Backyard Movie
It seems that backyard movie theaters have never been more popular than these days, right? Well, the reasons for that are more than good – firstly, because the entire world is in the middle of a pandemic right now. Besides that, the fact is that backyard movie theaters have many other benefits, too. They are cozy and laid-back, and they allow you to relax and get comfy while watching your favorite movie outdoors. Here’s everything you need to know about coming up with your own backyard movie theater, so check out our ideas and enjoy!

First of all, find the best seating area layout

Figuring out the seating area layout is the first step towards coming up with a backyard theater. Of course, it all depends on the size of your backyard and the number of people you’ll invite to a movie night. The first option includes throwing several blankets all over the place. Colorful outdoor pillows are more than welcome here, too. This is a quite casual layout that’ll allow people to relax and stretch out on the ground. On the other hand, if you don’t want to sit on the ground, you should use chairs that are a part of your patio furniture. These usually are very comfy, so you won’t make a mistake with them. Besides these, you can opt for cool bean bag chairs as well. You can’t go wrong whichever option you choose!

Purchase a quality projector…

Once you’ve figured out your seating area, you should think about the other movie night essential – a quality projector. No movie theater is complete without this gadget, and the same goes for your backyard movie theater. This is particularly true if you want to build a permanent movie theater in your backyard. If that’s the case, you should invest in a top-quality projector that’s easy to use at the same time. Of course, there are projectors for every budget, but they usually range from $55 for affordable ones to over $10,000 for professional ones. If you don’t want to break the bank, find a projector that delivers a decent picture when showing movies outside. That should be your top criterion!

… As well as an outdoor TV

Aside from the projector, you should make sure to buy quality outdoor TV as well. Even though some people use their old TVs in backyard movie theaters, the fact is that outdoor TVs are a much better choice here. Firstly, they have weatherproof housing – both for the TV and the soundbar. It’ll protect the internal components in case of rain or similar weather conditions, which is a benefit that mustn’t be overlooked. The same goes for extreme temperature variations. So, if you wish to build a permanent backyard movie theater, you should invest in an outdoor TV. The majority of them are designed for fully-shaded outdoor spaces such as covered patios or gazebos, so give them a try and you won’t regret it!

Find a way to incorporate low lighting properly

We can all agree that too bright lighting is the last thing we need while watching a movie. This is exactly why you should be extremely careful with the lighting in your backyard movie theater. Any bright spots around the screen will make it quite difficult to see the picture on the screen, so be sure to avoid them. However, your backyard shouldn’t be completely dark either. This is particularly because of people who tend to get up and use the bathroom a lot, as they are likely to trip over something on the ground when there’s no light. Low lighting such as tiki torches and romantic string lights will be more than perfect in this case. Pick them and you’ll see what we were talking about!

Put out a popcorn machine and a beverage dispenser

The last things you’ll need in your backyard movie theater are related to food and drinks. Many people would agree that this is one of the essential parts of any movie night, and you know what? We completely agree with them, which is why you should get an awesome popcorn machine in the first place. Needless to say, this is the most popular snack when it comes to movie nights. Even though these can be made in the microwave, it would be much cooler to have a popcorn machine in your backyard, right? So, if you don’t want to buy it, you can always rent it instead. Also, you’ll need a cute yet practical beverage dispenser, too. There are amazing 1-gallon or 2-gallon glass dispensers with a tin lid and a leak-proof spigot, so get one right away and everyone will love it!

As you can see, there are many amazing ideas you can take into consideration when coming up with your own backyard movie theater. Of course, these five are the best ones out there, so be sure to bear them in mind if you want to make your movie nights as comfy and laid-back as possible. Just stick to our useful tips and you won’t go wrong. That’s a promise!