If you’ve recently acquired a projector, congratulations! The next step is to mount it on the ceiling. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a power supply on the ceiling, nor do we want to rip out floorboards or ceilings. But don’t worry, with a little bit of clever positioning and decorative trunking, you can easily ceiling mount your projector and hide all those unsightly wires.
Firstly, decide where you want to position your projector screen and projector. Try to position the projector near a wall to make the wires as discrete as possible. If you don’t have the option to use a window frame, you can run the trunking along coving or skirting boards as well.
With the screen in place, measure the distance between the wall to the edge of the screen, plus half the width of the screen. Mark this measurement on the ceiling (where you want your projector to go), measured from the other end of the same wall that you originally measured from. Also make sure the throw distance between the projector and screen is sufficient. Finally, it’s important to make sure you place your marker along a ceiling joist. Use your knuckles to tap the ceiling until you hear a solid sound in order to locate one.
Take your projector and flip it upside down. Loosely attach the mounting bracket according to the instructions that came with it. Wherever possible, position the bracket so it’s inline with the lens. When you’re happy with its position, securely fasten the bracket down. If you’re unable to bring the lens inline with the bracket, be sure to offset this distance when mounting it to the ceiling.
With the bracket in place, be mindful of where it’s positioned on the projector and make any minor adjustments as to where it needs to be installed on the ceiling, in order for it to stay along the centre line of the projector screen (and so it’s not too close to any walls). Making sure the bracket can still be installed along a ceiling joist, make some markers as to where your screw holes need to go. Use a drill to make a preliminary hole for each screw, then securely fasten your bracket to the ceiling. Ensure you use suitable screws of the right quantity, according to the instructions for the bracket.
At this stage, take the projector and carefully place it on the bracket and check you’re happy with its position. Wire up your projector using a power cable extension if necessary. Establish how long the cables need to be, then take the decorative trunking. With it cut to size, remove the tape from the back to reveal its sticky side. Then slowly and carefully place it into position wherever you need to hide the cabling. Firmly push it down and check you’re happy with its position. Open up the trunking and begin feeding the wires from the top down to the bottom.
With the cables hidden away, you can use more decorative trunking to feed the cables along skirting boards or coving. Make any minor adjustments to the levelling of the projector in line with the screen, then wait for the sun to go down! Now you can watch your favourite things on the big screen in the perfect home cinema setup.
With this guide, you can easily ceiling mount your projector and hide all those nasty wires at the same time without having to rip out any floorboards or ceilings.