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.
Home Theater Small Footprint Options Leave a Big Impression
Becoming a home theater owner should not be hindered by a lack of space. Many potential owners of home theaters are hesitant to take the plunge because they may feel they do not have enough room for an actual box office or concession stand. For those with limited space, there are small footprint options that are available after a space analysis.
Before anyone can join the ranks of home theater ownership, it is recommended that they undergo a space analysis that reveals surface reflections, sound isolation possibilities, and other qualities that are necessary for maximizing the viewing and listening experience. The needs of the theater are affected by the other rooms or the spaces around it. For those with limited space, maximizing the space available can transform a basic room into a home theater. For example, an extra bedroom may be transformed by closing off its door and rerouting traffic to enter through what might have been a closet at one time, creating a kind of mini-lobby. With a few cosmetic and physical changes, viewers enter the redesigned space, close the door, open another door, and then are transitioned to the next space. The simplest changes like a mini hallway with wall scones a poster case can really make a big difference when entering the smaller theater area.
One of the best small footprint options for the smaller theater space is to tie all theater designs together with a theme. From the mini-lobby to the walls lining the entrance, any theme may go beyond the red drapes and black carpet. Theater design professionals often try to use a lot of different types of themes. For instance, movie theater themes using a lot of the old, rich burgundy colors are as popular as sports themes and kids themes. There is an infinite number of design themes available regardless of the available space. The main concern is the architectural aspect of the overall design of the respective room. Through collaboration with interior designers or interior decorators, home theater designers are able to create almost any thematic result requested by the home theater owner.
The only limitation for a home theater is not the owner’s space but his or her imagination. The only must-have is what is most important to the owner. The owner is in the position to perform a self-analysis and determine what thematic and performance aspects are of greatest importance to the primary users of the theater space. What is most important to one viewer or listener might not be so important to another. For example, some may care more about the aesthetic look of a theater, whereas others are more concerned with sound quality. Ultimately, as far as an across the board must-have, one of the most important things is that the seating fits the room properly. With careful planning and sincere space analyses, any size room can be fitted for an adequate home theater that provides hours of home entertainment.
