Everything you need to know about
buying your Home Theater Seating online

Azure LHR Series $1,099

While most homeowners, when setting up a home theater, focus on the technology element: television, sound system, and so on – they tend to forget how important theater seating is for their theater-like experience.

For more information, please visit our website.

When you get home tired and want to sit down to watch a movie or your favorite show, the last thing you want to do is sit in something uncomfortable and hurting your back.

That is why you should give
as much importance to the
seating in your home
theater as you would to the
screen and other devices.

Selecting the right seating for your home theater is not a walk in the park you need to know exactly what it is you want. With hundreds and thousands of theater seats for sale on the market, if you aren’t prepared, chances are you will be overwhelmed and will have to sit down – pun intended. But don’t worry, we won’t let you go out there and hunt on your own.

We decided to do the work for you! This extensive guide is here to give you all the information you may need in your quest for the ultimate home cinema seating for your home theater.

Things to consider when buying home theater seats:

Types of
chairs Types of
material Types of
accessories Types of
features

After years of experience in this business, we know what people want to know the most, and that’s exactly what we are trying to explain here.

Grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and read on! Oh, and make sure you download our ultimate checklist for buying home theater seating online!

Types of home
theater seating

We have picked out the seven most popular types of seating that you can use in a home theater. Each of the sections will give you information about what kind of seating is it, if there are different layout and arrangement options, what materials can you pick out from and so on.

At the end of each section, we tried to sum up some pros and cons for each type of chair to help you even more before you make that final decision.

Recliners

The recliner, made popular by La-Z-Boy, provide a lot of comfort. They support the lumbar and the neck. The reason why they are called recliners is due to the fact that they recline back usually with the help of a lever or a remote. They have a body that can recline back allowing you to sit almost as if you were laying down.

There are different types of recliners such as:

• Rock
  recliner
• Wall-hugger
  recliners
• Lift
  chairs
• Massage
  recliners

Depending on the functionality you want, you can go with one that fits your needs.

• If you generally relax in your home theater after a long day of work then a massage recliner would be ideal for you.
• Whereas, a rock recliner may be better suited for someone that just wants to relax and lounge while watching a movie.

When it comes to arranging the seats in your home theater, you have many options.

Recliners come on their own but most homeowners prefer to buy seats that come in sets of 3 or more for home theater, so they can seat more people.

Arranging the recliner depends on the number of seats you get. A single recliner is easy to arrange but most people wouldn’t want to get just one for a home theater.

When buying them in a set,

The layout can either be straight facing the screen

The layout can be a C shaped set which allows for those on the left and right side to get a view from an angle.

We will talk about layouts more later in the article!

Recliners are ideal for bachelor pads and for smaller families.

TYPE Recliner BEST FOR

Bachelor pads
Small families

PROS

• Comfortable seating
• Comes with different functionalities
• You can get it in virtually any material you like

CONS

• Not the easiest to arrange in a room

Rockers

Rocker seats will have you feeling like you are in an actual theater – they give you the option to lift the seat. The seats also have a rocking mechanism which means they allow you to recline the back, so you can relax.

The seat has a stand which enables it to rock, but don’t worry they don’t function like rocking chair going back and forth!

Like recliners, you can buy rockers separate or in rows, depending on how many you need. Of course, buying them separate gives you more freedom as far as the layout of the room goes but it is more expensive to do that.

SINGLE ROCKERS ROCKERS in row

The seats are available in leather and fabric material allowing you to decide based on the aesthetics of your home theater.

Rockers, like recliners, are ideal for bachelor pads and smaller families but also can be used in bigger setups.

TYPE Rockers BEST FOR

Bachelor pads
Small families

PROS

• Reclining back
• Seat lifts up
• Different material options
• Different layout options

CONS

• No storage
• No motorised headrest
• No LED lights
• Footrest optional

Chaises

To put it simply, chaises are long chairs that allow you to put your legs up, and you can buy them as a part of a sofa set or a sectional.

The reason why chaises are
popular in homes is that they
provide exceptional back
support and feel like a small
bed attached to the sofa.

They allow a person to sit or lie down if they feel the need for providing a bit of extra comfort while you watch movies.

Chaises come as a part of a sofa set so they aren’t that easy to arrange. You can, however, have them assembled according to the arrangement you like as they allow for some customization.

AS FAR AS STYLE GOES

You can get one with 2 chaises at each end with a couple of seats in the middle.

You can get one with a seat and a chaise.

The arrangement in the room depends on the number of seats.

Of course, when it comes to bigger families you will need to get a bigger sofa set that comes with chaises.

TYPE Chaise BEST FOR

Medium families
Large families

PROS

• Get a lounge feel
• Comfortable seats
• Option to lay down
• Arrangement can be customised

CONS

• Needs more space
• No motorised headrest
• Has to be combined with
  other seats

Sofas

Sofas are the most common type of seating that we find in lounges and even home theaters.

They are comfortable and allow 3-4 persons to sit in a row, while also allow for customization. You can customize the style and size of the sofa according to your needs, making it a great choice for home theaters.

Sofas are easy to setup and arrange in the room. Most homeowners opt to go with a 7-seater, 2 singles, 1 double, and 1 3-seater. But as mentioned above, since they are customizable you can get them however you like.

They are perfect for all types of families, from small to bigger ones. You have the option with sofas to select the number of seats and even customize the layout as per your liking. You can consider the size of the room and the number of individuals you have in your family and decide on a theater couch set accordingly.

TYPE Sofa BEST FOR

Families

PROS

• A homely feel in the home theatre
• Arrangement can be customised
• Large selection of material

CONS

• Bulky design
• Needs more space

C-shaped media room

The C-shaped media room is a set of recliners, typically four seats, in a shape of a C. They come equipped with cup holders and are a great addition to a home theater. To maximize viewing pleasure, the seats are arranged so they form a C, so each person can view the screen at a proper angle.

The seats are comfortable and provide leg rests for those that want to recline back. Some even come with an ottoman or you can buy one on its own, which also serves the purpose of a leg rest.

The C-shaped media room is ideal for smaller and medium-sized families or a bachelor pad in which you have a few friends over quite often to watch movies or play video games.

TYPE C-shaped media room BEST FOR

Families

PROS

• Comfortable hand rest and cushioning
• Great viewing angle for every seat
• Storage and cup holders

CONS

• Pricey
• Limited arrangement
  options

Home Theater Sectional

Home theater sectionals are like the C-shaped media room in the sense that you have a few seats joined together. You can get these in a C like shape or a straight line.

