| Room lighting control is an important aspect for home | | | | downward and are not very translucent in order to |
| theaters - especially if you have a front-projector and | | | | minimize their reflections. Since I have a front projector |
| screen set-up. Video projectors often demand a | | | | and screen display in the living room - in addition to the |
| controlled lighting situation due to the lower brightness | | | | 32" Mitsubishi we use for normal viewing -- we have |
| of their displays. Room ambiance is another important | | | | vertical blinds which do a nice job of darkening the |
| function of lighting during a viewing as you most likely | | | | room. We also have velour drapes which can pull to |
| not want your guests to sit in darkness (unless it is a | | | | either side of the screen and do a great job of |
| really creepy horror flick). Reflected room lighting is a | | | | providing a controlled lighting environment for our |
| consideration as well as you do not want a glare on | | | | projector. You will want to do much the same -- have |
| the screen - whether it be ambient light from a | | | | your video display directed away from any windows |
| window or merely reflections of a lamp within your | | | | and use blinds with drapes to control daytime lighting |
| room. Ambient window lighting is major when | | | | from windows. |
| determining your living room layout or designing a | | | | Setting the Mood |
| dedicated viewing room. A dedicated room would of | | | | Wall sconce lamps located along the sides of your |
| course be best without windows altogether - if you | | | | room for ambiance during viewing in a dedicated |
| have the luxury of designing a room from scratch. | | | | theater room is a nice touch and lends to the |
| Glare Control and Picture Enhancement | | | | theater-esque atmosphere. Depending upon the overall |
| Room lighting control is relatively easy with a little | | | | decor and theme of your dedicated room sconces |
| planning. If you want to incorporate your home theater | | | | can be either plain or elaborately gaudy much like the |
| within your living or family room you will want to | | | | movie houses of yore. Basic sconces can be found at |
| postion your video display so that any ambient light | | | | a local Home Depot or lighting store. More elaborate |
| upon the screen is diminished or eliminated altogether. | | | | theater-looking sconces are available at specialty |
| Each time we have moved to a new home one of | | | | stores. A dedicated room will benefit from remote |
| my first considerations (much to the chagrin of my | | | | controlled lighting - or at least it will add a touch of |
| wife) is where we will place the TV in our living room. | | | | class to your theater. There are many varieties of |
| Since video is my profession I plan our living room | | | | remote controlled lighting which can be controlled either |
| layout around the TV and entertainment center (again | | | | by their standard controller or be included within a |
| to the chagrin of my wife). The TV is always placed | | | | macro-programmed command on one of the many |
| at an angle away from the main window in the room | | | | all-in-one macro-type remote controls such as the |
| in order to eliminate window reflections on the screen. | | | | Harmony H659 which I am quite pleased to own. |
| Our living room lamps have shades that direct lighting | | | | |