Home Cinema Lighting

Lighting is often an overlooked aspect of home theater design. Many might ask, “Shouldn’t a home theater room be completely dark?” The answer is no. No one wants to stumble in the dark when getting up to refill a drink or grab a snack.

 

Home theater lighting is a crucial component of the setup. Proper lighting can transform the ambiance of the room and should never be neglected. Ideally, lighting should be planned during the construction phase of the theater. However, it’s still feasible to install different lighting solutions post-construction. It may be more challenging, but it’s worth the effort. After all, creating the perfect home theater room isn’t supposed to be easy.

 

This article will explore various home theater lighting options, smart lighting control systems, Alexa-integrated lights, and the impact of light and room color on the viewing experience. These elements are vital for both the aesthetics and functionality of a home theater. And while not everything mentioned is essential, the choices largely depend on personal preference and requirements. Let’s dive in!

Types of Home Theater Lighting

Various lighting options can enhance the viewing experience. It’s essential to select lighting that allows for brightness adjustment. Dimmable lights are vital for home theaters to prevent the light from being overly bright, as intense illumination can blur the projector’s image and detract from the enjoyment of movies, TV shows, and other content.

Below is a simple explanation of each type of home theater lighting:

Overhead lighting

Overhead lighting should be the main light source for the home theater. Ideally, you need to be able to adjust the brightness of the overhead light!

Wall sconces

A wall lamp is a type of lamp that attaches to a wall and uses it only as a support. The light is usually directed up or down, but not outward.

LED Strip Lights

LED strips are long lengths of LED bulbs that can usually change color, and some have dimmable capabilities. They are not at all necessary, but they are great for accent lighting of the room.

Fiber optic lighting

Fiber optic lighting is a star effect that can be seen in some high-end home theaters.

Seat lamps

Lamps on the sides of the seats are great for a home theater if there are end tables on either side of the seats. They can be used if you need light to find the remote control, go to the toilet, etc.

Next, we’ll take a closer look at each type of home theater lighting and the different options available for each type.

1) Surface-mounted lighting

Almost every home theater room should have overhead lighting. This is by far the best and easiest way to fully illuminate the room. They should be fully lit so that everyone can sit down, clean the room, etc.

They are mostly used when you are not watching anything. However, these lamps must be completely switched off or run at a very low level while watching. The image of the projector is most sensitive to blurring by overhead light.

Such lamps are usually installed in two separate rows along the entire length of the room. We strongly recommend using dimmable LED lamps in any luminaires. Yes, they are initially more expensive, but they use less energy, do not generate much heat, and have different color temperatures.

Types of surface-mounted luminaires

All types of surface-mounted lamps have their pros and cons. The choice of one type or the other depends on cosmetic considerations. It should be remembered that high-voltage electrical wires are used to power them.

If it is not possible to do this yourself, we would advise hiring an electrician to route the cables and install the lights of your choice.

Recessed luminaires

Pros:

• More hidden. They are built into the ceiling.
• They look great! Since they are flush with the ceiling, they give the room an elegant look.
• Cheaper than most lights.

Cons:

• May be more difficult to install. They are usually round in shape and require cutting a circle in the ceiling.
• They must be installed between the ceiling studs. To install them, it is impossible and undesirable to cut through ceiling studs. Depending on how the studs are positioned in the room, the lights may be offset and not fully centered on either side of the room.

Recessed lamp

Pros:

• Low profile. Not very visible, but less hidden than recessed lamps.
• Easy installation! It is necessary to cut only one small hole for the power wire, and the lamp itself is attached to the ceiling.

Cons:

• In my opinion, this is the least stylish of the three options. You want your home theater lighting to be unique! And not in the same style as the rest of the rooms.

Pendant fitting

Pros:

• Hundreds of different options.
• Thanks to their diverse designs, they give the room the greatest expressiveness.

Cons:

• Replacing light bulbs can be more complicated, depending on the light fixture used. This is not the case with LED lights, as it is likely that LED bulbs will not have to be replaced.
• Lamps should not be hung too low to the ceiling. They may interfere with the projector.
• The most expensive of the three options.

