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Like fireflies and pyrotechnic , movies under the whiz make for magically memorable summer nights . But if your town or city does n’t already host nighttime cover , you may bring the drive - in to your own backyard — minus the Hollywood budget . To inspire your DIY out-of-door movie projection screen , keep read to see five of our favorite designs , any of which you may build in one weekend using the corporeal suggestions that follow . Get the popcorn quick , lay a blanket on the Gunter Grass , and relish the double feature !

5 Fun DIY Outdoor Projector Screen Ideas to Try

With a few materials you likely already have on hand and a little cleverness , you may whip up an easy - to - assemble ( and disassemble ) outdoor projector covert for your backyard . Here are a few of our best-loved designs .

1. Sleep Under the Stars

“ And the Oscar goes to ” clean bed sheets for being the least demanding of all DIY outdoor flick screen cloth . If you ’ve catch spare linens , just jog a queen - sized , ironed - flat flat solid to magniloquent hedges or the side of your business firm . That ’s it ! Now you ’ve got an insistent outdoor picture show screen forprojectingyour favourite flicks .

2. Post Your Screening Here

For a larger , stalwart pic concealment , work up a pair of wooden Post with help from the stride - by - step counselling available atInstructables . To stabilise the posts , secure each one with ropes and stakes . Finally , elongate a white tarp ( or a blackout textile ) between the two , before locking the material in position with either staple or nail . Or , as render in the pic , mount aretractable outdoor projector screenfor a unfeigned drive - in motion-picture show flavor .

3. Learn the Ropes

In a woody backyard , habituate the trees to create a wonderfully capricious DIY out-of-door movie screen . First , suspend a rope from one tree to its most conveniently place neighbor . Next , flow the “ screen ” from the circle . The 2 Seasonscreated a exchangeable setup , then took it step further by frame up the projection area between wine - color drapes .

Do n’t have a hatful of trees ? Tie the rophy between posts of a swing set or similar stalwart nearby structure , as shown in the photo . exercise just the same !

4. Pin Up

Structural chemical element of your home may provide all the support need for a DIY out-of-door movie screen . Here ’s a lookat what Sam ( from My Barefoot Farm ) wangle to build in her backyard . She attached her sieve ( a 10 foundation by 20 metrical foot tarp with steel pipe frame ) to the vertical supports beneath the second - story deck .

Another option is to use ½ inch PVC organ pipe alternatively of brand for a light outdoor projector silver screen meeting place .

5. Paint a Big Picture Show

Avid movie - leaver , take tone : A DIY outdoor movie screenland like this one would last long beyond this summertime . Just paint one side of a plywood panel and brook it from behind with a fence or the side of your firm . At the end of the time of year , disassemble it and store the parts in your cellar , service department , or shed .

The Best Materials For DIY Outdoor Projector Screens

Ready to start your outside dramatic art project ? The following are the good projector screen materials for look out movies .

Paint

While anyexterior - rated whitened paintwill work for painting a projector screen on woodwind or other cloth , you could get really fancy and opt for a specially formulatedtheater white paint . Whichever you opt , be sure to prep the airfoil by removing undue grain and rolling on a primer first .

Outdoor Fabric

Backyard movie nights have grown in popularity in recent years and , as a consequence , outdoor projector screen fabric has become readilyavailable on Amazon . Be certain to take exact measurements for how much cloth you need before ordering , and pursue the maker ’s education for how to bestride it .

Inflatable Screen

If you do n’t have the time or desire to DIY an outdoor projector covert , check outthis readymade inflatable poser . It measures 9 feet grandiloquent by about 6 ½ foot wide and features a 16 - pes projection screen . Simply air it up , set up your projector , and enjoy a dead on target ride - in movie vibration mightily in your backyard !

Tarp

If you ’ve got atarpstashed somewhere in your garage or attic , you may make an outdoor projector screen . Traditional , weather - resistant tarp are especially utilitarian because they come equip with grommets — perfect for thread onto a forget me drug for hanging your projector screen in your outdoor space .

Bedsheet

Though specialty material are readily uncommitted , they are n’t necessary to produce an awe-inspiring outside projector covert . You could just hand into your linen paper cupboard and snap up abedsheet . prostrate vs. fit is best , of course , and steaming or press out any seam will avail to make a smooth surface for catch movies .

Additional Equipment for Your Outdoor Theater

Once you ’ve get your screen setup design , conceive the come additional ideas for better your outdoor flick - learn experience .

Media Streaming Devices

Many projector useable today come with streaming capabilities , so you’re able to use a smartphone app or even astreaming devicesuch as a Roku to dally your preferent motion picture and display .

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Sound is oh - so important when it comes to movie viewing , so do n’t leave to look at bring a bluetooth speaker to your outdoor theater setup .

FAQs

Any large , level surface will work for a projector screen — the side of your sign of the zodiac , the back of a shed , a large sheet robe over a clothesline . The possibilities are huge !

The right material for movie - viewing are outdoor fabric , white pigment , a tarp , a seam sail , or a readymade inflatable screen .

Yes , a flat sheet works well as a flick screen .

diy outdoor movie screen

Photo: istockphoto.com

Final Thoughts

Creating an out-of-door projector projection screen is an prosperous DIY project for any summer weekend . If you progress it with exterior - rat material and factor in a design that ’s easy to piece and break apart , it ’ll last for eld to come !

Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners

We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your patio , a raised bed , or an in - ground plot out back — and select the correct plants for your soil and region .

diy outdoor projector screens

Photo: istockphoto.com

diy outdoor projector screen ideas

Photo: istockphoto.com

outdoor movie ideas for backyard

Photo: istockphoto.com

diy outdoor projector screens

Photo: istockphoto.com

diy outdoor movie screen ideas

Photo: istockphoto.com

diy outdoor projector screen

Photo: istockphoto.com

diy outdoor movie screens

Photo: istockphoto.com

Young couple (heads not seen) use trowels to dig into a small raised garden bed on Astroturf, surrounded by gardening accessories.