When setting up a projector for a true home theater, you’ll need a place to display the movies. A plain wall might be fine, but a screen can take the experience to the next level. You have two main options for a standalone screen: gray and white. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and which one you choose will depend on your hardware, your room, and the kind of image you want.

Gray projection screens are a newer technology, first appearing on the market in 2001. The main advantage of a gray screen over a white screen is that the darker color absorbs more light. This property creates better contrast (the difference between white and black) in the image. Black projected on gray will also be less bright than on white, making the darker colors darker and creating a better image under most conditions.

Which leads to the other major benefit of a gray screen: in general, it’s easier to get a great image with a gray screen. The screen’s ability to capture more light doesn’t just apply to your projector’s beam. It also reflects less light into your room. You don’t have to worry about turning off all the lights or ceiling lights or investing in blackout curtains to keep sunlight from interfering with your image. The screen is immune to other sources, and you’ll get a great image even if the room isn’t completely dark.

White screens are generally more available and easier to find than gray. That’s not to say gray is hard to find, but more companies are making white screens, so you probably have more options.