Installing a private home theater is all about enjoying the big-screen experience. Whether you’re watching a movie, your favorite TV show or the Astros, it all just feels a little different when it's shown on a 120” screen. As you’re looking for the best equipment for your brand new theater –from Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers to 4K Ultra HD projectors—it’s important that you don’t skimp when it comes to your screen. You also need to consider that bigger isn’t always better. Read on to see how you can find the right one to fit your room’s specifications.

SEE MORE: 5 Steps to Creating the Home Theater of Your Dreams

Figuring Out the Perfect Size
While one of the biggest advantages of a private home theater is having larger-than-life images, you need to be careful when choosing the size for your new screen. You want to go big, but there some things that will affect just how big you should go: your space limitations, seating distance, and your projector.

1. Space Limitations: These will likely have to do with height rather than width. You don’t want your screen to go all the way to the floor for a variety of reasons. For one, you may have a central speaker that needs to go under the screen. In bigger rooms, the row in front of you will impede the view of those in the back. It’s the same with the televisions in your home. They’re usually raised at least three feet off the ground for optimal viewing.

2. Seating Distance: You also want to take into account the length of the room. If you’re sitting too close to a large screen, the image may look pixelated, and you'll have to be moving your eyes constantly to take in the entire picture. A general rule of thumb is that for a 120" screen, you want to be at least 12 feet away.