• What equipment do I need to set up a backyard outdoor movie theater?
  To set up a backyard outdoor movie theater, you will need a portable projector screen, a projector and screen bundle, outdoor speakers, comfortable seating options, supplemental lighting such as solar lanterns or string lights, and a refreshment stand for snacks and drinks.
• How can I create a comfortable seating area for my outdoor movie theater?
  When designing your seating area, consider creating small pods of seating to allow for conversation and connection with your guests. Mix in floor seating options with blankets and pillows for a laidback feel. Get creative with different seating arrangements to promote comfort and enhance the viewing experience.
• What kind of refreshments should I offer at my backyard outdoor movie theater?
  Consider offering a variety of snack options such as flavored popcorn, veggie cups with hummus, or ordering pizza. You can also prepare themed beverages like apple cider or hot cocoa. Make sure to have a designated refreshment stand or table for displaying the snacks and drinks.
• How can I enhance the ambiance of my backyard outdoor movie theater?
  To enhance the ambiance of your outdoor movie theater, consider stringing cafe lights overhead for a dreamy atmosphere. Use low wattage bulbs for a soft glow and place battery-operated lanterns nearby for added lighting. You can also incorporate themed decorations or props to match the movie you will be screening.
• How can I improve the sound quality of my outdoor movie theater setup?
  To improve the sound quality of your outdoor movie theater, consider investing in outdoor speakers or connecting your projector to Bluetooth speakers or a soundbar. Conduct a sound check before your movie night to ensure clarity and good volume levels, especially considering outdoor noises like wind and insects.
• How should I plan the layout and design of my backyard outdoor movie theater?
  When planning the layout of your outdoor movie theater, create distinct areas for entertainment, refreshments, and seating. Choose a spot for your projector screen that is stable and offers a good viewing angle for all guests. Incorporate elements from nature and consider the season or movie theme when decorating the space.

Setting Up Your Backyard Outdoor Movie Theater

Setting up an outdoor movie theater in your backyard is a great way to celebrate the balmy, twilight-imbued last evenings of summer. And if that weren’t therapeutic enough for the soul, you are also making time for a little culture, wholesome entertainment and togetherness with your favorite people.

The setup requires a little bit of DIY prep and planning, but the payoff is well worth the effort. Not only do you get to curate the ambiance, the refreshments and the moment, you get to play entertainment director and hand pick your favorite films of all-time. Its the perfect platform for creating good vibes and stirring up nostalgic memories of your first ever drive-in theater experience and movie night at going away camp.

To help you create this magical cinema experience in your own backyard, we’ve compiled a list of 6 steps to follow to get set up and ready to call action. With the right tech and equipment, yummy refreshments, and some cozy creature comforts borrowed from indoors, you will be ready for your big screen debut by the weekend.

1. Set the Overall Vibe

To create a comfortable, inviting vibe, lean into what mother nature already has on offer…the beautiful night sky, gentle breezes, the moon and maybe even a few twinkling stars. Come up with a floor plan that mirrors a successful party space, with good flow and distinct areas set up for entertainment, refreshments, and gathering for conversation.

Its a smart call to bring in supplemental lighting in the form of solar lanterns or string lights, not just for ambiance, but for safety too. Pick a décor style that fits the season like rustic southwest or coastal New England or riff off of the theme of the movie and include silly props like vintage lingerie hanging from a clothesline and toy binoculars for everyone with a showing of Hitchcocks’ Rear Window. Whether you make it chic and aspirational or gimmicky and over-the-top, its all about creating a narrative as if you are showing a movie within a movie.
Whatever vibe you end up setting, do not forget the bug spray and citronella candles. Late summer and early fall can still be buggy and you wouldn’t want a few buzzing pests to ruin the fun.

2. Build Your Big Screen

We’ve all experienced a warped, wrinkled movie projected onto a white bedsheet or the exterior wall of a building, but with a little extra effort you can improve your video quality greatly. A portable projector screen can be purchased for under $200 and they come in a range of sizes up to a sprawling 300 inches. Look for indoor-outdoor versions if you want one with a little more durability. You can even consider a projector and screen bundle, which guarantees your setup will work well together.

When setting up your screen look for a spot that isn’t prone to wind or the foot traffic coming in and out of the house. Butted up to an exterior wall or fence is usually your best bet. And if you are putting up your outdoor movie theater on the fly, by all means, go with the mounted white sheet. Sometimes MacGyvering a low budget setup can add an undercurrent of humor, which is especially fitting if you have a comedy cued up for the evening.

3. Create Comfortable Seating

Think of creating your seating area like you would if you were designing your seating around your TV area inside the house. You’ll want to map out a floor plan that gives every person a good sightline to the big screen. Rather than create a straight row or rows of seats like in the theater, think smaller pods of seating that allow for conversation and connecting with your guests.

For a laidback feel that also works well if kids are in the audience, mix in floor seating using cozy wool throws and fleece blankets layered on top of each other with big, cushy or woven floor pillows peppered about for customized comfort and to promote cuddle time. We like layering lots of texture and contrasting neutral plaids and tonal patterns for a rustic, boho vibe. We’ve even seen a backyard movie theater with tents set up with their entrances propped open facing the screen that act as little bungalows. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try something completely novel and new.

4. Set Up a Refreshment Stand

You’ll want a few yummy snack options on hand and a fun theme refresher or small-batch cocktail that you can make ahead. A vintage tiki bar or bar cart can double as a snack station, or a simple card table draped in pretty tablecloth will do. With crisper weather starting to creep in, we love an apple-themed mocktail like apple cider brewed with cloves and cinnamon or hot cocoa with all the fixings like pillowy marshmallow and shaved cocoa nibs served in enamelware mugs. Make your drinks ahead and serve them from a thermos, carafe or beverage server that invites self-service.

For snacks, consider homemade popcorn flavored with fun combos like coconut-curry or truffle oil and pecorino cheese, all pre-portioned into paper lunch bags. For a healthy option, pour hummus or dip into the bottom of individual serving cups and fill the rest of the cup with fresh veggie wedges. Opening the old delivery app and ordering your favorite local pizza is always an option and rarely disappoints.

5. Equip Your Sound System

Assuming you do not already have an outdoor sound system installed, you will want to rig some decent outdoor speakers so you can enjoy the full cinematic experience. Outside, you have to factor in wind, traffic and chirping insect noises, so you will want to make sure your system is loud enough and has good clarity of sound.

Your projectors built-in speaker can sometimes cut it, but you will want to do a sound check on a prior evening. Better to use the projectors analog output that lets you connect with auxiliary speakers that have analog input. Your best bets are Bluetooth speakers, a soundbar or any indoor speakers that you can connect with an audio cable.

6. All About the Ambiance

Create a dreamy space once the sun goes down by stringing cafe lights overhead. Opt for low wattage bulbs that will cast a soft glow without stealing the show. Use a stake near one corner of your projection screen and another in a back corner to help create a false ceiling perfect against a backdrop of stars. Keep a small battery-operated lantern nearby for quick trips indoors.

You probably do not need to hire a professional designer to outfit your backyard movie theater, but if you look around and realize you are in need of a design refresh for your deck, patio or pool area, there’s still plenty of time in the season to enjoy the results of a makeover. Book a Decorno Video Design Consultation anytime and well help you reimagine the outdoor (or indoor) living space of your dreams.