Create old-fashioned fun with reclaimed cinema seats

Just the ticket for hallways or tucked along refectory-style dining tables, a row of salvaged theatre seats combines functionality with old-time movie glamour

Is there anything cooler than a run of vintage cinema seats in a domestic interior? Having always been popular salvage for commercial interiors – such as barbershop waiting areas or as table seating in bars and restaurants – these sumptuous seats are now finding a comfortable nook in many eclectic homes.

They inject the luxurious vibe of a home cinema yet are undeniably practical, with their shallow profile and flip-up seats making them a handy choice for compact spaces. When positioned in an entryway, the seats provide an excellent spot to sit and don shoes before leaving the house, and banks of two or three seats can be installed into a kitchen nook to provide seating around a dining table.

Glenda Harkess of Worthing antiques store Reginald Ballum attributes the popularity of cinema seats to both their versatility and good looks. ‘They’re cool, they don’t take up too much space and they always have a good story to tell,’ she explains. ‘They’ve been used for something we all get excited about – watching movies or shows – so they also have great nostalgia about them too.’

It’s true that the simple act of flipping down a cinema seat triggers a sense of anticipation, plus it subconsciously gives us permission to relax. Who knew that a piece of furniture could evoke such feelings?

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Master upholsterer Kerry Rutter, founder of Unseen Icons, rarely worked on cinema seats in the past but over recent years has seen an upturn in demand – so much so that she now has hundreds of revamp projects under her belt and an overflowing order book.

‘People absolutely love the art deco period for its glamour and sophistication. The cinema seats are a perfect example of that era – they are just so iconic!’ says Kerry. ‘People realise they are a perfect way of bringing vintage furniture into their home while making a real style statement.’

Kerry works closely with her clients to personalise each piece – not only with their choice of fabrics and finishes, but down to selecting numbers on the seats and including special messages.

‘It’s really interesting to hear why they pick the ones they do; quite often it’s a date that has a special meaning to them,’ she reveals. ‘We also often hide messages in the seats when we’re rebuilding them; it can be anything from a song lyric to a quote. These seats have so many stories to tell and we like to feel we’re continuing that tradition.’

On a practical note, cinema seats are often not suitable as freestanding chairs, so the feet will need attaching to the floor or the chair backs to a wall. The frames will often already have brackets or holes for this, which makes installation easier.

Whatever the decor style, there’s a cinema seat to suit – with plush, velvet-upholstered squishy seats taking pride of place in maximalist interiors, and simple bentwood designs finding a home in Scandi-style spaces.

WORDS: CASSIE FAIRY