Home Cinema Room Fitment
Discussion
So I'm finally getting started on the project to turn my 3rd bedroom into a home cinema.
Currently I have a magnolia carpet and walls and a white ceiling, none of which really work from a cinema perspective, so I'm going to replace the carpet with a dark coloured one which is easy enough..... the tough bits are the walls and ceiling.
I thought initially that dark coloured wallpaper (easier to remove than paint) might be a good plan, together with some sort of fabric covering for the ceiling, but interested to hear any other thoughts / options please.
Currently I have a magnolia carpet and walls and a white ceiling, none of which really work from a cinema perspective, so I'm going to replace the carpet with a dark coloured one which is easy enough..... the tough bits are the walls and ceiling.
I thought initially that dark coloured wallpaper (easier to remove than paint) might be a good plan, together with some sort of fabric covering for the ceiling, but interested to hear any other thoughts / options please.
When I did my cinema room it was a basement room so even with magnolia walls it was fine.
What I did do though was purchase some cheap dark brown velvet curtains online and attach them to the screen wall via a top batten. It looked very much like the curtains at the cinema but more importantly made the screen wall very dark so that the screen itself stood out.
If you need dark walls you could try the same.
What I did do though was purchase some cheap dark brown velvet curtains online and attach them to the screen wall via a top batten. It looked very much like the curtains at the cinema but more importantly made the screen wall very dark so that the screen itself stood out.
If you need dark walls you could try the same.
If you don't want to decorate in a dark colour, then you could have pull out side curtains that cover the side walls. Ideally the blacker the walls (and ceiling) the better as any reflections from those will wash out the picture, even if you have no external light getting in the room. Some people put black velvet around the first few feet of the screen and this will give biggest 'bang for buck'. Putting a projector in a light coloured room (without a very expensive ALR type screen) will only give a fraction of it's performance.
This is what I did with my living room build, so that it doesn't spoil the room for the other 95% of the time it isn't being used as a cinema.
This is what I did with my living room build, so that it doesn't spoil the room for the other 95% of the time it isn't being used as a cinema.
When I converted my spare room a few years back I originally wanted to have as near black a colour as possible on the ceiling and behind the projector screen to limit any light reflection, the side walls and rear wall would be painted a lighter sade just to contrast the darker colour and the coving another shade for the same effect.
However realising it was going to look a bit naff I bought a bucket and poured all the three shades in an mixed it all together the resulting very dark matt grey was painted on all surfaces and looks superb and works brilliantly at minimising light reflection.
Just go for the dark look it’s the best.
However realising it was going to look a bit naff I bought a bucket and poured all the three shades in an mixed it all together the resulting very dark matt grey was painted on all surfaces and looks superb and works brilliantly at minimising light reflection.
Just go for the dark look it’s the best.
Despite what the experts say, a dark room isn't essential, as you'll become immersed in the movie either way. But it does make a very big difference in terms of the ambiance and 'pop' that the picture creates, especially with a projector, where light reflection and spillage are issues. If you've the option, go dark and matt, including the ceiling and floor.
Again if projected, I'd very much recommend CIH (constant image height), that is, a 2.4:1 screen with the 'black bars' to the sides on smaller (i.e 'flat' and 'Academy' ratio images). Just my 2c worth.
Again if projected, I'd very much recommend CIH (constant image height), that is, a 2.4:1 screen with the 'black bars' to the sides on smaller (i.e 'flat' and 'Academy' ratio images). Just my 2c worth.
RogerDodger said:
I have to say, I project onto a 135" screen in a magnilia room, white ceiling, and light wood floor, and we don't notice the "room" at all with the lights off. The main reflections are off the speakers.
Have to say this was my experience too. Lost my cinema room when we moved so looking at building one in my new house and I'll stick with the same colours as it's cheaper than a divorce
Piano black Mirage OM-7's - keep meaning to put a cloth on them at movie time but always forget :-)
I get the black thing and contrast. I guess as I'm sitting around 10ft back, all I can see is screen and it always look superb (Optoma DLP projector). I've already dominated the room with the speakers so I leave it as a win and the other half is happy :-)
I toyed with the idea of a wide format screen but so much material is in 16:9, and I really don't "see" the lower and upper black bars when watching cinemascope movies. I just forget about them.
We always watch in a black-out environment.
I get the black thing and contrast. I guess as I'm sitting around 10ft back, all I can see is screen and it always look superb (Optoma DLP projector). I've already dominated the room with the speakers so I leave it as a win and the other half is happy :-)
I toyed with the idea of a wide format screen but so much material is in 16:9, and I really don't "see" the lower and upper black bars when watching cinemascope movies. I just forget about them.
We always watch in a black-out environment.
I'm in a similar position, but getting something that is wife friendly is more difficult.
Mine is just projected onto a plain white wall, and I've recently added a felt cinema border (its straight, just the panorama effect makes it looks off). This made a big difference IMO.
The room is too white though, and would be noticeably better with darker walls and roof. The projectors gives off quite a bit of light, and can end up lighting up the whole room.
20181031_094711 by justinking1986, on Flickr
2018-08-06_10-27-51 by justinking1986, on Flickr
Mine is just projected onto a plain white wall, and I've recently added a felt cinema border (its straight, just the panorama effect makes it looks off). This made a big difference IMO.
The room is too white though, and would be noticeably better with darker walls and roof. The projectors gives off quite a bit of light, and can end up lighting up the whole room.
20181031_094711 by justinking1986, on Flickr2018-08-06_10-27-51 by justinking1986, on FlickrIn my experience, the wall that matters most is the one the screen is on. I initially put my screen onto a magnolia wall but, the reflection of light from the PJ bothered me more and more as time went on. Once I began to notice it, it was impossible to unnotice.
Eventually, that wall became a feature wall and was painted a darkish burgundy. When watching a movie and the blackout blinds are down, the wall appears black.
Eventually, that wall became a feature wall and was painted a darkish burgundy. When watching a movie and the blackout blinds are down, the wall appears black.
Douglas Quaid said:
I have a dedicated room and have used self adhesive black flok material on the walls and ceiling. The picture is approximately 1000x better than when the room was white. Depends on how dedicated the room is though, it wouldn’t work so well in a lounge.
It is a completely dedicated room and your solution sounds ideal, do you have a link to what you purchased please?Gassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff