When it comes time to buy quality home theater seating, there are two options: You can go the online route, or you can buy seating from a reputable retailer of home theater recliners in person. Admittedly, online shopping is great for research and finding can’t-live-without features, but it’s not as good for checking comfort and fit.
No one wants to order luxurious entertainment room seats online only to find out they’re not quite what you had imagined. Online shopping is wildly convenient, but it has its pitfalls. Lots of great home theater seating manufacturers — like us — have showrooms where folks are able to test out a wide range of multimedia room recliners. By testing them out in person, you’re able to assess how comfortable they are, whether you like the feel and materials, and tons more.
Know Your Space Before Making a Trip to a Showroom
Sure, no one likes homework, but it’s a must when you’re shopping for high-end leather multimedia room chairs. After all, you’ll be sitting in them for hours on end — you need to make sure your spine is happy.
Before driving to your nearest showroom, you’ll want to make note of a few things. First off, you’ll want to measure your home theater room. It has to be said, but it’s important to know what you’re working with. You might have lofty goals of putting a row of five luxe home theater recliners in your room, but realistically, you only have space for a humble three-seater media room recliner. Take note of the following:
- Room dimensions – measure the width and length of the room. If you’re thinking of purchasing elevated platforms for home theater chairs, you’ll also want to measure the ceiling height.
- Screen distance – figure out the optimal distance from your screen to the main row of multimedia room seating.
- Aisle space – you’ll want to keep about 24-30 inches of aisle space for comfortable movement.
You’ll also want to have a rough idea of a chair’s footprint. You’ll want to give enough space for the chair to recline against a wall. For wall-hugger theater room seating, you’ll need about 4-6 inches of clearance. For regular theater seating, you’ll need to measure the total depth required from the wall to the footrest when the chair is fully extended.
Test Comfort and Fit in the Showroom
Once you make it to the showroom, it’s game on. You’ll need to be prepared to spend a good deal of time in the showroom to fully assess each chair you have your eyes on. We always like to reference what we call the 15-minute rule. It’s easy to pop around from leather home theater recliners to fabric multimedia room seating in the showroom without actually taking enough time. Instead, spend anywhere from 10-15 minutes in each seat to really get a feel for them. It might seem excessive, but trust us. Taking that extra time lets you see how the foam cushions and support hold up.
Ergonomics are super vital for the enjoyment of your spacious leather home theater chair. When you’re browsing and testing seating in a showroom, take a few minutes to assess the following:
- Lower back support – does the curve of the chair provide adequate spine support? Is the lower back support adjustable?
- Neck and headrest – even a media room chair with incredibly comfortable cushions is useless if it isn’t kind to your neck. Make sure the headrest doesn’t strain your neck by pushing your head forward. Bonus points if this is also an adjustable feature.
- Seat depth and cushioning – is the cushion firm enough for great extended support but still soft enough to remain comfortable?
While you’re testing the chairs out, look into any sort of power features and take note of how smooth they are or how much noise they make. In a perfect world, high-end leather theater room recliners have buttery smooth power features and make minimal noise. However, not all entertainment room reclining chairs are built equally. Some are clanky and sound like their motor is going to give out at any moment. Don’t get stuck with one of those.
Don’t Gloss Over the Quality and Construction Either
A well-made home theater recliner will last you for decades with proper care and maintenance. While you’re at the showroom, take a look and ask questions about the build quality of the seating. For instance, great frames are constructed out of solid, kiln-dried wood. You’ll also want to look at aspects like the upholstery. Is it made with high-end leather, or is it bonded leather? Does the fabric upholstery feature tight, even stitching?
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Media room recliners built with quality materials might cost more, but they’re also the ones that will last you for many years down the road. Keep in mind that the color of that fabric home theater seat might look different in the showroom than it will in the lighting of your home theater. Bring home a sample swatch to make sure.
We Have a High-End Showroom in Dallas, Texas
Want to see all the luxury home theater recliners that we offer in person? We have a showroom in Dallas, Texas, that lets you try a wide range of our premium media room seating. Our expert staff is there to answer your questions, and we even offer leather and fabric samples to take home and test out. It’s easily the best way to try our seating before it graces your home theater room.