Thinking about installing a home theater system? Youre not alone. Home theater is one of the fastest growing areas areas in home entertainment and the advent of DVD recorders and HDTV means your set-up can now be entirely digital, without an inch of video tape in site.

Installing a home theater is a big decision and requires careful planning. Luckily there are a number of resources around to help you and you neednt be a technical expert or a hi-fi buff to get the job done.

One of the first decisions youll need to make before you set about installing a home theater is whether your going to dedicate a whole room to the theater or whether it will share a space with a lounge, dining room, or office. Having a dedicated room allows you to position seating and speakers in the optimum position and you can seriously consider a projector and screen without it looking as out of place as it might in your living room.

Obviously budget is another consideration and this will dictate which equipment you buy initially and what you save for another day. As a bare minimum youll want a DVD player, widescreen television, and a surround sound audio amplifier and speakers. Wed recommend opting for a DVD recorder like this one from Phillips, or this from Panasonic. Theyre obviously more expensive than a DVD player, but will give you much greater flexibility. And dont forget to budget for cabling, its a very important part of installing a home theatre and one thats often overlooked.

Youll also want to think about the interior design of a dedicated home theater room and of course the seating is all important. Youre going to spend hours and hours watching movies and the last thing you need is uncomfortable seats.