How to Make a Projector Bigger

Modern home theaters equipped with projectors have the ability to project stunning, life-sized images on screens measuring 120 inches or more. However, depending on the distance between the projector and the screen, it may become necessary to make the projected image bigger. Using the digital zoom feature of these projectors allows the image to be custom-fit to the screen as needed, allowing more placement flexibility.

Turn on the projector using the device's remote control. Allow a few seconds for the projector to warm up.

Examine the projected image to determine the amount of blank space between the projected image and the edges of the screen.

Press the "Zoom +/-" buttons on the remote control. Observe the image as it becomes larger and smaller.

Press the zoom button to enlarge the image, leaving no space between the edges of the screen and the image itself.

Fine-tune the zoom as needed by manually rotating the ring on the front of the projector, if possible. Note that smaller projectors may not have this ability.

Tips

- Use a screen with a light-absorbing material around the edges, such as Velux or other velvet-like material. This allows you to slightly overscan the image, completely eliminating any gaps between the edges of the projected image and the screen border.

How to Make a Bedroom Bigger on a Single Wide Trailer

If you're living in a single wide trailer, the condensed space can be frustrating. You may feel that your bedroom is so full of furniture that there isn't much open space left, which can leave you with a claustrophobic feeling. Even though you're working with a small amount of space, there are things that can be done to open up the room a bit and make it seem bigger and less confining. Does this Spark an idea?

Paint the bedroom. Skip the dark shades, and opt for lighter tones. Light colors such as pale blue, cool green, white and yellow are good choices for a small room. These colors will open up the room and make it seem a little larger.

Push your bed against the wall. This will create more open space in the room itself. Alternately, place the bed at an angle, which will also leave some open areas in the room. Don't put furniture in the middle of the room. This just breaks the room up and makes it look overcrowded.

Decorate with purpose. Add an eye-catching chandelier or light fixture to the ceiling to draw the eye and create visual interest, or hang an interesting piece of art on the wall to provide a focal point. Hang a mirror or two in the bedroom, which creates an illusion of more space.

Choose furniture that works overtime. Instead of having a separate desk, dresser and nightstand, pick a piece that can work as a nighstand and a desk, or a dresser and a nightstand. Furniture that can be useful in two or more ways will free up space in the bedroom.

How to Make a Foyer Appear Bigger in a Split Foyer

A split foyer house features a small foyer that has a staircase leading to the lower and upper floors of the house. Since the foyer is often small and cramped, many homeowners find it a challenge to increase the perceived size of the room. No matter how small your foyer, there are several things you can do make it appear larger. Does this Spark an idea?

Visually enlarge the foyer by using light-colored paint on the walls leading to the lower and upper floors. Light colors give off the illusion of more space. The continuity of color above and below the foyer will lead the eye to the larger, more open spaces beyond the foyer and give it a more spacious feeling.

Hang a mirror on the wall leading to the upper or lower floor or both. If you have a door blocking entryway to the lower floor, place the mirror on the door. Mirrors add depth to a room and also reflect light, enlarging a person’s perception of the foyer.

Remove any doors blocking the bottom level. The door has an enormous impact on the perceived size of the foyer. Removing the door makes the foyer seem larger. If you have children or pets you want to prevent from accessing the lower level, place a gate in the doorway; it will be less noticeable than a door.

Install ceiling or wall lights. Lamps take up vital floor space, especially in a small split foyer. Also, lights placed on the wall or ceiling will reflect off of the wall and floor, giving a larger feel to the area.

Place a small vertical shoe rack next to the door to keep shoes off the floor. Shoes can quickly overtake a small foyer, especially if you have a large family. An uncluttered floor will give the illusion of more space.

Tricks to Making a Small Window Look Bigger

Small windows can make a room feel closed off and dark. If one of your windows is smaller than the others, your room can appear off-balance. But replacing your small window may not be in your budget, or even possible, if you're renting. You can still make the most of your windows. Decorating tricks can make your small window look bigger. Does this Spark an idea?

Color

Items the same color blend together. If you paint your window frame the same color as your walls and hang a shade or blinds that are also the same color, your small window becomes less noticeable and can appear larger than it is. Your eye will extend the window into the same-colored walls.

