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Everything you need to know about buying your Home Theater Seating online

By March 3, 2021September 5th, 2023Furniture, Home Theater, Product Reviews, Technology

Everything you need to know about
buying your Home Theater Seating online

home theater seating website
buying home theater online

While most homeowners, when setting up a home theater, focus on the technology element: television, sound system, and so on – they tend to forget how important theater seating is for their theater-like experience.

When you get home tired and want to sit down to watch a movie or your favorite show, the last thing you want to do is sit in something uncomfortable and hurting your back.

That is why you should give
as much importance to the
seating in your home
theater as you would to the
screen and other devices.
octane home theater set up

Selecting the right seating for your home theater is not a walk in the park you need to know exactly what it is you want. With hundreds and thousands of theater seats for sale on the market, if you aren’t prepared, chances are you will be overwhelmed and will have to sit down – pun intended. But don’t worry, we won’t let you go out there and hunt on your own.

We decided to do the work for you! This extensive guide is here to give you all the information you may need in your quest for the ultimate home cinema seating for your home theater.

Things to consider when buying home theater seats:

buying_line
Types of
chairs
Types of
material
Types of
accessories
Types of
features

After years of experience in this business, we know what people want to know the most, and that’s exactly what we are trying to explain here.

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Grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and read on! Oh, and make sure you download our ultimate checklist for buying home theater seating online!

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Types of home
theater seating

octane luxury leather recliner

We have picked out the seven most popular types of seating that you can use in a home theater. Each of the sections will give you information about what kind of seating is it, if there are different layout and arrangement options, what materials can you pick out from and so on.

At the end of each section, we tried to sum up some pros and cons for each type of chair to help you even more before you make that final decision.

recliner_icon

Recliners

The recliner, made popular by La-Z-Boy, provide a lot of comfort. They support the lumbar and the neck. The reason why they are called recliners is due to the fact that they recline back usually with the help of a lever or a remote. They have a body that can recline back allowing you to sit almost as if you were laying down.

lazy boy logo

There are different types of recliners such as:
  • Rock
    recliner
    rock_cliner.png
  • Wall-hugger
    recliners
    wall_hugger_recliner
  • Lift
    chairs
    Lift_cliner
  • Massage
    recliners
    massage_recliner

Depending on the functionality you want, you can go with one that fits your needs.

  • If you generally relax in your home theater after a long day of work then a massage recliner would be ideal for you.
  • Whereas, a rock recliner may be better suited for someone that just wants to relax and lounge while watching a movie.

When it comes to arranging the seats in your home theater, you have many options.

Recliners come on their own but most homeowners prefer to buy seats that come in sets of 3 or more for home theater, so they can seat more people.

set of three recliners

Arranging the recliner depends on the number of seats you get. A single recliner is easy to arrange but most people wouldn’t want to get just one for a home theater.

When buying them in a set,

The layout can either be straight facing the screen

buying_set

The layout can be a C shaped set which allows for those on the left and right side to get a view from an angle.

buying_set

We will talk about layouts more later in the article!

Recliners are ideal for bachelor pads and for smaller families.

Recliner

Bachelor pads
Small families

type_image
  • Comfortable seating
  • Comes with different functionalities
  • You can get it in virtually any
    material you like
  • Not the easiest to arrange in
    a room
rockers_icon

Rockers

Rocker seats will have you feeling like you are in an actual theater – they give you the option to lift the seat. The seats also have a rocking mechanism which means they allow you to recline the back, so you can relax.

The seat has a stand which enables it to rock, but don’t worry they don’t function like rocking chair going back and forth!

black rocker chair

Like recliners, you can buy rockers separate or in rows, depending on how many you need. Of course, buying them separate gives you more freedom as far as the layout of the room goes but it is more expensive to do that.

SINGLE ROCKERS
octane single rocker
ROCKERS in row
three rocker chairs

The seats are available in leather and fabric material allowing you to decide based on the aesthetics of your home theater.

materials

Rockers, like recliners, are ideal for bachelor pads and smaller families but also can be used in bigger setups.

