Once upon a time, movie projectors were restricted to darkened home theatre rooms, but not anymore. Nowadays, there are projectors that produce bright enough images for an open living space without the image becoming destroyed by ambient light. Completely swapping out a bulky black TV for an elegant projector screen attains a more restful and elegant room aesthetic. Dropping a projector screen in front of your TV for a movie or the big game can double your viewing area. It’s really a no-brainer. This collection of living room theatre ideas show exactly how it's done, in modern decor schemes that stylishly beat the movie theatre hands down.
Block it out. Thankfully, high lumen projector units have become more affordable, but you can also reduce your ambient light with blackout curtains like these plush grey drapes. Natural wood bookshelves balance out the other half of this living room with an uplifting golden tone. A matching bench works double duty as a media shelf and as a seat when the projector screen is retracted.
Nostalgic movie nights. Dark decor and dimmable lighting set an authentic cinema mood. It also means you can opt for a less costly projector with fewer lumens to successfully light the screen.
Have your cake and eat it. A lot of people like to hold onto the option of the typical TV, but it doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. A ceiling-mounted, retractable projector screen can be positioned to closely skim in front of a wall-mounted TV, giving you the best of both worlds. In this case it slides down in from of the tv all the way down till the floating tv stand.
Build balance for each scenario. Built-in perimeter seating makes great sense for extra guests and hidden storage when a projection screen is retracted into the ceiling, and as a sleek media unit when the movie is in motion.
A distracting cascade. Indoor plants drop a cascade of greenery onto this empty white projection wall, causing the perfect natural distraction from its intended technical use.
Large projector screens offer great viewing for open plan living spaces, where they can provide the lounge, kitchen and dining areas equal viewing pleasure.
Catch some colour. If you decide to dampen down the ambient light with a darker decor scheme, consider amping up the brightness in colourful soft furnishings and wall art to compensate.
In moderate ambient light, a projector with around 2000 lumens can suffice, but very bright rooms may need approx 3000 to produce the desired results.
Brighter projectors are not always better, of course, a 3500-lumen projector in a pitch-black room can be rather dazzling. This white living room compensates for the brighter projection unit at night with an evenly distributed track lighting scheme.
Let the screen be your window blind. This is a great option for rooms that lack wall space due to large expanses of glass and architectural features.
Perimeter LEDs make atmospheric base illumination for a living room projector.
Projector setups go hand-in-hand with minimalist living rooms, removing the wall clutter of a permanent TV screen.
In this minimalist living room, the projector screen is tucked up within a ceiling recess so that not even its mount is visible.
On the flip side, the wall mount of this projection screen is made into a feature with smoothly curved stucco.
Hidden in plain sight. This projector screen fits edge-to-edge upon a dividing wall. The exact dimensions successfully camouflage the screen into the white wall decor.
Frame it. A bold black frame makes this screen stand out from a light, laconic decor canvas. The black and white contrast coordinates with a set of black and white dining chairs nearby.
Create a soffit to cover the screen mount, and continue it around the room to neatly encase bookcases and interior doors.
Fashion a focal point. This luxury floating TV stand has an eye-catching marble surround and LED feature lighting.
Smooth white walls can negate the need for a projection screen at all. Simply press play.
A black mounting wall makes a deep, dark background that pulls away from the eye to leave the projector screen as the main focus.
Don’t forget the sound system. If you’re not opting for in-ceiling speakers, then remember to leave a border of space for wall mounted counterparts.
A projected TV screen saves precious space and adds sophistication to small homes. See more of this innovative 37 square metre apartment design here.
To offset an empty, plain white projector wall, add lots of colourful accents to your furniture and choose striking, large art pieces to adorn the neighbouring walls.
Consider positioning projector screens in front of bookcases. In silence, this living room is decorated with the fullness of a home library, displayed upon modern bookshelves. When it’s time for digital entertainment, the screen unfurls in front of the book stacks, removing the busy distraction.
Another living room designed for book lovers and movie lovers alike.
Wide expanses of natural wood tone make a mellow companion for crisp white projector screens. Warm grey furniture pieces peacefully meld with the tonal composition.
Decorate to your heart's desire. This wide media shelf makes a display mantle for curious collections, which almost all fade from sight when movie time comes around. Pebble-like footstools playfully complement the collection of characterful finds.
A centrally strung projection screen drops double-sided imagery–just don’t try to read subtitles from the back.
Going incognito. Slipping under the radar as a clean white dividing wall between the lounge and kitchen, this plain expanse is an undercover movie wall.
Colour-blocked decor distracts from a sudden white projection area.
A living room that lacks a prominant TV, aka an idiot box, appears to gain sophistication.
Tabletop fireplaces can be positioned atop a linear media unit to create a cosy effect that can’t be recreated in the public movie theatre. The flicker of flame burns a welcoming glow that makes movie night seem all the more special.
If that plain, empty projection wall is just too much for you to bear in your stylish surroundings, then why not project a wall clock when the pictures aren’t rolling.
The oversized numbers of a projected wall clock fashion an attention-grabbing focal point.
Whilst dark decor could assist with a clearer projected picture, dark living rooms can sometimes feel a little oppressive. Consider installing a wide set of slatted doors that will allow borrowed light to filter through, as well as a spacious glimpse of the neighbouring room.
Save space for art with a ceiling-mounted projection screen.
In this industrial living room design, raw concrete walls make a cool canvas for a wall-mounted screen and some textural green accents.
Another grey concrete living room with green accents, but this time with a cost-saving white wall for projection.
Nomadic and boho living rooms aren’t the place to show off a big TV, so that's where retractable projector screens really work their magic.
Double-height living rooms are crying out for movie magic–just ensure that the screen is big enough to make it all the way down from the rafters. Watch how the living room chandelier plays a great supporting role to the main star in the room.
Nothing but windows? No problem.
Improve upon the projected clock with a rolling local weather forecast too.
You could even project a still image as a piece of permanent digital art.
Angle a living room furniture layout toward the windows to take in the exterior view, then drop a screen in front of the drapes for the evening's entertainment.
Shiplap walls provide visual interest when the screen is up, and a calm background when it’s pulled back down.
Pull an L-shaped sofa in tight and cosy to the movie wall for an intimate atmosphere.
A double-side sofa design and a soft lighting scheme will please all members of the family, and all of their hobbies, when the projector is at work.
Make a loud statement beside an overbearing, large projector screen with a striking accent chair.
Not all living rooms are right for ceiling-mounted projectors, but a shelf that is situated above the back of the sofa can work just as well. This unit projects onto a wall that is underscored with a striking media unit and busy adornments, which provide a cool focal point when the unit isn’t playing.
You’ll also have to consider how to hide away the wires that lead to a ceiling-fixed projector unit, although exposed wiring isn’t an issue if you opt for an industrial themed living room interior. In the no-frills industrial aesthetic, you can let everything hang out. Offset this relaxed approach to wire concealment with made-to-measure units and bookcases that will instil a hint of refinement.
