Television Placement

• The television is the focal point of any home-entertainment theater, so the setup of the television should receive much thought during planning. Do you want to set the TV in a cabinet, or do you want to mount it on the wall? If you plan to mount the TV on a wall, carefully consider the best height for viewing comfort. If the TV is too high, you may strain your neck to watch it. If it is mounted too low, items on your coffee table could block the view. It's also important to consider your TV's size and the proper viewing distance for that size. If you plan to purchase a new TV, be sure to consider room size and recommended viewing distance for the screen size of the TV you're considering. You may find that a smaller, less expensive TV is optimal for your home theater. Check a "viewing distance calculator" (see resources) for help determining the optimal TV size and distance.
  
  

Wiring

• While planning your home-entertainment theater, be sure to plot out what wires (such as RCA, Component, Composite, Optical or HDMI) will be needed where, and what they will connect. In this way, you can accurately purchase the necessary wiring and ensure all of your components will be wired in the most efficient way. By purchasing all wiring at once, you may be eligible for purchasing or shipping discounts at online stores that sell the needed wiring and other accessories.
  
  

Hiding the Wires

• With proper planning, you can eliminate much of the clutter often associated with home-entertainment theater setups by placing the proper wiring in your walls. If you want to store the components for your system closer to your sitting area than to the TV, you can do this easily. By running the necessary connection cables behind the walls, you can place your components away from the TV in a closet or cabinet. This creates a clean, smooth-looking home-entertainment theater setup. With this kind of setup, you will want to use an IR remote transmitter with a remote sensor placed under your TV to transmit signals to the components.
  
  

Speakers

• You will need to decide not only where you want to place your speakers, but how they will be placed. Speaker stands are not permanent, so they can easily be taken along if you move. But if you intend this to be a long-term setup, the speakers should be mounted on the walls. This will save space and ensure your speakers are not in danger of being kicked or knocked over. Consult the sound-system manufacturer's manual for guidance on optimum speaker layouts.
  
  

Upgrades

• Leave space for future upgrades in your home-entertainment theater setup, especially if you know there are components you want to add later. This can mean running extra connection wires and power receptacles now, and leaving space in the area where your components are stored. Thinking ahead now will make your home-entertainment theater design something you can enjoy for years without major overhauls.