Home Movie (Night)
Five Tips to Hosting a Blockbuster Evening
Outdoor movie nights have been all the rage for several years now (we love them just as much as anyone!), but during extreme heat waves like the one we’re living through this summer, they’re naturally far less popular. And that’s not even mentioning the fight you have to put up to keep the mosquitoes away. It’s always good to have an alternative setting available, especially in case of a pop-up rain shower. An indoor space is the obvious choice, and if you need an inspiration to get your movie room started, we recommend any of these theater seating options. They’re spacious, they have cup holders, and they recline — that’s what we call a trifecta! We have several reclining seating options in stock (sofas, loveseats and individual recliners), but if you really want to do a theater room right, we love the idea of building your own sectional and placing a console with cupholders in between each seat.
But regardless of your seating set-up, we’re here for you with a few tips to make your next movie night a blockbuster:
1. Go for a big screen. You don’t have to break the bank to make this possible. All you need is a blank light-colored wall and a projector. If you don’t have a projector, a quick internet search will produce DIY instructions on how to use your smartphone as a projector.
2. Pick the right movie(s). Select an option (or two or three) that suits all of your guests. If you want to have even more fun, build a theme around your movie selections.
3. Make some yummy snacks. Popcorn is the traditional choice, but you could add a twist by offering topping choices — you can find prepackaged seasonings like ranch, parmesan or garlic at the store or you can try some creative homemade topping recipes like cookies ’n cream, buffalo ranch or everything bagel. ( Let the photos below of a Popcorn Bar we hosted at our Ladies Day Out event in May inspire you.) If you want to be a true hostess with the most-est, set up a candy table too. You could add pizza if you want to serve something more substantial.
4. Set out cozy blankets. Even in the summer, you might want something to snuggle under, but with 100-degree temps, maybe chose the lightest ones you can find.
5. Dim the lights. Create a theater-light atmosphere with dim lighting to make the movie screen really pop.
All that’s left now is to pick a date and invite some friends.