What sets them apart from the
C-shaped media room is that the seats
are more like sofas so they are a bit
more comfortable and provide a little bit
more room, which also means they take
up a little more space.

These are not easy to rearrange as they are heavy and don’t really give an option of customization as far as arrangement goes.

TYPE Home theater sectionals BEST FOR

Big rooms

PROS

• Seats can recline
• Comes in different materials
• Different options for arrangement

CONS

• Needs a lot of space

Seats For Kids

You can find a different type of home theater seating for kids from recliners to a single seater. They come with pretty much the same functionalities as the normal seat would except they are smaller in size so a kid can comfortably sit in it. You can even get smaller sofa sets if you have more than one child.

Home theater seats for kids are not only smaller in size but the upholstery material used is vinyl which is easy to clean and durable – perfect for the little ones!

TYPE For kids BEST FOR

Families

PROS

• Perfect size for kids
• Various colors
• Cup holders
• Easy to clean material

CONS

• 1 year warranty
• Kids will grow too big for the
  seat

List of features each
chair can have and
explanations

No one likes to hold their drink or bowl of popcorn while watching a movie! You want to relax and enjoy while all your gadgets, snacks, and drinks are next to you rather than in your hands. These accessories will allow you to lounge at ease while you watch your favorite movies with everything you could possibly need right beside you.

LED lights

Seats now either come with LED lighting or you can buy a strip of LED lights and install them on your home theater seats. The lights fit under the seats and, while they add an element of class to the seats, they also help with the viewing experience.

LED lights are usually a cool blue color so they provide a bit of extra light in the atmosphere which puts less strain on your eyes.

Accessory Dock

You can find many different accessory docks for seats to add various accessories – from a tablet holder to a swivel tray that can hold your popcorn and drink.

The accessory dock fits into the armrest of the chair and you can get them in various sizes depending on how much support you need.

Some accessory docks may need electricity, like ones including LED flex light, so you can run the wire through your armrest.

Arm Storage

Some chairs come with a storage compartment inside the armrest. The rest opens up and you can put snacks along with whatever you want in the storage.

ARM STORAGE

The size of storage varies depending on the size of the seat and armrest but it generally provides enough space for you to store candies and other smaller items that you’d like to have on hand while watching a movie.

USB Charging Port

Let’s face it, most of us are gadget addicts these days and have to have them close by! Having them charged while you’re watching a movie is definitely ideal.

Most chairs that come with USB charging ports have them on the outer side of the armrest. They have 2 USB slots, so you can charge two devices at a time.

You can also buy an external charging port and attach it to your armrest if you need to charge multiple devices at one time. An external USB port usually comes with 2 to 4 additional slots so you can easily charge more than 3 devices at the same time.

Cup holders

As you lounge, the last thing you want is a cup in your hand. You want to be able to freely move your hand as you like and rest it without a drink in it. That is why it is important you have cup holders.

Most seats that come with cup holders have them in the armrest or attached to it. Some seats come with one cup holder while you can find some with two. You can also add a cup holder on to your seat if it already doesn’t have one. The cup holders can be easily slotted into the seat armrest if they already do not have one.

Motorized Headrest

Some seats come with motorized headrest but you can also add them on yourself to those that don’t.

This headrest provides exceptional comfort and adjusts to your liking with the push of a button, allowing you to lay your head on it in the position you want.

You can lay your head far back if you decide to lie down or keep it up. The armrest has the controls for the headrest which allows you to control the movement of it and make you feel like it’s year and you are in a spaceship!

There are many positions you can rest your head on. The head should be in a straight line with your back and the headrest ensures it maintains that angle rather than forcing it forward or allowing it to go too far back. With headrests, there is no additional strain on your neck on the spine.

Recline mechanism

This feature allows you to recline – move your seat back so you can sit comfortably. You can find seats that have a motorized recline mechanism and also some that recline with a help of a lever. Power recline is obviously much easier as you don’t have to put a lot of effort when you recline the seat back.

The mechanism provides extra comfort for those that want to relax and watch movies, providing extra support for their back and allowing them to pretty much lay down at an angle. Most seats recline back to a 50 degree angle.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a material used in the seating to provide comfort. It ensures that the seat takes the shape of your body, giving you relief from back pain.

It’s made up of polyurethane and other chemicals and it comes in different density which determines how firm it actually is.

The density determines how the foam returns to its natural form after someone sits on it. The 1.8 density is the hardness of the foam which in turn translates to the hardness of the seating experience.

Hardness of the foam Hardness of the seating experience

The higher the resilience, the more it will return to its natural form.

It also has a layer of cooling gel that ensures it breaths while providing users with a cooling comfort so you won’t be sweating. Memory foam is durable and provides great support for your body.

Lumbar Support

If you are cautious about your body form – even if you aren’t – it is important to get seats with lumbar support.

Lumbar support ensures
your back and spine get the
proper support so there is no
pain and you sit in the
proper form you need to.

Ergonomic seats have a curvature shape that provides lumbar support. They usually come with coil springs that are well padded so you get both support and comfort.

Seat Type

No, this is not about recliners and rockers and chaises!

The seat type refers to the specific part of each chair, the part you actually sit on.

Contour seats ensure that there isn’t too much strain or pressure on your hip bones as you sit. It distributes the pressure and allows you to sit in the seat for a longer period of time without any issue.

Suitable for: Older viewers Contour seating The standard seating alignment you find in seats. The seat allows users to sit comfortably, upright.

Suitable for: Younger adults and adults Standard seat pitch Bucket seats have the curved sides that come out, they sort of allow the person to dive into the seat as if it was like a bucket. These provide more surface area for the back and allow it to relax against the seat cushion, getting full coverage of the back and curving with it.

Suitable for: Children and younger users Bucket style There are several different types and each
has its benefits.

Pocket coils in seat cushion

The pocket coils provide the ultimate comfort. They allow the seat to “bounce” meaning they adapt to your body when you sit on them and spring up as soon as you get off. This pretty much ensures that the seat will never sag and will remain durable.

Kiln-dried hardwood frame

The frame of the seat ensures that it is durable. This particular frame is a solid hardwood, which is stronger than what is generally employed in seating.

