Unfinished basement room that I want to convert into a HT

[TheHOYT]

Hello all,

I've got an unfinished basement that I'm planning to finish in the near future. With one of the rooms, I'm planning a home theater.

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Dimensions:

15'1" x 13'8" (estimated, as it's hard to get exact)

Ceiling is approximately, 7'7" tall

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Behind the north wall there's cold storage. Behind the south wall, a bedroom/hallway. Behind the east wall a stairway. The west wall is an exterior wall, with a window.

I'm planning to place the display on the north-wall.

I'm basically seeking information from people on this board more knowledgeable than me, or that have previously installed a HT. I need to know how big the screen should be given my space, whether to go with a flat-panel or a projector, the best way to go about wiring for surround sound, sound-proofing the walls, whether I should install carpet, etc.

I'm not planning on installing everything at once (so, I don't really have a final budget in mind), I'll gradually build up my AV equipment. However, I do want everything pre-wired, sound-proofed, and such.

I know that this information is pretty raw, but any pointers would be nice.

Thanks in advance to anybody who can help!