How to Build a Home Theater Room

Prepare the room to be refurbished: Pull up old carpet, repaint walls in a dark color and spend some time rewiring the room so you can install overhead pin spotlights to obtain the maximum amount of control over lighting before, after and during the film.

Create a blueprint for your home theater-building project, using a computer-assisted design program, sketchpad or electronic draw pad. Take the blueprint with you when you shop for lumber, carpet, audio-visual equipment, furniture and paint so sales associates can see the amount of space you'll be refurbishing.

Invest in high-tech audiovisual equipment, since this will be the focus of your home theater room. You can choose a ceiling-mounted projection system with screen that comes packaged with sturdy braces, hardware and installation instructions. Another option is a large-screen HD screen/DVD player combination that can be wall-mounted or placed on a stand. Some steel and aluminum wall frames are sold separately.

Put your carpentry skills to work if you prefer your movie-viewing experience to emanate from a recessed screen. Cut out a section of drywall that's larger than the unit you've selected. Frame up a shadowbox using two-by-fours, so the indented area is deep enough for easy viewing but not so deep that you can't reach it to make repairs or adjustments to the picture.

Carpet your home theater room to add soundproofing -- particularly if your children love to run movies at full volume. Consider soundproofing your ceiling as well so those who aren't interested in the film don't suffer. Secure high-quality speakers to the walls with braces and platforms.

Construct a stadium seating unit if you love big projects and have the room. Craft the unit of plywood and lumber and bolt it to a back wall. Build the stadium-like seating unit to accommodate several twin-size mattresses. Cover the raw wood with carpet, using a commercial staple gun. Another option is purchasing home theater chairs to finish the room with style.