The wood doesn’t bend easily being more resilient than the average wood options you get in seating. This is due to the fact that when the wood dries, 93% of the moisture escapes from the wood which makes it more durable.

Kiln-dried hardwood frame also ensures that the frame of your furniture remains the same with no warp or shrinkage through years of use even under humid and high temperature.

Heavy Gauge No-Sag Springs

These springs are durable due to the fact that they form a continuous coil. When these springs are used in seats, they adapt to the body shape of the person sitting in the seat and spring up as soon as they leave, making sure that the seat doesn’t sag and stays comfortable and useful for a longer period of time.

List of accessories a
chair can have and
explanations

A seat by itself is incomplete, especially when it comes to home theater seating.

These are some accessories you can purchase with your seat that will further enhance your viewing experience and make you relax even more. Plus, they are great for impressing your guests

Tray tabels

Tray tables provides an easy way to keep drinks and snacks while you enjoy a movie. The table can hook to the accessory dock in the seats, it fits right in.

You have different types of tables to choose from: Black
swivel Aluminum
swivel Glass
swivel

Both black swivel and aluminum trays made of 100% aluminum, one in black, the other in silver, while the glass swivel has a glass tray.

The tables can swivel to 360 degrees so you can easily move them around when you feel the need to.

Material of the tray is quite sturdy and can hold up to 5 lbs.

The tables can swivel to 360 degrees so you can easily move them around.

/tablet holder

Constructed of durable aluminum, the and tablet holder easily fits in the accessory dock of the seat.

The design of the holder will not only add class to your seat but also allows you to keep your and tablet in front of you, which has become a necessity these days.

Tablet holder

holder

The holder rotates so you can change the direction of the screen and easily show it to others sitting next to you or keep it away from them. It can fit small and big phones and tablets alike.

Wine glass holder

Unlike a cup holder, the wine glass holder adds the element of class to your home theater.

The holder fits into the accessory dock and doesn’t hide your glass like most cup holders.

You slide the glass in and the holder allows the glass to sit on it, this works for small and large wine glasses.

Made of 100% aluminum, the holder is durable and has an elegant finish. The stand for the glass has a swivel so you can move it if you like.

LED flex reading light

The LED flex reading light allows you to turn your home theater seat into a comfortable reading seat.

The light docks on to the accessory dock and provides you with extra light that isn’t overbearing which can prove to be useful for reading or finding something you might have dropped when watching a movie.

It comes equipped with a flexible goose-neck made of stainless steel so you can rotate the light with ease to the position of your liking. It comes with LED lights that are of low voltage and requires AAA batteries to operate.

Cigar holder

You wouldn’t want to ruin the aesthetics of your home theater with a basic ashtray!

The cigar and cigarette holder is of 100% aluminum with a smooth finish, that adds class to your theater.

The holder has 4 different curvatures in it which can hold any size of cigar or cigarette, holding 2 cigars at a time and 4 cigarettes.

You can fit the holder in the accessory dock of the seat. The holder comes with a swivel that allows for 360-degree movement. The fact that it is made out of aluminum also makes it easy to clean after use.

Head & neck pillow

Most people need a little extra support for their head and neck even when they are sitting in the same place for a longer period of time.

This accessory is fitted with the help of a strap on the headrest to provide that little extra support for your neck and head.

To provide support and comfort, the pillow employs high density and quality brown fiber.

This recliner pillow has an ergonomic shape which provides relief to your neck muscles and the head.

Removable arm

If you decide to buy seats without an armrest, like the middle seats of sofas, then the removable armrest is a  perfect accessory. It slides between two seats and has a cup holder too, so you have a slot to keep your drink.

It has plush padding to provide your arm with comfort as it rests on it while the bottom of the armrest has fin which is a wood-like aperture that ensures the rest stays in place.

You can remove the armrest when not needed.

If you feel you need some storage space with your removable armrest then you have the option of accessorizing with a removable storage arm. Like the armrest, this slides between two cushions and stays in place.

It comes with a cup holder and the area where you rest your arm has a storage for you to keep the remote and other items you want.

Wireless battery pack

Some seats such as reclining seats need power to operate. Rather than having to plug them into a socket, you can use a wireless battery pack.

The lithium-ion battery hooks up to the seat and allows you to operate it. The battery is durable providing up to 150 cycle counts.

It is also important to note
that if your seats have LED
lights then the use of the
battery pack is not
recommended.

LED lights will drain out your battery, not allowing it to perform at its optimal level. The battery pack is recommended as a source of power for reclining mechanism only.

Popcorn bowl

Your movie experience is incomplete without popcorn and no one likes to carry a bag of popped popcorn into the theater.

The popcorn bowl is a classy bowl that will add to the aesthetics of your home theater rather than taking anything away from it. The bowl fits in the accessory dock and has a swivel mechanism so you can easily move it around.

Types of upholstery
material

The type of upholstery you select is as important as the type of seat, if not more. With upholstery, you need to make sure you select one that is suitable for your use.

If you have kids or pets, or
usually have parties in your
home theater, then you want
a material that is easy to
take care of and doesn’t
stain so easy.

Leather

There are three different types of leather that are generally used for seating.

1 Top grain leather

Top grain leather is top of the line leather quality. This type of leather is great for upholstery as it is strong and durable. With proper care, the life of the leather will be long, but you usually have to take extra care of top grain leather.

2 Bonded leather

This type of leather is common for upholstery in furniture. It is strong and is reconstructed leather.

This means that it isn’t all leather, it has a layer of fiber that consists of shredded leather and a polyurethane binder. But, the feel and look make it almost as good as top grain leather.

3 Leather gel

This is a leather that has a mixture of leather with other fibers combined.

While the outer layer of the upholstery will be leather, this is the part that we see and touch, the back of cushions, the seat, and so on would be another material. This is generally not as costly as bonded and top grain leather.

4 Suede

A leather that has a napped finish, it is smooth but doesn’t feel exactly like actual leather because it is the underside of the animal’s skin. Suede adds a bit of elegance to the room and feels good to sit on but needs regular maintenance.

You can find a variety of chairs that offer leather upholstery like chaises, rockers, recliners, and sofas.

Leather comes in different colors and the most popular colors that homeowners prefer are:

Leather seating is more used for more luxurious home theatres as the material costs more than others.

