Home Theatre Lighting — Bias, Cove & Scene Control
Home theatre lighting isn't decoration — it's part of the picture. The right setup uses bias lighting behind the screen to cut eye strain, dimmable cove lighting for ambience, and low-level step lighting for safety — all tied into a single "Movie" scene that dims the lights, closes the curtains, and cues the projector in one command. Done well, you never touch a switch mid-film; done poorly, expensive AV gear sits in a room that either glares or plunges into total darkness. This guide covers the three lighting layers a theatre needs and how they connect to your AV system. Why Does Home Theatre Lighting Matter So Much? A home theatre is the one room where lighting directly affects what you see on screen. Too much ambient light washes out contrast and makes blacks look grey. Total darkness, on the other hand, forces your eyes to strain against a bright screen — the reason your eyes ache after a long film in a pitch-black room. The goal isn't "dark....