14 cinema room ideas with movie star looks

Want the ultimate luxurious addition to your property? Then be inspired by these cinema room ideas and create your dream home. Popcorn at the ready...

Lara Sargent

Lara loves writing about every aspect of the home – from the latest colour trends to emerging designs. She has a lot of experience writing about home trends and interior advice for leading titles such as The Telegraph, Metro, and Homes & Gardens.

Dreaming of a home cinema but think it’s beyond your budget? Think again. With these cinema room ideas, we show you how to create your own picture house at home without breaking the bank.

The key is to create the right kind of atmosphere where you can evoke a sense of escapism from the outside world. Think a dark, secluded space, comfy seating, and a big screen.

Then, it’s just a matter of inviting all your family and friends around and deciding whether to watch an action movie or a feel-good romance.

Feel like setting up a screen in the garden too? Read our outdoor cinema room cost guide for plenty of tips.

It's definitely best to leave a home cinema set-up to the professionals. Pop your postcode in the search bar below to find installers recommended in your area.

Cinema room ideas

Create the ultimate home cinema with these fantastic ideas. Sit back, relax and enjoy the latest blockbuster, rom-com or animated film with the whole family.

1. Set up a projector for home cinema room ideas

Watch your all-time favourite movies from the comfort of your own home by creating a dedicated cinema room with a projector screen and comfy seating.

It's the ultimate upgrade from your humble living room TV - and movie buffs will absolutely love the big screen experience.

Find a blank wall to project onto and fill the space with copious floor cushions and bean bags to accommodate a crowd. Then sit back and let the big screen whisk you away.

2. Try simple home cinema ideas UK

Your cinema room doesn’t have to be a huge expansive space with abundant seating for lots of people. If it’s a private screening room you’re after, a simple set-up with a large wall mounted TV will definitely do the trick.

Furnish with a couple of smart upholstered armchairs, a table for drinks and snacks and a media unit to hide all the technology.

Pick supportive chairs that you can comfortably recline in for a few hours with footrests for extra comfort.

3. Small home cinema room ideas

Don't think you've got the space for a home cinema room? Think again. You can transform any size of living room into a funky cinema area with a portable projector - even the smallest space.

If you have room for a screen, great. But if you don't, simply project onto a blank white painted wall or even a plain white sheet, and enjoy the ad hoc, DIY charm. Then, you can take it all down when you've finished.

It's spot on for open plan, multifunctional spaces that need to work really hard.

4. Explore loft cinema room ideas to create a makeshift movie hub

Many of us extend into the loft to create a guest room, only for the space to lay redundant in between visitors. So why not turn it into a mini cinema room when guests aren't staying?

Seek out a good-quality sofa bed that can double up for a guest's overnight stay or a comfy place to watch a movie. Then, just add a table for nibbles and retreat to your spare room at the top of the house when you are in need of a film fix.

Find out more about how much a loft conversion could cost.

5. Pick comfy cinema room seating ideas

If you're lucky enough to have a large, dedicated cinema room, go all out with elegant sofas that have been designed for you to lay back on with your feet up. Then you'll experience that true boutique cinema feeling.

Add ambient lighting on the walls that are low enough so you won't disrupt the movie. But enough to see your bowls of popcorn - and a sneaky glass of bubbles!

If you need help with your lighting design, check out our cost guide.

6. Cinema themed room decorating ideas

Channel classic Hollywood movies and the roaring twenties with a chic art-deco-style cinema room.

To create this glamorous mood, team luxe velvet sofas in rich jewel colours with dark timber furniture. Lay wall-to-wall plush carpet in a dark charcoal hue and add a deco-style wallpaper for an eye-catching feature.

Sparkly cocktail dresses are a must!

7. Cast a cosy glow in cinema room lighting ideas

Home cinema rooms need to be atmospheric, but not entirely pitch black. Illuminate the space with soft lighting such as a string of fairy lights under the screen. These will be enough to highlight the area, but not distract from the picture.

You can extend the relaxed, cosy ambience around the rest of the space by dotting around battery-powered candles to offer a gentle glow.

8. Block outside light in living room cinema ideas

Pay attention to the window dressings and whether you have sufficient coverage to block out the light in a living room home cinema.

Thick sumptuous curtains are ideal for creating a cosy, black-out feel, as well as a luxurious look. Neat roller blinds can work really well too.

This homeowner has added an L-shaped sofa to create the perfect sociable setting for a living room cinema, with head rests included. Don't forget a coffee table within reach of the sofa for drinks!

9. Boutique ideas for home cinema room

Take your design cue from boutique picture houses that have popped up over the past few years, and create a home cinema that mixes up opulent touches and contemporary interior design ideas.

Lightweight side tables are a nifty tip as they can be moved around easily to where they're needed, and then tucked away when they're out of use.

10. Optimise attic cinema room ideas

Got a loft with sloping ceilings that's too small for a bed? Transform it into a jaw-dropping cinema room instead. Make use of the area beneath the vaulted ceiling for a low-slung seating zone, and fit a huge flatscreen opposite.

In small lofts without much daylight, keep walls and floors light and add colour through the accessories. This also means you can switch up the style easily if you feel like a new look in the future.

11. Be brave with statement cinema room decorating ideas

For a sensational look that will get guests talking, paint the walls and ceiling in the same statement colour. Here, a bright, fiery red adds energy to this unique space, while two reclining armchairs, also in red, add to the drama.

To retain some balance, opt for a neutral-coloured carpet, but pick a sumptuous pile to continue the luxurious feel.

Find out more about painting and decorating costs.

12. Create cosy basement cinema room ideas

Basements can be tricky spaces to decorate due to the lack of light. Naturally, these areas lend themselves to becoming a cocooning cinema space.

Take this basement, for example. The tiny window wouldn't be sufficient for a bedroom, however, it's perfect for a modern cinema room that doesn't need lots of natural light. We also love the wall of built-in shelves and cupboards which hides away the technology. So simple, yet so effective.

Read about the cost of converting your cellar or building a basement from scratch to find out more.

13. Fun and functional cinema room ideas for kids

Let's face it, if you have kids, then a cinema room is going to be their favourite spot in the house. So, it's important to give it a child-friendly scheme.

Start with practical surfaces that can be easily maintained, such as wood flooring and robust wall panelling. Then add hardwearing seating that can also be cleaned easily. Finally, add in pops of bold colour and pattern to give the space a playful feel. Then enjoy the peace and quiet!

14. Try garage home cinema ideas

Garage conversions can create extra living spaces for your family to spread out. So why not transform your redundant garage space into a funky cinema room?

Obviously, you'll need to factor in garage conversion costs and the cost of decorating before you start on the home cinema kit and installation.

But if you've got the budget, a garage cinema room will feel like a super luxe addition to every home.

Key takeaways

• Home cinemas are a luxurious feature for every style and size of property.

• You can set up a cinema room in your living room, garage, basement or loft conversion - depending on how big or small you want it.

• Get advice from an electrician on home cinema set-up kit, installation costs and how many plug sockets you'll need.

• Cinema rooms need to be dark when you're watching a movie. So invest in black-out blinds or heavy-lined curtains in a living room cinema space.

• Experiment with statement colours, art deco style prints and metallics for glamorous home cinema room ideas.

• And don't forget comfortable seating, small tables for snacks and good soundproofing if you want the volume up high!

• Now sit back, relax and enjoy the movie...

If you like what you see and want to turn your home cinema ideas into a reality, then look no further. Enter your postcode into the search box below to find a trusted home cinema installer near you.