How to Map Out Your Home Theater Components Efficiently

If you have an extensive entertainment system, it is helpful to position all of your home theater components efficiently. Keeping all of the cables tidy and organized makes it easier to keep your room clean and planning where each component sits improves your ease of access. As well as making the operation of the system more simple, you will also be able to remove components that need repair more quickly and without the frustration of unplugging the wrong cables.

Step 1 – Plan

It's much easier to plan where to put the components first rather than operating by trial and error. The complexity of the planning stage will depend on how many components you own and what size the area you need to fit them into actually covers.

Think about how often you use each component and whether you can work it solely using the remote control or need to physically insert or eject something such as a DVD player or games console. Next, measure the space that you have available. Choose an installation configuration that strikes a balance between easy access to the components and efficient use of space while also allowing airflow to reach any vents. Unless you have a particularly large area set aside for the home theater system, you will probably have to make a few compromises.

Step 2 – Unplug Existing Components

Remove all of the components and their cables from their current positions on the entertainment unit. Be careful to keep leads with their particular items to save you having to workout where things go later. Wipe down the entertainment center and all of the electronic equipment with a slightly damp cloth. The cloth should not leave any water on the casings; you don't want to damage anything when you clean off unwanted dust. Polish the components with a dry cloth to remove any marks.

Step 3 – Label Cables

While you have all of the leads with their components, use a label-making machine to label all of the cables. Interconnecting leads can be labeled at either end so you know how to connect them back together whereas power leads would require only one label. If you don't have a label-making machine, some stickers and a permanent marker will work just as well. Using a different color of label or sticker for each component is an excellent way to quickly identify the cable you are looking for.

Step 4 – Reconnect Components

Place the electrical equipment back into the stand or cabinet in the configuration that you planned and connect the cables. If there is a piece of equipment that you remove regularly, keep the cables easily accessible. Many home entertainment units have a cable tidy or cable clips built into them but if yours doesn't, there are many available for purchase that do an excellent job. A cheaper alternative is to use plastic cable ties but if you do, you should give consideration to what cables you tie together as the only way to remove them is by cutting them off which allows all of the cables to become untied. Once all of the equipment is in position, test it to make sure everything functions correctly.