This is what can be achieved by playing with the template files

http://enemyinfantry.com/~you/testforum/forum/

On my test forum I've been messing about with the css.

One property which worked really well was the use of transparency on the #content tag in the style.css file.

Cutting down on the clutter around the forum gave it a clean look, I did this by deleting parts of main.tlp. This removed the parts at the bottom and removed the options to change the view of the forum, forcing it to be table view.

Changing the posting subtemplate reduced the amount of clutter around the posting box, the forum now has only the Name, Subject and Message field. All but the upload button are gone since the others aren't a needed.

The test site might not look like much, it's still a bit messy. The actual forum is a bit tidier.

Non-test forum found at www.enemyinfantry.com

This all shows how much you can change just by playing with the files.

For my next bit I plan to move the posting box thing to the top of all pages.