Start with a plan, not a shopping cart
The most expensive home theater mistake is buying gear first and planning later. The projector that does not fit the throw distance. The speakers that overwhelm the room. The screen that is too big for the seating distance. We see the aftermath regularly: good money spent on equipment that fights the room instead of fitting it.
Design flips that around. We plan the room first — layout, screen size, speaker placement, seating, lighting, control — then pick the gear that fits the plan and your budget. The result costs less than the trial-and-error route and performs better from day one.
What the design covers
Room layout: where the screen goes, where the seats go, how many seats fit with proper sightlines. We work from your room's real measurements and proven viewing-distance guidelines — not guesses. If you are building or remodeling, we advise on room dimensions, door placement, and riser heights before construction locks you in.
Video plan: projector or TV, screen size and type, mounting position, and light control needs. We calculate throw distances, check brightness against your room's light, and make sure the image will be sharp and punchy — on paper, before anything is purchased.
Audio plan: speaker layout drawn for your room — how many speakers, what type, exactly where each one goes. Subwoofer placement. Acoustic treatment plan: which walls, how many panels, where the bass traps go. All of it specific to your space.
Control and lighting plan: how the system will be controlled (single remote, app, voice), what the lights do during a movie, shade control if needed. The experience design, not just the equipment list.
Budget planning, honestly
We design to your budget — and we are straight about what different budgets buy. We will show you where the money matters most (speakers and room treatment punch above their price; fancy cables do not) and where you can save without regret. If your dream room exceeds your budget, we phase it: build the room and core system now, add Atmos overheads or seating upgrades later. The design accommodates the future from day one.
We also tell you when to stop. There is a point of diminishing returns in every room — past it, you are paying for spec-sheet bragging rights, not visible improvement. We would rather design you a $8,000 room that wows than a $20,000 room that wows exactly the same.
For new construction and remodels
Building a home or remodeling? This is the best time to call us — before the drywall goes up. Pre-wiring during construction is cheap and invisible; adding wires after is expensive and messy. We work with your builder or remodeler on wire plans: speaker wire, HDMI conduits, network drops, power locations. We also advise on room dimensions — small changes during framing (a foot wider here, a higher ceiling there) make a big difference in the finished theater.
We have worked with builders across Greater Orlando's new communities. We speak contractor, we show up when scheduled, and our wire plans are clear enough that any electrician can follow them.
Consultation for DIY builders
Want to do the work yourself but want a pro plan? We offer design-only consultation. You get the full design package — layout, equipment list, wiring plan, calibration guide — and you execute it. Then we come back at the end for calibration and programming if you want. It is the best of both worlds: pro design, DIY savings, and a system that actually works when you are done.
Designing for a remodel
Remodeling a room anyway? That is the perfect time to design the theater in. Walls are open, electricians are on site, and changes cost a fraction of what they cost after the drywall is up. We coordinate with your remodel timeline.
The design package for a remodel includes everything the trades need: speaker wire runs marked on the plans, HDMI conduit paths, power outlet locations (behind the screen, at the projector, in the equipment closet), network drops for streaming, and lighting plans with dimmer locations. Your electrician follows our drawings; we come back after paint for the install and calibration.
We also advise on remodel decisions that affect theater performance: door placement (every door is a sound leak and a layout constraint), window sizes (smaller is better for light control), and ceiling height (higher is better for Atmos). Small choices during the remodel, big payoff in the finished room.
Phasing: build the room now, grow it later
Not every budget fits the dream room on day one. Phasing builds it in stages without wasting money. Phase one is the foundation: room prep, wiring for everything (wire is cheap during construction), screen, projector, and a 5.1 speaker system. Phase two adds the Atmos overheads, the acoustic treatment upgrade, or the second row of seating. Phase three: the premium seats, the smart lighting, the popcorn machine.
The key: phase one includes all the infrastructure — wires, conduits, power — so later phases are plug-and-play instead of rip-and-replace. We design the full vision up front, then slice it into budget-sized phases. You get a great room on day one and a clear upgrade path, with no money spent twice.
What the design package includes
When we deliver a design, you get a complete package — not a sketch on a napkin. Room layout drawings with screen and seating positions dimensioned. A speaker layout showing every speaker location. An equipment list with specific models at two or three price points. A wiring plan your electrician can follow. An acoustic treatment layout. And a lighting and control plan.
Everything is explained in plain language — what each piece does and why we chose it. The package is yours to keep whether we build it or not. Many clients use it to get apples-to-apples bids from other installers, which is fine with us: a real plan makes every bid better, including ours.
Our process
We visit your home (or review your blueprints), measure and assess, and talk through goals and budget. You get a written design package: layouts, equipment recommendations with options at different price points, and a clear scope. If you want us to build it, the design fee applies toward the installation. If you want to DIY or get other bids, the plan is yours to keep.
Every room is different — contact us for a free in-home estimate.
Call (301) 679-9193 or send the form for a free in-home estimate.