The term “home theater”A small space for watching movies used to be called a cinema. Later, flat screens were introduced and HD technology was developed. Video games industry also increased the appeal of the consoles, PlayStation and Wii devices that are accessible to all age groups. The home theater has evolved into an additional family room with so many uses.
How do you make one room adaptable enough to accommodate all activities? It is easy! It’s easy! According to the American Lighting Association, all you have to do to improve your lighting in order to please the movie buff, the electronic gamer or the sports fan.
“The affordability and popularity of big-screen TVs, high-quality sound and home entertainment systems has created many opportunities for using specialized lighting to enhance the experience,”Joe Rey Barreau, an architect and education consultant to the ALA, is also an associate professor at University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design.
Think in layers, regardless of whether your home theater is being built new or renovated. Rey-Barreau states that a lighting level is a unique type of fixture, which is distinct from others in the same space. Three layers would include, for example, a room with recessed downlights, decorative fixtures in the middle of the room and wall sconces along one wall. The switches and dimmers would control each of the three types.
“The objective of using layers is to create lighting options for different tasks and activities in that space,” Rey-Barreau explains. A recessed light can be turned off, and the decorative lighting at ceiling and wall sconces should be dimmed to provide the perfect lighting to allow the whole family to enjoy a movie. Rey Barreau recommends that children play video games or watch cartoons with recessed lighting at maximum output.
Visit your local ALA member lighting showroom to learn how to properly light your home theater, family movie room, or other space. Visit the ALA’s website www.americanlightingassoc.comFind a store close to you