Rockers

Bachelor pads
Small families

type_image
  • Reclining back
  • Seat lifts up
  • Different material options
  • Different layout options
  • No storage
  • No motorised headrest
  • No LED lights
  • Footrest optional
chaise_icon

Chaises

To put it simply, chaises are long chairs that allow you to put your legs up, and you can buy them as a part of a sofa set or a sectional.

The reason why chaises are
popular in homes is that they
provide exceptional back
support and feel like a small
bed attached to the sofa.
popular couch set up

They allow a person to sit or lie down if they feel the need for providing a bit of extra comfort while you watch movies.

Chaises come as a part of a sofa set so they aren’t that easy to arrange. You can, however, have them assembled according to the arrangement you like as they allow for some customization.

octane double chaise set
AS FAR AS STYLE GOES
chaise sofa

You can get one with 2 chaises at each end with a couple of seats in the middle.

chaise sofa recliners

You can get one with a seat and a chaise.

The arrangement in the room depends on the number of seats.

Of course, when it comes to bigger families you will need to get a bigger sofa set that comes with chaises.

Chaise

Medium families
Large families

type_image
  • Get a lounge feel
  • Comfortable seats
  • Option to lay down
  • Arrangement can be customised
  • Needs more space
  • No motorised headrest
  • Has to be combined with
    other seats
sofas_icon

Sofas

Sofas are the most common type of seating that we find in lounges and even home theaters.

They are comfortable and allow 3-4 persons to sit in a row, while also allow for customization. You can customize the style and size of the sofa according to your needs, making it a great choice for home theaters.

living room sofa set
friends on sofa
working on couch

Sofas are easy to setup and arrange in the room. Most homeowners opt to go with a 7-seater, 2 singles, 1 double, and 1 3-seater. But as mentioned above, since they are customizable you can get them however you like.

blue octane recliner with storage

They are perfect for all types of families, from small to bigger ones. You have the option with sofas to select the number of seats and even customize the layout as per your liking. You can consider the size of the room and the number of individuals you have in your family and decide on a theater couch set accordingly.

Sofa

Families

type_image
  • A homely feel in the home theatre
  • Arrangement can be customised
  • Large selection of material
  • Bulky design
  • Needs more space
c-shaped_icon

C-shaped media room

The C-shaped media room is a set of recliners, typically four seats, in a shape of a C. They come equipped with cup holders and are a great addition to a home theater. To maximize viewing pleasure, the seats are arranged so they form a C, so each person can view the screen at a proper angle.

c shaped sofa

The seats are comfortable and provide leg rests for those that want to recline back. Some even come with an ottoman or you can buy one on its own, which also serves the purpose of a leg rest.

The C-shaped media room is ideal for smaller and medium-sized families or a bachelor pad in which you have a few friends over quite often to watch movies or play video games.

c shaped sofa blue
C-shaped media room

Families

type_image
  • Comfortable hand rest and cushioning
  • Great viewing angle for every seat
  • Storage and cup holders
  • Pricey
  • Limited arrangement
    options
home theater sectional icon

Home Theater Sectional

Home theater sectionals are like the C-shaped media room in the sense that you have a few seats joined together. You can get these in a C like shape or a straight line.

grey home theater sectional

What sets them apart from the
C-shaped media room is that the seats
are more like sofas so they are a bit
more comfortable and provide a little bit
more room, which also means they take
up a little more space.

big home theater sectional

These are not easy to rearrange as they are heavy and don’t really give an option of customization as far as arrangement goes.

Home theater sectionals

Big rooms

type_image
  • Seats can recline
  • Comes in different materials
  • Different options for arrangement
  • Needs a lot of space
seats for kids icon

Seats For Kids

You can find a different type of home theater seating for kids from recliners to a single seater. They come with pretty much the same functionalities as the normal seat would except they are smaller in size so a kid can comfortably sit in it. You can even get smaller sofa sets if you have more than one child.

recliners for kids

Home theater seats for kids are not only smaller in size but the upholstery material used is vinyl which is easy to clean and durable – perfect for the little ones!

