Home Theater Specialty Seating: Make Every Seat the Best Seat in the House
Every good home theater owner knows that seating is a priority in the design of the dedicated theater space. Whether the space is intended for one viewer or 50, the design and placement of theater seating can make or break the theater experience. When creating a design plan for specialty seating, it is important to determine the primary users in order create the best possible sight line for any size viewer.
When designing theater seating, size matters. The likelihood of children viewers is an important issue to consider for the obvious fact that children are smaller than adults and need smaller seating to receive the same ultimate viewing experience as their adult counterparts. However, specialty seating designs do not end with the size of the seating selected. The type of material is a serious consideration as well. If the theater is going to be primarily used for children, it would be designed in a completely different way than one that would be just used for adults. With kids, materials such as ultra-suede are discouraged. Basically, kids are messy and they often tend to spill things. To complement the fabrics selected for children’s seating areas, it is recommended that the carpeting have a pattern that can camouflage those inevitable spills. For example, many theater designers prefer to use a splashy colorful carpet similar to those seen in commercial theaters. Not only is the patterned carpeting in commercial theaters visually appealing but it also hides all the stains from the soda and other spills that occur over time.
When designing specialty seating to fit the theater’s respective audience, it is possible to save space not with additional seating but with the absence of seating. One option is to fill the available space in the front of a home theater with bean bag chairs or plush pillows that may be removed when the audience numbers fewer members. In some home theaters, there is seating that resembles the old-fashioned movie theater type. Coupled with removable seating, the audience may vary in numbers from one to 30, depending upon the number of rows and permanent seats available. Between traditional seating and commercial seating, the seating options for home theater owners are limitless. However, a manufacturer can come into play whenever choosing among the many seating options. What may help the homeowner decide upon a specific design or manufacturer is not necessarily the look of the seating but the anticipated use of the seating. Heavy use generally dictates the need for a higher quality product available through commercial theater seat manufacturers. As is the case in the purchase of any product, you generally get what you pay for. Commercial style seating is expected to last longer than basic seating that is used as theater seating, such as recliners or other plush seating options.
Seating options for home theater owners have evolved over the years to meet the growing demand for home entertainment. Manufacturers that have traditionally catered to the homeowner have adapted their designs to meet the needs of home theaters. For example, some makers of recliners have “theaterized” their designs by adding cup holders, creating a means of interconnecting seats, and offering fabrics that simulate the feel of real theater seating. By increasing the size of seating that has been traditionally used for basic use and tailoring the designs for home theater owners, many homeowners have been able to turn their dedicated spaces from a simple family room to an overall home theater experience.
Home Theater Design: Using Foresight to Optimize Seating Strategies
Veteran home theater owners know the importance of planning through the entire theater design before building begins. Furthermore, they also know that it is futile to even begin to build before the scene has been selected. The selected space needs to be designed to accommodate the seating. Although spaces vary and options may be limited due to size, all home theaters must pass the planning phase before any construction is begun.
Home theaters are as varied as the people who own them. Dedicated spaces can originate as an extra bedroom or other unused room because of a limited number of space options. Or, theaters may result from a creative homeowner who is looking to construct a space or reconfigure a room, knock out a wall, expand the space, or make an existing space more theater-friendly.
Generally, most homeowners wishing to create a dedicated theater space build the room and install platforms first and then look for seating options. What often happens without the design step is that the seating rarely fits. Sight lines, in particular, are compromised by unplanned seating. For example, a two-row seating option is installed in which the back and front rows both recline. However, when the viewer in the back row reclines, the viewer in the front row is kicked in the head by the viewer in the back row. There is a broad variety of seating options for any size or type of space. The most common type of theater seating includes plush recliner-type chairs, known as club chairs. Club chairs have options for the seating space available to maximize seating while minimizing viewer obstruction. More specifically, a club chair may recline partially or perhaps a foot rest will pop up and the back will lean back just enough to improve sight lines. Yet another option is the full recliner, some of which slide all the way forward. Finally, some home theater seating options include commercial style movie theater seating. Pricing can range from inexpensive basic theater seating to custom commercial seating designed by suppliers for the theater industry. For those looking to maximize their available spaces, commercial style seating can be installed using seating that consists of a four-seat width that is comparable to the three-seat standard width selection. The homeowner knows both space and price limitations and is the one to determine what type of seating will best fit the space and the budget available. Because home theater owners are trying to make the best use of every inch, and every dollar, the depth of the platform from front to back is important. Most people want the biggest screen they can possibly get and the seating should be one of the first choices that is made so that the room can be designed for the seating.
Many seating customers question the ideal number of seats when designing their dedicated spaces. However, it is the customer who should determine their own ideal number of seats. The ideal number of seats in a home theater is basically decided by how the space will be used and for whom. A theater for a couple with no children will differ from that of a couple with six children and a constant stream of visitors. Whatever the number of seats, it is important to plan for seating and to design the seating to maximize the home theater experience for every viewer every time.
