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Watching movies is one of the best ways to spend a weekend with friends and family, but sometimes you just want to stay home instead of heading to the local cinema. Why not turn your garden into a magical movie theatre?
We love going to the movies because of the oversized screen, fantastic popcorn, and immersive experiences. Your TV just isn’t the same.
By creating a “drive-in” in your garden, you will have all the advantages of going to the theater without leaving your house. It’s the perfect setup.
Considerations for Your Backyard Movie Theater
Before you hop in your car and head to the local hardware store to buy some hardware, you should ask yourself the following questions:
How many people will come?
Movies are best experienced when surrounded by loved ones. Consider how many people will be watching your movie screen at any given time. Most home theater projectors range in size from 100 inches to 300 inches.
A small screen will be suitable if you are going to watch movies with the family or with a small group of friends. If you expect to have a lot of people for a movie night, choose a larger option.
How much space do you have?
Another essential aspect to take into account when creating a cinema room in your garden is the space you have available to work and the location of the screen and projector.
The ideal screen viewing distance is 1 to 1.5 times the size. For example, if you have a 200 inch screen, the minimum distance should be 16.5 feet from where you are sitting.
Once you have measured the space, you will be able to determine what size screen you can place in your garden.
Do you want the cinema room to be portable?
If you want to install your garden cinema permanently, you can use features that can be fixed in place. If you’re setting up the theater for a one-time occasion like a birthday party or seasonal event, you might want to make it more portable.
You may also want cover such as a permanent structure or a temporary awning over the cinema area, or a sudden rain could ruin your cinema setup. And, nobody wants that.
Create your backyard movie theater
Here’s how to prepare everything, including the snacks!
The location is the first thing to choose when you start creating a movie theater in your backyard. Find a dry place that is ideally sheltered from the wind. You will need access to electricity and an area to project the image onto.
You can place the screen at the end of a garden or against a fence. Hang a leaf from the roof of your patio or the side of the garage. You can even project the image against the side of your house if the surface is large enough and clear of things like windows or doors.
A flat wall is great for the projector screen because it provides a stable background and the image won’t move in the wind like a projector does.
Avoid installing the cinema too close to streetlights as this may interfere with the details of the film.
After having chosen the ideal spot, the magic can operate!
Choose a projector
In the past, hardly anyone could afford projectors because they were expensive and designed for blackout situations, which many people couldn’t achieve at home.
Fortunately, you can now find affordable projectors that can be used in brighter environments and installed at home. They also come in compact sizes, making them easy to set up in a backyard.
You should look for the lumens feature on a projector; it is the measurement that allows you to see an image in bright or dark conditions. The higher the lumens measurement, the easier it is to see the image in bright places.
You might want to select one with built-in wifi like this option from Sovboi, or opt for a budget option that includes a remote control, like this one from Anpui. You can even find smart options.
Attach video source
Besides the projector, you will also need a video source. You can connect a DVD player or an online streaming service device like an Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku.
If your projector has the correct connections, you can connect a phone, tablet, or laptop. If it has Bluetooth, you can project your device’s screen without a physical connection. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for attaching the source you decide to use.
For sound, you can connect the speaker via the 3.5mm jack or use a Bluetooth connection to connect it to a speaker, depending on what your projector can do. You can even connect the speakers with headphones if you want to watch a movie alone and don’t want to disturb your family or neighbors.
Some projectors have built-in sound, although it’s usually not very good.
Make a movie screen
The movie screen may be the least expensive part of building a backyard movie theater. If you have a white sheet and pegs, you can hang them from branches or a clothesline. Or tape it to the side of the house using painter’s tape.
For added security, you can weigh down the sheet with heavy rock or anything else that will keep the screen stable.
You can also purchase a portable display with a built-in stand. Or just use the side of a house, garage, fence or barn. Or just build your own with wood and paint!
Make the space comfortable
Now let’s move on to the final steps: the seats. You want to be comfortable while watching your movies. You can go all out and set up chairs and sofas facing the screen or do something as simple as blankets on the lawn.
Make the space cozier by adding plenty of cushions, blankets, and other soft items to make the space cozier for your guests.
If you are expecting many guests, you can hang a hammock or use benches for more seating.
To extend the season and add ambiance, add a fire pit or patio heaters. You can use a gas fire if you don’t want to worry about maintaining the flames or you can go the old fashioned way and build a wood fire.
If you go the latter route, you can bring the marshmallows and make s’mores!
Remember to keep the focus away from the projector screen, otherwise you may accidentally set the sheet on fire.
Although movie theaters are often as dark as possible, a backyard movie theater can be as bright and bright as you want it to be. You can hang fairy lights along a fence or light candles near the seating area. It can help set the right mood and make the space comfortable.
Prepare snacks
To host the ultimate movie night, you need to have a stock of great snacks and drinks ready. Let’s be honest; movie snacks are the best part, right?
Once your backyard cinema is ready, you can go to the shops to buy various snacks such as chips, chocolate, candies and popcorn. For drinks, you can fill a cooler with ice and keep some mix available during the movie.
Here are some other movie snack suggestions:
- The hot dogs
- Ice cream
- Milk
- Nachos
- Pizza
- gummy bears
- Skittles
Cookie dough is a classic treat that pairs perfectly with a movie. You don’t need a lot of ingredients to make this cookie dough treat. You can follow this recipe to make cookie dough for your next movie marathon!
If you often watch movies and like popcorn, consider investing in a popcorn maker. You can buy models that look like the theater, adding an authentic touch to your backyard theater.
By the way, here’s a guide to growing your own popcorn to make the experience even more exciting.
Choose the movie
Finally, you need to decide which movie to stream at home. If Christmas is coming, you can line up some festive classics like The Grinch, Santa Claus or Home Alone. Or, if it’s summer, you can watch Grease or another holiday movie that will lift your spirits!
Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy all your hard work.
Backyard cinemas are the best
In addition to being practical, home theaters allow you to run to the bathroom without missing the good moments of a movie. You can simply pause the movie and resume it when you’re done. It’s much better than missing part of the story in the cinema.
If you have children, a home theater room is ideal because they can grab their favorite toy or have their favorite snack without disturbing other people in the room. Then they can go straight to bed without having to go home.
Ultimately, a home theater room allows you to completely unwind. You can wear your pajamas or have a dinner/movie night with all your friends and family. If you want to build a movie theater in your backyard, follow this guide and don’t forget the snacks!
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