How to Decorate With a Cinema Theme

Paint your walls a color based on your theme. A film noir theme may feature white or gray walls; if you love the look of old Technicolor, try muted aqua walls in a semigloss finish. Deep red walls will convey a movie theater mood, while pale pink will conjure the elegance of classic French cinema.

Install furniture that evokes the mood of your theme. Film noir might feature simple black pieces, such as a modern black leather couch with matching chairs, or a sofa outfitted with a white slipcover, embellished with black, gray and white pillows. For Technicolor, midcentury pieces and furniture in muted shades of red, yellow and green will pop against colorful walls. Velvet-covered furniture or Art Deco pieces create visions of classic movie theaters. Carved, wooden vintage pieces upholstered in pale, shiny fabrics will bring a French theme to life.

Incorporate lighting that pulls your theme together. Film noir lighting will be shadowy and moody; use canned lights that sit on the floor and point upward. Technicolor lighting will be bright; use floor lamps with colorful shades and overhead lighting that illuminates the whole room. Use fringed floor lamps and recessed overhead lighting on a dimmer switch for a movie theater theme. Lamps covered in pale pink shades will provide the soft, glowing light reminiscent of French cinema.

Accessorize your room according to your theme. Black and white paintings or photographs in ornate black frames will evoke the mood of film noir. Use colorful artwork and bold knickknacks for a Technicolor theme. Oversized, framed movie posters or lobby cards will bring a movie theater theme to life. For French cinema, use vintage and antique knickknacks, such as perfume bottles and vases, along with artwork in ornate gold frames.