2) Wall sconces

Wall sconces are the perfect addition to your home theater! A wall lamp is a type of lighting fixture that attaches to a wall and uses it only as a support. The light is usually directed up or down, but not outward.

They add great effect to the look and feel of any home theater. Wall sconces are not designed to fully illuminate the room. They are used more as additional lighting. They can be left on at a very low level while watching a movie, TV show, etc., as they should not blur the image of the projector.

In order for the wall lamp to comply with the standards, it is usually necessary to install an electrical box behind it, so the help of an electrician is required for such lamps. Wall lamps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it’s easy to find the perfect style for your home theater.

3) LED Strip Lights

Applications of LED Strip Light:

• Attaches to the back of a projection screen or TV.
• Under the riser for seats.
• Under the seats.
• It is attached to the ceiling suspension directed to the ceiling.
• On the bottom of the shelves.
• Behind the framed movie posters.
• To illuminate the paths to the toilet, exit, food, etc.
• Any other application!

Features of LED Strip Lights

Modern LED strips are controlled using remote controls, and many of them have additional smart features. They are controlled via a smartphone app, smart home bridges, and voice assistants (e.g., Amazon Alexa, Google Home, etc.).

When properly integrated, they can be programmed to automatically turn on and adjust to a certain level by simply turning on the home theater system. They can be turned on and off by simply contacting your voice assistant.

LED strip lights are very versatile in use. Some of them can be cut lengthwise, which allows you to choose exactly what is needed for a particular use. They don’t consume a lot of energy and don’t generate a lot of heat. The amazing thing is that most of them are not that expensive and easy to install!

So if you’re looking to cosmetically complement your home theater lighting, then be sure to consider adding LED strips. Here’s a great LED strip that is “smart” (controlled with Alexa and a smartphone app), changes RGB color, is adjustable in brightness, and can be cut lengthwise.

4) Fiber optic lighting

Fiber optic lighting is a star effect that can be seen in some high-end home theaters. The light is created by a machine to which many fiber-optic tubes are connected. At the end of each tube is the light produced by the apparatus.

They are usually installed in a black ceiling and set to white, however, many of them are RGB colored. Fiber optic lighting, of course, is not intended for all home theater rooms, it all depends on the layout and structure of the room.

If the room has a notch in the ceiling, as in the picture, then chances are this type of lighting will work very well! If the ceiling in the room is strangely shaped, then it is better to refrain from using fiber-optic lighting. It will be more of a headache than originally thought.

Installing fiber optic lighting is quite a lengthy procedure, but if done correctly, the results will be amazing. Here’s a great tutorial written by Aron Hoekstra. It gives step-by-step instructions on how to design and build your fiber optic ceiling. And it looks great!

5) Seat lamps

Lamps on the chairs are convenient if end tables are installed on both sides of the seats in the home theater. They can be used if you need light to find the remote, go to the toilet, etc.

But if you have overhead lighting or wall lamps, then there is no need for lamps. We would suggest using some type of smart integration to easily turn on the lights in the room. Read on to learn about the different ways you can control your lighting.

As smart home devices become more popular, the price of the various devices required for smart home integration is steadily decreasing.

Now is the time to invest in various smart home lighting solutions. There are different types of smart lighting, such as wall dimmables, dimmable and RGB lamps and light strips, and more.

Next, we’ll discuss the best practices for using smart home theater lighting to ensure the most immersive experience!

And remember that no one solution fits all, there are many different options.

Smart Wall Dimmers & Switches

Smart wall dimmers and switches control lights connected to standard switches. These smart devices usually connect to a smart hub or directly to Wi-Fi, depending on the model you are using.

Once connected, the light can be turned on and off or dimmed (if dimmable lamps are used) using an app, voice assistant or even automatically by turning on the home theater system. The installation of such a device is quite easy as it uses all the available wires!

First, read the instructions for installing the switch or dimmer. Then, simply flip the switch in the specific room to turn off the power. Remove the old switch, connect the wires to the smart dimmer/switch, and install it in the wall. After that, you need to connect it to a smart bridge or voice assistant.

