Color for layout room

[Wendel in Kingston]

I'm in need of advice about the color to paint my new layout room. The room is 14' by 24' with a high, sloped ceiling. The ceiling is about 14' on the inside wall, sloping to about 8' on the outside wall. There are no windows and the lighting is yet to be determined. I plan to have masonite as my painted backdrop, but I need to choose a color for the contractor to finish over the sheetrock primer. He will be spraying it, so the walls and ceiling will be the same color. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[BlueHillsCPR]

If it was me...white.  The color belongs on the layout and backdrop, IMO.

[loathar]

I would paint paint it the same color as the backdrops. But that's just me...

[bogp40]

Such a large space. I would use off-whites or how about a light blue-gray.

[cowman]

If you use the same color as the darker, upper portion of your backddrop sky, the line between the backdrop and room should be nearly invisible.  Just my thought.

Have fun,

[andychandler]

Wendel:  I like  white, simply because of the light reflecting ability.  I would think in a room that large, lighting will be difficult for a layout, and you would need all the help you can get.  It is also easy to repair or repaint if need be.  Regards, andy

[HarryHotspur]

Just a thought - Have him round the corners and paint it sky blue. That way you won't need any more backdrop and your layout will look great from any angle.

[spectratone]

what railroad are you modeling? whats your theme? mountains? desert? Or depot color. Tans, greens,yellows. paint the ceiling off white and color on the walls. off white doors and trim. Unless you want it to look like a washing machine, then paint it white. Go to a paint store and look at some charts with pictures of finished rooms.     click on the picture.  This is over a ear ago when I started.

 

[REI]

My "railroad room" as I call it, is a light green, pistachio color.

Notice the walls:

[Wendel in Kingston]

We're thinking along the same lines with the blue-gray. I didn't mention this in my post but  the room has 2 large exposed trusses that I had boxed in with sheet rock. Using 2 colors, white on the ceiling and blue-gray on the walls, might draw your eye up to those trusses. If the room is painted in just the blue-gray, I'm thinking that the sharp edges of the boxes would soften and tend to disappear. The color I'm considering would be just a little brighter and bluer than the background color on this web site. Your thoughts?

[Wendel in Kingston]

Check out my other response posting. To answer your questions though, I model the Great Northern, SP&S and related roads in and around Spokane WA circa 1958. The focus of the layout will be passenger operations at the GN depot in Spokane, and a very compressed freight operation at Hillyard. Nice photo of your layout room.

[spectratone]

Any way you can post a picture of the room?

glenn 

[superbe]

If it was me...white.  The color belongs on the layout and backdrop, IMO.

Maybe you could use the sheetrock wall for the backdrop and if so paint it the appropiate blue as suggested. The pic shows my yet to be finished backdrop which is 18 inches from the layout top as I am building an island. If you will be against the wall that would even be better. As for the cieling I'd go with white especially since you have no outside light.

Bob

[dante]

Unless someone is sitting with nothing to do, they are unlikely to look up - usually, folks tend to look down.  The same color on the walls and ceiling will make the room seem larger.  If you paint everything blue or bluish and paint clouds on the backdrop, you might find it necessary to paint clouds all over!  Finally, off-whites look exactly that - "off!"  Recommendation: paint everything white-white except for the backdrop itself (extended as high as you are ambitious).  The white will be the correct background for everything and anything you want to emphasize.

[spectratone]

Unless someone is sitting with nothing to do, they are unlikely to look up - usually, folks tend to look down.  The same color on the walls and ceiling will make the room seem larger.  If you paint everything blue or bluish and paint clouds on the backdrop, you might find it necessary to paint clouds all over!  Finally, off-whites look exactly that - "off!"  Recommendation: paint everything white-white except for the backdrop itself (extended as high as you are ambitious).  The white will be the correct background for everything and anything you want to emphasize.

Never paint anything white/white, white doesn,t even cover itself. People only paint cheep slum apartments white/white.  

[Wendel in Kingston]

We took pictures, but can't figure out how to upload them.  FAQ does not address that as far as I can see.  Any hints?

[Phoebe Vet]

We took pictures, but can't figure out how to upload them.  FAQ does not address that as far as I can see.  Any hints?

