Top 10 Home Theater Upgrades to Elevate Your Viewing Experience

Ready to take your home theater from basic to jaw‑dropping? In this guide, we examine the best home theater upgrades with the greatest impact per dollar — so you can learn how to prioritize your improvements and create a cinema‑like experience at home.

1. Upgrade your screen: Projector vs TV

The screen is the heart of any home theater. If you’re setting up in your regular living room:

• A large 4K OLED or QLED TV should provide sufficient brightness and color.

• Use the viewing‑distance rule: distance (ft) ≈ screen size (inches) × 0.6

So, a 75‑inch TV is ideal for a 7–9 ft seating distance.

If you have a dedicated, darkened home theater room:

• Consider a projector with an ambient‑light‑rejecting (ALR) screen, which can give you a 120‑inch picture for a similar price.

• Modern ultra‑short‑throw projectors sit close to the wall and pair well with ALR screens.

2. Upgrade your sound: Soundbar vs surround sound

Sound is half the experience. For small rooms:

• Soundbars offer simplicity and are perfect for small rooms, delivering clear dialogue and virtual surround effects.

• Add a wireless subwoofer on the floor near a wall for deeper bass.

For larger spaces:

• Invest in a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system with a separate receiver. This provides more precise placement of effects and is easier to upgrade later.

• If you start with a soundbar, choose one with Dolby Atmos for future‑proofing.

3. Seating comfort: Recliners and tiers

This suggestion is driven by comfort — chuck the couch and get some home‑theater recliners with cup holders, USB chargers and power recline. Motorized recliners with heating and ambient lighting are luxurious upgrades worth considering; basic models start around $600 per seat, while high‑end options exceed $1,500.

Add a second row on a riser platform so everyone can see. 

4. Acoustic treatment

Bare walls and hard floors create echoes. To optimize acoustics:

• Install home theater acoustic panels on the side and rear walls.

• Add a thick rug.

• Use blackout curtains.

Acoustic panels come in decorative designs, so they enhance aesthetics, too.

5. Lighting control

Proper lighting enhances immersion and reduces eye strain.

• Use smart dimmers to fade lights during previews and brighten them after the movie.

• Add LED strip lights behind the screen or along risers to create a cinematic glow.

• Once again, blackout curtains are the way to go.

6. Calibration

Even the best TVs benefit from some tweaks every now and then:

• Adjust brightness, contrast and color to match your environment. Many TVs have a “Filmmaker Mode” that approximates calibrated settings.

• For projectors, align keystone and focus.

• Run your receiver’s auto‑calibration to set speaker distances and levels accurately.

7. Smart control and automation

Here’s a relatively easy home theater upgrade you can make — simplify everything with a universal remote or smart‑home system. This enables you to control your TV, receiver, lights and blinds from one interface.

You can even use automation to lower lights when you press “Play” and raise them when you hit “Pause.”

8. Streaming & source upgrades

Invest in a 4K Blu‑ray player or a fast-streaming box (Apple TV 4K, Roku Ultra) for reliable playback and access to Dolby Atmos content.

You can also upgrade your HDMI cables to certified ultra‑high‑speed versions to support HDR and 4K @ 120 Hz.

9. Add a second subwoofer

A single subwoofer can produce uneven bass. Adding a second sub fills in gaps and balances low‑end response.

Place one sub at the front of the room and the other halfway down a side wall or in the rear. Your receiver can calibrate both.

10. Finishing touches

Add movie posters, shelving, and maybe even something fun like a popcorn machine. Make the space your own!

Upgrading your home theater doesn’t have to be overwhelming

Take it upgrade-by-upgrade, prioritizing screen size, sound quality, comfort and acoustics.

MantelMount offers pull down mounts and accessories that allow movie-lovers to lower their TV to proper eye level and swivel left or right. This makes for an unmatched movie-watching experience! Compare MantelMounts today.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best upgrades for a home theater?
The most impactful upgrades are a larger screen, improved sound (soundbar or surround system), comfortable seating and acoustic treatments.

How do I choose the right TV size?
Measure your seating distance and multiply by 0.6 to find an ideal screen size.

Do I need a soundbar or surround sound?
Soundbars are ideal for small rooms and simple setups; surround systems offer better immersion in larger spaces.