For kids

Families

type_image
  • Perfect size for kids
  • Various colors
  • Cup holders
  • Easy to clean material
  • 1 year warranty
  • Kids will grow too big for the
    seat

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List of features each
chair can have and
explanations

recliner with LED

No one likes to hold their drink or bowl of popcorn while watching a movie! You want to relax and enjoy while all your gadgets, snacks, and drinks are next to you rather than in your hands. These accessories will allow you to lounge at ease while you watch your favorite movies with everything you could possibly need right beside you.

LED lights

Seats now either come with LED lighting or you can buy a strip of LED lights and install them on your home theater seats. The lights fit under the seats and, while they add an element of class to the seats, they also help with the viewing experience.

octane led light recliners
recliners with LED

LED lights are usually a cool blue color so they provide a bit of extra light in the atmosphere which puts less strain on your eyes.

led light

Accessory Dock

You can find many different accessory docks for seats to add various accessories – from a tablet holder to a swivel tray that can hold your popcorn and drink.

The accessory dock fits into the armrest of the chair and you can get them in various sizes depending on how much support you need.

accessory dock couch octane

Some accessory docks may need electricity, like ones including LED flex light, so you can run the wire through your armrest.

Arm Storage

Some chairs come with a storage compartment inside the armrest. The rest opens up and you can put snacks along with whatever you want in the storage.

The size of storage varies depending on the size of the seat and armrest but it generally provides enough space for you to store candies and other smaller items that you’d like to have on hand while watching a movie.

USB Charging Port

Let’s face it, most of us are gadget addicts these days and have to have them close by! Having them charged while you’re watching a movie is definitely ideal.

Most chairs that come with USB charging ports have them on the outer side of the armrest. They have 2 USB slots, so you can charge two devices at a time.

usb port in couch

You can also buy an external charging port and attach it to your armrest if you need to charge multiple devices at one time. An external USB port usually comes with 2 to 4 additional slots so you can easily charge more than 3 devices at the same time.

Cup holders

As you lounge, the last thing you want is a cup in your hand. You want to be able to freely move your hand as you like and rest it without a drink in it. That is why it is important you have cup holders.

Most seats that come with cup holders have them in the armrest or attached to it. Some seats come with one cup holder while you can find some with two. You can also add a cup holder on to your seat if it already doesn’t have one. The cup holders can be easily slotted into the seat armrest if they already do not have one.

brown recliner cup holders
cup holders in recliner

Motorized Headrest

Some seats come with motorized headrest but you can also add them on yourself to those that don’t.

This headrest provides exceptional comfort and adjusts to your liking with the push of a button, allowing you to lay your head on it in the position you want.

motorized headrests

You can lay your head far back if you decide to lie down or keep it up. The armrest has the controls for the headrest which allows you to control the movement of it and make you feel like it’s year 3018 and you are in a spaceship!

motorized headrest

There are many positions you can rest your head on. The head should be in a straight line with your back and the headrest ensures it maintains that angle rather than forcing it forward or allowing it to go too far back. With headrests, there is no additional strain on your neck on the spine.

Footrest

Like the name suggests, you can either get seats that provide a rest for your feet or buy them as add-ons. Footrests are popular, especially with recliners.

The two most popular types of footrests are
motorized and chaise style.
Motorized footrest
full lay back recliner

They spring up from the bottom part of the seat and allow you to elevate your feet. Seats come with a remote or buttons that allow you to operate the footrest, springing it up when you want and down when you don’t. The footrest is great for any user allowing them to put their feet up after a long day.

Chaise footrest
chaise footrest octane

There is also chaise style footrest that provides you with complete support for your legs and feet. These footrests allow you to level your legs up with the seat completely up along with your feet. This type of footrest is better for older individuals as it provides great support for the whole leg and not just the feet.

Recline mechanism

This feature allows you to recline – move your seat back so you can sit comfortably. You can find seats that have a motorized recline mechanism and also some that recline with a help of a lever. Power recline is obviously much easier as you don’t have to put a lot of effort when you recline the seat back.

recliner GIF

The mechanism provides extra comfort for those that want to relax and watch movies, providing extra support for their back and allowing them to pretty much lay down at an angle. Most seats recline back to a 50 degree angle.

