Home Theater Seating

Comfortable home theater seating is very important as you will be spending a lot of time in the seats.  The best movie theater seats are somewhat comfortable, but let's face it they are designed for space and efficiency so that they can get many people in the theater.  A home theater allows a bit more flexibility in getting more comfortable seating whether it be specially designed home theater seating or more standard recliners or sectional sofas.

Sectional Sofa or Dedicated Home Theater Seating

Home theaters designed for multipurpose family use such as in a family room may consider standard recliners or sectional sofas for seating.  These functional seating options are comfortable and can match the decor for general use.  With the increasing popularity of home theaters, many sectional sofas also include other options such as cupholders.

For dedicated home theaters, homeowners will want to consider seating specifically designed for home theater use.  These overstuffed seats provide the ultimate in comfort and are specifically designed for the home theater user by providing ergonomically correct seating with beverage holders, hidden storage compartments and multiple recline options. 

Home Theater Seating - Shop at HomeTheaterSeating.com for the best selection and prices on Home Theater Seating.

Home theater seating is available in many different fabrics to match your decor and your usage needs.  Microfiber repels liquids making it easier to clean.  Leather is probably the most popular option and provides very comfortable seating which helps keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Another popular option that helps keep costs down is the leather, vinyl match where leather is used everywhere you touch and vinyl is used on areas such as the side and back.

Another seating option for those who are limited on space or looking to replicate a movie theater environment is conventional movie theater seating.  These seats take up less space and are usually more affordable.  They can either be fixed or in fold up models.  They can help give your home theater a nostalgic or classical feel, however what you gain in efficiency, you will have to sacrifice a bit in comfort compared to the overstuffed reclining home theater seats. 

Another popular option for home theater seats is the bass shaker model which offers a lifelike theater experience by having the low frequency signals physically shake your home theater seats during low bass moments.  Imagine your guests surprise when they can actually feel the explosion and not just hear it.  The bass shaker's effectiveness is based on the principle of deep bass being felt, not heard. 

Lastly, don't forget about seating for the kids.  Many companies will make kid sized recliners or kid themed seating.  Also don't forget about having a couple of video rockers on hand which are great for gaming or watching movies.

Recommended viewing distance

Another benefit of home theater seating is that it can be aligned in a slight arc to maintain an optimum viewing angle and distance.

The recommeded horizontal viewing angle is about 30 degrees.  Normal vertical vision is about 15 degrees below the horizon.        

Optimum seating distance is generally said to be about 1.5 - 2 times the screen width, so plan on placing your seating accordingly.

Spacing

One of the first things you want to consider is how much space you have in your home theater and how many regular viewers you will have.  You don't want to overdo it and take up space with seats that will never be used, but you don't want to come up short in seating either.

Make sure you check the dimensions of the home theater seats you are choosing.  You will normally need to plan for about 36" or more for the width of each home theater seat (a little less if choosing a conventional movie theater seat) and about 6' for the depth.  A benefit of some recliners is the wall hugging feature which allows you to recline with as little as 3" behind the seating. 

In addition, plan on allowing sufficient room on either side of the room for an aisle so that you and your guests can safely get in and out of your seats. 

If you need more then one row of seating you will want to ensure that there is enough room between rows.  It is recommended to have about 42" between rows.  Another thing to consider with multiple rows is a riser so that those in the back row can see over those in the front.  A riser will generally be between 6" and 12" high.

There are many options for purchasing home theater seating.  Online buying is becoming more and more popular.  Remember that your home theater seating should match your decor, should be comfortable and family friendly.  You will be spending a lot of money on your home theater equipment so make sure you get appropriate seating so you and your family can enjoy your movies in class and comfort. 

Dedicated home theater seating will add a touch of class and uncompromising comfort to your home theater.

Choices include:

Home theater loungers - choose between manual and motorized.

or for a more traditional movie theater feel consider

Movie theater seats - choose the color, material and quantity

How about something for the kids:

Child theater seats

or my favorite

NFL Kids Recliner

Buying furniture is not a small investment so buying online can be a bit unnerving.  Shopping online however can save you a significant amount of money and be very rewarding.  In order to help ensure a pleasant experience ask the following questions.

- Is their a "live" person I can speak to?

- What are the shipping costs?

- What type of frame is on the furniture?  Is it a quality hardwood?

- What are the dimensions?  Will it fit in my room?

- Is their a no hassle return policy and guarantee?

- Is the site secure?

-Is the site a member of the Better Business Bureau Online Reliability program?