Honestly, it’s a very simple process that almost anyone can do! We use a GE Enbrighten Light Dimmer. We have had it for over a year now and it still works without any problems! We highly recommend adding them to your home theater or other areas of your home. They are very convenient and are a great introduction to smart home technology.

Smart light bulbs

Smart bulbs are ordinary incandescent bulbs that have smart technology built into them. No need for a fancy switch. Smart light bulbs are very similar to smart wall dimmers and switches in that they connect to a smart hub or directly to Wi-Fi.

They are controlled through the application, voice assistant or by certain events. They come in a variety of color temperatures, sizes, and styles. Some of the top-of-the-line bulbs even have RGB lighting! This means that they are capable of emitting a variety of colors other than plain white.

The main advantage of smart light bulbs is that they are very easy to install. You just need to unscrew the existing bulb and screw a “smart” bulb in its place. It’s that simple! However, if you need a lot of light bulbs, then they can be very expensive.

Let’s say you have 8 light bulbs on one switch. Buying 8 smart bulbs will cost significantly more than using a smart dimmer/switch. If you don’t plan on using RBG lighting with these 8 bulbs, then it’s probably better to use a smart dimmer/switch rather than smart bulbs to save some money. But if you only need a few of these bulbs, then they will certainly be a great addition to lighting your home theater or any other place in your home.

You may have heard of Philips hue light bulbs. This is perhaps the most famous brand of “smart” light bulbs.

But keep in mind that they are more expensive than others, and most of them require a special Philips hue bridge to work. But they work well! So if you can afford them, then feel free to take them. If not, you can use cheaper options, such as this bulb for plain white light or this one for RGB lighting.

Smart LED Strip Lights

Smart LED light strips are long strips containing many LED light bulbs, which are usually RGB colored, can be cut lengthwise, and have smart home functionality. We have already talked about them in this article. But overall, they’re just great! They are great for home theater lighting. Use them behind a TV screen or projector, under armchairs, to illuminate paths in the room, etc.

Smart Plugs & Power Strips

Smart plugs and power strips are external smart plugs. They plug directly into any standard socket and make it “smart”! They are convenient to use for lamps, plug-in fans, popcorn makers, window air conditioners, etc.

But, on the other hand, you can simply use one “smart” lamp in the lamp, which will give an even better result. It all depends on how exactly you will use them. We would not advise connecting home theater equipment to these devices, it will not work as intended. Actually using both of the devices pictured in the photo above and they work very well!

Color Temperature of Home Theater Lighting

Understanding Color Temperature

The color temperature of home theater lighting is very important for the appearance and perception of the room. Color temperature is how warm or cool the color of the lighting looks. Color temperature is measured in K (Kelvin).

For example, light with a temperature of 2700 K is characterized as “soft white” and has an orangeish-white tint. A lamp with a temperature of 5000 K is described as “daylight” and has a very simple white color. Most light bulbs are produced in the range from 2000K to 6000K.

 

Color Temperature Selection

For rooms of different colors, different color temperatures of light should be used. Using the wrong color temperature in a room will disrupt its appearance and atmosphere. As a general rule, for rooms with wood panelling and carpets of a warmer colour (brown, green, etc.), warmer lighting (2700 K) should be used.

This will accentuate the look of the painted wood and won’t reflect too much from the texture of a warmer color. For rooms with black, grey and/or blue colours, cooler lighting (4500K – 5000K) should be used. If you use the wrong temperature lighting in a home theater room, it will look a little off, but it won’t be the end of the world.

You can avoid such problems by using RGB lamps. Many color-changing lamps are capable of displaying both warm and cool colors. This is very convenient, as the lighting can adapt to the environment and adjust according to the characteristics of the room.

Conclusion

Overall, home theater lighting is very important. With the right lighting fixtures and integration, you can turn your home theater into something you can be proud of. Some of the types of lighting discussed in this article use high-voltage wiring, so they should be handled very carefully.