10 Cheap Home Theater Seating Ideas
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When choosing to invest in a high-quality home theater, you will still have to work within your budget. If you emphasize the sound and display equipment, you might need to skimp on the seating. This does not mean that you or your guests have to be uncomfortable, though.
Cheap home theater seating ideas include bean bag chairs, structured bean bag chairs, pallet beds, gaming recliners, single massaging recliners, lounge floor pillow cushions, mushroom chairs, DIY outdoor furniture brought indoors, dowel leather chairs, and hanging macrame chairs, among others.
Check out my top picks for home theater chairs.
Of course, the possibilities are left to your wildest imagination as you scope out a plan for creating an inexpensive home theater setup that all of your family and friends will enjoy. By working within your budget and using a bit of extra creativity, you can still have a high-quality home theater without paying for more expensive furniture options.
What are some Cheap Home Theater Seating Ideas?
If you are looking for a way to spice up your home theater without having to spend your entire savings, then you might have to avoid the traditional home theater seating. However, this does not mean that you have to entirely nix the idea of comfortable seating that provides a great view of your home theater screen.
When setting up your home theater, consider the following options as a place to get started with your home seating ideas:
1. Bean Bag Chairs
Bean bag chairs might bring your memories back a few decades, but these classic chairs were popular for a reason. Primarily, bean bag chairs can morph to any shape that you desire providing you with comfort at just the right angles.
These chairs can work for lighter and heavier people within your home, so they are perfect for the adults as well as children. That means if a bunch of guys wants to gather in your home theater to have a movie night, they can enjoy the comfort and laid back style that the bean bag chairs can offer.
Alternatively, if your kids want to have a slumber party and enjoy an evening in the home theater, then the same bean bag chairs can provide ultra comfort for your tots. Plus, with children who like to move about and get comfortable in various lounging positions, bean bags offer the perfect support for their heads and necks.
So, regardless of which option you choose, bean bag chairs can help to transform your home theater into a place of comfort and relaxation. When using bean bag chairs, just be sure to angle the screen a bit higher when possible since the positioning is very laid back in these chairs.
Since everyone will be at relatively similar heights, it is important to scatter the chairs so that no one has to peer over the back of another person’s head. Although, the same could be said with any option when a single-level height is the choice.
2. Structured Bean Bag Chairs
Another alternative for cheap home theater seating is structured bean bag chairs. Though these are relatively similar to standard bean bag chairs, they offer an entirely new scope of lounging. Their structured back support will help you to relax while also providing comfort that is easy to stand up from.
So long are the days of sinking into your favorite bean bag and not being able to get back up without help. Now, with structured bean bag chairs, you will be able to stand up much more quickly than before. This will be especially helpful for quick breaks to the restroom while watching a movie in your home theater.
Structured bean bag chairs have a few other advantages, too. Their aesthetic appearance is much more sleek than a standard bean bag chair. While they offer the similar molding comfort of a bean bag, they can be staggered throughout your room in a bit more of an organized, modern nature.
Instead of your bean bags seeming like blobs on your floor, the structured bean bag will provide a comfortable seating option that can still be shaped and organized in your home theater space.
Plus, structured bean bags are good for people of all ages. While standard bean bags might be more difficult for those who are older and have less mobility and balance to stand up from, structured bean bags offer the support you need to feel confident standing without support.
So, if you are looking for an easy, affordable lounging option for your home theater, consider structured bean bags.
3. Pallet Beds
While some people prefer to purchase pre-made models of seating, others are able to embrace the creativity that comes with do-it-yourself projects. Even for those of us who are not as ready to embrace projects at home, these pallet beds are going to be the talk of your home theater.
Not only are pallet beds incredibly comfortable, but they are able to offer the raised seating options that will help your family and friends to most easily view the home theater screen without having to look at the back of someone else’s head.
Additionally, you can customize these lounging options to best meet your needs. If you have a wider space, then you can opt to create a bit more elongated beds by joining pallets together side-by-side. If, on the other hand, you have a more narrow space, then you can embrace the height option and create more of a staircase feel with your pallet beds.
Pallet beds provide several different benefits to your home theater, but perhaps the most worthwhile mention is the comfort. You can stack pillows up if you prefer to sit up while resting on your back. Or, you can slide them down to be in more of a lying down position. Regardless, each person can maneuver the cushions and pillows to his or her choosing.
4. Gaming Recliners
Gaming recliners more closely resemble standard home theater seating options, but they come in individual options and can be positioned how you would like throughout your home theater space. Additionally, since they are sold separately, you will be able to pick the number of seats that fit both your space and your budget.
While gaming recliners cost a bit more than a few other seating options on this list, they are still much less expensive than standard home theater seating options. Part of this has to do with the market that they fall into, and the other part comes from the fact that many do not have the accessories like cupholders and snack stands.
However, if you are willing to part with a few of the amenities that other combined reclining stations can offer, then this option will likely provide you with the same comfort level as other home theater reclining sets. Further, you can choose to get creative with what you already own like pulling up a side table for your snacks and drinks.
There are a few different types of gaming recliners and seats, so you can choose the option that best suits your needs. Whether you prefer the type that is more similar to office chairs and can be rolled around, or you like the lounging option offered by stationary recliners- the choice is ultimately up to you.
