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What Are the Different Types of Home Theater Sofas?

K. K. Lowen
K. K. Lowen

Home theater sofas may come in a variety of sizes and have a number of features meant to provide a home movie watcher with comfortable seating. Some sofas are small, made to only accommodate two or three people, but others are large enough to comfortably seat several people. Sofas for home theaters are made from different materials, with leather, faux leather, and vinyl being popular examples.

Some home theater sofas are designed to resemble seating that exists in real movie theaters. The design of the sofa makes it visually resemble a row of movie theater seats, though it is actually one unit. This option may be popular for dedicated movie fans, but others could find the armrests constrictive.

A flat panel display for a home theater.
A flat panel display for a home theater.

Home theater sofas also may be sectional or L-shaped, or may also curve out at the ends or have pieces that function as ottomans when the additional seating is not needed. The sofas can be tailored to fit the design of a home media room and can be placed in the corners of a room to efficiently maximize the space.

Materials used to manufacture home theater sofas are also important to some people. Often, the sofas are made from leather, imitation leather or vinyl, which may prevent issues caused by spilled drinks or food. Cotton and other materials also may be used, but they may not be as durable for people who intend to use the sofa frequently.

A Blu-ray® player for a home theater.
A Blu-ray® player for a home theater.

Some sofas are designed to be used in conjunction with an ottoman, while others may have foot rests that fold out from the bottom. Footrests may be large and fold out to accommodate both the feet and legs. Rather than utilizing recliner-like footrests, some sofas have small ottomans concealed within the sofa that slide out to accommodate the feet.

The most common additional feature of home theater sofas are holders for drinks. Cup holders may be placed solely on the arms at the opposite ends of the sofa, but other types of sofas may have cup holders concealed within an armrest positioned in the middle of the couch. One additional feature for some home theater sofas is a lighted cup holder that emits a soft glow, allowing people to easily find the holder in the dark.

Home theater sofas may be curved sectionals with ottomans.
Home theater sofas may be curved sectionals with ottomans.

Some home theater sofas are custom built to meet a consumer’s specifications. Custom sofas undoubtedly cost more than mass produced items, but some people may find it satisfactory to have a sofa designed to fit in a particular room or made with all the desired features. For those operating on a smaller budget, it may be possible to find a mass produced item that has the desired features and design.

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    • A flat panel display for a home theater.
      By: Maxim Pimenov
      A flat panel display for a home theater.
    • A Blu-ray® player for a home theater.
      By: Intel Free Press
      A Blu-ray® player for a home theater.
    • Home theater sofas may be curved sectionals with ottomans.
      By: Elenathewise
      Home theater sofas may be curved sectionals with ottomans.