No matter what room in your home you’re designing or redecorating, paying attention to the small details is important in crafting a cohesive theme and showcasing your personality.
Your media room is no different—the type of home theater seats, accessories, and unique home décor can all tie together to create a space that is uniquely yours. We’ve compiled a list of some helpful ideas to get the gears turning so that your favorite movie moments are viewed in comfort and style.
Seats, sofas, and sectionals—oh my!
Your media room seating, being one of the larger pieces of furniture in your home theater, will likely serve as an anchor piece, which is an item or piece of furniture that you use to begin basing other design decisions around.
When it comes to seating, the amount of customization options might feel a little overwhelming at first—that’s totally normal. Start by thinking about the material you want to use and how that material pairs with your personal aesthetic and the feeling you’re going for in your home theater.
Are you going for more of a classic movie theater vibe or a room that feels more elevated or showy? Theater chairs made of a traditionally-stitched leather would help your room achieve that look. If you’re looking for a laid-back, cozy space for you and your family to watch your favorites in, fabric theater seating might be more up your alley.
Once you’ve picked a material, the next thing you might want to think about is what kind of seating your space needs. There are sectional sofas for home theaters, theater room chairs that recline, and seating as simple as a loveseat.
This selection should be simple enough—think about the number of family members who might be viewing a show or movie all at once, or if there are any friends you might routinely have over. These numbers should help guide your decision—just you and a partner, and you might need something as easy as two entertainment room chairs or a home theater couch. But with a large family and copious friends, a sectional might be in your future.
Lastly, you’ll want to think about the color of your seating. With as many options as there are tints and shades of colors, this step can also feel daunting. From mocha-colored theater chairs, to deep scarlet and maroon media seating, and everything in between, you’ll want to think about pre-existing rooms and what colors you naturally gravitate towards. What colors make you, personally, feel relaxed?
Considering all of these aspects will lead you to make a correct choice (there’s never one right answer in design) for your home theater room.
If you’ve got that color and material locked down already, and you’re looking for a guide to each individual type of seating imaginable—along with some handy measurements—we’ve got you covered.
Don’t forget to accessorize.
Another great way to really hone in on the details of your home theater space is by outfitting your home theater seating with add-ons. Entertainment room accessories will enhance your space, make it feel more lived-in, and it gives you a chance to showcase some of your personality.
Home theater add-ons—like wine glass caddies and tray tables—give your media room chairs an upgrade you didn’t know they needed, granting them additional surface areas to rest objects, snacks, or drinks on, while still keeping that visual cohesion with your seating that is vital in good design. These are the types of extra media room furnishings that will create a sense of a space that is lived in, and it gives the room a sense of purpose beyond solely watching movies and shows.
If you’re a book person who likes to read, a great furniture idea for your entertainment room would be to get an attachable reading light for your seating—once again, not only do accessories like these make your theater feel more like someone lives in it, it’s also a way to show off different aspects of your personality.
By no means does a home theater need every accessory under the sun. Aim for the ones you can see yourself enjoying and getting good usage out of, and the rest will fall into place.
Elevate your space, literally.
When you’re looking to elevate your home theater, it’s easy to get lost in the details and nuances of objects and décor—and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing to spend some time considering the perfect accoutrements for your space, there are easier and quicker ways to make your entertainment room look more polished and put together.
Enter home theater platforms that will quite literally elevate your space. If you have more than one row of movie-viewing chairs in your entertainment room, look no further than risers. Risers, of course, have a practical use too, and it’s to give those in the back a better viewing angle of the screen.
We’ve all had that experience at the theaters—you get there early, choose your favorite seat, and by the time previews start and people file in, you suddenly can’t see over the person’s head in front of you. While the chances of you not being able to state your case to a friend or loved one in a smaller-scale setting is unlikely, everyone can have it their way with media room risers.
It’s a basic fact of interior design—it’s always good practice to stagger objects and furniture, and creating that extra height that a theater chair platform provides will naturally guide your eyes around the room and create a better sense of flow. If you’re thinking about incorporating risers into your home theater’s layout and design, there are some considerations to take into mind, such as the height of the platform itself and other spatial considerations that we’ve discussed prior.
We might be biased, but we think from a design perspective that risers help create that authentic, movie theater-feel.
Décor with a purpose.
Once your home theater seating is situated and ready, it’s time to think about the remaining furniture and décor. Since your seating is one of the main focal pieces in your room, you’ll want to choose accompanying furniture and objects to complement it. Maybe you went bold with a punchy pop of cherry-red theater seats, or you maybe you played it a little safe and chose dark-as-night theater chairs. Whatever the case may be, accentuate with like-colors, and your room will look cohesive and well-thought-out.
Consider décor that reflects your interests and can still tie in to your existing furniture. If you have a handful of movies that you’re absolutely obsessed with, show them off! Framed movie posters can say a tremendous amount about yourself and what kinds of genres you enjoy viewing. Maybe you’re quiet, reserved, and like dramas and arthouse films, or you enjoy action movies and have a fiery personality to match—either way, the movies we take a liking to can sometimes reveal certain facets of our personalities.
Other iconic home theater furniture ideas, such as popcorn machines, reels, and signage can easily be incorporated into the space, but above all, home theaters should be a comfortable room to relax and kick back in. Have a little fun and pick pieces that will evoke that feeling, like copious blankets and bean bag chairs in tandem with your home theater seating. It could also be worth it to invest in a shelving unit to house any potential physical movies, video games, and memorabilia.
With all of this being said, there are innumerable options for how to decorate your home theater in nearly any style you want, but no matter what you choose, remember to make it an inviting space that is uniquely you.