Why not take advantage of summer weather and create a better cinema experience in the comfort and privacy of your own backyard, rather than hunkering down in your living room? Building your own outdoor movie theater isn’t as complicated as you might think. It can be adjusted to fit your budget, from a simple projector and sheet to a full-fledged theater with a large screen and speakers to improve the film and audio quality. Local interior remodeling contractor DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Burlington County shares what you need to consider when building an outdoor home theater.
- Projector. Though you can take your TV outside for a movie night now and then, it won’t have the same “wow” factor as a big-screen projection system. Modern home theater projectors provide outstanding picture quality and, in most cases, a much brighter image than you might expect. One feature to look for in a projector for outdoor use is built-in MHL capabilities, which eliminates the need to install numerous cords. A projector with at least 2,000 lumens and an HDMI connection is also recommended.
- Projector Screen. Hanging a quality screen is imperative to get the best image quality out of your projector. Going the DIY route can be tempting, where you hang up the white sheet. You may also consider adjusting your projector to face the side of your home. However, adding sheets or using your exterior siding as your projector screen won’t give you the quality image you want. Find the right kind of screen that you can set up and tear down.
- Video Source. There are many video sources to choose from for your outdoor theater setup. Video streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video are an easy choice. You may use a Blu-ray player or laptop as your video source; for this, you need to run some extension cords. Digging a small trench, burying some PVC pipe and then extending the cabling from the house to a weatherproof junction box is a popular technique for running wires outdoors.
- Speakers. Your outdoor theater viewing experience won’t be complete without the necessary audio equipment. Technically, the projector’s built-in speaker can be used, but it won’t be powerful enough, especially if you have a large outdoor space or are dealing with background noise. A classic set of 5.1 speakers, which consist of a bass woofer and five standard speakers, can help bring you closer to the action while watching outdoors.
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DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Burlington County offers a wide range of professional home remodel services, from kitchen and bathroom renovations to accessible remodeling. To get started with a no-obligation consultation, call us at (856) 656-4488 or fill out our contact form! We are proud to serve homeowners in Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, Medford, Mt. Holly, Bordentown, Marlton, Pine Grove, Willingboro, Columbus, Chesterfield, Jobstown, Rancocas, Maple Shade, Medford Lakes, Riverton and beyond.