Fabric

There are many different fabrics that are used as upholstery material. When it comes to home theater seating the following are quite popular:

1 Chenille

Made from yarn, Chenille is a fabric that has a soft feel. The fabric works well on seating but can stain so you have to be careful in taking care of it. You can get chenille in almost any color you want.

2 Velvet

If you want luxurious seating then velvet is the way to go. The silk-like texture is smooth and allows for comfort in seating and you can find it in any color. It does tend to cost more, needs extra care since it is a delicate material.

3 Grade 1 fabric

This is common fabric that isn’t the most durable. It has a higher likeliness to fade and also attract dust and fuzz ball. It requires a lot of maintenance.

4 Grade 2 fabric

Better than Grade 1, the grading scale of fabric goes until 5. So the higher the grade the better the material is and less likely it is to pilling or fade.

Since fabrics are delicate, you need to think about the seating you get before you decide on the fabric. While fabrics are common on most chaises and sofas, they aren’t as common on recliners. Chenille is more common for family home theatres while velvet is used for more luxurious ones.

Vinyl

Vinyl upholstery is generally a choice of individuals that don’t want leather but want a fabric that is like it in both look and feel. Vinyl is cheaper than leather while providing a leather-like feel. It is also not as strong as leather but with care, it can last for years.

It is easy to clean as you can scrub any stain off vinyl with the use of detergent and water. Vinyl is easy to maintain so perfect for families with kids and bigger families.

Microfiber

Microfiber material is a synthetic fiber made from polyesters and polyamides. Being synthetic, the material doesn’t stain too and easy to clean as it repels wetting.

Microfiber Polyesters Polyamides

The material is durable and easy to wash with the use of soap, water, and a cloth which makes this type of upholstery material great for families with kids. It also comes in many different colors and you can even get it with designs.

After you have decided on the type of chair you want along with the accessories, there are certain steps you need to take both at home and online, research-wise, before you should order the seats.

We have a checklist for you that will help you through this process in selecting the right chair and vendor for you from the comfort of your own home.

We have divided this section of the guide in two parts:

What you can do at home to make sure you order the right kind of seat?

What research you should do online before you pick the shop and manufacturer you will buy from?

What to do at home?

Measure your space

It is important that you know exactly how much space you have for the seats.

The last thing you want is to get seats that don’t fit in the room. You want to start off by getting the measurement of the whole room. With that you will get a better idea of how many seats you can fit in the room.

You want to measure the optimal distance from the screen to the point where the seating should start. The seating should begin at a distance that is twice the size of the screen.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Yilin.

So, for example, if you have a screen that is 60 inches then the seating should start roughly 120 inches away from the screen to get a proper view.

The last row should not be further than five times the size of the screen, so 300 inches away.

This step will allow you to determine exactly how many seats you can fit in the room both in rows and width wise.

Build a model

Everything seems much simpler when you have a physical model in front of you rather than a mental image.

Building a scale model of the room and the setup will help you not visualize but also see the setup.

You can use a cardboard box as a scaled down size of the room.

At one end you have the screen and then you can insert the seating with scaled down measurements. It is important when building the model that the scale is uniform for everything. You may even need to cut a piece of the box, if it is too big. Build using cardboard box Keeping the same science in measuring the distance between the screen to the seats, you can get a 3D like model of what your room can look like and how many seats can fit with a model. Build a 3D model Another option when it comes to building a model is to actually build model chairs from cardboard boxes. For this all you have to do is figure out the dimensions of the chair and use boxes of similar size as mockup chairs. Build model chairs

This may need a little extra effort but it is quite useful.

The process will allow you to easy judge exactly how many seats you can fit in the room.

Not only that but it will also give you the look and feel of the room with the seats even before you buy them.

Keep an eye on the style

The seating is the second most noticeable aspect in a home theater after the screen.

It is a vital aspect of the aesthetics of the room, so you don’t want to go with any random style as it could completely throw the room’s ambiance.

When it comes to style, the type of seat you select is important.

You don’t want to get rocker-style seats for a home theater where you want a more relaxing feel – recliners or chaise seating would be a better option.

You also want to pay attention to the style of the room such as wall color tones.

This will help you decide which color seating would be best aesthetically for the room. While you can rarely go wrong with black, at times other seat colors appeal more.

Decide on the material

Deciding on the material of the seat is as important as the type of seat you select.

Most seating comes with a wide variety of options when it comes to material. Leather and fabrics are the two most common materials you will find when it comes to home theater seats.

For those homeowners that would use the home theater on a daily basis, getting seating with a more durable material makes a lot of sense so the seats last a longer time. How often will you use the home theater? If children will have access to the home theater than you definitely want to go with material that is durable, like leather. Do you have any children or will children have easy access to the home theater? There are many options for material, some give a classy, elegant feel while others are basic material. If you want a more luxurious feel to your home theater than suede and velvet are a great option, but they need a little extra care. If you want a basic feel then vinyl and fabrics are a good option. Which material goes well with the ambiance of the room? Softer material like velvet need a little extra care and aren’t ideal for homes with children. More durable material would be leather and microfiber. Would you prefer a softer fabric rather than one that is more durable?

Consider the viewing angle
to the screen

When it comes to viewing angles, there are two angles you need to be aware of:

Horizontal viewing angle

Vertical viewing angle

In home theatres, you generally have rows of seating which can alter the horizontal viewing angle. It is the angle at which each corner of the screen is the position of the seat.

The further back you move from the screen, the wider the view gets.

So you want to position the seat so that the view is not too wide for those that are watching, meaning the person’s field of vision up to 40 degrees is the screen and nothing else.

To ensure the best horizontal viewing angle for rows behind the first one, you may want to consider getting a seat riser and platform.

The vertical angle refers to how high the screen should be mounted. You don’t want the screen to be too high as it would mean you would need to look up at it, hurting your neck.

Maximum recommended vertical angle

When mounting the screen, you need to take in to account the number of rows, you can’t have the screen at eye level with the first row if you have more than one. You need it to be a little higher so that people sitting in the back can also see the screen.

Ideally, you need to place it at a height where no row has to exceed the 35 degree vertical viewing angle.

It’s all about the comfort

Comfort is one of the first things we look for when it comes to any type of seat, it is more important when it comes to home theater seats. After all, you will spend hours at a time on the seat, so you want to ensure it is comfortable.

There are various aspects of the seat you need to pay attention to, to ensure you get one that is comfortable.

