It’s easy to think of a home theater as the realm of the ultra-wealthy who reside in impressive mansions, but today’s home media room ideas are much different. While it’s true that those luxury opportunities still exist, we have numerous at-home movie theater ideas for an enjoyable setup on any budget.
So where do you start when creating a home theater room design you and your loved ones can enjoy? Choosing a suitable room in your home is a necessary first step, followed by finding the right home theater furniture for your space.
Is a Dedicated Room Required for a Home Theater System?
In short, no. No rule says home theater systems work best when you set them up in a room purposefully designed around them. Building an expensive space filled with creature comforts such as reclining media room chairs and theater-themed accessories can be a waste of money and space if you don’t entertain frequently. Instead, it makes more sense to incorporate home movie theater ideas into an existing multifunctional room. With this approach, you can still use the space for other purposes, such as socializing or game nights.
Home Theater Furniture
The furniture you choose for your media room will depend on its intended functionality. If you want to use your living room as a home theater, consider multifunctional furniture that suits your existing decor. If you’re setting up a stand-alone small home theater room, you may have more design freedom. No matter your approach, there are always two core aspects to consider: seating and TV setup.
Home Theater Seating
Comfort is key for movie room furniture, especially when you flip on those three-hours-long epic films. The best seating for home theaters is a set of recliners or a plush, spacious sofa. You should be able to seat as many people as possible while preserving a good TV-viewing angle for everyone.
Power recliners give you a theater-like experience but require a substantial amount of space. They are best suited for homes with a dedicated small theater room designed for only a few viewers. Adding an end table or storage ottoman near each recliner gives your guests a convenient place for snacks and drinks.
If you have a larger space or bigger family, sectional sofas make the best media room couches. If you need to save space, you can opt for colorful loveseats or reclining sofas that allow either end seat to recline while the middle seat folds down to become an armrest and cup holder. Nothing says you must stick strictly to media seats when considering small theater room ideas.
Entertainment Centers
The entertainment center you choose will be the focal point of the room since it will house your TV and provide storage for your game console, sound system, or cable box. That’s why it merits a careful choice. Large media centers give you plenty of space to display some home theater decor around your TV. If you don’t want to dominate the whole room with the presence of a television, a low console table is an ideal choice. This option also works well when a projector casts movies onto a screen or blank wall.
Home Theater Room Arrangement
Choosing good-quality movie theater couches and consoles is only one part of decorating a media room. Arranging the furniture in an optimal layout can make the viewing experience much more immersive. First, consider the size of the space. The recommended size for a home theater is 20 to 24 feet long by 15 to 18 feet wide. Most home theater sound systems will work well in this size space. Rectangular rooms provide better acoustics than square rooms, so arrange your furniture in a corridor-like configuration.
You should also consider the optimum viewing distance when planning your media room seating arrangement. This distance is based on the length of your screen. You can multiply the screen’s horizontal length by two to get your minimum viewing distance and by five to find the maximum distance to place your home theater sofas. If you have a long, narrow room or require home theater ideas for small rooms, you can use riser platforms to elevate second-row loveseats or recliners to give your guests a better viewing experience.
Be sure to leave space for an aisle on the room’s outer edges to conveniently change up your theater room seating. If you’re creating a double row of couches or recliners, leave at least three feet of legroom between seats. Everyone should have a clear view of the screen comfortably. According to the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, people should be able to look at the top and bottom of the screen without tilting their heads more than 15 degrees up or down. That means placing your TV or projector screen at general eye level.
Finally, make sure to place speakers at ear level for the best sound experience. The speakers should be at the front of the room, spaced at an equal distance from the screen. You can place acoustic wall panels above and below ear height for soundproofing and use a carpet or rug to eliminate echoes.
Home Theater Design Trends
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel when looking for home theater decorating ideas. You can use the latest design trends as a starting point to find some quick inspiration and get your creative juices flowing. One of the biggest home theater design trends right now is multipurpose furniture. Not everyone has space for a dedicated movie room, and even if you do, you don’t always need theater-specific furniture. For example, ottomans can become footrests or extra seats, while roll-down projector screens can become gallery walls during the day.
Other trends include dark, cozy wall colors and dimmable mood lighting along the walls. Sconces are still a classic home theater lighting choice that provides enough illumination to find seats and prepare snacks.
Find Home Theater Furniture at Home Zone Furniture
Designing a home theater room that gives your family its best viewing experience doesn’t have to be difficult when you start with a clear goal. Explore an incredible array of home theater decor ideas, entertainment centers, recliners, sofas, loveseats, and more at Home Zone Furniture.
Have questions or need help with small home theater room design? Contact us today or visit your nearest location for fresh decorating ideas, friendly customer service, and guidance on the best furniture for your in-home theater.
