DIY Home Theater Screen (with Pictures)

Here's a home theater screen that's safe for apartments and walls that you don't want to ruin:

It uses 3m Command Interlocking Strips stapled to the fabric, but attached to the wall as expected:

I tried using nails before, but it didn't work very well and I moved into a place where they were happy to have a home theater, but not keen on any nails in the wall. Now there are no wrinkles in the fabric and it looks perfect.

Shopping List

Carl's Projector Screen Cloth folded, rolled, or high-contrast (for brighter rooms)
5 (or 6) packs of 3m Command Strips
Carl's Contrast-Boosting Black Felt Tape
Stapler or other Stapler

Optional

The Best Projector Ever Made (2013 version)
Projector Mount (it's a tight fit for the Optoma, but it works)
Dry-wall screw/anchor combo (not included with projector mount) 4-pack or 20-pack (for your other projects too)
Eclipse Blackout Curtains (block 99% of light)

Instructions

Don't try to put up the whole screen all at once - get the top corners, then take it back down to do the rest while the strips "set".

Staple the command strips to the top corners (with adhesive exposed)
Attach the paired strips to the stapled strips
Expose the adhesive
Have two friends help put it up:

one should grab the other corner
have the other help you eye-ball a straight, centered location for the screen
Attach to the wall (pull taught) and press on the strips for 30 seconds

Remove the screen from the wall
Attach many more command strips (corners and middles)
Have a friend help attach to the wall again (pull taught)
Set the projector (be sure to use a 16:9 projection, not anamorphic) and apply the black felt tape.

If there are wrinkles, put more command strips in the areas that will help pull the screen taught (but not too tight) in those areas.

I found that 5 strips on the top, 4 on each side, and 7 on the bottom (extras near the corners) did it for me.

Don't pull the screen too tight or the strips will come off.

Don't leave the taught screen up right away, give the wall-facing strips time to set.

Yay

Mario Kart 8 never looked so good!

By AJ ONeal

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(you can learn about the bigger picture I'm working towards on my patreon page )