Depth

The depth of the seat allows you to determine how deep you slide into it.

Bucket seats generally have a little more depth than others because they allow a person to sink into the seat like a bucket.

But you don’t want a seat that allows you to completely dive in because the viewing angle may be altered due to this. Find a seat that has enough depth to let you sort of sink in while also allowing for optimal view.

Cushions

The cushions are considered to be the essence of the seat. The material of the cushion determines how you can sit in the seat.

You should pay attention to the foam used in the cushion. You want a high-density memory foam that takes the shape of your body when you sit on it while providing you with extreme comfort at the same time.

When shopping online, you want to pay attention to the foam used in the seat – we recommend getting seats with 1.8 high density foam.

Recline

Nothing beats having the capability to recline back as you sit and relax while watching your favorite movies

You can sit in a more comfortable position with the recline mechanism, not having to sit straight up.

When shopping online, you want to pay attention to the foam used in the seat – we recommend getting seats with 1.8 high density foam.

Motorized headrest

it is important that your head is positioned for the best view and also to allow your head and neck to comfortably sit on the seat. A motorized headrest allows you to position the headrest to the ideal position for your head to sit comfortably on the seat.

What to do online? Get to know the shop

When it comes to online shopping, you don’t just go with the first shop you see that sells the item you need.

It is important to do your
research on the shop before
you buy from it, after all,
there are plenty of frauds
out there.

The first thing you want to do is analyze the whole website, go through it thoroughly. Read the about us page and if they have a testimonial page, go through that.

These two will give you a better insight of previous client’s experience with the business. If you can’t find much on the business then you may want to stay clear of it.

Get to know the brand

Bigger brands, in general, tend to be more in tune with their clients and know exactly what they need.

They either manufacture or retail products that are durable and one that they can genuinely stand behind, which is something that smaller brands tend to lack at times.

So when you look at the business,
see exactly how big it is.

Bigger seating companies do significant due diligence to ensure that the products they sell are ones they can stand behind. This means that the product will be durable and to customer’s liking so they don’t have to worry about clients constantly coming back to them due to issues with the seats because it would be of high quality.

Make sure you call the store

When spending so much money on furniture, it is important you know the ins and outs of what it is you are buying.

Rather than contemplating on your own whether a seat is right for you, call the store.

Businesses that value their
customers have a number you can
call to speak to experts that can
help not only pick out the right seats
but also design the layout and plan
the accessories with the seat
according to your needs.

All you have to do is let them know the style and color of your room and the expert will guide you to what is the most suitable seat for you.

They may even tell you things you didn’t even consider when you were browsing online, their insights will add value to your shopping experience.

Read the reviews

Reading reviews about a business before you give them your money is a vital step in shopping online.

You can’t just go by the reviews you see on the business’ website because they tend to be biased.

You want to read reviews either on their social media page or on a third party website like Google or BBB.

Online businesses have less control over what is written on Google and BBB and this will give you a real picture of how previous clients feel about the business.

Trust Pilot and Yelp are also some websites you can look at for reviews on furniture shops.

Check the shipping options

When it comes to furniture, you need to pay close attention to the shipping options. The last thing you want is to have your couch delivered outside when it is set to rain.

This means that the drop off point of the furniture would be your front door or the curb, end of your driveway. Unless you have a team that can help you get the seats inside, it will be quite hard for you to move hundreds of pounds of furniture inside to the room you need. Curbside or front door This option means that the delivery men would professionally unload the items and take them to the room of choice. But note, that they would not unbox or unpack anything, just drop all the items to the room of your choice. Room of choice This service takes the room of choice option a little further. Not only will the delivery men unload the items to your room of choice but would also unbox, remove all packaging, and also help set up a limited number of items for you. White glove

Most furniture shops offer curbside or front-door delivery free of cost. The price for both room of choice and white glove delivery varies depending on what it is you order and how heavy it is.

Check the return policy

You want to make sure that the shop has a return policy. The bigger retailers generally have a return policy on products they sell. You need to read the return policy just in case if the product you buy isn’t on par with what you actually expected.

Depending on the store, return policy varies from 14 days to about
30 days.

If the return policy is not clear on the website, be sure to call and ask their experts for a better understanding. You can also ask if there are any charges if you decide to return the items.

When contacting the expert be sure to also discuss:

Refunds on
returns

What their
conditions
are for
refunds?

What
methods
they use?

Ask for swatches of
upholstery and colors

It can be difficult when shopping online to determine whether the upholstery or its color is right for you. You may want to feel the material or see the color in your hands before you decide on it.

You can request for upholstery and color samples from the shop and they will gladly send you swatches – samples of upholstery in different colors. This will allow you to feel the upholstery, pick the one that feels right in the color that goes with your room.

Swatch samples from Seatup

Read product description a few times

You need to pay close attention to the product detail before you purchase anything online. Since you won’t be able to touch or sit on the seat before you buy it, the description is your only guide into what the product would be like.

So don’t just read it once, read it a few times almost to the point where you know the product inside and out.

The description will allow you to understand

The measurements of the seat so you know exactly how it will fit in your room

Provide you with other insights that will help you decide whether or not the seat is right for you

At times, you may also find hidden details in the descriptions that you would not be able to see just by looking at the picture.

Compare the warranty

The type of warranty the manufacturer offers allows you to determine both the quality of the product and how much faith the manufacturer has in their product.

If the manufacturer only offers a year of warranty, chances are they don’t have too much faith in it as opposed to those that have a longer period of warranty.

Products with longer period
of warranty are generally of
higher quality.

If the furniture has electrical components then you also want to pay attention to the warranty on these items. Warranty is an aspect that needs to be completely clear to you before you buy furniture so be sure to call and ask their expert to explain it to you, if the website isn’t clear.

Look for coupons or special offers

Buying furniture isn’t cheap and if you can save even the slightest amount then you should.

Most online businesses have special offers and coupon codes which they offer to prospective clients.

Do your research on Google to see whether or not you can find any code or coupons for the shop you are planning on purchasing from.

Coupon codes by Octane Seating

Some may even give you discounts if you signup for their newsletter or refer someone else to the shop. Be sure to look into the shop’s offerings and see how you can possibly save a little extra on your purchase.

When setting up your home theater, you might focus more on the type of TV and other technology – but don’t forget the seating as well! After all, you will need to be comfortable while you watch all the amazing movies and TV shows.

