The beauty of a home theater is that you have more freedom to design and decorate as you choose than you might for other areas of your house. Since many people choose the basement family room or an extra bedroom to set up a home theater, it isn't necessary to have the same furniture or décor. A home theater is the perfect opportunity to show your personal interests and sense of style without having to compromise nearly as much.
Consider Seating First
The seating you choose for your home theater sets the tone for the entire room. A row of oversized beanbag chairs suggests a casual atmosphere where people are free to get up or talk as desired. On the other hand, a straight row of hard plastic seats reminds people of a movie theater where they should remain silent throughout the show. There is no right or wrong choice here, only what you feel the most comfortable doing.
Time to Decorate
If you have a particular theme you want to highlight, be sure to shop with that in mind. For example, do you want the room to look like a local drive-in? Perhaps you're more interested in displaying movie posters from all of your favorite films or memorabilia you have collected over the years. A hodge-podge approach is fine too.
Your creativity doesn't have to stop when it comes to the floor, ceiling, and walls of the room that houses your home theater. If you have an artist friend, ask him or her to paint a movie-related mural on each of the walls. Likewise, the floors and ceilings can be multiple colors or designed with specialty tiles or carpeting. When you're big on ideas but short on time, consider working with a home theater interior decorator or a company that offers made-to-order themes and decorations specifically for home theater.