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.