Follow our guide and print out our checklist and you will have no problems picking out the seats that fit your and your family’s needs the best.

A Complete Guide to Buying Home Theater Seating

Intro: Crucial Questions to Ask Yourself when Planning a DIY Home Theater

So you’re creating a dedicated media room to give your home a whole new vibe. Exciting! But you’ve got planning to do and questions to answer before the power tools come out. 

Will your home theater primarily serve as a place to watch Sunday football games at the highest quality? Will its main purpose be delivering an immersive gaming experience? Or is your space going to be made to provide a top-notch cinematic experience for your friends and family? No matter the type of home theater you have in mind, creating the right feel is critical to the ambiance of your space. But hitting the right tone can present a challenge if you’re not prepared.

At the heart of creating your perfect cineplex at home is selecting the ideal home theater seats. You might have a top-tier sound system and TV or projector, but in order to sit back and truly enjoy your home theater – the seats must be just right. There are quite a few things to consider in your search for the perfect home theater seating, from ensuring your ideal capacity for theater viewers while staying in budget, to finding the style, level of comfort, and accessories that align with your vision. 

As the home theater seating experts, at Valencia Theater Seating, we’re here to help you create the home theater of your dreams. In this complete guide, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about designing your ideal home theater. From the wide array of media room furniture options available, to optimizing use of space and viewing angles, we’ve got the answers to all your questions about creating the best home theater space possible.

Maximizing Your Space, Maximizing Your Theater Seating

By following a few simple guidelines, you can turn almost any sized room into the perfect home theater. The design of your theater chairs can help maximize your space and contribute to the desired atmosphere, so it’s important to choose carefully. The first step is to consider the ideal number of viewers your home theater will seat. Do you want a theater loveseat recliner for an intimate vibe? Or a large home theater sectional to accommodate family and friends? You’ve also got to consider the space available. Curved home theater seating works great for narrow rooms. Or, if you need to maximize distance between the screen and the seating, wall hugging theater seating might be the answer. Is your home theater in the basement? Then we’ve got to think about whether or not we can fit in an elevated back row of theater recliners comfortably.

A few critical components of home theater seating design that are directly affected by room dimensions are (1) viewing distance and angles from the chairs to the screen and (2) standard seating measurements. We can help you design and create an abundance of home theater seating options that will help you account for these elements. All our home theater recliners can be tailored to your style and decked out with your desired customizations. And you never have to worry about quality or function – luxury theater seating should have it all.

Use these dimensions of the relatively slender Valencia Zurich Home Theater Seating as a reference point. But, say you choose the Tuscany home theater recliner instead – make sure you know its specific dimensions. This is just a baseline guide to help you visualize the different configurations of home theater rows, recliners, loveseats, and couches. 

Now, let’s take a look at some ways to maximize your space.

Open Floor Space vs Space for Your Media Room Seating

When planning the number of seats and their configuration in your home theater, think about the room’s shape and size, as well as the layout of any other components of the room, such as the speakers, screen, game tables or a wet bar. Ask yourself some questions to determine the approximate space to allow for seating:

1. Do you prefer sitting close to the screen or further away?
2. Do you want a spacious home theater seating to seat as many people as possible?
3. Are you willing to combine styles of seating, such as couches and loveseats, or do you prefer a single type of seating?
4. Does your media room furniture need to have multiple functions? (i.e. Is your home theater also a hangout space, a family room, or a gaming room?)

The position of your seating plays a big part in how viewers experience the theater. So, to both maximize your space and your enjoyment, consider each of these fundamental elements of your theater:

Audio Quality: Bass Shakers in Your Theater Chairs, Anyone?

The placement of your home theater seating determines how you experience the sound quality of your home cinema. To get the best sound, theater seats should be placed within the sound cone of all the main speakers. Keep this in mind especially if you plan to maximize the viewer capacity in your theater. Ensure that all the seats in your theater have similar audio exposure levels so that every family member or guest is treated to an immersive audio experience to go along with comfortable seating. You can have the most comfortable home theater seating on the market, but if the guy on the end of the row is craning to hear what’s going on – that’s not comfortable at all. 

Features to think about here: 

• The placement of the speakers themselves in relation to the projector screen. Perforated projector screens allow speakers to be placed behind the screen, making your viewing field and sound cone overlap perfectly. 
• The possibility of adding a home theater riser to elevate and separate the seating space from interfering vibrations and sound.
• Including bass shakers in your home theater furniture for a tangibly immersive experience.

Equalizing the Field of View for Every Theater Seat

As you plan your dream home theater, you can’t forget about the all-important field of view! After all, it’s kind of the whole point of the media room in the first place. The placement of your screen determines the layout of the rest of your theater room. This might be the literal only time in your life your math teacher was telling the truth when she said you’d need to use your geometry knowledge someday. Or fractions… ratios? You should probably go grab a calculator.

To make sure that every seat is the best in the house, aim for a 30-degree field of vision relative to the screen. Also, viewers’ eyes should be aligned as closely as possible to the center of the screen. The field of vision can be challenging to calculate and implement in your home theater system. So, as an alternative, strive for a field of view that is 1.5 to 3 times the diagonal screen size and within a 90-degree arc. If your theater room seating involves multiple rows, home theater risers can also be helpful to avoid obstruction of view for each row behind the first. When dealing with multiple rows, another way to maximize space without sacrificing the movie-watching experience of the first row is choosing curved home theater seating for the front row.

The size of your screen also determines how far away your home theater chairs should be from it. Luckily, finding out the minimum and maximum distance is easier than calculating the field of view. The minimum distance between the seats and the screen for comfortable viewing is about 2 times the horizontal length of your screen. The maximum distance is about 5 times the horizontal length of the screen, meaning that viewers that sit further away than this will risk a blurry or low-quality view of the screen.

It’s important to note here, as well, that the type of visual tech you choose will also affect the field of view and the picture quality for each theater seat at any given angle. Some projectors have better oblique viewing angles than others. Same with TVs. So while we can all agree that size does matter, these other specs need to be included in all that math you’re doing, as well. Show your work – you don’t want to end up with a seating configuration for your home theater furniture you think makes sense and then realize you forgot a crucial variable.

Don’t worry – that was the last math metaphor.

