sound system, lighting and furniture can create a comfortable atmosphere for a theater in your own home. After installation, it is likely that a person will choose to spend movie nights at home rather than at the movie theater.