Joseph Mercola

One great thing about projectors is that they don't take up as much space as a television set. Folks with big HDTVs have to design the whole room around the set; projectors give us much more flexibility.

The only real design challenge with a projector is figuring out how and where to put the screen. Believe me, this can be a REAL challenge!

The obvious choice, and one that a lot of people use, is to buy a ceiling mounted screen. It stays out of the way and you can pull it down when needed. You can even get motorized screens that tuck into the ceiling for a very low profile.  But ceiling mounted screens ain't cheap. Well, there are some relatively inexpensive models, but the decent ones can cost a fair bit.  Screens with motors cost even more. A lot more. But, don't worry!  There are cheaper choices that won't force you to sacrifice quality or surrender your room to unwieldy design.

The trick with any DIY 'save-money' trick is that you need to be creative and figure out what works best for your space. Here are some ideas to get you started:

PROJECTED SURFACE

Your projector's got to shine on something, and the quality will vary by surface. If you project onto a white bed sheet, it's not gonna' look too hot. On the other hand, you could drop $150 plus on a gallon of 'screen paint' (Google it), sold by several different boutique companies. The verdict is still out on these paints; some people swear by them and others claim that it's all marketing chicanery.

SHAPE AND SIZE

It's different for everyone (sadly, there aren't really any 'one-size-fits-all' answers in Home Theater). Do you watch lots of sports? You might want to make a screen that's 4:3 (full screen, almost but not quite a true square). Or if you're a movie buff, go with 16:9 (widescreen, letterbox, much more like a long rectangle).

As for size, factor in the size of the room and your viewing distance. Bigger isn't always better. It is possible to have a screen that's too large for the room.  Kinda' like sitting in the front row of your local cineplex.  You have to move your head from side to side to follow the action, and by the end of the movie you're worn out!

You want a size that will be comfortable to watch in your room. A very simple rule to remember is that that eye-level should be about 1/3 up from the bottom of the screen. This is a comfortable angle and will help you gauge the best spot for your screen. Don't forget to sit down when measuring eye level!

GET CREATIVE

Think of unique and subtle ways to incorporate your screen into your environment. The ideal  is the motorized electric screen which can be hidden when not in use, but they are very expensive (more than $1500).

One very simple solution is to buy a long flat white board and use it as your screen. Home Depot/Lowe's/most hardware stores sell various flat boards of different thickness and reflectivity. And of course you could always get a nice paint to treat the board. Ask someone at the paint counter for good reflective paints which are either white or neutral.

Once you have the screen, think of all the possible ways to conceal it or blend it in with the environment. You could put it in a picture frame and hang it on the wall. This could serve two purposes. You could watch movies on it, or even set up a slideshow of pictures and have your own dynamic picture frame on the wall.

Another very simple hack would be to mount hinges on your ceiling and attach the screen to those, with a clasping or catching mechanism to store the screen when not in use.

If you want to go for a truly cinematic experience, you could install curtain runners and get some red 'movie style' curtains to hide your screen behind.

Think outside the box (literally), to look for unexpected options that will give your home theater personality and style.

Oh, and one more thing. Remember this, it will be very useful: BLACKOUT FABRIC. You can get this stuff at most fabric or craft stores. It absorbs light very well. Proper light management is crucial to your theater, especially if you plan on using a projector setup.  Basically, it's black felt, which is proven to absorb light most effectively.

One very simple use of blackout fabric is to create a border around your projector screen. This will help define the picture, because it absorbs light. Another great use for this fabric is around the area where you mount the projector. Projectors have grills for ventilation, but heat isn't the only thing that escapes. Placing a small amount of black fabric around the projector enclosure (box where you mount the projector) will help absorb some of this excess light.  Don't cover ventilation holes though, leave plenty of room for heat to escape.

Don't be afraid to get creative! Some of the best DIY projects involve creative use of simple tools, like hinges, blackout fabric and picture frames. Don't be afraid to experiment, either. Most of these tools cost very little, which allows you to fine tune your experience until its picture perfect. It may take a little longer and it may be a little frustrating, but at the end of the day you'll have something that fits your needs exactly, and you'll enjoy the movie experience even more, knowing that you 'built' the entire setup.