Your Choice of Entertainment Room Seating Affects its Style

Once you have determined the seating arrangement that gives you the best audio quality and field of view, the next step is finding the home theater seating style that maximizes your space. The sheer number of options may be overwhelming, but the variety means that you are guaranteed to find theater chairs that work for your particular home theater. First, familiarize yourself with the various options for home theater furniture. 

A popular choice is the classic single recliner, or a couple rows of 3 seat home theater recliners. But there is no need to limit your home theater to one style. The best home theater seating manufacturers today offer various styles of seating such as loveseats, couches and cinema-style lounge chairs. And you can always add a couple of bar stools behind if you have a bar, or bean bags and ottomans for a more casual vibe. Home theater sectionals are also a great option – they give the look of living room furniture with the feel of a movie theater experience.

Home Theater Recliners: The Archetype in Home Theater Seating

Recliners are the most popular option for home theater seating and are therefore available in a great variety of styles and functions, such as recline settings, individual USB ports, and drink holders. They allow for ultimate comfort, relaxation and personal space, which is why they’re a standard choice for home theaters. One of our signature recliners with a classic design is the Valencia Syracuse. The simple design and narrow armrests make it comfortable and sleek, yet compact enough to maximize the number of seats into media rooms with limited space.

Home Theater Sofas and Chaise Lounges are Multifunctional

Although they can be large, home theater sofas, loveseats and chaise lounges can be quite versatile, especially for families or those who don’t have a dedicated home theater room. You can find these types of media room furniture in a wide range of styles, colors, and materials. Depending on the purpose of your theater room, you can rearrange the furniture to accommodate your personal needs. If your room is a multi-use space, changing up your media room with a home theater sectional can give you that cinematic feel with living room function.

Budget Home Theater Seating that Doesn’t Sacrifice Luxury

Seating is an integral part of your home theater room and should be well accounted for in your budget. After all, neither pristine audio nor a crystal-clear TV screen can fix the frustration and discomfort of subpar seating. The costs of home theater seats vary greatly depending on the quality, style, and additional features and accessories. A combination of couches, recliners, and other styles of seating can ensure you don’t go over budget, while not missing out on the ultimate comfort and relaxation of recliners. Our Leggett-Platt reclining mechanism, ergonomic cushion construction and lumbar support are standard in every home theater seat we create, so less cost never means less comfort.

The Best Home Theater Seating Provides Ultimate Comfort and Convenience

Theater chairs have come a long way since the first home theaters. There are a number of modifications and features you can add to your preferred style to create the perfect chair, custom-made for your theater room. All of Valencia’s home theater seating can be customized with different colors and materials, as well as features like LED lighting, powered headrests, drop-down consoles, and more.

Headrests Optimize Viewing and Reclining Comfort

A comfortable headrest can make all the difference. Although numerous Valencia home theater seats feature a motorized headrest adjustment, for those that don’t, the addition of a cushioning neck pillow promises the chance to sit back and relax the whole time you’re in your home cinema. Valencia neck pillows are fully adjustable and made from top-grain leather. The padding offers great support that will allow you to sit comfortably throughout a movie (or multiple movies!) without straining your neck.

Home Theater Accessories: Ergonomic Neck Pillow

Upholstery and Construction is Key in Quality Home Theater Seats

Whether you’re accommodating adults that cherish the ultimate relaxing experience or children that tend to jump and climb, you want chairs that can keep up with your lifestyle. Microfiber theater seating is soft, comfortable and stain-resistant. Leather theater seating gives a more high-end look, but still has great durability. Fabric home theater seating can be perfect for multi-use rooms or homes that have pets that like to cuddle with you during movies and games. 

We specialize in luxury Nappa leather home theater furniture, but we can customize your seating’s textile to fit any taste. Black leather theater seats are far from your only leather options. We offer full-grain Nappa leather seats in red, grey, brown, white, and a dozen other shades as well. Quality home theater seating is an investment, so its construction should be made to last. Valencia’s products consist of steel and wood construction that won’t break down over time. Inside to out, top to bottom, every detail is crafted with the utmost attention to detail.

Home Theater Recliner Construction

Recline Functionality that Optimizes Comfort and Use of Space

Choose from motorized, manual, or no reclining function for any style of home theater chair you prefer. The Valencia Premium line features the distinguished Leggett & Platt reclining mechanism, known around the world for its lifetime, comfort and unmatched ease of use. This mechanism is, at the forefront, about ergonomics, but the way we build our theater recliners, it also results in space-saving, wall-hugging home theater seating. So if your media room is shallow, you don’t necessarily have to forego the reclining function in your home theater seats.

Leather Media Room Recliner

Storage and Cup Holders, because Snacks are Essential

You can save both space and money in your home theater by ditching extra furniture like end tables, and choosing a seating option with built-in storage and cup holders instead. For instance, we make many of our home theater sofas and rows of 3 seat theater seating with convertible tray tables, like our Tuscany Console Edition. If you enjoy a glass of wine with your movie, but worry about accidentally spilling it, a wine glass caddy is a simple solution that works for numerous shapes and sizes of wine glasses.

Home Theater Accessories: Wine Glass Caddy

In the same vein, opting for other home theater accessories, like tablet holders or tray tables, makes it even more convenient to enjoy a dinner or a snack with the show, without any of the mess.

Home Theater Accessories: Tray Tables

Additional Features of Luxury Home Theater Furniture

For a truly cinematic atmosphere, built-in LEDs underneath your seating adds a cool and modern touch. In addition, the subdued lighting can be functional, as it allows for some light to see without abrading the cinematic feel. LED-lit cup holders are also a great way to prevent the kids from missing the cup holder in the dark during a movie and interrupting the whole situation with spilled soda.

Luxury Home Theater Seating with LED Lighting

USB ports are another amenity in many modern theater chairs today. You won’t ever have to pause a movie to go plug your in – just charge it right in your seat! If your home theater will be used for gaming, a built-in USB port can ensure your controllers are always fully charged.

Leather vs Fabric Theater Seating: Style and Comfort

Theater seats in fabric or leather? Leather is luxurious and will give your home theater home a chic and elegant ambiance. Compared to fabric theater chairs, leather ones are easier to clean, stain-resistant, don’t absorb smells, and last longer. Fabric chairs, on the other hand, are typically more customizable, with a multitude of colors to suit any theater room design. However, fabric theater chairs absorb smells more easily, can be harder to clean, and tend to wear out faster than leather. Consider how much abuse your media room furniture is going to see. For instance, home theater seats made for adults and their friends is going to see a lot less wear and tear than media room furniture in the home theater of a family with three kids and two great danes. So the leather vs fabric theater seating conundrum isn’t just about style and comfort, it’s also about functionality, maintenance and longevity.