 

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1302826/ShowPost.aspx

[spectratone]

Walls the lettering color

Baseboard, door casing, and trim  darkest color

doors orange

ceiling. depending on how high it is. if it's a tall ceiling paint it dark, if its low paint it the wall color

use can lights or track lighting

low sheen on the walls and ceiling, or flat on the ceiling if dark and gloss on everyting else 

 

[bogp40]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

[spectratone]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

Popcorn or textured won,t make a any difference what so ever. Popcorn went out in the 80,s.  Insulation in the walls and ceiling will help, the more R value the better. If you really want to bounce the sound down add crown molding. But if you have sloped ceiling don,t bother. Once you start filling up the room with everything that will asorb any echo. Put down carpet. You can always cover it with plastic and a big dropcloth till your finished with the messy work. 

[bogp40]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

Popcorn or textured won,t make a any difference what so ever. Popcorn went out in the 80,s.  Insulation in the walls and ceiling will help, the more R value the better. If you really want to bounce the sound down add crown molding. But if you have sloped ceiling don,t bother. Once you start filling up the room with everything that will asorb any echo. Put down carpet. You can always cover it with plastic and a big dropcloth till your finished with the messy work. 

Unless such a room is fully carpeted, draperies and some plush furniture all the insulation buried in the wall or anything dealing with molding will not help the accoustics. Some sound needs to be absorbed rather than reflected off all the smooth surfaces.

[spectratone]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

Popcorn or textured won,t make a any difference what so ever. Popcorn went out in the 80,s.  Insulation in the walls and ceiling will help, the more R value the better. If you really want to bounce the sound down add crown molding. But if you have sloped ceiling don,t bother. Once you start filling up the room with everything that will asorb any echo. Put down carpet. You can always cover it with plastic and a big dropcloth till your finished with the messy work. 

Unless such a room is fully carpeted, draperies and some plush furniture all the insulation buried in the wall or anything dealing with molding will not help the accoustics. Some sound needs to be absorbed rather than reflected off all the smooth surfaces.

the layout should asorb  most of the sound . And Insulation does act as a sound asorber. I work on new construction every day.  Rooms the same size as we,re talking about. slopped ceiling and all. Even with no carpet there is NO echo. 

[bogp40]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

Popcorn or textured won,t make a any difference what so ever. Popcorn went out in the 80,s.  Insulation in the walls and ceiling will help, the more R value the better. If you really want to bounce the sound down add crown molding. But if you have sloped ceiling don,t bother. Once you start filling up the room with everything that will asorb any echo. Put down carpet. You can always cover it with plastic and a big dropcloth till your finished with the messy work. 

Unless such a room is fully carpeted, draperies and some plush furniture all the insulation buried in the wall or anything dealing with molding will not help the accoustics. Some sound needs to be absorbed rather than reflected off all the smooth surfaces.

the layout should asorb  most of the sound . And Insulation does act as a sound asorber. I work on new construction every day.  Rooms the same size as we,re talking about. slopped ceiling and all. Even with no carpet there is NO echo. 

Sure if you want to believe that. Fine....Insulation behind smooth drywall has no affect on the reflective properties of sound on it's surface. It will muffle any penetration to spaces beyond.  I hope you don't plan on doing any media rooms with that kind of reasoning.

 The term,"Popcorn" was used so most will know the property of an accoustical coating. How does any crown molding reagardless of the spring angle going to have any affect on sound probagation within the space. A builder for over 30 years and 10+ years as a naval air accoustic operator, I have some idea as to sound probagation, and accoustic properties within the envoironment, be it air or water.

[spectratone]

The size and shape of this room is probably going to be bad for accoustics if the ceiling is flat. Do you have or plan to apply an accoustic (popcorn or textured) material as this will make quite a difference in that echo chamber.

Just a thought.

Popcorn or textured won,t make a any difference what so ever. Popcorn went out in the 80,s.  Insulation in the walls and ceiling will help, the more R value the better. If you really want to bounce the sound down add crown molding. But if you have sloped ceiling don,t bother. Once you start filling up the room with everything that will asorb any echo. Put down carpet. You can always cover it with plastic and a big dropcloth till your finished with the messy work. 

