Home Cinema Projector Screen Material

Snich76

I am in the planning stage of a single story side extension to our house, one room of which will be my home cinema room but as the room is quite small (3.5m x 1.6m) and I have to fit it a projector setup (incl amp, player, speakers etc), single sofa chair as well as my computer desk (1.5mx x0.75m) I have been having trouble working out how to fit everything in without compromising on what goes in!

The only way I can think to fit everything in is to get imaginative with the projector screen and basically create a custom built screen incorporating element of the computer desk. I wont bore you with the details (yet) but my reason for posting is to get advice as to what kind of material I should use for the projector screen. Is it just a case of using the clearest, white non-reflective surface possible or is there a particular material i should be using. I assume there is a reason why projector screens are quite expensive and people dont use a blank wall painted white :laugh: so if I am designing my own screen was curious as to what properties a screen needs to obtain the best possible picture. I guess my alternative is to just buy a screen and cut it down to size and try to attach it to the flat surface I am using but any advice would be appreciated.

P.S. Below is a draft of the plans for the room showing location of door and windows so any ideas anyone wants to throw my way would be appreciated....!

neilwoods

What size are looking to do. Can use a white wall, needs to be perfectly smooth and use a special screen paint but probably cost than a pull down screen. Plus a black border to define the screen.

Argos does and 84" screen for £99

Snich76

The width of the room is 1625mm and for what I am thinking, it could go all the way across (with maybe 150-200mm separation from the wall each side)

neilwoods

That's about 48". Would it not be better to just have a 42" or 50" TV, unless of course you already the projector.

Snich76

Yes, that was my initial thought but as you can see from my diagram the only place to put it would be the wall opposite the window, but then there is little or no room to put a chair due to the location of the door and the small size of the room (without sitting right in the front of the TV!).

My bright idea was to engage a builder friend to build a purpose built, highly custom made computer desk that sits under the window, but can be tilted or lifted up on some kind of pivot 90 degrees (and in theory paint the underside of the computer desk white to act as the projector screen!) to not only go flat against the wall but cover the window to shut out the light That way the chair/sofa can sit against the wall opposite the window and i can kill 3 birds with the one stone. Crazy eh?

Wootball

Alternatively, do the same thing but opposite and hinge it to the ceiling so it drops down over the window. That way you don't need to worry about there being anything on the desk that you need to move.

Snich76

Thanks Wootball, but the idea is to have it as dual-purpose, so whilst it isnt used as a projector screen, it is used as a computer desk and when I am finished on the computer and want to want tv or a movie "home-cinema style" I can lift up the computer desk against the wall and underneath will be the projector screen without the hassle of the computer desk being in the way. Unusual I know, but if it can be done it sure would solve my problem