What can you do to dress up a home theater if you are renting your home?

[shark420]

I have a basement with a home theater but since I am renting I really can't do alot as far as going all out. I do have quite a few movie posters framed up on the back wall in an odd shaped area but again can't do alot. Don't get me wrong I do like what I have acomplished over the last 2-3 years but it just seems to missing that WOW factor, at least in my opinion. I hope to post some pics in the near future. Just curious to see what others have done with limited options available to them, I am sure there are many in the same boat as I am.

[Beta Man]

I'm not in the same boat as you........

But in the past I've been in the same situation, and from my experience, my best advice is to just forfeit any chance you have of ever seeing your security deposit again, and have fun

[shark420]

i'd go for that in a heartbeat, but the misses might have a few words to say about that.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by shark420

i'd go for that in a heartbeat, but the misses might have a few words to say about that.

You're up against MULTIPLE forces!!!!! If you can swing a hammer and paint..... pretty much anything you do, can be "un-done"

[Travis]

Can you hang some pictures?

If so, go to allposters or amazon and get some posters. Have them framed (don't just tape them up). A few spaced out look nice. My posters are in my office not living room, wife.

Box up current curtains or blinds, don't throw away, and hang up some thick theater-like ones. I wanted crushed red-velvet, but my wife said no. We got green, and not velvet. When the lights are out and movie is on it's fine. Nice curtains really add to a room.

Change lightbulbs, and/or add dimmer switch, if you can put everything back before you leave, good as new, no one should know.

I know some landlords are nuts. If people live in a place, it will get lived in, scuff marks here and there or even a scratch. %$it happens. I love how they can pass the responsibilty on to the tenant, who doesn't own the place, and take money from your deposit, which should just cover damage caused from stupid behavior (like playing baseball inside), not wear and tear.

[JJ]

Hell, I rent. Then again, until I graduate from grad school, and get my career firmly on solid ground, I will continue to rent. Been living at this house for 2 years now, almost.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Hell, I rent. Then again, until I graduate from grad school, and get my career firmly on solid ground, I will continue to rent. Been living at this house for 2 years now, almost.

That's a house? It looks like an apartment.

[Jbald87]

Have you talked to your land lord? They might let you go for it if you save all the reciepts and what not for things that you put in walls that are allowed in your area (building code stuff) and if it looks nice it all works great and the land lords sells the house they might get a few extra bucks out of the High Def connections in the basement.

Then again if they are crazy my friends land lord you swing a hammer you dont get your deposit back.

[Grevlin]

One way to really make it look like a proper HT is acoustic treatments. Instead of mounting them semi-permanently, you could mount them on thin boards or frames and hang them like paintings. (Metal wire strung across treatment hanging on little wall hook with one nail in it) I would suggest foam/felt feet or tabs along back to prevent vibrating sounds with heavy bass.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by HAMP

That's a house? It looks like an apartment.

lol - the house in itself is huge - I have a big kitchen, a game room with pool table, a big front covered terrace, a back solarium, a basketball court, big backyard, 3 BR/2 BT, and an efficiency on the side, and enough parking space out front for like 15 cars, with my own VIP covered spot,

But the living room is what you can see my HT in.

Suits us 3 college kids living here, for the price and the perfect location.

[Grevlin]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

lol - the house in itself is huge - I have a big kitchen, a game room with pool table, a big front covered terrace, a back solarium, a basketball court, big backyard, 3 BR/2 BT, and an efficiency on the side, and enough parking space out front for like 15 cars, with my own VIP covered spot,

But the living room is what you can see my HT in.

Suits us 3 college kids living here, for the price and the perfect location.

When is you next house party?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Grevlin

When is you next house party?

Hahaha, the house party RIP'd at my house on September, 2008 - once I put all the HT stuff in my house, I said "aw hell naw" to any future house parties. But I live with perfect neighbors and the cops here don't bother me - heck, I rented the house solely because it was the perfect party house...but now, alas, now its my fortress, The most that happens here is now is pre-gaming before the club, and I usually max that out at 10-12 people...hence the crazy lighting, I like creating the same atmosphere.