Custom-built Valencia Zurich seats made for a client’s home theater.

Clean, Modern Lines or Classic Movie Theater Chic?

Depending on the aesthetic you are going for in your home theater at-large, you may strive for a modern or classic style of movie theater seating. Each offers a high degree of comfort and sophistication, but also serves to change the look and feel of your room. The furniture you choose for your home theater is the main visual impact when you walk into the room, so you’ve got to make sure you choose home theater recliners that reflect your style. We make a wide variety of stylish media room furniture, so between the choices of models and then all the ways you can customize your choice, we’ve got you covered.

Home Theater Recliner with Quilted Leather

Classic styles like the Valencia Tuscany are a timeless choice and are a safe way to style your theater room. Or if you want to give a little nod to nowadays while keeping with that classic look, the clean lines and solid silhouette of the Verona are perfect for that. If, on the other hand, you want something bold and outside the box, a modern style such as the Manhattan will elevate your room and take it to the next level, both in appearance and enjoyment. A modern home theater chair like this might have a minimalist design, but that doesn’t mean it’s minimal on features. Modern home theater sectionals, sofas, loveseats and chairs work well for multipurpose spaces, theater rooms, or mixed media rooms. No matter what the purpose is, the Manhattan works as the centerpiece of any room without sacrificing comfort or utility.

The Manhattan Home Theater Recliner

Source: https://www.eastporters.com/product/manhattan/

Design Ideas for Your Perfect Home Cinema

When planning the perfect home theater seating, you want to think about its main purpose. Will you use the room for entertaining during sport functions? Or will it simply be a private cinema experience for you and a few close ones? Your home theater can be any level of elaborate or casual, but it’s important to know what you want to use it for in order to ensure your seating will suit every occasion. Check out the seating arrangements in these home theaters below – it might spark some great ideas for your own home theater seating:

Comfy Entertainment Room Couches

Home theater couches maximize space and are ideal for hosting large groups in your theater. A multimedia sectional, couch or loveseat gives you all the perks of entertainment room furniture with all the bells and whistles of true theater seating.

Home Theater Recliner Chairs

Rows of recliners give a sleek and luxurious look to your theater while providing ideal comfort and personal space for each viewer. Rows of theater seating are great for dedicated theater spaces, especially if you want to elevate back rows.

Rows of Seating on Home Theater Risers

Maintaining an open space in front of the first row of seats allows you to supplement with bean bags when wanted, or to get up for drinks or snacks without obstruction. Or say you’re using that huge screen to cast what’s on your VR so your friends can see. Having floor space in front of a first row of seating elevated on a riser platform allows the space to be multifunctional.

Home Theater Seating

Seating in a slightly circular configuration can create a more spacious and cinematic feel, while a bar provides additional room for entertaining. Curved home theater seating is an especially useful tool for maximizing seat capacity in a narrow room.

Mix and Match Media Room Furniture

Source: http://nextluxury.com/home-design/home-theater-seating-ideas/ 

A combination of couches, ottomans, and armchairs can ensure both maximum comfort and capacity in your home cinema without having to install risers and arrange your home theater furniture in row configurations.

Designing your theater room to reflect you and suit your needs can be challenging. But at Valencia Home Theater Seating, we make the best home theater furniture you’ll find, because it can be customized to suit both your style and functional needs without ever sacrificing quality. We have a wide selection of in-stock home theater furniture, but we can also custom-build your seats with different colors on the primary, secondary, and piping areas of your seats, all in high-end, full-grain leather.

Home Theater Seating for Entertaining

If you’re the kind of person who loves to entertain, you’re likely to want to maximize the number of seats you can fit into your theater room. If the primary activity will be watching movies, a relatively simple seating arrangement where all seats face the screen may be right for you. With options like home theater riser platforms and wall hugger reclining seating, you can probably fit more seats than you think. Bonus points if you deck out all the theater seating with accessories like tray tables and wine caddies – that’ll ensure your house as the best place to host movie nights for sure. Consider sticking with leather theater seating if you’re going to have a lot of guests coming in and out with drinks and food. Not only does it look great, but it doesn’t stain or absorb smells the way fabrics do.

Home Theater Risers and Seating

Source: https://hometheateracademy.com/home-theater-seating-ideas/

Luxury Media Room Furniture for Gaming

You don’t have to be a professional e-sports gamer to have a room devoted to gaming. Gaming is becoming an increasingly popular motivation for creating a home theater system, and if it’s one of yours, you’ll want to factor this into your seating plans. If your home theater seating will be used for gaming, the best experience will come from seating that is right in front of the screen and ideally provides lumbar support. We’d go back to the math section for a minute if we were you – because if viewing angle is important in movies, it’s vital in optimizing game play. You’ve got to ensure the angle of the seats is good for viewing as well as for the gaming system to receive signals from the controllers. The Valencia Tuscany (here it is again – can you tell it’s one of our favorites?) is an extremely ergonomic home theater recliner with powered lumbar support and powered headrest position adjustments. It’s a great choice for comfort and functionality. 

Another option for seating arrangements in a gaming space that allows for flexible purposes like accommodating friends to game with you is to include small, easily movable furniture such as bean bags in your seating configuration.

Versatile Home Theater Seating for Mixed-Media Rooms

Not everyone wants a home theater exclusively for watching movies. You might also want it to work for socializing, gaming, or just listening to music. The main consideration when planning seating arrangements for a mixed-media room is to select furniture that is adaptable and to avoid making the TV the only focal point of the room. Mixed-media rooms can mean that your theater doubles as a family room, which is a great solution for homes without bonus rooms. Whatever the case may be, you want to design a home theater that can adapt to the room’s different uses. Whether it’s theater-style loveseat configurations or a massive multimedia sectional, sofas for home theaters can function as media room furniture and living room furniture.

Source: https://hometheateracademy.com/home-theater-seating-ideas/

Home Theater Seating – Canada-Style

If you want your home theater to be Canada theater seating style or any other special design, we can custom-build almost anything! Contact us to discuss.

Are you interested in learning more about red leather theater seats? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

The DIY Home Theater Process: Bringing it all Together