Plan a home theatre in India around the room first: size, light control and acoustics. Then choose a projector or large TV, a screen sized to seating distance, a surround system matched to the room, and plan power backup and cable routing before interiors are finished. This guide is from UBM (Universal Business Machines), a Mumbai-based pro AV distributor since 1997.
"Creating a home theatre?" threads on r/india and r/hometheater come up again and again, usually from people in apartments where the living room doubles as the theatre. Here is a planning order that avoids expensive mistakes.
1. Start with the room
- Dedicated room or living room? Dedicated rooms allow full light control and acoustic treatment.
- Light control. Blackout curtains make a huge difference for projectors.
- Acoustics. Hard floors and bare walls echo. Rugs, curtains and acoustic panels help.
2. Projector or large TV?
- Projector: a cinema-sized image (100 to 150 inches) for less money per inch. Best with light control.
- Large TV: better in bright living rooms, simpler to install, but limited in size.
3. Size the screen to your seating
A comfortable rule is a seating distance of about 1.2 to 1.5 times the screen width for an immersive picture.
4. Choose sound for the room
- 5.1 is a strong starting point for most Indian living rooms.
- 7.1 or Atmos suits dedicated rooms with space for rear and height speakers.
- Position matters more than wattage.
5. Plan for Indian conditions
- Power: use surge protection and plan inverter or UPS support for the projector to shut down safely.
- Dust and humidity: choose sealed or filter-free projectors where possible and plan ventilation.
- Cabling: conceal HDMI and speaker cables before interiors are finished.
Involve your AV partner before the carpenter. Cable routes, ceiling mounts and speaker positions are far cheaper to plan than to retrofit.
UBM designs home theatres in Mumbai with architects and interior designers, using Epson and BenQ projectors. Plan your home theatre.
Pro AV system designers and product specialists at Universal Business Machines, Mumbai, advising Indian schools, offices and venues since 1997. Reviewed for technical accuracy before publishing. Published 2026-10-18, last reviewed 2026-10-20. How we write and review guides.
FAQs
Is a projector better than a TV for a home theatre in India?
A projector gives a much larger image for the money and suits rooms with light control. A large TV is better for bright living rooms.
What size screen do I need for my home theatre?
Sit about 1.2 to 1.5 times the screen width away for an immersive picture.
Do I need power backup for a home theatre projector?
It is recommended in India so the projector can cool down and shut down safely during a power cut.