Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Coco Warner Reporting Neighbors are no longer competing over who has the best-looking lawn or fastest car. They're now talking about home theaters. The idea is how to best create the movie-going experience, without leaving the comfort of your own home.
We're trying to improve the quality of your life this month, and today Coco Warner looks at where we live.
Call it the continuation of an ever-growing trend. People are making their places into palaces. Our lawns now resemble small parks. Our kitchens, gourmet restaurants. Our family rooms, movie theaters.
But how can you get the movie-like experience without breaking the bank?
The picture, the sound-- very impressive. Whisper walls make the most of a sound system hidden within custom-made cabinetry.
Even the seating is deluxe.
Greg Furch/Central Home Systems: "This particular system here electronics-wise would be 75 to 100 thousand dollars, plus the room treatments."
While the ability to watch five different channels at the same time is nice, most of us are working with a smaller budget.
Greg Furch/Central Home Systems: "Probably the biggest mistake people make is they don't plan a room very well."
Good planning will save you money. Before you frame, figure out what kind of system you want-- and then design the room with your equipment in mind.
Where will the screen, speakers and projector go? How many people will the room seat? What about lighting? How will sound from this room affect other parts of the house?
Greg Furch/Central Home Systems: "One, not considering windows. People put a tv opposite windows, then wonder why they can't see the TV. Not leaving enough room for equipment. Cabinets are almost always too shallow."
Coco Warner: "Another common mistake that people make is running their high voltage and low voltage wires together. You want to make sure that there's distance between them, or that you cross them perpendicularly."
Greg Furch/Central Home Systems: "Another concern would be equipment cabinets. It's pretty common to get a lot of equipment in there that generates a lot of heat. And the heat ruins the equipment. Actually, it will make it fail."
So make sure the equipment is well-ventilated. And simple wall hangings help with acoustics.
To go from this-- to this, may not be practical, but you can get close!
Greg Furch/Central Home Systems: "Your kids are in your house or their neighbor's. The friends are at your house, and you have really control of that whole environment. You know what they're doing and you can enjoy it with them."
We have a link to a few websites that can help you get started. And the Home Depot is also offering up another $250 gift card.
Email your information, name, address, phone number and date of birth to contests@ksl.com. We'll announce the second winner next Tuesday, when we start talking about ways to improve your finances.
