IKEA's Creative Roller Blinds Hack Is A Must-Try For The Movie Lover In Your Life

There's nothing like cozying up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and blanket to watch your favorite flick, but if you're looking for an experience that feels even more like a trip to the movies, consider turning one of your rooms into a home theater. This might seem like an expensive investment — after all, movie rooms in large houses are frequently decked out with special seating, creative lighting, and a layout to rival your favorite theater — but all you really need is a home projector and a screen. Luckily, this IKEA hack can allow you to create a luxury home viewing experience with just one popular item: a FRIDANS black-out roller curtain.

Home projectors can function in just about any space, but if you want to ensure your image is visible, you need a smooth, light-colored backdrop for maximum clarity. Large projector screens can cost several thousand dollars, but if you're just casually kicking back to enjoy a flick, there's no reason to rely on professional equipment. IKEA's roller curtains are affordable, convenient, and can easily be rolled back up, allowing you to make the most of your space, even in a small apartment.

Before you turn your space into a home theater, you're going to need to invest in one incredibly important item: a projector. The price of a projector can vary widely depending on their quality and available features, but projectors meant for home use like this PVO Mini Projector from Amazon should cost less than $100. Once you have a projector, it's time to set up your FRIDANS black-out roller blinds. Mount it in a location that's comfortable to view, and, if you plan to use the projector during the day, try to keep it in a darker room that doesn't let in a ton of natural light.

Now that everything is set up, it's time to determine the ideal placement of your projector. Because the IKEA blinds are smaller than a typical projector screen, it will be necessary to place your projector relatively close to them so the image will fit. The exact distance will depend on your projector and its settings, but it's generally recommended to place your projector at a distance of 1.5 to 2 times the size of the screen. For the largest size of roller blind IKEA offers, this will mean a distance of about 7 to 9 feet.

IKEA's FRIDANS black-out roller blinds come in a wide array of different sizes, but even the largest option is only 4 feet wide. While this shouldn't present an issue if you're looking for a casual home-viewing experience, these blinds are much smaller than most specially-designed projector screens on the market. With that being said, however, this smaller size is much more convenient if you're setting up your projector in a multi-use space and don't want to take up a ton of room. After rolling up the blind, it will still remain on the wall, but it won't be very noticeable or cause you to waste any functional space.

If you've decided to ditch your TV and switch to a projector, it's also important to consider the specifics of your room. This hack is very helpful if you have colored walls or need to create a smooth surface, but if you already have a plain white wall to work with, there's not much of a benefit to investing in a screen. As long as the surface is smooth, free of decorations, and a light color, you can project your favorite movies directly onto a wall without sacrificing quality or having to shell out extra money.