Above is a sample of how you can hide a 120″ screen. The projector I recommend (not shown above - see below) is the  Epson MovieMate 72 (An All-In-One: A Projector With HDMI input, An Upscaling DVD player and 5.1 sound system!). All you do is place it on a coffee table and you’re ready for a REAL movie experience - and when you’re done, just put it away (in a closet, etc.)

I love movies. I’ve had a home theater for over 15 years… and I’m not talking about just a great the sound system… I mean a BIG SCREEN home theater. The reason I’m writing about this today is to let you know that no matter what your situation (even if you’re wife or husband doesn’t want it) - You CAN have a HUGE 100″+ HIDDEN home theater! I personally have a 140″ widescreen now! So, if you think a 52″ plasma would be great! You don’t know what you’re missing!!!

You see, I’ve figured out how to have a HUGE (Over 10 FOOT wide) screen absolutely hidden… right in my living room! I know this size won’t be possible for everyone… but I have a few other alternatives which will let you have a REAL theater experience at home - and for as little as $1000! and definately under $2000

You’re probably thinking… Wait, you haven’t had a HUGE home theater for 15 years? You’re right. Fifteen years ago, I had a 60″ rear projection TV.  60″ was considered HUGE 15 years ago, specially since it was a 4×3 (there were no widescreens back then)  - Today’s 60″ rear projection TV’s are 16×9 (wide screen), so they are not really big (not for me anyway).

About 4 years ago, my big screen was beginning to show signs of wear (the tubes were going out) It was a Phillips, which I knew would last… and it sure did (over 12 years!)… So, about 3 years ago, when the set finally died, I decided to set-up a HUGE HOME THEATER: I acually have a 15 FOOT (diagonal) wide screen! So, now I use a nice 36″ tv for daily tv viewing (that I got it for just $80 bucks at a thrift store which are full of them now!) - I guess everyone is donating these “old” tube sets and buying “big” plasmas and lcds…

So how did I hide a HUGE 15 FOOT “screen”? What I’m going to explain is what I did (You don’t need to go to all this trouble). The way I did it was to simply cover a wall that had a window we never opened with a large sheet of blackout material that I purchased on EBay for about $50! (I just stapled it to the wall!!!) The window had no frame sticking out, so it was very easy! Then I purchased some simple drapes and put hinges on the ends of the rods so that they opened outward and hid the decorations I have on either side. - leaving the entire screen ready to watch a movie - without the distractions of the art I have hanging on either side.

I also hid the HD projector and DVD player. You see, In our house we have a 15×15 living room an a 8×10 breakfast area… then the kitchen… What I did was simply to use the top kitchen cabinet (which we never use)… I put a shelf inside of the DOOR of the cabinet! (that way the projector and dvd player are completely hidden inside the cabinet until it’s movie time… Then I just open the cabinet door (I changed the hinges so they open 180 degrees)… so that the projector points towards the screen… and - it’s movie time!

I guess I could have run a cable to the projector to watch tv… but I just use it for movies. In fact, although it can do 1080i, It upscales so well, that I just get regular movies through the mail and use a small (UP SCALING) dvd player (on a shelf above the projector) - and since I use the HDMI cable, I get crisp images with NO rainbow effect. Lastly, I used a wireless 5.1 speaker system - and there you go - a REAL HOME THEATER! (not a dinky 50″ tv on a wall!)

So… Every night I just open the drapes, open the upper kitchen cabinet door, and IT’S MOVIE TIME!!!”

Now, for those who want to keep it simple, here’s what we do at my sisters house… She has NO space for this type of set-up, so I bought a smaller (96″ portable screen) and a portable Epson Movie mate projector (The movietime has the DVD player and speakers already built in!). What’s great about this set-up is that you can watch movies anywhere… for instance, all this summer, we’ve been watching movies in our back-yard!!! It’s REALLY GREAT - Just combine it with a BBQ dinner, friends and you’re set!

My Take: Depending on your budget, you can have a GREAT home theater experience.

Here are the combinations I recommend.

1.  Low Budget Home Theater: The MovieMate 50 Projector (see below) and the portable or fixed screen (depending if you want to take it outside or not).

2. The Value: The Medium Budget HD Home Theater System… The Movie Mate 72 (1280×720 resolution - see below) and either a fixed or portable screen depending if you want to view movies outside or not…

3. Lastly, the High Budget HD Home Theater System I recommend is the Full HD 1080P projector with the bluray player below (which comes with HDMI cable included - a big savings and a MUST for HD!) - then I’d pick the largest electric screen I could find (like the 135″ below) which you can hide above a window or put it on a wall an put a shelf over the screen. I would install the DVD and Projector on a shelf in a back wall (or hide it as I described). For sound, I’d get the wireless 5.1 speaker system (see below) to keep the sound installation super simple.