Chairs vs. Couches

[BluDroid]

We're looking at different types of seating arrangements for our HT room. What pros and cons have you've experienced in using HT chairs and/or couches? We're more interested in the comfort and utilization aspects as opposed to numbers of such items...

[SammyG]

I just got rid of my 3chair reclining home theater seats. They were great but after awhile you wanna be able to lay down when watching a movie. I just got a new set of dedicated theater sets which seat 4, but the middle 2 seats are setup like a loveseat. Obviously laying down isn't the optimum for picture or sound quality but after a hard day it's nice to be able to sprawl out. I'll see if I can find my set online to give you an idea.

[Beta Man]

I like HT chairs..... my wife liked a couch..... I got a couch

It's very much "personal preference" but when I see a nice dedicated theater with 2 rows of HT seats and a riser, I'm green with envy

[SammyG]

http://www.onewayfurniture.com/mss-p...de%20Sectional


This is identical to mine, very comfy.

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I like HT chairs..... my wife liked a couch..... I got a couch

It's very much "personal preference" but when I see a nice dedicated theater with 2 rows of HT seats and a riser, I'm green with envy

This is about what I was going to say. I prefer a big comfy lazy boy over anything else, but I bought HT seating to seat more than one. I like it, but took out the cup holder separations to save on space (and my girl friend likes to lay down and snuggle, win/win). If your significant other is any type of snuggler, I'd be surprised if you could get anything but a couch, lol.

If space permitted, I'd put HT seating in the back row, couch in the middle and lazy boys to the side/middle. lol, huge space yes, but that's how I'd do it.

[Canada]

The one thing that is really good about chairs as opposed to couches is that chairs offer more options for placement.

[TKNice]

I struggled with this too and settled on a couch on the riser once I realized there were no three seat configurations that would fit. I could have reduced the size of the isles but they were perfect and I didn't want that.

It's been two or three years now and I hardly think about it any more. Couples sit back there--or even a row of kids that wouldn't have fit otherwise. So there are benefits, but you lose a little bit of the authentic movie theater feel.

-TK

[Fors*]

We bought HT furniture last spring, but our furniture comes in "pieces" which you can link together. So, right now we have with 2 seats and a middle console together and then the other 2 seats are linked together as a love seat. This is great, as you can do both, depending on how you feel. If you want an HT feel, utilize the middle console that has the cup holders and hidden compartment for the remotes. If you want a comfy love seat, simply unlink the middle console and piece the 2 seats together for a love seat. I could have bought a middle seat (no arm rests) as well, but our room wasn't big enough to sit anything that wide/long. But at least our furniture offers both options. Did I mention each seat individually can rock (or together when set up as a love seat) and recline as well?

[teknipper]

My room is used for everyday living. If I had a "dedicated" theater, I would probably go with the chairs, but for my setup, the couches rule.

I was watching the NCAA games last night after the last game, I just laid down on the couch and went to sleep. I don't know if I could do that in a chair.

Tom

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by teknipper

My room is used for everyday living. If I had a "dedicated" theater, I would probably go with the chairs, but for my setup, the couches rule.

I was watching the NCAA games last night after the last game, I just laid down on the couch and went to sleep. I don't know if I could do that in a chair.

Tom

I agree. Our house has a room that's specifically designed for a home theater. And we even asked the builder to put a rise in the back so we'd be able to place 2 rows of seating. So reclining home theater chairs(2 rows of 3 chairs) made the most sense.

The downside is the back row of chairs can't recline since they're pressed up against the wall(and neither can the front row if there are people sitting in the back seats), but we hardly ever have anyone in the back row to begin with, so it's no big deal.

[Beta Man]

Whenever I go to someone's house that has one of those sectionals with the "Long" end (I'll find a picture)

like this:



I always love stretching out on that long section, but my wife is dead-set against sectionals.... our house is too "traditional" for the living room, and there are already two nice sofas in the HT, so I can't justify it....

[tilallr1]

(#1) Reason for Theater Seats (Comfort for all your guests) - Everyone gets to relax and recline. Also, recline still facing the movie, not away like most sofas (to the side - uncomfortable).

(#2) Reason for Theater Seats (Space Saver - Space giver) - Usually only one person can lie down on a sofa for example. Say you have a theater with 6 theater seats, that is equivalent to 6 sofas. With the wall away recline option, you don't have to worry about putting it against a wall either. Also, each seat gives each person lots of room so no one is squashed right up next to someone else. Plus, most have motorized reclining, making life just a little bit easier and better.

(#3) Reason for Theater Seats (Cup holders) - Each seat has its own cup holder. This is a finishing touch and reduces the chances of stopping the movie for drinks, or people getting up to reach over to a table for their drink. Accident waiting to happen in the dark. Plus, with theater seats there is no need for a table that takes up space too. So win-win.

