Where to Place Home Theater Seating

The components

The amalgamation of system components composes your home theater system. Start with an entertainment center compatible with your TV. Allow space for video sources (DVD, VCR, HiFi, and/or laser disc players) and a receiver. Add surround-sound speakers, the ultimate sound producers, and a center-channel speaker to anchor sound and action. Tower speakers offer high impact, bookshelf speakers deliver less bass, and satellite speakers are used with subwoofers, which highlight low frequencies. Don't forget remotes, motion simulators, and of course, theater seating.

Home seating options

Home theater loungers can be positioned close to walls and offer pushback reclining, inside or outside lever-reclining mechanisms, or electric reclining mechanisms. Choose a single seat lounger, or build a row of home theater seating. Models with bass shakers allow you to feel the bass as the sound is brought to life. Microfibers or leather, and several colors, are available.

Movie theater seating features a single-pole mounting system. Comfortable and sturdy, these home theater seats even rock! Home theater loungers and movie theater seats offer full lumbar support, promising hours of comfort. All home theater seating has built-in cup holders.

Space requirements

To get the full benefit from your system, seating must be the proper distance from the television and the surround-sound speakers. Higher-definition televisions allow viewers to sit closer to the TV; sit twice the distance of the diagonal screen measurement. Sit three times the diagonal measurement from the screen for traditional and analog televisions; larger-screen TVs require a larger room. Distortion or discoloration may occur when viewing LCD and projection TVs at an angle.

An average home theater has seating for four to six people. Allow 3 square feet for each seat, 2 feet of clearance between rows, and 3 feet of clearance between seats. If space is tight, consider a backward approach to designing your home theater. First select your home theater seating, and then determine the screen size that will provide the best view.