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a material used in the seating to provide comfort. It ensures that the seat takes the shape of your body, giving you relief from back pain.

memory_foam_image
polyurethane_image

It’s made up of polyurethane and other chemicals and it comes in different density which determines how firm it actually is.

The density determines how the foam returns to its natural form after someone sits on it. The 1.8 density is the hardness of the foam which in turn translates to the hardness of the seating experience.

hardbess-img
white-equal-icon
Hardness of the seating experience

The higher the resilience, the more it will return to its natural form.

It also has a layer of cooling gel that ensures it breaths while providing users with a cooling comfort so you won’t be sweating. Memory foam is durable and provides great support for your body.

Lumbar Support

If you are cautious about your body form – even if you aren’t – it is important to get seats with lumbar support.

Lumbar support ensures
your back and spine get the
proper support so there is no
pain and you sit in the
proper form you need to.
lumbar support

Ergonomic seats have a curvature shape that provides lumbar support. They usually come with coil springs that are well padded so you get both support and comfort.

Seat Type

No, this is not about recliners and rockers and chaises!

The seat type refers to the specific part of each chair, the part you actually sit on.

Pocket coils in seat cushion

The pocket coils provide the ultimate comfort. They allow the seat to “bounce” meaning they adapt to your body when you sit on them and spring up as soon as you get off. This pretty much ensures that the seat will never sag and will remain durable.

pocket coils in seat cushion

Kiln-dried hardwood frame

The frame of the seat ensures that it is durable. This particular frame is a solid hardwood, which is stronger than what is generally employed in seating.

The wood doesn’t bend easily being more resilient than the average wood options you get in seating. This is due to the fact that when the wood dries, 93% of the moisture escapes from the wood which makes it more durable.

hardwood recliner frame

Kiln-dried hardwood frame also ensures that the frame of your furniture remains the same with no warp or shrinkage through years of use even under humid and high temperature.

Heavy Gauge No-Sag Springs

These springs are durable due to the fact that they form a continuous coil. When these springs are used in seats, they adapt to the body shape of the person sitting in the seat and spring up as soon as they leave, making sure that the seat doesn’t sag and stays comfortable and useful for a longer period of time.

heavy gauge springd

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List of accessories a
chair can have and
explanations

seat phone stand

A seat by itself is incomplete, especially when it comes to home theater seating.

These are some accessories you can purchase with your seat that will further enhance your viewing experience and make you relax even more. Plus, they are great for impressing your guests

Tray tabels

Tray tables provides an easy way to keep drinks and snacks while you enjoy a movie. The table can hook to the accessory dock in the seats, it fits right in.

You have different types of tables to choose from:
Black
swivel
tablet stand
Aluminum
swivel
tablet holder
Glass
swivel
phone holder

Both black swivel and aluminum trays made of 100% aluminum, one in black, the other in silver, while the glass swivel has a glass tray.

The tables can swivel to 360 degrees so you can easily move them around when you feel the need to.

Material of the tray is quite sturdy and can hold up to 5 lbs.

5ib_image

The tables can swivel to 360 degrees so you can easily move them around.

Phone/tablet holder

Constructed of durable aluminum, the phone and tablet holder easily fits in the accessory dock of the seat.

The design of the holder will not only add class to your seat but also allows you to keep your phone and tablet in front of you, which has become a necessity these days.

tablet holder attachment

Tablet holder

phone holder attachment

Phone holder

The holder rotates so you can change the direction of the screen and easily show it to others sitting next to you or keep it away from them. It can fit small and big phones and tablets alike.

Wine glass holder

Unlike a cup holder, the wine glass holder adds the element of class to your home theater.

The holder fits into the accessory dock and doesn’t hide your glass like most cup holders.

You slide the glass in and the holder allows the glass to sit on it, this works for small and large wine glasses.

wine glass holder

Made of 100% aluminum, the holder is durable and has an elegant finish. The stand for the glass has a swivel so you can move it if you like.

