How to Convert a Garage Into a Home Theater

Check with your local building authority to see if zoning ordinances prohibit the conversion of a garage to an interior room. Most likely, you'll be OK as long as you're not adding footage to the house. That said, homes without garages tend to suffer in the resale department, particularly houses located in northern climates where frigid temps stress automobiles, so add to your list of reasons why a home theater makes complete sense the fact that you're not planning to move. Ever.

Clean out the garage. Choose from the following property disbursement options: garage sale, portable storage unit, rented storage space, donation to charity and/or just take what's not being used to the local garbage dump. Give family members marching orders: If it's not claimed, removed or passed along to someone else by a deadline, it's gone.

Decide what you'll do about that garage door. You can opt for an interior build-out and leave the door in place -- a trick many people with concerns over filing for building permits and subjecting their homes to inspections from local officials have been known to do, but if you're looking for energy efficiency and a nicer appearance you will want to wall in the door area as part of your home theater project.

Consult with a general contractor capable of analyzing your current plumbing and electrical systems and capacity if you don't feel comfortable making these types of assessments. Now that the garage is empty, you can mark off areas housing pipes, circuit boxes and other infrastructure so you don't wind up putting that 52-inch TV right in front of critical control panels. Upgrade plumbing and electric to code and add outlets to accommodate AV equipment you plan to install in your home theater.

Replace damaged, rotting and deteriorating drywall. Use this opportunity to upgrade your insulation (opt for materials that guarantee R-13 level protection) to help tame future power bills. As a bonus, the right insulation will absorb sound so you can watch action movies with the volume turned up. Consider insulating panels designed to snap out of the wall for immediate access to wiring and plumbing. If you're adding a kitchen area, think about substituting the Sheetrock on that wall with green board or a moisture-repelling drywall that minimizes mold and mildew and creates a better water barrier.

Paint the room after the walls are complete and install an efficient system of recessed lighting that can be adjusted at the switch to accommodate everything from TV watching to socializing. Next up, deal with flooring. Concrete garage floors are both uncomfortable to walk on and tough to keep warm, so talk with a flooring expert to get the details on new types of insulating board that are installed before carpeting goes down. This board is designed to contain room temperatures and improve the feel of the floor.

Decorate the interior of your new home theater with comfortable furniture, your new TV set-up, surround-sound speakers and all of the luxury you long for. There are plenty of theater-seating units available on the market complete with drink wells in individual units and whole rows, but couches work just as well. Install your mini-kitchen unit and stock it with refreshments. Don't forget shelving, drawers or cubbyholes to hold DVDs, CDs, software for gaming and/or Wii accessories. As a finishing touch, add a phone so you don't have to leave the theater to order pizza in the middle of the Super Bowl.