How to Hang Home Theater Acoustic Panels

Building a place where you can watch movies and listen to music is a great endeavor which can only be made better by installing home theater acoustic panels. Home theater acoustic panels are not for soundproofing, but rather hung on walls to help dampen sound and to focus it. Making your own home theater acoustic panels is easy, but hanging them involves following a few steps.

Step 1 - Corner Brackets

Before you hang home theater acoustic panels, you must slightly modify them. To add corner brackets, turn the panels over and measure the corner sections. Cut the 2x4-inch board into four pieces with this measurement. You will want four pieces for each acoustic panel you need to hang. Place each piece at the corner and nail in place to the frame of the acoustic panel. Use the saw to trim the excess from the corner bracket.

Step 2 - Bracket Feet

For the acoustic panels to do their job, they need to be positioned slightly away from the wall. Use the drill to make a hole through the center of the corner brackets. Thread each of the bolts with a nut. Install a bolt through the holes you drilled in the corner brackets. Reach under the brackets and place another nut. Tighten all of the nuts. Place a felt dot on the end of each of the bolts. This acts as a buffer and prevents harming the wall.

Step 3 - Picture Wire

Measure 10 inches from the top of the acoustic panel from each side (18 if it's to be hung vertically) and make a mark. Drill a pilot hole through the marks but not too deep. Screw the picture frame tabs into place. Thread five inches of the wire through the tab; fold it over itself and then crimp. Make another loop with the free end and thread it through the loop. Tighten it but leave an opening that is about 3/8-inch.

Now you can feed the free end through the tab and then through the loop. Grab each end and tighten the wire. Twist the ends together to keep the wire from becoming loose. Pull wire from this tab to the other tab. You want some slack so that when the wire is pulled up the "V" that is formed is only 2½ inches from the top of the panel. Add five inches and then cut. Attach the wire to the second tab as you did for the first.

Step 4 - Hanging

Decide where you want to hang the panels. They should be staggered and have 16 to 24 inches between them. Put a piece of clear tape plus 2 to 3 inches where you want to hang the panel. Nail a picture hook in place, then hang the panel. Use a level to make sure they are straight.