Home Theater Seating Options: Extravagant + Efficient
There are so many choices to make when building a home theater. When we think of a home theater, many of us think of the technical aspects: the projector, the sound system, the lighting, the screen, etc. Those technical things are very important. But don’t overlook another very important aspect to the home theater: the seating!
When planning and weighing all your options for your home theater, don’t forget to take time to really consider what type of seating you want. Seating really is one of the most important components to your home theater. Think about it, that is where you will be spending your time! Sure, the sound and the picture are very important. But if your seats aren’t exactly what you were hoping for, you will find yourself spending less and less time in them.
Two important aspects to consider when choosing your home theater seats are comfort and fabric.
Comfort.
Comfort is the most important aspect to any type of furniture. I mean, what good is a super stylish reclining theater sofa if you can’t bear the thought of actually sitting it in? When shopping for home theater seats, make your first priority comfort. If you are shopping in an actual store, make sure you sit in every seat you consider buying! Think of yourself spending two to three hours at a time in this chair. If you don’t feel like you just melt into the chair, odds are you might not be able to make it through a whole movie in it! If you are shopping online for seating, read all of the comments and reviews on the chair. Comfort is a highly discussed item when it comes to online furniture, so it should be pretty easy to get a good idea of the comfort level of theater seating, even if you are buying online.
Fabric.
Another important aspect to home theater seating is the fabric choice. You can purchase home theater seats in leather, fabric, and microfiber. The idea is that you will be keeping these same seats for quite a long time, so make sure you choose the fabric that is best for you. I think the microfiber is the most comfortable of the options. But, you also need to take into consideration how easy they are to clean. To get the full theater experience, you will probably want to allow drinks and treats in your home theater. When watching movies in a dark home theater, spills are going to happen, maybe even on a regular basis. So, if that is the case, you might want to opt for leather, because the spills from drinks and treats will just slide right off.
Comfort and fabric choice are very important when choosing your home theater seats. But what type of seats are you going to go for? With home theater seats, there are more options than just your individual recliner, and your sectional. Let’s explore a few of your options:
Sofa.
One of the first choices that comes to mind is the classic sofa. This is a basic option that you can find at any furniture store, in any fabric, color, size, etc that you are looking for. These come in reclining/non reclining, and a variety of price options. Classic and comfortable, this is the basic option for the basic home theater. I also really like the sofas with a chaise at the end. Extra comfort!
image via Pinterest.com
Individual Chairs.
Another common option are a few individual chairs. This gives a bit more of a movie theater feel, with each person having their own individual seat. There are a lot of options with individual seats: normal sofa chairs, recliners, chaise seats, etc.
Theater Row Seats.
If you really want to hit home the movie theater feel, then go with the theater-style row seats. For home theaters, they make very comfortable options. Each seat typically reclines, with each seat having its own cup holder.
image via Houzz.com
Love Seat.
For a smaller home theater, a love seat is a great option. This takes up a small amount of room, but you are still able to snuggle with your special someone.
One Large Couch System.
Have you seen these large couch systems? Think about a sectional mixed with a bed! Full-on cushions from head to foot. These are the most comfortable looking pieces of furniture I’ve ever seen in my life! But beware, if you are one who falls asleep easy in movies, this might be even too comfortable…
image via Pinterest.com
Fold-Down Seats.
In case you are one of those who falls asleep easily, why not try movie-theater style fold-down seats? Again, use this option if you really want to drive the movie theater feel home. You can purchase fold-down seats that look just like the ones you’d find in a traditional movie theater. These aren’t quite as comfortable as some of the other options, but it really plays up the movie theater feel.
Motion Theater Seats.
Really want to impress your friends? Invest in some motion theater seats. You can purchase motion seats, or just a motion platform, to incorporate motions and rumbles that are programmed for the movie you are watching. Feel like you are really IN the movie!
image via Plundertech.com
Large Bean bag.
Large bean bags are very comfortable. They’re not like the huge couch option where they’re so comfortable you’ll instantly fall asleep, but definitely something you can look forward to spending a couple hours in.
Futon.
Many of us build our home theaters in our basements, and we might not have the room to also have a separate guest room in our house. Your basement can still serve both purposes! Have a futon as one of your main home theater seats. That way, you’re not using up much-needed space with a bed, and you’re not spending your money on an expensive pull-out couch.
Massage Chairs.
Want to really spoil your guests? Why not treat them to a massage while they watch the movie! A chair that massages, and/or has heat/cool controls is the ultimate in pampering. Imagine watching a movie in a chair that will massage your sore muscles, or that you can set it to your perfect temperature? Count me in!
Rock Pillows.
There is a company that makes pillows that look just like rocks. They come in several different sizes and colors. I really like these to throw in the corner, and pull them out when you have unexpected company over to watch a movie.
image via Houzz.com
Pallets With Cushions.
A new trend that is popping up everywhere is to use pallets for furniture. A fun and inexpensive way to furnish your home theater is to use pallets and cover them with cushions.
image via Pinterest.com
Lastly, also play with the idea of combining two or three of these seating options. Think about this: it might usually just be you and your spouse and/or family watching a movie, but sometimes you invite a group of your friends over for a big movie night. If that’s the case, why not try this: buy one small sofa, or a couple recliners and place them in front of your tv or screen. Then, also purchase one or two large sectionals, or a couple rows of theater seats, and put them behind your smaller main seating area. That way, you have a nice, comfy area for you and your family to enjoy a movie together, but you also have options for when you have a larger group. If you don’t want to spend the money on an extra sectional or theater row seats, think about having a couple large bean bags in the back for when you have guests over.