5 replies to this topic

[wong10029]

Hi All,

I am totally new to the projector world and it really opens my eyes to the next level. Recently, I purchased an Epson TW8000 for my first 4m*3.6m home theater room. Since then I have spent so much time here to look for different advises. When I was taking to a friend about it, he mentioned that I should paint the room in a darker colour (just like a cinema) to reduce the reflection. My room is a normally enclosed area with cream colour on the walls and a white ceiling. Not sure if other members here have their HT rooms painted in a darker. Would be great if someone their experience on the wall colour...

Many thanks,

[Quark]

Dark coloured walls/ceiling/furnishings will assist in reducing reflections and improve the image contrast.  The amount of contrast improvement you get will be influenced by how close the side walls and ceiling are to the screen - if very close you'll get a substantial improvement, as a significant amount will be reflected from the screen to walls/ceiling and back onto the screen.  You'll notice the improvement in contrast more if you're using a projector that already has a very high contrast.

However, the first thing to do is to ensure you have complete light control i.e. no light getting in from outside the room.

Confession time: the curtains, some walls and seating in our HT room are cream coloured - sometimes spouse acceptance/budget interfere with the best laid plans...

While it has limited influence on reflections and contrast, you will find that having the wall your screen is mounted on painted a dark colour will help you focus on the picture.  Even Mrs Quark has acknowledged and approved this.

[kopthat]

As Quark mentioned, white ceiling and cream walls will have an effect, but you still have to work within the asthetics
of the room, especially if it is multi function.

We went for a near black ceiling, Taubmans Mojo and elephant bum grey on the walls, but that is a dedicated room.

Goth's have really excellent contrast in their cinema rooms

[wong10029]

thanks both... at the end, it is a family decision too. I am thinking to try the dark grey or brown colour.

[oztheatre]

I'd be painting the whole thing black, ceiling, walls and even the kids, they reflect light too

[bpratt]

A fancier option is to use textured type of paints, such a Dulux Suede Effects. I used the Charcoal Mist for my ceiling, and whilst it isn't black, it is fairly dark and a whole lot more acceptable than a plain flat black ceiling.

My walls are in the colour called 'Lady in Red', so a lot better than cream walls, and not black either, so it helps prevent the 'bat cave' issue people have with all black.