:confused:

I would appreciate suggestions from the members on changing the "off-white" color of my dedicated home theater room.

My understanding is that I should paint the walls and ceiling with a "flat" paint that is neutral gray, and meets the 6500 Kelvin spec (also called D65). Additionally I was informed that there is an entire pallet of colors that will meet my requirements. Should i also paint the mouldings the new flat color?

Finally, any suggestions of where I should by the paint, and associated color number/names.:confused:

Color and paint brand is a personal preference. I wouldn't paint trim flat just because it wouldn't hold up so well. And while I happen to like Behr paint, I know many others on this forum don't like it.

My ceiling and trim is a medium gray. It is Drizzling Mist from Lowe's.

I used flat on ceilings, semi-gloss on trim and eggshell on doors.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/bigmouthindc/drizzlingmist.jpg

it's on the right.

I recommend Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paints. I've worked with Behr, Valspar, Glidden and Ralph Lauren as well and I very much prefer SW and BM. They are typically more expensive, but I will never go back from SW.

I painted a red wall with Behr and it took me three coats plus a tinted primer. I could have got away with one with SW and a tinted primer though still went for two coats. Only two coats on my black ceiling as well with SW.

I wouldn’t paint the *entire* room flat grey unless you want people to be depressed when sitting in there. Further, I would question just how much having a color other than neutral grey would affect the image on screen in a normally setup room. The amount of light that is bounced off the screen, then bounced off a matte wall, then bounced back onto the screen to finally bounce out and into your eyes would have to be somewhere around 7 or 8 stops less than the light that just bounces off the screen and directly out to you. I doubt your brain would even register it.

Also, be aware that dark, flat paint is a little temperamental. Basically, you will be ok as long as nothing ever touches or brushes up against it. You can read more about it here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1081573

fwiw, I used the ‘dead flat varnish’ to protect my walls. It does do a good job of adding a protective layer, but it adds a bit of sheen back to the walls, and it needs to be put on at a uniform thickness or else it will show.

I am a fan of having a dark/black ceiling though. Especially if your screen is going to be close to the top of the wall.

-Suntan