Not everyone has a place set aside for watching movies at home—the projector’s use. The projector and projection screen are therefore set up in an open space, which could appear messy.
So, if you’re prepared to work on a small project. a projector screen cover. at the site of your projection.
Then, in this post, we’ll discuss how to hide a projector in the best possible ways. You may display slideshows or play movies on a larger screen using a projector.
Even while contemporary projectors are slim and light, they can nevertheless stand out in space.
You can make the projector less offensive by finding a decorative way to conceal it or incorporate it into the room’s design.
How to hide a projector in the Best Possible Ways?
Let’s discuss the best possible ways to hide a projector:
Put it away behind a wall.
A video projector can be kept behind the rear wall of your media room if there is a closet or a room that is largely unoccupied.
With the exception of the lens, the entire unit will be concealed. This lens will shine through a hole that a home theatre designer will drill into the wall that is the proper size.
Since the projector will probably be close to the ceiling, the hole will probably be relatively undetectable and frequently incorporated into the crown molding.
Erect a wall to surround it
With the exception of the housing being entirely open in the front and on the bottom, this arrangement is comparable to a soffit. In essence, it acts as a wooden fence surrounding the projector’s perimeter.
Put it up high on the ceiling
When you’re ready to view a movie, a video projector may slowly lower from a ceiling trap door and then raise back up into its hiding place.
The amount of space required above the ceiling will depend on the size of the projector and the lift’s required range of motion.
You may need to add ventilation and cooling devices, and you’ll obviously need to supply electrical power above to run the lift’s engine.
Stowing the projector above the ceiling can be time-consuming and expensive in the end.
There is no possibility of heat build-up because only a section of the projector is covered by the housing, so you won’t need to add pricey cooling equipment like you would with a fully enclosed projection.
Place it in a Specialized Soffit.
This is a common solution that home theatre designers turn to. It entails constructing a “box” around the entire projector, typically out of wood.
In addition to concealing the projector, the wooden enclosure can also provide architectural appeal because it is made to match the other woodwork in the space.
Soffits can be expensive to install, despite their effectiveness as a hiding method.
The soffit must be properly ventilated because projectors produce a lot of heat when they are in use, which occasionally necessitates the inclusion of cooling fans.
Keep in mind that the soffit should be constructed with a trap door to make it simple to maintain the device.
A Three-Pronged Strategy
Another choice is to leave the front and bottom of the installed projector uncovered while covering the other three sides. The projector may not be hidden effectively by the design.
On the plus side, the projector won’t need cooling fans to stay cold.
Even if the air vents are positioned towards the back, the cover’s bottom opening will greatly improve airflow.
Just make sure there is enough room for the hot air to bounce off and exit through the bottom between the projector and the back wall.
When you upgrade, the box will easily support a bigger projector thanks to the added space to spare.
Think of a short-throw projector
Short-throw projectors were initially primarily intended to be used in conference rooms, but thanks to recent technological advances, they are also being used in media rooms. even cosmetics.
Short-throw projectors, in contrast to business units, are being made to seem like pieces of furniture so they can be placed in the open just a few inches from the front of the screen.
Utilized in the decoration
You can incorporate the projector into the room’s design rather than hiding it from view.
The projector will blend in better if it is placed on top of an existing bookshelf and is surrounded by trinkets or decorative things.
The projector can be adorned too. The decor of a home cinema room, for instance, may be improved by attaching miniature movie posters to the projector stand. Just be careful when decorating it not to harm the projector.
How to Mount and Hide Your Projector on the Ceiling
When mounting your projector to the ceiling, there are many measurements to take, including the size of the screen, the size of the room, the placement of the projector, the projector’s angle, and the throw distance, or the distance from the screen to the projector lens so that the image is the same size as the screen.
To choose where you place the projector, make sure to carefully measure each of them. Let’s now talk about how to attach your projector.
- The projector should be positioned so that it is rarely necessary to adjust its lens shift and keystone correction settings. To do this, you must determine the throw distance, or the appropriate distance between the projector and screen, to ensure that the projected image will fit the screen precisely.
- Where ambient light won’t shine straight onto the screen is where you want to set the projector. Close any windows if there are any there. Turn off any overhead lighting if you have any before viewing.
- To achieve the precise throw distance that is suitable for the device and its screen after measuring the throw distance, you still need to calibrate the projector. The projector needs to be moved, and the area of the ceiling where the mounting will take place needs to have marks put up.
- When the going gets tough, you’ll be able to situate the projector at the best vertical length by churning out the best vertical offset. Your user handbook refers to the vertical offset as a percentage of the positive and negative marks. Utilize the offset to adjust the projector’s height while limiting lens shift and determining the ideal viewing distance from your screen.
- You should prepare yourself if your projector has a widescreen aspect ratio because the overall size of the picture or projection may become significantly larger than usual. To ensure optimal positioning, use this opportunity to position the projector so that its lens is almost parallel to the center of the screen.
- You can now start mounting your projector after taking all the necessary precautions and measurements to determine the precise location. Make the holes in your ceilings required for projector positioning using a power drill.
- You ought to do this by mounting the projector to the mount. Thankfully, it is possible to purchase projectors that already have the mounting bracket, saving you the effort of having to purchase one that is right for your projector separately.
- Follow the directions in your bracket’s user manual after securing the bracket to the projector. When mounting the projector on the mount, it ought to include specific instructions on how to do things like making sure the bracket is aligned with the lens.
- Tighten the bolts to the proper torque after securing the mount to the ceiling and the brackets to one another. After the brackets are in place, check to see if the projector is drifting.
- You can conceal the projector by purchasing a mount that swings open and shut on your ceiling like a trap door. Additionally, you can conceal the projector’s presence using trunking and cable management.
- You may alternatively spend money on a wireless dongle receiver, which would let you connect your projector to the media players without using HDMI cables.
Also, see How to mount a projector without drilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can my projector screen be concealed?
Installing a projection screen in a coffered or tray ceiling is one of the most common methods of doing so. This is a typical solution since it gives a house a really lovely architectural feature. It blends perfectly with contemporary decor and may allow your original ceiling to be preserved.
How is a wall-mounted projector concealed?
Crown molding is the ideal material for projector cable concealment because it has wire room beneath it. Utilizing cable ties or electrical staples, run the cables along the top of the wall. The wires can then be disguised by hanging the crown molding in front of them.
Does using a projector on a wall or a screen look better?
A unique coating on projector screens enhances their reflecting qualities. This unique coating will not be present on a conventional wall. Consequently, a projected image on a wall won’t be nearly as bright as it would be on a screen.
Can a projector be viewed on a wall?
A projector can be used on a wall, but for the greatest viewing experience, choose the ideal color of projector screen paint. Grey typically performs best because it strikes a compromise between the contrast and light-absorbing properties of black and white.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, there are a variety of ways how to hide a projector, some of which are simple and others that are a little more involved.
Arguably the most effective method of projector concealment is the motorized projector lift. But the price is also high. You won’t get a clean implementation like that unless you don’t care about the cost and want your projector attached.
The second-best method involves mounting a cabinet on the wall and placing your projector inside. In any physical area, a wooden box fastened to the wall appears much more natural than a projector box suspended from the ceiling.
Please be aware that mounting a projector requires effort, time, and money. Sole use that option if you intend to use your projector more frequently than your TV or if it is the only type of communication equipment in your home.
If not, put it on a stand or shelf and hide it after you finish watching a movie or playing a game.