We all know how lovely our autumn evenings are and how lucky we are that we can enjoy the outdoors well into the winter months, if not all year! So, why not create a backyard movie experience where you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to enjoy “movie night”? You can do this fairly inexpensively and yet still make a big impact.
Three items are essential: a screen, a projector and sound. For the screen, you can go as simple as using a white sheet mounted on a fence or wall of your home or strung between two trees. **Tip**Be sure to iron the sheet for a seamless viewing experience. If you want to make a bigger investment, you can buy a pull-down screen for around $50-75.
You can get a Bluetooth projector starting from $25. Do your research about sound and picture quality, keeping in mind that you’re setting up a temporary backyard experience, not creating a home theater. Having a built-in speaker is great or you can get exterior speakers as well. Make sure that the projector is compatible with the device you plan to use to play the movie. For example, if the movie is on your iPad, make sure the projector will link to it. If you want to play a DVD, be sure the projector links with your DVD player. If you REALLY want your kids to think you’re awesome, find a projector that can connect their gaming devices, too!
Once you have the equipment, the rest is really about comfort. Select a spot in your yard that makes sense with regard to distance needed for projecting an image and having adequate seating. The great thing is, the setup doesn’t take up a tremendous amount of space or get in the way of other things.
Arrange varied seating including patio furniture, pillows and blankets. Designate a table for snacks and a cooler to keep beverages cold and within reach, limiting the need to go back inside. Be sure that you’ve arranged adequate lighting so that you can safely navigate around the yard and back into your house after the movie has ended.
One final, essential thing you must remember to do…turn off your sprinklers before set up!
Our family’s next project is to incorporate our trampoline into the movie experience. How fun will that be? A backyard movie is a really great way to spend time together as a family AND enjoy the outdoors in the comfort of your own home. Now get the popcorn!
