Nothing beats relaxing with friends while enjoying a nice beverage and some delectable nibbles. And why not make it an outdoor event this summer and learn how to set up an outdoor theater.
It’s a common summer ritual to attend open-air movie nights, but have you ever considered hosting one at your house instead?
Every year, outdoor living expands, including outdoor living rooms, outdoor bars, and outdoor kitchens. It makes sense to put up an outdoor cinema experience since we simply can’t get enough of our outdoor spaces and want to use them as often as we can throughout the year.
Your only concern will be deciding which movie to watch if you follow our instructions on how to set up an outdoor cinema. It doesn’t require much technical expertise and it doesn’t have to be expensive either.
How to construct an outdoor theater
- Select the proper location
Make sure you have a piece of land that is dry and protected from the wind whether you’re setting up your outdoor theater at the bottom of the garden, on a balcony, or on the roof terrace.
Use fairy light ideas to adorn the area, but make sure to turn off all lights before the film begins to prevent interference with the image. Additionally, try to stay away from setting up your tent where bright outside or indoor lighting can reflect on the screen.
Make sure there is adequate room in front for seating before setting up on a flat surface like a wall or fence. You might also want to consider how near you can get to a power outlet (and a bathroom, too!)
- Purchase a projector.
Until recently, good projectors were prohibitively expensive and could only be used in complete darkness, which made them difficult to use in a living room, let alone outside in the garden. However, the cost of the most recent versions has dropped and they are bright enough to use with the lights on. Additionally, they are smaller and quieter, so you don’t have to be concerned that a distracting whirr will ruin any dramatic moments.
You’ll notice that every projector has a lumen measurement while you’re looking for one for your outdoor movie theater. In bright lighting, more lumens make it simpler to perceive the projected image. We recommend at least 3000 lumens for a movie-theatre experience in a garden at night.
- Join a source of video.
You’ll need a device to play your movie on, such as a DVD or Blu-ray player, a laptop, or a streaming box like an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV that you can attach to your projector using its HDMI connector.
If you want fantastic sound, you can use the 3.5 mm connection on your projector to attach a speaker or search for a model that has Bluetooth. Choose the latter, and your movie will have greater impact thanks to your ability to connect wirelessly to one of the top soundbars or speakers. You can even connect a set of Bluetooth headphones if it’s late and you’re watching alone to avoid disturbing your neighbors.
- Construct your own movie screen
The simplest and least expensive way to achieve this is to string a white sheet between two trees or nag it to your clothes line. To prevent it from shifting in the wind, you might wish to add weight to the bottom.
Blackout lining, which you can get by the metre, can also be used to create your own screen by being pieced together and sewn together. Hang it over a row of nails on a wall or garden fence by tacking lengths of wood to the top and bottom and attaching screw hooks to the top.
An inflatable screen from a business like Inflatable Products may be purchased or rented if money were no object.
- Ensure that your visitors are cozy and at ease.
If the best location is on the lawn, spread out a groundsheet to shield it from wetness or bottom-bothering rocks and stones. Then, pile on blankets, cushions, and beanbags to increase comfort. By laying out some rugs and positioning seats, benches, or even hammocks for lounging, you may elevate your pop-up outdoor theater.
Just make sure everyone can see, and prepare a fire pit or have some blankets handy in case it gets chilly later. Since you don’t want movie night to end in flames, it should go without saying that you should keep the campfire a safe distance away from your sheet “screen.”
- Make a meal.
This may be as simple as putting popcorn in bowls, packing bottled drinks in a bucket with ice, and only needing to reach down for a refill. Light up the grill or buy an outdoor pizza oven and host a pizza party for something more substantial.
You might try making your own lemonade as well. Simply combine 200g of caster sugar, 1.5 liters of just-boiled water, and the juice and zest of 6 lemons and 2 limes.
After allowing the mixture to cool, chill it in the refrigerator. We adore the trick of labeling everyone’s drinks with fairy cake cases while keeping insects at away. Put a straw in each drink, then attach a cake case with each person’s name on it that is upside down.
To keep pesky mosies at bay, don’t forget to light some citronella candles before serving anything.
How do I erect an outdoor theater?
First, choose a location that will be conducive to a relaxing evening viewing or hire cinema screen. To project your movie, you’ll need a flat surface, which may be anything from a wall or fence to a simple sheet strung between two trees. Make sure you have a seat that is comfortable distance from the screen. You don’t want to spend the entire evening looking up and acquire a neckache.
The majority of projectors are wireless, but if your model requires a connection, figure out a secure way to get power to your garden.
Before any visitors arrive, try out your equipment and look up the weather forecast.
What do you need for a movie night outside?
In addition to a screen, a projector, and the movie you’ve chosen, you might want to consider setting up a comfortable seating area for you and your friends to unwind in. Warm blankets and pillows will be well received, especially as the night grows chilly.
A cooler box or a barbeque should be put up nearby to provide plenty of interval snacks and refreshments.
You might want to think about informing your neighbors in advance about your movie intentions as well. Even if a late-night marathon of box sets can cause trouble, you shouldn’t cause too much of a stir if you gave them a fair warning or even an invitation.
Does an outdoor movie theater require complete darkness?
Your projector’s quality will determine this. Even the greatest models will struggle if it’s a really bright, sunny day because even the best models don’t require a completely dark night to work. Before attempting to hire cinema screen choose your movue, it should at least be starting to become dark out. For the greatest guidance, consult the projector instructions.