Unless you were born in this century, you probably remember the days when the average home had a one television in the living room and perhaps another tucked away in your parents' bedroom -- and your parents probably remember the days when color television was considered a miracle of modern technology. Fast forward to today, and it's not uncommon for family residences to feature home theaters that take their design and function cues from traditional cinemas. Today's home theater trends incorporate a combination of a return to old-fashioned family rooms and the kind of cutting edge technology that you and your parents probably never would have imagined you'd see. Following are four home theater trends that you should know about. 

Smarter TVs

Smart technology has allowed users to stream shows from web-based services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon as well as access social media, online photo galleries, and music services for several years now. The latest innovations include built-in cameras for video calling, integrated web browsers, and the option to have multiple windows open on a single screen. For instance, you would be watching a movie or your favorite news program on the majority of your screen while having your social media newsfeed on the side. You'll also find options for smartphones and tablets to act as remote controls as well as planning and programming devices, rendering the traditional remote obsolete. Not only that, but tablets and smartphones are increasingly being used as secondary display screens, especially for sports, political, and special events because many people enjoy posting social media updates on their phones while viewing these types of programming.

Ultra High Definition

Otherwise known as 4K TV, Ultra HD TVs have been around for a couple of years. Their first appearance on the home electronics scene came with a prohibitive price tag. However, recent drops in prices have made these more accessible, so greater numbers of consumers are jumping on the bandwagon. Ultra HD offers four times the screen resolution of standard HD TVs. 

Multi-Use Spaces

Today's home theaters are evolving away from dedicated spaces strictly for theater-style viewing in the home and back toward the old-school living room concept. Instead of seats copied from commercial theaters, you'll see a return to traditional couches and chairs -- particularly ones that are movable and have modular components so that seating can be easily customized to the size and personal preferences of the audience. This makes sense as single family housing continues to scale back to more manageable sizes after the McMansion trend of several years ago -- many single family homes being built today simply don't have the room for a dedicated home theater. In other words, modern home theaters are beginning to resemble traditional living rooms more than trying to look like miniature theaters. 

Another trend you'll see more of that fits in with multi-use spaces is the appearance of small food and beverage preparation areas tucked into home theater areas. This allows viewers to quickly grab snacks or replenish beverages without having to halt the program in order to make a run for the kitchen. 

Sound Bar Speakers

The sound quality of today's TVs has actually diminished somewhat as the TVs have gotten thinner. Fortunately, sound bars offer a solution to those consumers who want a fuller, richer audial experience. These features are long, thin, and available in a range of prices from $100 to over $1000. Although sound bar speakers are typically mounted on the wall, floor-standing versions are becoming increasingly popular because some believe that they produce the clearest possible sound. 

Visit a site like http://www.atechels.com and reach out to your custom home theater retailer at your convenience to learn more about what's new and exciting in the world of home theater systems.