LED flex reading light

The LED flex reading light allows you to turn your home theater seat into a comfortable reading seat.

The light docks on to the accessory dock and provides you with extra light that isn’t overbearing which can prove to be useful for reading or finding something you might have dropped when watching a movie.

home theater set up octane
LED light recliner attachment

It comes equipped with a flexible goose-neck made of stainless steel so you can rotate the light with ease to the position of your liking. It comes with LED lights that are of low voltage and requires AAA batteries to operate.

Cigar holder

You wouldn’t want to ruin the aesthetics of your home theater with a basic ashtray!

cigar holder

The cigar and cigarette holder is of 100% aluminum with a smooth finish, that adds class to your theater.

The holder has 4 different curvatures in it which can hold any size of cigar or cigarette, holding 2 cigars at a time and 4 cigarettes.

You can fit the holder in the accessory dock of the seat. The holder comes with a swivel that allows for 360-degree movement. The fact that it is made out of aluminum also makes it easy to clean after use.

Head & neck pillow

Most people need a little extra support for their head and neck even when they are sitting in the same place for a longer period of time.

This recliner pillow has an ergonomic shape which provides relief to your neck muscles and the head.

Removable arm

If you decide to buy seats without an armrest, like the middle seats of sofas, then the removable armrest is a  perfect accessory. It slides between two seats and has a cup holder too, so you have a slot to keep your drink.

It has plush padding to provide your arm with comfort as it rests on it while the bottom of the armrest has fin which is a wood-like aperture that ensures the rest stays in place.

removable arm attachment

You can remove the armrest when not needed.

If you feel you need some storage space with your removable armrest then you have the option of accessorizing with a removable storage arm. Like the armrest, this slides between two cushions and stays in place.

It comes with a cup holder and the area where you rest your arm has a storage for you to keep the remote and other items you want.

removable arm

Wireless battery pack

Some seats such as reclining seats need power to operate. Rather than having to plug them into a socket, you can use a wireless battery pack.

The lithium-ion battery hooks up to the seat and allows you to operate it. The battery is durable providing up to 150 cycle counts.

battery attachment chair
It is also important to note
that if your seats have LED
lights then the use of the
battery pack is not
recommended.
LED battery pack

LED lights will drain out your battery, not allowing it to perform at its optimal level. The battery pack is recommended as a source of power for reclining mechanism only.

Popcorn bowl

Your movie experience is incomplete without popcorn and no one likes to carry a bag of popped popcorn into the theater.

The popcorn bowl is a classy bowl that will add to the aesthetics of your home theater rather than taking anything away from it. The bowl fits in the accessory dock and has a swivel mechanism so you can easily move it around.

popcorn on recliner

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Types of upholstery
material

orange patch

The type of upholstery you select is as important as the type of seat, if not more. With upholstery, you need to make sure you select one that is suitable for your use.

If you have kids or pets, or
usually have parties in your
home theater, then you want
a material that is easy to
take care of and doesn’t
stain so easy.
home theater

Leather

There are three different types of leather that are generally used for seating.

1

Top grain leather is top of the line leather quality. This type of leather is great for upholstery as it is strong and durable. With proper care, the life of the leather will be long, but you usually have to take extra care of top grain leather.

leather
2

This type of leather is common for upholstery in furniture. It is strong and is reconstructed leather.

leather
leather

This means that it isn’t all leather, it has a layer of fiber that consists of shredded leather and a polyurethane binder. But, the feel and look make it almost as good as top grain leather.

3

This is a leather that has a mixture of leather with other fibers combined.

leather
leather

While the outer layer of the upholstery will be leather, this is the part that we see and touch, the back of cushions, the seat, and so on would be another material. This is generally not as costly as bonded and top grain leather.

4

A leather that has a napped finish, it is smooth but doesn’t feel exactly like actual leather because it is the underside of the animal’s skin. Suede adds a bit of elegance to the room and feels good to sit on but needs regular maintenance.

leather

You can find a variety of chairs that offer leather upholstery like chaises, rockers, recliners, and sofas.

