With the arrival of summer and warm balmy nights on the horizon, we’ll all be spending most of our evenings and weekends in the garden. This is the perfect excuse to have a film night under the stars, and to bring the big screen to you with an at-home cinema. Create a cosy space for the whole family to enjoy, the perfect romantic date night space for couples and, for hosting open air movie nights for gatherings in the garden.
You don’t need to have a huge garden, an outdoor cinema can work in even the smallest of spaces. It’s easier than you think, all you need to worry about is choosing the perfect outdoor summer flick and the popcorn!
Follow our top 6 ‘how to’ tips to help you carve out a cinema space in your garden, from the tech to the finishing touches, and everything in-between.
1. The Tech: Projector & power source
You can’t have a real cinema experience without a large screen, so it’s best to invest in a decent compact home projector. For the best quality, look out for a projector with 3,000 lumens to make for a bright and crisp display after dark. A portable model will be easier, but an extension lead with work just as well. For your power source you can use a laptop, DVD or Blu Ray player or even a streaming device (such as Amazon Fire Stick), and then connect your projector through the HDMI port.
2. Pump up the volume
If you want to totally immerse yourself in the big screen experience your laptop speakers are just not going to cut it! Try connecting a wireless Bluetooth speaker to put some bang into your blockbuster.
3. Create your cinema screen
Just grab your bedding! All you need is a plain white sheet, peg it to your washing line or simply tape it to a wall or fence. If the sheet is touching the floor, weight it down at the bottom so that it doesn’t move around in the breeze.
4. Create a cosy seating area
Add comfort to your alfresco movie space with throws, comfy cushions and candles to create a cosy environment. For an added touch of luxury throw down some rugs, beanbags or an airbed and set out some folding chairs or even a bench – just make sure everyone has a good view! You can always take the chill out of the evening with a chiminea or fire basket.
5. Magical mood lighting
Add a little sparkle and ambience with solar lights and lanterns. Create an ultra-soft glow into the night by hanging them along your fence. Pop solar powered fairy lights or tea lights into glass mason jars for a cute and elegant glow after dark and place them along the patio.
6. Snacks & Drinks
A movie night just wouldn’t be the same without popcorn! Sweet, salted or both! Pour popcorn into bowls and have some drinks on ice nearby. Or why not fire up the BBQ, perfect if entertaining family and friends. To get your taste buds tingling take a look at our Tasty Recipes for the BBQ.
For more summer entertaining ideas take a look at our Hosting Garden Parties guide, full of top tips to help you throw a fun-filled garden party from food to seating and lighting to decoration ideas.