How to Make a Projector Room

Measure the height of your room from floor to ceiling. The height of your ceiling will determine the height of your screen projection, which in turn affects how far back the projector must be situated.

Subtract 3 feet from the height of your room from floor to ceiling to determine how big the projected image can be. The image from the projector should be at least 3 feet above ground level so viewers will be looking up slightly and objects such as coffee tables are not obstructing the view.

Determine how wide the projector image can be. Projectors usually have different aspect ratio settings to suit different broadcasts. For instance, standard definition images are usually shown in an aspect ratio of 4:3, whereas movies are traditionally displayed at 16:9. Multiply your maximum screen height (from Step 2) by 1.33 to get your largest possible screen size if you are predominantly using your projector for standard definition viewing in an aspect ratio of 4:3. Multiply your maximum screen height by 1.78 if you plan to use your projector to watch HDTV or films at the 16:9 setting.

Choose your screen type. Some projectors come with screens that are permanently fixed to the wall, whereas others have screens that can be moved up and out of sight when not in use.

Position your speakers. Surround sound systems should have at least 3 speakers placed around the screen, with the center speaker positioned beneath the screen. Consider using a smaller screen size if you have no room on either side for the speakers.

Check your projector user manual to determine its throw ratio. The throw ratio determines how far away a projector lens should be to maximize viewing quality. The throw ratio is the distance from where the projector lens is placed from the screen (D) divided by the width of the image it can project from that distance (W). For instance, if D is equal to 20 feet and W equals 10 feet, then the throw ratio will equal 2.0.

Multiply the throw ratio by the desired width of your screen to determine how far back you will need to sit to view the screen. For instance, if the throw ratio is 2 and the screen width you desire is 8 feet, then the projector lens needs to be placed at least 16 feet from the screen (8 x 2 = 16). Reduce your screen width if your room is not long enough or the image will be distorted.

Mount your projector on a stand or attach to the wall or ceiling. Projector lenses project an image so that the image appears above the position of the projector. However, some projectors have a lens shift function allowing you to invert the image and project the image downwards. A lens shift function is required to mount the unit to a ceiling. Attach ceiling brackets according to the manufacturer's instructions. They can usually be attached using screws and a screwdriver.

Position your sofas and armchairs in the projector room. Optimum seating distance will depend on the resolution of your projector unit, the type of projector technology, such as LCD (liquid crystal display) or DLP (digital light projection) and the width of your screen. For instance, LCD projectors with a vertical line resolution of 600 or less should be placed two to three times the width of your screen away from where you sit. Images may be pixelated or distorted if seats are positioned any closer.