Leather comes in different colors and the most popular colors that homeowners prefer are:

  • black_box
  • camel_box
  • dark_brown_box
  • misty_gray_box
  • white_box

Leather seating is more used for more luxurious home theatres as the material costs more than others.

Fabric

There are many different fabrics that are used as upholstery material. When it comes to home theater seating the following are quite popular:

1

Made from yarn, Chenille is a fabric that has a soft feel. The fabric works well on seating but can stain so you have to be careful in taking care of it. You can get chenille in almost any color you want.

fabric
2

If you want luxurious seating then velvet is the way to go. The silk-like texture is smooth and allows for comfort in seating and you can find it in any color. It does tend to cost more, needs extra care since it is a delicate material.

fabric
3

This is common fabric that isn’t the most durable. It has a higher likeliness to fade and also attract dust and fuzz ball. It requires a lot of maintenance.

fabric
4

Better than Grade 1, the grading scale of fabric goes until 5. So the higher the grade the better the material is and less likely it is to pilling or fade.

fabric

Since fabrics are delicate, you need to think about the seating you get before you decide on the fabric. While fabrics are common on most chaises and sofas, they aren’t as common on recliners. Chenille is more common for family home theatres while velvet is used for more luxurious ones.

Vinyl

Vinyl upholstery is generally a choice of individuals that don’t want leather but want a fabric that is like it in both look and feel. Vinyl is cheaper than leather while providing a leather-like feel. It is also not as strong as leather but with care, it can last for years.

green vinyl fabric
detergent icon

It is easy to clean as you can scrub any stain off vinyl with the use of detergent and water. Vinyl is easy to maintain so perfect for families with kids and bigger families.

Microfiber

Microfiber material is a synthetic fiber made from polyesters and polyamides. Being synthetic, the material doesn’t stain too and easy to clean as it repels wetting.

microfiber
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polyesters
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polyesters

The material is durable and easy to wash with the use of soap, water, and a cloth which makes this type of upholstery material great for families with kids. It also comes in many different colors and you can even get it with designs.

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Ordering your chairs
online

comfy leather recliner

After you have decided on the type of chair you want along with the accessories, there are certain steps you need to take both at home and online, research-wise, before you should order the seats.

We have a checklist for you that will help you through this process in selecting the right chair and vendor for you from the comfort of your own home.

We have divided this section of the guide in two parts:

devide_line

What you can do at home to make sure you order the right kind of seat?

What research you should do online before you pick the shop and manufacturer you will buy from?

What to do at home?

Measure your space

It is important that you know exactly how much space you have for the seats.

The last thing you want is to get seats that don’t fit in the room. You want to start off by getting the measurement of the whole room. With that you will get a better idea of how many seats you can fit in the room.

measure your space

You want to measure the optimal distance from the screen to the point where the seating should start. The seating should begin at a distance that is twice the size of the screen.

So, for example, if you have a screen that is 60 inches then the seating should start roughly 120 inches away from the screen to get a proper view.

space_image

The last row should not be further than five times the size of the screen, so 300 inches away.

This step will allow you to determine exactly how many seats you can fit in the room both in rows and width wise.

Build a model

Everything seems much simpler when you have a physical model in front of you rather than a mental image.

Building a scale model of the room and the setup will help you not visualize but also see the setup.

open box icon

You can use a cardboard box as a scaled down size of the room.

This may need a little extra effort but it is quite useful.

The process will allow you to easy judge exactly how many seats you can fit in the room.

Not only that but it will also give you the look and feel of the room with the seats even before you buy them.

Keep an eye on the style

The seating is the second most noticeable aspect in a home theater after the screen.

It is a vital aspect of the aesthetics of the room, so you don’t want to go with any random style as it could completely throw the room’s ambiance.

When it comes to style, the type of seat you select is important.

You don’t want to get rocker-style seats for a home theater where you want a more relaxing feel – recliners or chaise seating would be a better option.

red leather stylish recliner
stylish living room

You also want to pay attention to the style of the room such as wall color tones.

This will help you decide which color seating would be best aesthetically for the room. While you can rarely go wrong with black, at times other seat colors appeal more.

