Set up a beamer in the living room: Here’s what you need to pay attention to

If you want to set up a beamer in your living room, you should plan it properly. With a few tips, it’s easy to set up a cosy home cinema in your living room

Installing a beamer in your living room: What you should consider

A beamer is an easy way to watch films and series in large format. You can set it up permanently as well as temporarily.

• Place the projector opposite your screen. You can either hang it from the ceiling or place it on a table. A fixed projector may require more effort at first, but you won’t have to move it later.
• Be aware that for many projectors you need an external image source. You can connect this to the projector via an HDMI connection. Some devices can also be operated via WLAN and streaming services can be used.
• Many projectors do not have built-in speakers. Therefore, you should get them separately and connect them to the projector. Ideally, place the speakers close to the projection surface.
• You will need suitable cables to connect the projector, speakers and image source. Before installation, find out which cables you need and how long they must be. If you want to connect fewer cables, you can also use an HDMI wireless transmitter.
• You can install the projector yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. The latter is particularly useful if you are unsure about the set-up.

The right requirements for a projector

When it comes to a home cinema, it’s not just the placement of the projector that’s important. The characteristics of your living room also play an important role.

• In order to use the projector, you need a large white surface onto which the image can be projected. Both a white wall and a screen are suitable for this.
• Find out how much projection surface you can set up in your living room. The room size determines the possible screen width and viewing distance.
• For a home cinema in the living room, a picture width of two to four metres is ideal. The viewing distance should be at least one and a half times the picture width. For smaller rooms, you should therefore choose a smaller picture width than for larger ones
• To ensure that the projection surface is not permanently visible, you can use a screen that can be extended or rolled up if necessary
• When your projector is running, there should be as few other light sources in the room as possible. Therefore, provide a way to darken the room and turn off artificial light.