Nothing beats the experience of viewing a movie on a giant screen, yet it would be a shame to waste those beautiful summer evenings indoors. So, why not have the best of both worlds by setting up an outdoor home theater in the comfort of your own yard? Fortunately, building an outdoor movie theater isn’t as complicated as many people expect.
In this article, we’ll help you DIY your backyard movie theater with some helpful tips that we’ve tried and tested. Let’s begin!
1. Purchase a Quality Projector and Projector Screen
Using a small TV might not maximize your streaming experience outside. That’s why we recommend having a quality projector and a projector screen that is big enough for your entire family.
The video displays from modern home theater projectors are brighter and of higher quality, than you might think, making them suitable for a movie night under the stars even if they aren’t bright enough to see and appreciate during daytime. Moreover, they are not even that expensive, so you can easily buy off from your local store or even order it online from Amazon, eBay, and the like.
2. Have a Better Sound System
The outdoors will be much noisier compared to the indoors, as you’ll usually have to deal with car noises, leaf blowers, neighbor parties, and more. That’s why you need to invest in a quality sound system that can deliver the movie’s audio loud and clear outside.
3. Choose a Streaming Service
Using a streaming service for your outdoor TV streaming is a much more affordable and convenient option. However, you have to choose the right one that suits your and your family member’s preferences. Here are some options you’d want to take a look at:
Netflix
Of course, Netflix is one of the best platforms you can use, especially if you have a diverse streaming preference. It offers a wide variety of genres of TV series and movies that you can enjoy with your friends and loved ones without paying a lot.
Sling TV
Sling TV is a popular cable TV alternative most cord-cutters use. It gives you access to live TV shows without paying for an entire list of channels you don’t even watch. So, if you love watching live TV while paying less, Sling TV might be your best choice.
Disney+
If your house consists of kids and kids at heart, Disney+ is an excellent option. You will have access to all Disney movies and shows, as well as Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel movies.
Go Latino TV
If you have a Spanish-bilingual family, you’d definitely want to look into Go Latino TV. It offers a long list of Spanish TV channels and local American channels for all of your family members to enjoy.
Planet Dish
Planet Dish is also an excellent alternative to cable TV, as it offers many live TV channels as well as on-demand content at an affordable price. If you want to have the best of both worlds, Planet Dish can be perfect for you.
4. Look for Comfortable Seats
You can get a bit creative with the seats as long as it serves their purpose and it is comfortable for everyone. You can go for picnic-style streaming, where you are all watching from the ground. You can also opt for beanbags, reclining chairs, and more. If you don’t have any of them, you can check them at your local store as they are usually affordable and durable, so you can use them for other purposes.
5. Prepare Essential Accessories
The aforementioned items are fundamental to creating a successful outdoor TV streaming theater. However, you might need to prepare some crucial accessories, like extension cords, WiFi extenders, bug repellants, and more.
6. Protect Your Equipment
Being outdoors means you and your equipment are susceptible to bad weather. We recommend having a waterproof cover on your projector and sound system in case the weather gets bad while you’re watching your favorite movies or shows. You can also prepare a tent beforehand if you think that there’s an increased chance of rain.
Conclusion
Setting up your own backyard movie theater isn’t as complicated and challenging as you might think. With a few devices, hard work, and patience, you can easily transform your yard or garden to stream your favorite shows and movies with your loved ones.
