Home Theater Seating FAQs

Designing a custom home theater isn’t just about great audio and video systems. It combines technology, furniture, color schemes, and layout to create an immersive experience. At Elite HTS, we’ve crafted this FAQ guide that can help you when in the designing phase of your customized home theater.

Furniture Selection and Arrangement

Furniture placement plays a critical role in shaping how sound travels through your room. Improper placement can create dead-zones where certain surround-sound effects may not be heard. The same can be said about the distance from the seats to the screen. If it's a projector you can have a far viewing distance. If you have a OLED TV or other HD setup then you may only have half of that distance. Regular TVs also have a reduced viewing angle from the sides.  

Seating is about the smaller considerations. These considerations focus on comfort, optimal viewing distance, and enhancing the overall movie experience. So, with that in mind, here are some tips on how to design your theater seats in your home: 

Q: What should I look for in cinema seating? 

A: If you’re starting out, begin by assessing your space. What are the dimensions of the room? How many guests will you be holding? This will be the first question you get asked by any professional designer.

Your choice of furniture will dictate the experience. Is this a family-friendly theater that will have plenty of use with younger kids? If so then you may choose sectionals and love seats to encourage snuggling up together. Also choosing materials that are easy to clean.

If the design is intended for a purely cinematic experience then theater recliners and even theater beds offer the most structure and customization to your room. Theater recliners go beyond standard living room recliners, offering features like cupholders, mechanical reclining, and sleek, ergonomic designs. Most of all, if you intend to host parties, they can be combined in as many rows as you need. Theater beds, on the other hand, offer relaxation and intimacy. They’re a statement piece for your room, as they change up the movie-watching-in-bed experience and make it new and exciting for your guests. 

Q: What materials should I look for with my theater seats? 

A: We recommend looking into retailers and manufacturers that stay true to their word, especially with materials. Materials, like the soft touch of suede or the silky feel of leather, are all great choices, as long as you know where your retailer sources their upholstery. 

Many furniture companies fail to disclose the materials used. For example, bonded leather—commonly found in retail stores like Ashley’s Furniture—contains minimal genuine leather.

Q: What layouts work best?

A: The direction you can take with your home theater layout is endless, but since we specialize in crafting custom-design theater seating, here are some recommendations for seating placement: 

• Install a Riser: Risers are wooden platforms installed near the back rows of your room. They’re designed to give additional height so your guests can see the screen, no matter how far back they’re located. Risers help manage viewing distance; they create movie-style seating arrangements so your guests won’t have to struggle with visual glare and backlighting from your screen. 
• Make Room For Walkways: Laying out your home theater also means making room for walkways and recliners. Once you’ve measured out your room’s dimensions, make sure to leave at least a minimum of 36 inches between rows, as it also makes room for recliner-type seats. 
• Don’t Be Afraid of Angles: Angling the direction of your movie furniture can help control how sound travels throughout a room. For rooms that are janky and oddly-shaped in their design, start by angling the seats inward and leave between a 36 to 50 degree angle. This range ensures your guests’ field of vision is filled, a standard practice in movie theaters.

Q: Should I install the seats myself or hire someone?

A: If you’ve already considered your room dimensions, surround sound, and screen display in your design, then you might not need to hire someone. 

In most cases, hiring a professional is optional, especially if you’ve already invested in the setup. With the right tools and knowledge, you can handle the installation yourself, as many theater seats come with detailed instructions. If you’re new to home renovation, hiring a professional may be the best option. It all comes down to how confident you feel in your abilities. 

Choose Elite HTS and Make Your Home Theater A Reality

Furniture adds the final touch to your design, making all the difference. For furniture that lasts, our experts at Elite HTS bring all options to the table so you can make the home theater of your dreams. We offer materials ranging from Valentino leather to classic cine suede and provide our own patented designs that you can customize with ease. 

We collaborate with designers, movie enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs to create exceptional spaces. Contact us today to start designing theater furniture tailored to your needs.