Decide on the material

Deciding on the material of the seat is as important as the type of seat you select.

Most seating comes with a wide variety of options when it comes to material. Leather and fabrics are the two most common materials you will find when it comes to home theater seats.

Consider the viewing angle
to the screen

When it comes to viewing angles, there are two angles you need to be aware of:

consider_screen

Horizontal viewing angle

consider_screen

Vertical viewing angle

consider_screen

In home theatres, you generally have rows of seating which can alter the horizontal viewing angle. It is the angle at which each corner of the screen is the position of the seat.

The further back you move from the screen, the wider the view gets.

So you want to position the seat so that the view is not too wide for those that are watching, meaning the person’s field of vision up to 40 degrees is the screen and nothing else.

vision of eye

To ensure the best horizontal viewing angle for rows behind the first one, you may want to consider getting a seat riser and platform.

The vertical angle refers to how high the screen should be mounted. You don’t want the screen to be too high as it would mean you would need to look up at it, hurting your neck.

max-vertical-angle
max-equal-img
Maximum recommended vertical angle

When mounting the screen, you need to take in to account the number of rows, you can’t have the screen at eye level with the first row if you have more than one. You need it to be a little higher so that people sitting in the back can also see the screen.

Ideally, you need to place it at a height where no row has to exceed the 35 degree vertical viewing angle.

It’s all about the comfort

Comfort is one of the first things we look for when it comes to any type of seat, it is more important when it comes to home theater seats. After all, you will spend hours at a time on the seat, so you want to ensure it is comfortable.

There are various aspects of the seat you need to pay attention to, to ensure you get one that is comfortable.

Depth

The depth of the seat allows you to determine how deep you slide into it.

Bucket seats generally have a little more depth than others because they allow a person to sink into the seat like a bucket.

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But you don’t want a seat that allows you to completely dive in because the viewing angle may be altered due to this. Find a seat that has enough depth to let you sort of sink in while also allowing for optimal view.

Cushions

The cushions are considered to be the essence of the seat. The material of the cushion determines how you can sit in the seat.

You should pay attention to the foam used in the cushion. You want a high-density memory foam that takes the shape of your body when you sit on it while providing you with extreme comfort at the same time.

memory foam recliner

When shopping online, you want to pay attention to the foam used in the seat – we recommend getting seats with 1.8 high density foam.

Recline

Nothing beats having the capability to recline back as you sit and relax while watching your favorite movies

You can sit in a more comfortable position with the recline mechanism, not having to sit straight up.

black leather recliner

When shopping online, you want to pay attention to the foam used in the seat – we recommend getting seats with 1.8 high density foam.

Motorized headrest

it is important that your head is positioned for the best view and also to allow your head and neck to comfortably sit on the seat. A motorized headrest allows you to position the headrest to the ideal position for your head to sit comfortably on the seat.

motorized headrest
What to do online?
Get to know the shop

When it comes to online shopping, you don’t just go with the first shop you see that sells the item you need.

It is important to do your
research on the shop before
you buy from it, after all,
there are plenty of frauds
out there.
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The first thing you want to do is analyze the whole website, go through it thoroughly. Read the about us page and if they have a testimonial page, go through that.

However, don’t just go by the testimonials because no one puts negative feedback on their website.

To get a better understanding of the business, you will need to search them on Google and see their ratings there and also check their social media pages out.

Google search

These two will give you a better insight of previous client’s experience with the business. If you can’t find much on the business then you may want to stay clear of it.

Get to know the brand

Bigger brands, in general, tend to be more in tune with their clients and know exactly what they need.

They either manufacture or retail products that are durable and one that they can genuinely stand behind, which is something that smaller brands tend to lack at times.

So when you look at the business,
see exactly how big it is.

Bigger seating companies do significant due diligence to ensure that the products they sell are ones they can stand behind. This means that the product will be durable and to customer’s liking so they don’t have to worry about clients constantly coming back to them due to issues with the seats because it would be of high quality.

Make sure you call the store

When spending so much money on furniture, it is important you know the ins and outs of what it is you are buying.

