CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

scottap · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 177 Location: Palo Alto, CA

I have a small room (12x9) that I'm setting up as a home theater. I know the ideal setup is a black batcave, but the room doubles as a workspace and also a refuge when my wife and daughter insist on watching yet another rerun of "The Gilmore Girls".

I'm afraid all black all the time might be a bit much and wondered how big a difference it is between all black and say something like a reasonably dark shade of blue? Is it more critical that the ceiling be dark than the walls? (The projector will be ceiling mounted.) Are there other solutions people have for reducing reflected light?

Since the house is a rental, I'm trying to limit how much I do to the room that has to be undone later. In the end though, I want it to be effective.

madpoet · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 852

See Kal's theater pics... very nice color!

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:48 am Post subject:

Dark blue would be fine too. I do like the black celing. it made a huge difference to me.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4371&start=20

scroll down.

Maybe you could do what JustGreg did?? He flame profed king size black bed sheets and hung them at the celing. (sorry no pics-how 'bout it Greg?)

You could even go dark red like Picree: http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/album_personal.php?user_id=249

and Yes what Kal did was excellent:
http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/album_personal.php?user_id=3

scottap · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 177 Location: Palo Alto, CA

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 5:00 am Post subject:

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX

Most of us do the screen wall all black and maybe the ceiling. Generally the other walls are some dark or even medium color. I don't know anyone with a completely black room.

In my case, the walls are a dark maroon.

Dave

JustGreg · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3098 Location: Kenosha, WI

Yeah I've been meaning to get some new pics since getting the ceiling done in front of the screen. It's definately black that's for sure. The sheets don't absorb the light as much as say a velvet/felt/velveteen/ultra flat black paint would but I think that's the flame resistant treatment affect.

Nothing from nothing here because I just learned to toddle in this hobby, but if I were renting I'd definately go with more attention to black out curtains (BOC material sold at most fabric stores) to minimize external light sources at the windows.
Black sheets can be made to look pretty damn good on the walls too if you build some inexpensive frame work to staple it to. They're also relatively cheap.

If you make the frame measurements close tolerance you won't even need to use any fastening method to keep it up against the wall. It will basically be wedged between the ceiling and floor and leave no permanent marks or holes to fix when you move. You can also plan in cross braces in the framework to hold pictures and such if the wife insists.

Another alternative:
If you want to please everyone, make the frame, cover one side with black sheets, and the other with BOC, and paint the BOC to whatever color you (wife) decide, and if needed, just reverse the 4'x?' (insert your ceiling height) panels when the theater isn't in use. (Easy to say but against wall furniture changes everything).

I don't have any suggestions for the ceiling in front of the screen. Nothing short of paint is going to give you what you're looking for without leaving holes or adhesive repair areas.

As far as black on the screen wall, I need to make some changes to that and add bias lighting behind the screen. I can't sit for more than an hour or two at a time without leaving the HT to exercise my eyes...I get a bit green around the gills in the sensory deprivation chamber HT I've created. Embarassed

All my babbling aside, reasonable color choices are key. Burnt orange or sunset orange, maroons, etc are choices I've seen alot of guys use...and a finish that reduces reflections (no ultra glossy obviously).

Greg

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:02 pm Post subject:

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado