Colour schemes for AV rooms

[INXS]

I've seen some pretty good set-ups on this forum but generally ... what's the best background colour for your "main wall".

B&Q have some pretty snazzy black wallpaper with the pattern having a nice sheen to it.

I figured the black would show off colour much better and give a more "cinema-like" environment.

However, I'll also be buying some mood lighting from IKEA (you know, the multi-coloured Dioder jobs) and I'm concerned that their effec might be lessened by the dark background.

Any of you guys n gals have any suggestions and/or links to appropriatye threads / sites?

Very best regards

INXS

PS - as an aside, my lounge is just about finishd and I intend uploading all necessary pics as and when!

[The Snake]

I don't like wiggly patterned wallpaper behind the TV.

I does my head in.

[statiksam]

I guess it depends if your 'AV room' is a dedicated home cinema/screening room, or also has to double up as a living room too. Black walls and deep reds may look good in a screening room, but for a living room, more contemporary colours like greys and neutrals seem popular.

I'm painting my living room at the moment - going for a dark brownish colour for the main wall behind the screen (Dulux Intense Truffle its called). The rest of the walls I am painting in Dulux Gentle Fawn.

I did get one tip - if you have a projector mounted on or near the ceiling, paint your ceiling an off-white like a grey as it reduces reflections. Also, if you paint with a roller, roll from left to right across the path of the projector to the screen, rather than towards and away from the screen. Apparently this also somehow helps reduce reflections.

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Sam

[Dean]

It's entirely a matter of taste but personally I think lighter colours make the room feel more spacious/classy, but ultimately I think whatever you go for you need some contrast. If you have dark walls with dark carpet with say black electronics and TV, then there is no contrast between objects and nothing stands out. I say this from experience as I came from a darkish room and couldn't believe the difference changing the colour scheme made to the new room.

[INXS]

cheers folks.

my main concern is the fact that I'll be having black(ish) wall-paper and a DIODER lighting right behind my floorstanders and the LG TV.

Does anyone have any experience (good, bad or otherwise) with lighting against very dark or black walls?

Regards

[statiksam]

Dioder might not be bright enough, esp. used as uplighting behind equipment. I've seen direct colour dichroic halogen lamps shining on a near black wall before which looked pretty good. Try and make your wall a little more interesting - photos, shelves with objects on, etc - they should pick out more of the colours of the light and make for an interesting display.

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Sam