How to Raise Home Theater Seats

Measure the dimensions of the room and transfer the measurements to 1/4-inch graph paper. Draw the room on the graph. Indicate the location of the screen and all windows and doors.

Determine the type of seating you wish to use and measure the seating. Draw the seats on the floor plan in the arrangement you desire. Between rows of seats, allow 24 inches of walk space. Create a 36-inch walkway along the entry door side of the seating. If the door enters at the rear, allow a 36-inch walkway behind the rear seats and along one side.

Revise your floor plan to accommodate your walkways. Draw a box around each row of steps. The box should reach from the back of the seat leg to the back of the seat leg for the row in front. The box should measure from the walkway to the wall to include all seats in one row. Try to limit your room to fit two box platforms, this will give you three rows of seats. For rooms with side doors, the back box can reach from wall to wall.

Note the height of each box level based on its location. Each level should be 7 to 8 inches tall, or standard step height. The seats closest to the screen will be flat on the floor. The row behind the first row will be 7 inches tall by the box measurements. The third row will be 14 inches tall by the box measurements. The third row will need a 7-inch tall by 11-inch deep step in front of the access point in the walkway. This will need to be well lit to prevent tripping.

Build your platforms out of 2-by-6-inch lumber sides. Screw or nail the ends together. Build floor supports from 2-by-6-inch boards every 24 inches on center. Nail or screw these in place through the side walls of the box. Screw or nail the box in position to the wall. Cover the top of the box with 1-inch-thick plywood nailed down.

Wrap the top and one or two sides of the box with padding and carpet stapled to the box. Leave the wall side and the side that touches another box open. For the taller step, use 2-by-12 lumber sides and 2-by-6 boards for the floor supports. Add 2-by-4 boards across your floor joists with the flat side of the board facing down. This will give you the needed height.

Move your box into position behind the first box and screw the boxes together and to the wall. Cover the 2-by-4 boards with 1-inch plywood. Leave the area of the box that connects to another box open along with the wall side. Cover the box with pad and carpet.