5. Massaging Recliner- Single
Another less expensive option for your home theater seating that might surprise you is a single recliner- one that even offers you a massage while you watch your favorite movie with your friends and family.
Contrary to popular belief, massage chairs do not have to be incredibly expensive. Now, you will likely not receive the best massage of your life from a chair that does not cost that much, but the massage is still a nice feature to help you embrace the lounging and resting that you are hoping to accomplish in your home theater.
Additionally, some massage recliners like the one included here offer various settings that you can choose from. This customizable option will help you to truly embrace the massage during your film screening.
Finally, as these massage recliners come in singles, you can choose to place just a few in your home theater space or you can buy them in bulk. Ultimately, they will still be less expensive than many other home theater reclining options, yet they offer the rest and relaxation that comes with other seating options.
6. Lounge Floor Pillow Cushions
If you want to move more in the simplistic direction, then lounge floor pillow cushions might be the best option for your inexpensive home theater seating.
These lounge floor pillow cushions can be folded up and stacked when they are not in use. This creates the appeal of cleanliness and organization that other home theater seating options might not offer.
Additionally, as these take up limited space, they also offer increased space for inviting over more guests. So, instead of being limited to 6-8 people within your home to view the newly-released movie of your choice, you can invite over a family or two to join you.
Another factor that you might not have considered with other home theater options is the color scheme of your home. With lounge floor pillow cushions coming in all different colors, shapes, and varieties, you might be able to add a little more Fenghua to your space than you had expected.
7. Mushroom Chairs
Mushroom chairs might take you back a few decades or bring you to memories of your university years, but they were (and still are) popular for a reason. These seats offer the comfort of other seating options while still providing plenty of style to your space.
There are many different styles of mushroom chairs available nowadays with many ranging in material, sleek design, and comfort. Additionally, you might find a few jumbo options which are perfect for those people with larger bodies or for cuddling up with your favorite movie-watching partner. Either way, they make a great fit.
An added benefit to most mushroom chairs is that they can be folded and stored away. Now, these will not fold up as sleek as a few more standard folding chairs, but this is to be expected with the added cushion that is attached to this chair- the component that gives this chair its style, comfort, and support.
8. DIY Outdoor Furniture Indoors
Another option for your home theater seating that will be less expensive than home theater recliner sets is to make your own furniture. This will require a bit of patience and skill, but it can pay off when you are able to proudly show off your creation on the first family movie night of the summer in your home theater.
There are several different options for making your own furniture. However, some of the best include using outdoor furniture guides and bringing those cushiony seats indoors.
Outdoor furniture is often designed to have a relaxed, comfortable feel. Though some models offer a more sleek appearance, modern outdoor furniture is designed with comfort in mind.
This will translate perfectly to your home theater seating. With comfort as a high priority, you can design a piece that is stained to your color preference and has cushions to perfectly match the vibe that you are hoping to send out in your home theater space.
Plus, with oversized cushions available, you can be sure to curl up in your chair with a fluffy blanket and some popcorn and enjoy the show.
9. Dowel Leather Chairs
Another creative option for home theater seating is to create dowel leather chairs. Here, you will use large dowels to form the base of the chair and then insert beautifully made leather cushions.
Although, if leather cushions are not your favorite or do not offer the appeal you are going for in your home theater, then you can substitute for another type of cushion that better suits your needs.
Getting creative with a dowel chair has many advantages. Firstly, the cost is going to be relatively minimal considering how many chairs you can make at a decent price.
Especially when compared to traditional home theater reclining sets, a dowel leather chair is going to be hard to beat with the cost.
Additionally, dowel leather chairs can be maneuvered to any grouping in your home theater space. If you are more interested in lining these chairs up in rows similar to what you would find in a standard theater, then you are welcome to do so.
But, if you would prefer to bunch them together- perhaps around a snack bar or to create private options separating the children and adults in your home theater, then you can do this as well. The maneuverability of a smaller chair has many advantages in your home theater space.
Finally, the customizability of the dowel leather chair is pretty much endless. Not only can you choose to keep your dowels simple or spice them up with a bit of stain or paint, but you can customize the cushions, too. So, regardless of the appeal you are going for in your home theater, you are sure to be able to embrace it with a dowel chair.
10. Hanging Macrame Chairs
Hanging macrame chairs are just as much fun for children as they are adults. Can you imagine bringing your guests or your children’s friends into a room full of hanging macrame chairs? The excitement would abound as each person tried out their new seat, and the movement would create an energy unlike any other.
Not only would your home be considered the “fun” house because it has an incredible home theater within it, but it would be unlike any other with a room full of hanging macrame chairs. Plus, with these types of chairs, you can mix up the design or buy a large set of the same type depending on the style option that you are going for.
Another benefit to hanging macrame chairs (outside of a ridiculously great price) is that since they hang from the ceiling, they allow for floor space to be used as well.
So, if you have someone who would prefer to sit or lie down on the floor, they can have this option as well without taking up any more seating space. The customization here is endless.
Finally, hanging macrame chairs come in sleek designs, boho, traditional, modern, and so many more. Whether you are looking to highlight the modern appeal of your home theater or you are hoping to create a whimsical space for exploring various films, you can accomplish this with a set of hanging macrame chairs.
Just be ready to embrace the fun that comes with them!
If budget is not a limit, check out these home theater seating ideas.
