PROPERTY NEWS - It's time to stock up on your microwave popcorn, because movie night season is about to begin. Now is the perfect time to get around to that home-theatre conversion before the cold and wet days set in.
"Home theatres add great value to any property - especially if you are in the luxury housing band. Buyers in this market are usually very tech-savvy and want a home that reflects their high-end lifestyle," says Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
The recipe for creating a home cinema includes just five ingredients: sound, screen, seating, shading and snacks. Get the mix of these ingredients right and you are well on your way to cinematic bliss.
Sound
According to Goslett, the difference between a living room and a home cinema is surround sound. There are various ways one can achieve a surround sound effect. A sound bar requires three walls in order to create that immersive sound experience, and will not create the same effect in an open-plan room. Goslett suggests wall-mounted speakers for these types of rooms.
The placement of the sub-woofer is also important. "Most people incorrectly believe that this should face them to best project the sound. In reality, the sound reverberates better off a solid brick wall than if it were directed into an open space," says Goslett.
Screen
"The biggest mistake people make is choosing a screen based on size. While projectors certainly give the room that cinematic look and feel, the image quality usually cannot compare to high-definition televisions," Goslett advises. In his experience, the deep contrast of plasma televisions create the best image quality in dark rooms, whereas the brightness of LED LCD screens is best suited for day-time series bingeing.
Seating
A movie marathon simply cannot exist without comfortable seating. Unless you like the feeling of icy leather brushing against your elbows, leather sofas should be avoided at all costs. For self-explanatory reasons, recliners are the trophies of home cinemas - especially those with built-in cup holders.
Shading
"Recreating the dark atmosphere of the cinema is one of those final touches one needs to achieve in creating an ultimate home theatre. This can be tricky to achieve if you have chosen an open-plan space for your theatre, but block-out blinds can be helpful in this regard," says Goslett.
Snacks
Snacks are the final touch that completes the sensory experience of the cinema. For that cinematic smell, add a popcorn machine to your home theatre. As a top tip, Goslett suggests that homeowners install a bar-fridge in the room so that they do not need to walk too far for refreshments mid-way through a movie.
"Creating a home theatre can be an expensive exercise, but the result could end up increasing the value of your home. If you have the space and the finances to make it happen, then there really is no reason why you shouldn't," Goslett concludes.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
