Last summer we figured out how to show outdoor movies in our private garden. This year, thanks to World Market’s outdoor collection, I have upped my movie game! We can hardly wait for school to get out so we can enjoy frequent outdoor family movie nights! There is something about gathering the family together and watching movies. But when it’s outdoors on a warm summer night under twinkling stars, it makes for a memory we won’t soon forget. I’ll be sharing my tips throughout the photos and be sure to see even more ideas of how to bring indoor style outdoors in the video below.
I love shopping at my local World Market! I live in Auburn and although it’s a small college town, we have a great shopping center called Tiger Town nearby which makes it so convenient to pop in and see what’s new in store. The staff know me well (wink!). So when I was planning for our outdoor movie night, I saw an idea for making your own seat backs to use with bench cushions. (Check the photo above for the DIY to make the seat backs.) I loved this idea because we usually throw blankets and pillows down but this gives you a way to sit up comfortably while lounging on the ground. I thought it would be fun to add a marquee letter to the back of each seat so each child knows where their seat is. (No fighting over who sits where!)
While the bench cushion seats are my favorite idea for the kids, it’s not easy for my mom to sit that low on the ground anymore. So, I picked up these great outdoor lounge chairs from World Market! They are so comfortable and the angle is perfect for viewing the movie screen.
To set up your screen and projector, you can see the details of how I set my diy outdoor movie screen up in the photos above. I ordered DIY movie projector screen fabric on a roll (not folded). You can use a white sheet or any surface you want. Last year I used a roll of thick white paper that I had, and while it made for a great screen that used what I had on hand, I can tell you the difference in the picture quality is significant now that I am using the blackout movie screen fabric. But use what you have and keep it simple!
I purchased a movie projector last year, and I use my camera tripod to prop it up. We recently cut the cable, and I discovered that my streaming device just plugs into my projector, which makes watching movies so easy now! You can also connect your dvd player if you prefer. Again, just use what you have on hand. Family movie night is all about having fun together…not stressing over equipment.
A fun idea for serving snacks is to use a large tray to share between the lounge seating. This provides a steady surface for your bowl of popcorn and your drinks. And a simple idea for the kids is to take inexpensive acrylic box picture frames and spray paint the outside of them in a fun color. The size of the small frames are perfect for boxes of movie candy, popcorn, and a soda.
Last but not least, lighting! I love the look of string lights and these Edison style lights are perfect for our little garden. I added a dimmer plug so I can control the amount of light throughout the evening. When the movie starts I dim the lights so we can still see around us, but also to give the movie the best environment to display a bright picture.
So what do you think? Does an outdoor movie night sound like fun and something your family would enjoy? Stop in your local World Market and see what you discover to have extra fun outdoors this summer!
Want even more ideas? See how to bring indoor style outdoors.
Lifestyle Expert Brandi Milloy shares her top tips on bringing indoor comforts outside. Weather-resistant pillows and rugs that look as good as they feel make decorating easy, and a versatile Veracruz Sectional lets you play with your seating setup. Accent tables and surprisingly soft vibrant rugs made from 100% recycled bottles add color and tie the entire space together, affordably. To read more of Brandi’s tips, check them out here.
Here’s what I used for our movie night along with a few other items to make your night special! (Click on each image to shop.)
Carrie says
Awesome, qestion, how did you use the coushion for the floor chairs? I mean how is it on an angle and on the back of the chair as well as where you sit on
Amy Croushorn says
Hi Carrie! The bench cushions are propped up against the wooden backs and I secured them by wrapping a bungee cord around the cushion and the backboard. You can see it in the image above that has the instructions on how to make the chair backs. The bench cushions are long enough to allow a little cushion on your back and the leftover for your legs. We have really enjoyed them! Hope that helps!
Amy
Erica says
how do you keep the A-frame plywood from collapsing/folding. great little set up 🙂
Amy says
Hi Erica! There are 5” screws that come out of 1×2 boards on the inside bottom of each piece of plywood that stick into the ground so they stay put. the text on the photo in the post tells you more details if you need them. 😊 Hope that helps!
Lesley says
Love all these ideas and the a-frame wooden backs are amazing! We will be doing movie night on a pool deck, so we won’t be able to screw in. Do you think it would work to add a bottom to the triangle and use sandbags? Or any other idea?
Amy says
Hi Lesley! That sounds like so much fun! Adding a flat bottom and screwing the front and back pieces to the edge of the bottom would work. Then you’ll need to lean it up against something to keep it from sliding when you lean on it. Maybe a cinder block or sandbags could work. 😊