Would you like to head back to the days when drive-in movie theatres were all the rage? Then why not set up an outdoor movie screen and watching area in your own back garden?
If you’ve got the space, you can use it! And if that sounds like the kind of thing you want to get up to this summertime, here’s how to create an outdoor film space that’ll let you camp out with a good movie all summer long.
Set Up a Roof Covering
If you already have a gazebo or awning you can use, great. Simply set up your outdoor movie area underneath and you can get to your first outdoor movie night in half the time.
However, if you don’t already have any outdoor coverings you can use, you’re going to need to set one up as a first step.
Where should you attach/set up the roof?
Somewhere it’s easy for the roof to be tethered, such as over a patio that’s close to the back of your house. You can also use sturdy trees, and tie the corners round using string or rope.
You could also attach it to the side of a shed or summerhouse, if either exists in your garden.
You can then stretch the roof out to cover part of the lawn, giving you more soft space to relax on while you enjoy the film.
If you have a freestanding awning or gazebo, you simply need to find space to peg it down.
Even summertime breezes can knock these things over if they’re not secured properly, so make sure the ground is soft enough for the peg to be hammered in up to the head.
Getting the Lawn Ready for Movie Nights
Most outdoor movie screens are set up so people can pick a spot on the lawn in front and sit or lie down for the next couple of hours. The same goes for the movie space you’ve now got set up outside.
However, your lawn may need a little bit of prep work before you put your first film on. Here’s a couple of things to think about.
Will you need garden furniture?
If you have a smaller lawn, it’s usually best to keep the garden furniture to a minimum. Instead, try to place down a larger picnic blanket and use cushions and blow up chairs as seating.
For medium to larger lawns, you can set up a range of garden chairs and loungers.
You should also make sure there’s plenty of surface space for food and drinks to rest somewhere that the ants can’t get them!
It’ll probably be best to trim it down
As such, now’s the time to get mowing! An overgrown lawn doesn’t feel all that good to sit or lie on, as the longer grass can tickle all over. You’re going to want to do yourself a favor here and mow in advance, before you’ve had to stop the movie and try to find something else to sit on.
And if you have more of a lawn space (and overgrowth) than you’d really like to admit, get yourself a robot lawn mower and set it to work for the next half an hour or so.
That way you can get the lawn trimmed down without much hassle, and they’re pretty easy things to use as well.
All you need to do is empty it out and make sure it doesn’t go off course. But seeing as you’re going to be outside working on your outdoor movie space anyway, that won’t be any trouble.
Setting Up Your Screen
Outdoor movie nights have that charm of not needing to be screened in perfect clarity or definition.
They’re meant to be a little ‘janky’ in the way the projector puts the image onto a surface, so you don’t have to worry about there being too many creases or some lens glare on the reflection.
You just need to be able to see the screen when the sun goes down, that’s all!
Picking a screen
You don’t necessarily need one, if the back of your house has the right white tone to it. Place the projector in front of this wall and turn it on, simple as.
However, if you have a brick wall or something that’s darker toned, you’ll need a screen to go in its place.
You can get a freestanding version from most garden and DIY stores, if you’d like something that’s easy to roll out and be ready for a film whenever you want one.
However, you can also set up a drape, bed sheet, or curtain for the same purpose.
Setting the Atmosphere
You’ve come out into the garden to watch a movie outside, with the stars up above and the sounds of the evening going on around you.
That’s more than enough ambience for most people, but you can also add a few extra special elements if you want to.
Lighting
It’s going to get pretty dark out there, so you may want to set up some small lamps around the movie area.
Paper lanterns usually work very well, as they can be just set down on the ground or hung up from the roof over the movie area.
You can also use candles, as long as they’re not near anything flammable. And if they will be, place them inside lanterns so the flames can’t jump onto any nearby soft furnishings.
Enjoy a Film in the Great Outdoors
All the sparkle and novelty of watching a film outside, with all the creature comforts of having your home literally just a few steps away.
Make your popcorn, prepare your nachos, and make sure there’s a comfy blanket down on the ground.
All you need to do then is connect the project to your laptop or phone, turn it on, and then sit back while the magic unfolds on the screen in front of you. And invite your friends over too!