Most people don't plan their rooms around their televisions... they just spend hours on the couch, complaining about the glare or the shoddy sound. Turns out, the couch may be the problem.

To make sure your furniture doesn't ruin movie night, try these tips from the Family Handy Man:

• Locate seating so the screen-to-eye distance is about three times the screen size.

• Side and rear speakers sound best when positioned at ear level when you’re seated.

• Centered seating space. You don’t just need seating space; you need it in front of the screen. Most screens present a good picture within an arc of 60 to 90 degrees.

• Cover hard floors. Wall-to-wall carpeting is ideal, but a large rug over wood or tile flooring is almost as good.

• Decorate walls with sound absorbers. Heavy fabric wall-paper is an acoustical improvement over bare walls, and cloth wall hangings—such as decorative quilts—are even better. Pictures or paintings help, but not if they’re covered with glass or plastic. A bookshelf against a wall is also an effective sound absorber.

• For picture clarity (and less eyestrain), avoid reflective surfaces, especially glass: mirrors, picture glass, table tops or cabinet doors. Even paint sheen has a noticeable effect. Choose flat or eggshell instead of satin or gloss.