The first step in home theater design is to look for inspiration. You’ve probably looked through a couple of magazines or searched the Internet for possible designs. If not, you should do this first. Look through each design and write down what you like the most about each home theater set up whether it’s the furniture, color scheme, or equipment. Then, it’s time to look at each part and come up with several possible buys. The most important part of your home theater will be your furniture. Your furniture is what will give you comfort and set the designs and pace for the rest of your home theater. When it comes to furniture, think about keeping it simple. Go with chairs that are comfortable and use colors such as black, gray, red, and beige.

Then think about what kind of furniture to get. If you are planning for big events or have a big family, it’s best to go with a sofa that seats 3-4 people. When hosting parties then it’s best to buy multiple sofas to seat everyone in your home theater. If you want a more intimate or casual setting, you can go with a recliner or a 2 person love seat. Some chairs actually come with a table and a chair riser for extra comfort and accommodation.

The same process will apply to getting your equipment. Think about what look you’re going for. Do you want to wall mount your TV or place it on an entertainment station? Do you want to connect all your components separately or do you want a digital receiver so you can control your TV, DVD, video game system, and speakers in one unit? If you don’t have anything set in stone yet, write down a list of possible buys and do some comparison shopping.

Lighting is the final element to completing your home theater. It’s best to get lighting where you can dim and brighten the lights. This will allow you to set up an intimate setting and a vibrant setting. The focus of the lighting should be centered but there can be an extra lamp on the side if you want to light up the whole room. Experiment by placing your light at different angles until you feel that it is just right. As a final tip, you should think about your budget. Think about how much you can afford to spend in each area. The furniture is really what makes your home theater so you should make sure you allocate a good budget to this aspect of the design. You can then move on to the equipment and finish up with the lighting to create the perfect environment for your friends and family.

Having made that statement, please know that if you are a traditional home decorator with a formal dining room that displays your fine dining furniture complete with chandelier, wainscoating and oriental rug, I think that’s great! And, I hope you find much enjoyment and satisfaction from the most traditional function of this space. For many readers, though, the formal dining area of the past may not prove to be a functional use of the space for you. And that leads to the three questions you need to ask yourself before making any decisions or purchases for your dining room decor and design project.

Consider your lifestyle before assuming that you will use this space as a dining area. For example, do you entertain and therefore need an area that can serve a group of guests? How many people currently live in your home…do you need a larger area for meals on a regular basis? Do you even like to cook??? Think about these things before planning to purchase a dining room set. Maybe you don’t need one!

Look at the function of the other rooms and spaces in your home. Is there a purpose for this space that would better serve your home and lifestyle? Some thoughts would be a home office, den/TV area, guest room, etc. Perhaps you are currently using a guest room as a home office, but would really love to have the guest room back. Well, here you go! Use the dining area, or a portion of it, for your office space. You get the idea… Perhaps a combination of the above would suit your lifestyle perfectly.

What is your budget for the purchase of furniture and overall dining room decorating? Whatever your decision as to the function of the room, be sure to do an honest evaluation of the budget. Consider the cosmetic costs, such as painting, flooring, decorative trim, built-ins and window treatments. Then, the actual furniture that will be put in the space, whether that will be a dining set of some sort, a home office setup or small conversation / TV area. Answer these three questions and you’ll be on your way to creating a dining room area that suits your lifestyle to a tee!