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Rather than contemplating on your own whether a seat is right for you, call the store.

Businesses that value their
customers have a number you can
call to speak to experts that can
help not only pick out the right seats
but also design the layout and plan
the accessories with the seat
according to your needs.
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All you have to do is let them know the style and color of your room and the expert will guide you to what is the most suitable seat for you.

They may even tell you things you didn’t even consider when you were browsing online, their insights will add value to your shopping experience.

Read the reviews

Reading reviews about a business before you give them your money is a vital step in shopping online.

You can’t just go by the reviews you see on the business’ website because they tend to be biased.

You want to read reviews either on their social media page or on a third party website like Google or BBB.

Google reviews logo

Online businesses have less control over what is written on Google and BBB and this will give you a real picture of how previous clients feel about the business.

Trust Pilot and Yelp are also some websites you can look at for reviews on furniture shops.

trustpilot and yelp logos
Check the shipping options

When it comes to furniture, you need to pay close attention to the shipping options. The last thing you want is to have your couch delivered outside when it is set to rain.

Most furniture shops offer curbside or front-door delivery free of cost. The price for both room of choice and white glove delivery varies depending on what it is you order and how heavy it is.

Check the return policy

You want to make sure that the shop has a return policy. The bigger retailers generally have a return policy on products they sell. You need to read the return policy just in case if the product you buy isn’t on par with what you actually expected.

Depending on the store, return policy varies from 14 days to about
30 days.

14 days
return policy
30 days
14 days
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30 days

If the return policy is not clear on the website, be sure to call and ask their experts for a better understanding. You can also ask if there are any charges if you decide to return the items.

When contacting the expert be sure to also discuss:
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Refunds on
returns

What their
conditions
are for
refunds?

What
methods
they use?

Ask for swatches of
upholstery and colors

It can be difficult when shopping online to determine whether the upholstery or its color is right for you. You may want to feel the material or see the color in your hands before you decide on it.

You can request for upholstery and color samples from the shop and they will gladly send you swatches – samples of upholstery in different colors. This will allow you to feel the upholstery, pick the one that feels right in the color that goes with your room.

leather colors

Swatch samples from Seatup

Read product description a few times

You need to pay close attention to the product detail before you purchase anything online. Since you won’t be able to touch or sit on the seat before you buy it, the description is your only guide into what the product would be like.

So don’t just read it once, read it a few times almost to the point where you know the product inside and out.

The description will allow you to understand

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The measurements of the seat so you know exactly how it will fit in your room

Provide you with other insights that will help you decide whether or not the seat is right for you

At times, you may also find hidden details in the descriptions that you would not be able to see just by looking at the picture.

Compare the warranty

The type of warranty the manufacturer offers allows you to determine both the quality of the product and how much faith the manufacturer has in their product.

1 year
timeframe of warranty
5 years
1 year
timeframe warranty
5 years

If the manufacturer only offers a year of warranty, chances are they don’t have too much faith in it as opposed to those that have a longer period of warranty.

Products with longer period
of warranty are generally of
higher quality.
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If the furniture has electrical components then you also want to pay attention to the warranty on these items. Warranty is an aspect that needs to be completely clear to you before you buy furniture so be sure to call and ask their expert to explain it to you, if the website isn’t clear.

Look for coupons or special offers

Buying furniture isn’t cheap and if you can save even the slightest amount then you should.

Most online businesses have special offers and coupon codes which they offer to prospective clients.

Do your research on Google to see whether or not you can find any code or coupons for the shop you are planning on purchasing from.

octane seating coupon

Coupon codes by Octane Seating

Some may even give you discounts if you signup for their newsletter or refer someone else to the shop. Be sure to look into the shop’s offerings and see how you can possibly save a little extra on your purchase.

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Conclusion

When setting up your home theater, you might focus more on the type of TV and other technology – but don’t forget the seating as well! After all, you will need to be comfortable while you watch all the amazing movies and TV shows.

Follow our guide and print out our checklist and you will have no problems picking out the seats that fit your and your family’s needs the best.