Unless such a room is fully carpeted, draperies and some plush furniture all the insulation buried in the wall or anything dealing with molding will not help the accoustics. Some sound needs to be absorbed rather than reflected off all the smooth surfaces.

the layout should asorb  most of the sound . And Insulation does act as a sound asorber. I work on new construction every day.  Rooms the same size as we,re talking about. slopped ceiling and all. Even with no carpet there is NO echo. 

Sure if you want to believe that. Fine....Insulation behind smooth drywall has no affect on the reflective properties of sound on it's surface. It will muffle any penetration to spaces beyond.

whatever! 

[bogp40]

So Wendel,

Only threw the accoustic thing out there in case this may be of concern. The apparent room size and shape could make enjoying running trains, especially a few sound equipt ones, rather noisey. Now with such a large space, do you plan on a crew lounge( upholstery and carpet). The most offending portion of this room is the "target wall", the tall 14' that the sound will bounce off of. Wall treatment or panels can be added later also.

 You may also look to a style of benchwork that will reduce this amplitude also.

Now all this is only mentioned if the noise would be an issue.

[dante]

Unless someone is sitting with nothing to do, they are unlikely to look up - usually, folks tend to look down.  The same color on the walls and ceiling will make the room seem larger.  If you paint everything blue or bluish and paint clouds on the backdrop, you might find it necessary to paint clouds all over!  Finally, off-whites look exactly that - "off!"  Recommendation: paint everything white-white except for the backdrop itself (extended as high as you are ambitious).  The white will be the correct background for everything and anything you want to emphasize.

Never paint anything white/white, white doesn,t even cover itself. People only paint cheep slum apartments white/white.  

I beg to differ.  White-white is common in many interiors including very expensive residential, commercial and institutional environments for the reasons I stated (and including my own "cheep slum" but modest home).  (I don't claim it is the only solution, mind you, but when in doubt ......)  I speak as an architect with over 50 years' experience with my own and other designers' work.  And quality white paint covers well, though not likely with one coat over unfinished or darker surfaces (not many colors do, for that matter).

 

[Wendel in Kingston]

Let's see if the pictures post.  Again, the room is 14 feet wide by 24 feet long, and has a sloping ceiling that goes from 8 feet high to 14 feet high.

[dante]

The pics confirm my recommendation to do all in white-white.  An alternative - if you want to focus attention only on the railroad as in an exhibition/museum display and treat the room as a stage set - would be to paint all surfaces black or possibly a bottle green (to harmonize with that Great Northern green); then provide lots of downlight on the railroad only. 

Another alternative:  Make the walls your backdrop up to the top of the door trim and paint all that (including door and trim) sky blue.  Above that line, including the ceiling, would be the white-white or black.  By the way, you can install a suspended track lighting system that would hang over the railroad at a uniform, level height, perhaps at the height of the blue-painted wall/backdrop.  And/or you can suspend lights that provide both up and down light.  The uplight reflected off the white ceiling and upper part of the walls will be an overall, soft, diffused ambient light.

Much depends on how you want to present the railroad in the room.  Whatever you do, don't use different colors for walls, ceilings, doors and trim:  much too busy and distracting and they will visually shrink the room!

[mikelhh]

I'd go with a pale and not too gaudy sky blue.  The blue overhead will to a degree influence the colours on the layout, much the same way as the sky above us, giving a slightly better illusion of the layout being outdoors.   

 The ceiling over mine is blue, and night shots look quite good if I shine a spotlight upwards onto it - it reflects blueish light downwards and looks a lot like moonlight.

 

 Mike 

[reklein]

Kingston, Nice room!!!. I think I'd just paint it a nice white maybe very light blue for cool overtones or maybe very light yellow to give warm overtones. I'd definetly(sp?) cove the corners as it makes the scenery less finite. With corners the scenery stops then begins again.I think sound mitigation is overrated,but after your bench work is in ,a curtain on the front of it may help. You may want to consider a drop ceiling with  fluoresscent lighting lighting recessed into t. Dr Wayne does very good photography with only fluorescents as the new digital cameras adjust for them. The drop ceiling may help with sound problems also if you design your layout with backdrops or geographical features that define scenes may help with sound. Getting back to the painting problem If you're going to do eastern WA,you may want to go with the warmer white and for western WA go with the cooler colors or even gray.