The spackling for my home theater is almost finished so I'm going to be painting soon and I don't know what color to paint the ceiling!

From what I've read, it's a really bad idea to paint the ceiling white because the reflection off of a projector (like I have) will show up on the ceiling. Is this true?

For the walls I'm planning to use a dark red color, but I'm really not sure what color to paint the ceiling. The wife is OK with any color (including black or dark gray) but would prefer white or near-white.

What do you think?

Any help is appriciated! :)

Black would be nice but I warn if you did Drywall I hope you seams are smooth. Even with dark purple like the color in mine I see defects. If your going black maybe use GOM black with Fabricmate track or create panels like SandManX did.

Thanks for the reply...

My ceiling is drywall but I'm having a professional drywall guy do the spackling and it seems like he's doing a very nice job (today will be his 2nd coat of spackle).

Anybody else have an opinion on color?

I just painted my theater with Behr flat enamel. ("Beluga" colour - a true black). The paint went on great and looks great - I only used/needed two coats - even though I had a white primed ceiling. The flat enamel is much more forgiving than the standard flat for fingerprints etc.

So my suggestion? Go for it! I'm glad i did.

I used a textured paint from Home Depot called "Ralph Lauren Suede". I picked the dark gray color, then asked the paint guy to add as much lamp black pigment to it as he could... 15 oz.

You apply it in 2 coats... roll on the first coat and then use a 3" brush and make random X marks for the 2nd coat.

When you're finished, it looks like suede leather... hides every tape and mud seam, hammer mark, and other blemishes.

Highly recommended.

You could always paint it the same color as the walls and just add black fabric panels or a decorative ceiling treatment (in black) in front of the screen.

If at all possible, yes.

My walls are a dark red too, and the black goes very well with it, and really helps the picture.

I did the same as jikkjack's suggestion and matched the wall color but have black fabric above the screen area.