It has never been a better time to be a film buff. Whilst going out to the cinema to see a movie on the big screen will always be the premium way of watching a movie, there are a number of ways you can make the home viewing experience just as great.

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This post will discuss 5 of the best ways to make your movie night better, through tailored suggestions. By the end of the post, you will hopefully have all of the information you need to make your home viewing experience feel almost as good as going to the movies does.

1. Comfort is Everything

Ever heard of the saying “from the comfort of your home”?. This is arguably the most important factor to consider when putting together your own viewing space. Being comfortable in your own home, and by extension, when watching a movie can elevate the experience to another level. One of the first things that a good cinema should aim to do is to make audiences comfortable, and crucially, keep them comfortable. If your movie room is not comfortable to relax in, then what is the point? Below are a few seating option recommendations, tailored towards varying sizes and needs.

Glostad (IKEA)

If you have a smaller space, this may be the right option for you. Coming from everyone’s favourite Swedish furniture company, IKEA’s Glostad 2-seater is a great option for those constrained by budget or space. Available in medium blue and dark grey. £129 – IKEA

The 3 Seater Albert Sofa Bean Bag (Big Bertha)

For those who want to max out on comfort, this 3-seater bean bag sofa could be the ideal candidate. Perfect for lounging in front of the TV, this sofa is essentially a giant bean bag. It comes in numerous fabrics and colours, so it can be tailored to your room’s decor. £249.90 – bigberthaoriginal

3 2 1 Recliner Sofa Set (The Sofa Shop)

This recliner set, which includes 3 sofas, all reclining, with the largest fitted with cupholders and a drop down table, would transform your movie room into somewhere which could be hard to leave. In some ways recreating the social aspect of the theatre experience, with multiple units dedicated to catering for group watches, this sofa set is ideal for those wanting to curate the ultimate home-viewing experience. £1,149 – The Sofa Shop

2. Screen Big

Another vital step in crafting the best possible movie room is an obvious one: the screen. Whilst it is most likely impossible to recreate this aspect of the cinema experience (unless you have a really big house), there are some important factors to consider when purchasing your movie room TV which can help to step up your viewing experience. Here are some suggestions for screens which will really make the movie or show you’re watching pop.

Epsom EX3280 (Amazon)

Another idea for those with limited space: try a projector. The EX3280 from Epsom is one of the best lower-budget options on the market. Boasting a dynamic contrast ratio up to 15,000:1 and 3,600 lumens of colour and white brightness, this small unit is connected via HDMI, so you can stream directly from your TV box or console without any complications. $445 (£351) – Amazon

Hisense 55 Inch VIDAA Smart TV (Amazon)

For a small to mid-size room, this budget-friendly option from Hisense may be the choice for you. Supporting 4K resolution and supported by Dolby Vision, this would make an excellent movie screen. £328 – Amazon

LG OLED evo C3 77″ 4K Smart TV 2023 (Amazon)

For the ultimate viewing experience, look no further than this 77″ 4k Smart TV from LG. Sporting a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and cutting-edge super AI-upscaling technology, this would be a smart choice for creating the perfect movie room. £2389 – Amazon

3. Sounds Important

Another vital aspect of movie room curation is sound. Sound is just as important as visuals, as those designing a cinema know all too well. From sound-proofing the room (to ensure people not in the room aren’t hearing the film too), to picking the perfect sound system, below are some suggestions to improve the audio experience of your movie room.

JBER 12-Pack Acoustic Foam Panels (Amazon)

If sound is a concern, look no further than these sound-proofing. This is just an example, however there are tons of options to choose from online. £13.58 – Amazon

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (Amazon)

This soundbar from Sonos would be a great choice for those with a smaller space. A big positive of the second generation of the Sonos Beam is that there is potential to expand your soundscape, as you can add additional speakers to your Sonos system. £435 – Amazon

Sony HT-A9 (Curry’s)

A sleek and effective package, this 4 speaker set would make an excellent addition to any movie room. Creating an immersive 360 degree experience, they are designed to bounce sound off the ceilings to make the best overhead audio possible. £1799 – Curry’s

4. Light It Up

Some nice additions to make your movie room even more immersive is to add some lighting features. Here are a few recommendations to make your movie night even better.

Govee Alexa LED Strip Lights 5m (Amazon)

Reacting to the content on the screen, these lights stick to the back of your TV, creating the effect of an expanded screen through the backlighting. It can also be controlled via Alexa and Google Assistant for easier access. £24.99 – Amazon

Bundle: Hue sync box + Play gradient lightstrip (55″ TVs) + Bridge (Philips Hue)

Highly recommended, Philips Hue system work amazingly, connecting via HDMI through the sync box to reflect the images on screen. It is also very easy to add new products to your system, making your movie room even more exciting. £427.47 – Philips Hue

5. Quality is Everything

When you go to a cinema, the movies are shown on film. Obviously, this isn’t possible at home. The best way of replicating the crispness and quality of a cinema viewing experience is through buying your movies and TV series physically. Watching your content on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra-HD discs is probably the closest you can get to film.

Consider Criterion

The Criterion Collection licenses, restores and distributes ‘important classic and contemporary films’, releasing new movies monthly into their growing collection. When you buy a Criterion release, it feels special. It’s not just another movie added to the collection, but an investment akin to a vinyl record. Although it is in reality a Blu-Ray, the championing of restoring cinema in physical form is vital to the future of film as we know it.

So that was the 5 best ways to make your movie night better. You hopefully have all of the information you need to make your home viewing experience feel almost as good as going to the movies does.

Last modified: March 6, 2024