The Best Theater Experience Requires the Right Furniture

When you read about home theater systems and how to improve the movie-watching experience, a lot of articles focus on the 4K visuals or surround sound. And while those aspects are incredibly important, there’s also an element of the theater that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves: the furniture. That’s why we’ve put together this guide for St. Petersburg, FL homeowners that goes over the most common types of furniture and how to choose the best styles for your theater.

Seating

Before we get into the specifics of what to look for in home theater seating, it’s important to consider the theme and style of your theater. The seating for a grand opera-themed theater is going to be very different than the seating for a casual, low-key media room.

You may think that your room has to have the rows of traditional seats just like you’d find in a commercial theater, but there are plenty of creative options that you can use to infuse your cinema with your personality. Go for a couch or love seat style that encourages people to get cozy. Giant pillows are a great option for a more casual vibe. And if your theater is themed for a 1960s drive-in, then why not go for seats designed like vintage cars?

SEE ALSO: Get The Full Cinematic Experience At Home With A Private Theater

Regardless of theme, consider these characteristics when choosing your furniture:

• Height: Assuming your theater has more than one row of seats, you’ll want to choose furniture that doesn’t have an excessively high back. First, you don’t want to compromise the view of the people behind you. Second, a high-backed chair can severely hamper the surround sound speakers from doing their job. You want to make sure that the sound waves are able to reach your ears clearly instead of bouncing off the back of a chair.
• Low Noise Level: As fun as bean bags might be for relaxing while watching a movie, think about how frustrating it will feel when a rustling noise happens every time someone adjusts their position. Choose seating that has a quiet material and won’t squeak when you recline or get up.
• Features: Is it important to you to have seats with built-in cup holders? How about the ability to recline? You can even get seats with heaters or massagers! One feature we’re particular fans of is a built-in stand for your phone or tablet. That way, if your theater is equipped with a smart home automation system, you can adjust the volume or start the movie without having to leave your seat.

AV Cabinets / Stands

The best style of AV cabinet or TV stand will depend greatly on the size and theme of your theater. A lot of the equipment for your theater, including speakers, can be hidden away in walls or utility closets in order to create a seamless, clean look.

AV cabinets can range from simple stands for TVs to fully customized, wall-to-wall pieces of furniture with speakers built-in. One of our favorite brands for AV stands is Salamander. The furniture company has a huge variety of options to choose from, and they also supply everything needed to create custom cabinets for your space.

Sometimes, simple is the best fit for the room, but before you choose the first AV cabinet you see, consider the impact that piece of furniture can have on the room’s ambiance as a whole. After all, it’s going to be the focal point, so it makes sense to have that furniture create just the right look and feel for your home theater system.

We hope this quick guide was useful in helping you understand the factors that go into choosing the best theater furniture. For personalized recommendations about the right furniture for your home theater system, feel free to give us a call at (727) 441-9292 or fill out this questionnaire! We’re happy to do a consultation and outline the best options based on your room’s size, shape, and style.