From Centre Court to kick-off: How to style an elegant watch party this weekend (and the outdoor projector that will arrive in time)

If you've ever thought about rigging up an outdoor projector and hosting a watch party in your garden, this weekend is shaping up to be the best one of the year to do it. A weekend of sporting drama is on the cards as the Wimbledon finals are set to take place, and Thomas Tuchel’s England squad take on Norway in the World Cup quarter-final.

Under normal British summer conditions, relying on an outdoor projector for a watch party would be a risky choice, of course. But with yet another mid-summer heatwave also on the horizon, this weekend could be ideal for a seamless afternoon-to-late-night garden party. What’s not to love about the idea of serving Pimm's on the lawn in the afternoon, before creating an elegant late-night cinema outdoors to watch the football under the stars?

To help you create the perfect watch party setup, we’ve tracked down the ideal outdoor projector and screen that don’t require any complicated tech and will arrive before the action begins on Saturday. Best of all, if rain (or heat) stops play and you’d rather move the party indoors, these brilliant designs can handle that, too.

• Delivery reminder: Order via next-day delivery or click-and-collect no later than Thursday, July 9th, to guarantee time to get your set up sorted.

If you want a lightweight outdoor projector that doesn't look like ugly office equipment, this is the one. Measuring 5.5 cm thick, it's designed to look like a hardcover book, so it'll blend effortlessly into your bedroom or living room aesthetic when it's not in use – and it comes highly recommended by our Fashion Ecommerce Editor, Caroline Parr.

"It's a solid outdoor projector choice for this weekend's heatwave because it eliminates the clutter of extra cords and gives you one-click, licensed access to Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube with no need for an extra TV stick," she says.

Best of all, it has an integrated 360-degree adjustable stand. So if the mid-summer heatwave makes hosting outdoors uncomfortable, you can carry this lightweight device indoors and project a native 1080p display onto your wall while surrounding yourself with cooling fans.

It's also equipped with lightning-fast WiFi 6 and intelligent auto-focusing.

If your garden doesn't have a perfectly flat, whitewashed wall to project onto, a dedicated screen for outdoor projector setups is a must, transforming a casual gathering into a true cinema experience.

Similarly, built-in speakers in many modern compact projectors can leave a lot to be desired, especially if they have to compete with a crowd of noisy football fans. Solve that problem by pairing your projector with a portable Bluetooth speaker to deliver deep, rich commentary and crowd noise without ruining your aesthetic.

How to style a summer watch party

An outdoor projector is only one piece of the World Cup watch party puzzle – make your outdoor space elegant and inviting with a few thoughtful styling choices. Here is how to build a space that effortlessly transitions from afternoon tennis to a late-night outdoor cinema.

1. Use white to anchor the space

“White is the most instinctive starting point for a summer sporting setting, and a white linen tablecloth is the easiest place to begin,” says Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James.

“Everything you add around it – the glassware, the greenery, the cushions on chairs – naturally falls into place without much effort. I would always recommend building colour from the base up rather than introducing everything at once. Swapping out your existing garden chair cushions for something in classic green is honestly all you need to tie the space back to the sporting occasion without it feeling heavily themed.”

2. Create a simple tablescape

“The tablescape is where a summer setting really comes together, because the references are already there for you to use,” Chloe explains. “I personally love using whole limes as part of a centrepiece; the colour and shape do a quiet nod to tennis balls and football pitches without going anywhere near novelty decoration. A small posy of purple sweet peas or lavender alongside them pulls the whole look together without needing much else. Matching glassware on the white linen base is the finishing touch that takes it from a garden table to something that feels elevated, and in my experience, it is the detail guests comment on most.”

3. Think about shade and seating

With high-summer afternoon temperatures predicted to soar, keeping your guests comfortable throughout the day is critical.

“July sun is something people consistently underestimate when they are setting up outdoors,” warns Chloe. “Shade is something I plan around before anything else at a summer event, because a garden that looks beautiful but leaves guests squinting through matches has missed the point entirely. A parasol over the main seating area solves that practically while also bringing height and structure to the space.”

When the sun finally dips, and it’s time for the 10:00 PM kickoff, you can lower the parasol to open up the view to your outdoor projector screen. Keep in mind, too, that harsh outdoor lights risk washing out your screen, so instead opt for warm-toned fairy lights or LED candles, but place them behind the viewing line to keep the screen clear.

“Getting the seating right for a watch party is crucial, because a scattered arrangement of chairs with no clear focus on the screen reads more like a last-minute gathering,” Chloe adds. “Facing a corner sofa set to the screen changes that immediately. An outdoor rug laid underneath anchors the zone and defines it as its own destination within the garden, which is the difference between a space that looks good and one that actually functions well for a group of people watching together.”

For a thoughtful extra touch, pile a basket high with cosy throws and lightweight blankets, just in case anyone starts to feel the chill once the sun goes down.

And finally, don’t forget to turn on the projector to sync it with your home Wi-Fi and log in to your streaming apps well before the party starts.