(#4) Easy to move around, come apart and get down narrow stairs - Sofas would not fit down my narrow basement stairway. So they were cancelled out anyway. The fact that they come apart makes renovations that much easier too. You don't need a second person to help you when moving them around. With a couch a second person is required.

(#5) Can still offer the cuddle factor required by a lot of wives/girlfriends . As seen below with the added love seat configuration.



These are probably the 5 major reasons why I went with Theater seats over sofas. Obviously based on these reasons I definitely DO NOT regret this decision. Neither have any of my guests.

[bkbluray]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

(#1) Reason for Theater Seats (Comfort for all your guests) - Everyone gets to relax and recline. Also, recline still facing the movie, not away like most sofas (to the side - uncomfortable).

(#2) Reason for Theater Seats (Space Saver - Space giver) - Usually only one person can lie down on a sofa for example. Say you have a theater with 6 theater seats, that is equivalent to 6 sofas. With the wall away recline option, you don't have to worry about putting it against a wall either. Also, each seat gives each person lots of room so no one is squashed right up next to someone else. Plus, most have motorized reclining, making life just a little bit easier and better.

(#3) Reason for Theater Seats (Cup holders) - Each seat has its own cup holder. This is a finishing touch and reduces the chances of stopping the movie for drinks, or people getting up to reach over to a table for their drink. Accident waiting to happen in the dark. Plus, with theater seats there is no need for a table that takes up space too. So win-win.

(#4) Easy to move around, come apart and get down narrow stairs - Sofas would not fit down my narrow basement stairway. So they were cancelled out anyway. The fact that they come apart makes renovations that much easier too. You don't need a second person to help you when moving them around. With a couch a second person is required.

(#5) Can still offer the cuddle factor required by a lot of wives/girlfriends . As seen below with the added love seat configuration.



These are probably the 5 major reasons why I went with Theater seats over sofas. Obviously based on these reasons I definitely DO NOT regret this decision. Neither have any of my guests.

That is one of the finest posts I have ever seen! You make a strong case for HT chairs

If I had the option (and the money) I would probably go with HT chairs with cupholders, but a reclining couch will do for now.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by bkbluray

That is one of the finest posts I have ever seen! You make a strong case for HT chairs

If I had the option (and the money) I would probably go with HT chairs with cupholders, but a reclining couch will do for now.

I should have stock in Home Theater Seating sales.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by bkbluray

That is one of the finest posts I have ever seen! You make a strong case for HT chairs

If I had the option (and the money) I would probably go with HT chairs with cupholders, but a reclining couch will do for now.

All 5 reasons were why I have mine, as my HT is in the basement too, so no couch would never fit down the steps. Throw in the other reasons, and it is a compelling case, and an easy one to decide on, as well.

[ewsjr]

I actually went with both. Shopped at a close-out furniture store and ended up getting a couch, with matching love seat (which went on a riser) and two matching recliners and it has worked out great. Depending on who is sitting, up to ten can fit in the seating area and with all the space from my display to the seating area, another 5 to 7 people can spread out on the carpet with oversize pillows. I also have 7 padded bar stools that fit nicely on the sides of the seating area with room enough to slip by and three behind the love seat. Depending on the comfort level, I've had over 20 people in my HT.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by ewsjr

I actually went with both. Shopped at a close-out furniture store and ended up getting a couch, with matching love seat (which went on a riser) and two matching recliners and it has worked out great. Depending on who is sitting, up to ten can fit in the seating area and with all the space from my display to the seating area, another 5 to 7 people can spread out on the carpet with oversize pillows. I also have 7 padded bar stools that fit nicely on the sides of the seating area with room enough to slip by and three behind the love seat. Depending on the comfort level, I've had over 20 people in my HT.

I can't remember the last time I had 20 people in my entire house, and for sure, not more than 10 have ever been in my HT to enjoy a movie, LOL!

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by Fors*

I can't remember the last time I had 20 people in my entire house, and for sure, not more than 10 have ever been in my HT to enjoy a movie, LOL!

Agreed Fors ... thats alot of people to fit in a room. Must have been ... um ... warm in there.

[brap88]

if i had a deticated HT room i would have got home theater seats. since i live in a condo and only have my living room i got a three seat couch with the right and left side recline. dont get me wrong i would have no problem putting theater chairs in my living room but i would have never heard the end of it from my wife.

[hamilton02]

We prefer the look of having the chairs but I have to agree with SammyG that sometimes halfway through a movie it is nice to kick back and lay down. Then again the chairs help you actually stay up for it. We are thinking of adding an L shape and putting chairs behind on a riser so we have both options. Rather upgrade tho.