The warm weather presents an opportunity to enjoy a backyard movie night in the great outdoors with your favorite people. There are only so many weeks of summer, so be sure to take advantage of them, even if you are stuck at home to avoid the pandemic.
If you are feeling brave enough to invite over a few friends, hosting a backyard movie night and any other outdoor entertaining is a great option to make sure you are “social distancing”. You can still enjoy friends and food with ample distance apart if you take out a big screen, enjoy your company, and have some good food at a time when the weather allows.
Some of the prerequisites for actualizing a backyard movie night idea include sufficient space, ideal weather conditions, and a darkened environment which means you may wait for the sunset. Audio-visual equipment should not come in contact with water. People that have a porch or deck may have the advantage of protection from the elements and ability to start earlier since it can be covered to provide a dark environment.
The following are backyard movie night ideas that will help in creating an ideal setup.
Good Projector
A projector is necessary for an outdoor movie night but should not be overly sophisticated. Some of the important specifications to look at are resolution and lumens (brightness output). Lighting conditions are a huge determining factor and projectors within the 3000 to 4000-lumen range will suffice for most settings. Choose a resolution that allows clear and quality viewing even in the 100-inch range such as full HD 1080p.
You may also choose to use outdoor televisions instead of a projector. These outdoor displays are weather resistant and require minimal maintenance compared to projectors. Outdoor TVs may have a limitation in terms of screen size compared to what a projector may offer. Another disadvantage is that these outdoor displays are not portable in comparison to projectors
Backyard Movie Screens
Identify what your viewing environment looks like and demands and use this to determine the screen size and installation type appropriate in that kind of environment. The backyard movie screen can be windy meaning that you must find a screen with supports. Some screen designs can be mounted on fences or hang from trees in your backyard.
Outdoor projector screens are available in different shapes and sizes. There are creative installation designs and you can try something outside of the box to add to the whole experience of the movie night in the backyard. In some instances, you do not need to set up a screen since you can project onto a wall or another large surface, even if you’re dealing with small backyards. Picture quality may be affected by this approach.
Powered Speaker Systems
Find an externally powered speaker system to pair with the projector for a better and clearer sound. The small speakers in your projector can never work well for an outdoor movie party. Shop for good speakers specifically those that have a 3.5mm input, microphone, and even light effects.
The size of the speaker chosen will be dependent on the amount of space in your backyard that you need to cover. It is advisable to go for a slightly bigger speaker since you can turn down the volume as per your requirements.
Comfy Seating Options
You should provide a wide range of seating options and ensure that they are comfortable. Some of your guests may prefer to sit on a blanket spread on the ground, a rug with back support, a cushion, floor pillow, or comfy chairs. Ensure that you have a mix of these options so that you can accommodate many seating preferences. Have some cozy throws that can be used to keep warm once temperatures suddenly start to drop.
Small Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
Carefully select rugs that can be used for the backyard movie night. Get rugs that can seat two people or a group of four to be strategically placed in your backyard. Notable advantages of these rugs include covering the ground to keep your guest warm and away from the cool ground and to keep the crawlies away.
The rugs will also provide a good color palette as you undertake the decoration of the backyard for the movie night. Another advantage has to be the ease of cleaning up since all you have to do is roll up the rug and carry it to the trash can to empty its contents.
Lighting Options
Provide sufficient light to enable your guests to find their way around without obstructing the screen and to avoid stumbling into people or objects. Some of the options available include stake lights, mini lanterns with decorative designs, Christmas bulbs, pendant lighting such as at a snack table. Read this article to learn more about new luxury homes that have well-designed backyards that are ready to host a movie night.
Sufficient Extension Cords
Determine the number and length of cables that you need for the laptop, projector, speakers, and lights that you will be using for the backyard movie night. Make sure that you have an outdoor power hub and an extra two cable that may come in handy if one becomes faulty or there are a few more inches to cover than earlier estimated.
Reliable connections will also apply for internet-dependent streaming devices. Ensure that you have good connectivity so that you can enjoy a movie without buffering or unnecessary distractions. Get a Wi-Fi range extender to ensure you have a wireless connection in the backyard or a powered HDMI cable for a good high-resolution signal for wired connections.
Choice of Movie
Choose a movie that is best suited for backyard movie night viewing under the stars such as one that provides rich eye-candy. The movie will inform the theme and as such the decorations for your backyard and the costumes or items of clothing to wear for the movie night.
Variety of Snacks
Candy and popcorn are the most common movie theater snacks. You can add a twist to them by serving them on a pretty tray. Popcorn can be served with on small lunch-sized paper bags where they can be flavored with olive oil, butter, or any other custom flavorings. For an adult movie night, a galvanized steel bucket/tub can be filled with ice for drinks including beer and soda.
Insect Repellant
Have an insect repellant like Wondercide to deal with the mosquitoes that may ruin your viewing experience as you repeatedly swat away at a bothersome bug or scratch away at a bite mark. If you think you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, invest in Insect Shield clothing and bandanas to prevent you from being attacked by mosquitos while you are enjoying the movie! You could even get Insect Shield Protection Blankets to cover up with to help avoid annoying bug bites.
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