ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?

René van Setten, Director at Home Cinema Modules, discusses the options with home cinema seating and why planning is important.

Ever seen a finished home theatre without a seating solution? No? We didn’t think so. It just doesn’t make sense. That’s why it’s an important factor when designing a home theatre or media room. The good thing is, there are unlimited choices available. From DIY solutions to the most luxurious sofa from a world-known designer, the perfect choice is out there. However, there are technical aspects to consider when you look at it as a home theatre professional. Not only do you have to meet the needs of your client, but you also still need to compose all the elements in the right way; how to minimise sizes, make sure everyone has a good seat that’s comfortable, while fitting in with the room’s aesthetics.

Many home theatres start their transformation into an area of entertainment from a room used for a different purpose and with that, all the elements must be integrated. Large families or those who host movie nights with their friends want to get as many seats in their room as possible. Planning this up-front in the design stage is very important. The number of possibilities for custom-made seats are vast and can make the difference in having that one extra seat in the room. Every thought-out inch can be a win while saving you a headache in the installation phase.

The seat width determines most of the total width of the row. But just like in the movie theatres, you can share armrests. Having seats in a joint configuration like this means that you can easily save 23 in of space with a row of four seats.

Although there are many designs, there is a basic principle for home cinema chairs that can be seen with many manufacturers. The used mechanisms for recline/incline have a wall-away system meaning you can put the seating almost against the back wall. This is often the case for installs where two or more rows of seating are planned.

The basic trend for seating has not changed massively since its introduction. In terms of upholstery, most people still choose to have black or grey, but increasingly more installs have seen colour injected into it. In 2021, we’ve seen an increase in green and red upholstery, in both fabric and leather options, chosen. Interior designers, AV professionals and endusers can find a lot of inspiration online. They are becoming increasingly more aware and knowledgeable about the options available. No detail is left unturned.

Often, a configuration of five seats in a straight row is the norm due to the rectangular shape of most rooms. A curved configuration, where the armrests between seats are triangular, is a little less popular but is used more in the larger set-ups.

It has become noticeable that customers see the value of home theatre seating a lot more nowadays and not just as a ‘nice-tohave’. The extra options like a motorised headrest and lumbar support are great features of home cinema seating that are being integrated into many configurations that can be produced for clients. These combinations and extra features make the home theatre seating a one-of-a-kind in the furniture industry and makes it also a piece of technical equipment.

A good media or home theatre room execution depends on planning. For every aspect. Thinking about the actual use of it can make the difference in having a comfortable room or not. How do you position yourself and how is the line of sight to the big screen? These are important questions to answer. As a home cinema seating solution provider, we know the importance of planning and are involved in many projects at the design stage to help make our client’s project a success.

Home Cinema Modules seating is available from Invision UK invisionuk.com.

DALI PHANTOM M

PHANTOM

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PHANTOM

M -250

No compromise in-wall audio

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