Home theatre lighting is an important topic to consider when building your new theatre. Although you may primarily be watching your movies with the lights out, you will still want to have good lighting coverage to set just the right mood for various occasions.
The right atmosphere can really enhance your enjoyment of a movie. Uncontrolled ambient light can wash out colours on front projector systems. Insufficient ambient light can make viewing a movie in total darkness result in eyestrain. Properly placed accent lights can help draw the eye to certain features of your new home theatre.
Perimeter down lights should be on your list. If you intend placing lighting near the projector screen, make sure they can be separately switched. This will allow you to watch a movie whilst having the side and rear down lights on. If there is additional Lighting above the seating, this should also be separately switched or dimmable.
Some home theatres have 5 to 6 lighting circuits. This is particularly useful when you have the following lighting:
- Front down lights.
- Side down lights
- Rear down lights
- Centre reading lights
- LED Cove or Bulkhead special effect lighting
- Step Lighting
Consider a Smart Lighting system like C-bus. You don’t need to have your whole house wired for C-bus. You can be selective. Consider the Home Theatre as your first choice. C-bus will give you the ability so that with a single touch of a remote control, your projector turns on, the amplifier turns on, the inputs are automatically selected, the volume is set, and the Movie begins to play whilst the lights gently dim. Press the 'pause" button and have the lights come on at 40%.
Having the correct lighting in your home will make all the spaces feel comfortable ad enjoyable, no matter how you use your home.