Design

If you have a narrow window you want to appear wider, use a window treatment with horizontal stripes. Choose a simple shade or blinds and extend the window covering past the trim on either side of the window. The stripes will make the window look wider.

Valances

If the problem is a window that starts too low on the wall, make your window look taller by building a valance. Make a wooden valance that starts at the point you wish the window began — perhaps the same height as other windows in the room. Extend the valance down past the real point where the window begins. Your valance can be as deep as 12 to 18 inches. This is a good way to make all the windows in the room appear to be the same height.

Drapes

Use drapery panels to both widen and lengthen the appearance of your window. Extend the drapery rod past the sides of the window frame and hang wide drapery panels. Use floor-to-ceiling drapes on all windows in the room, regardless of size, to make them all appear to be the same size.

How to Make Steep Stairs Bigger

Building codes typically require that stair treads be within 3/4 inch of 10 inches wide. This includes the recommended 3/4- to 1 1/4-inch overhang. If your treads are 10 inches wide and do not overhang, you can add a 1 1/4-inch overhang by replacing them with treads made from 1-by-12s that are actually 11 1/4 inches wide. Replacing the staircase with wider treads will result in longer, less steep stairs. That may be a problem if your stairs need to be steep in order to fit in a small space. Does this Spark an idea?

Replace Treads

Measure your treads. If they have overhang you can remove them and install treads that have an overhang of up to 1 1/4 inches.

If you have 10-inch treads with no overhang, cut 1-by-12s the width of your staircase. It should be at least 3 feet wide. If you want more attractive stairs for the interior of your house, use hardwood.

Use your hammer to remove old treads as you replace them.

Install treads with construction glue and three finishing nails. Space nails 1 inch from each side of the tread and one in the middle. Fill the nail holes with wood filler.

Measure New Stairs

Divide the height the stairs reach by 7 ½, the recommended height of risers in inches. If you use the recommended 10-inch treads, calculate how many steps you need for a staircase slope of 34 to 37 degrees. Wider treads mean longer stairs.

Use your hammer and crowbar to remove the old stairs.

Use a pencil, carpenter’s square and saw to outline and cut a model of where the treads and risers will fit on a 2-by-12 riser. Ten-inch treads should sit on a 10 3/8-inch wide shelf; 7 ½-inch risers should fit against a 7 5/8-inch vertical support. The floor will be your first tread and the wall will be your last riser. Since they are both 3/4 inch thick, leave the bottom riser and the top tread ¾ inch short.

Cut Components

Using the model, pencil and saw, cut the places where the treads and risers will fit on three 2-by-12s.

If you want a finish with a veneer to match hardwood treads, use cardboard to make a model of the stringers you have just cut.

Cut your treads to the correct width. If they are made of hardwood, sand and apply polyurethane finish. Let them dry for one or two days.

Cut the risers from 1-by-8s to match the width of your stairs. Since risers should be 1/4 inch less than the height of the steps, 1-by-8s are ideal. They are actually 7 1/4 inches wide.

Measure and cut a 2-by-4 to support the stringers at the top of the stairs. Cut the support the same width as the stairs.

Cut the tops of the stringers so the wall will serve as the uppermost riser when they rest on the support.

Install New Stairs

Secure the stringers to the support with glue and two common nails for each stringer.

Place the support at the top of the wall and secure it to the studs with construction glue and two common nails.

Install the risers and treads, working one step at a time from the bottom of the stairs to the top. Install the riser then the tread on each step. Use construction glue and three finishing nails on each riser, one in the middle and two spaced 1 inch from the top and bottom. Install treads flush against the bottoms of the risers. Use construction glue and three finishing nails on each tread, one in the middle and two spaced 1 inch from each side. Apply wood filler to the nail holes.

How to Make Your Hearth Bigger

The hearth encompasses the area in front of your fireplace or stove. Although the hearth is usually decorative to add to the fireplace, it's also preventative. Fireplaces and wood stoves put out a lot of heat; the hearth consists of nonflammable materials to absorb the heat and protect your flooring and structure. Your fireplace or stove should recommend a specific R-value for the hearth material, or it may simply recommend what products to use to build your hearth to protect wood subfloors and joists. If you're building over a concrete slab, the hearth is strictly for aesthetic purposes and you can simply extend it. Does this Spark an idea?

Find the minimum size acceptable for your hearth. The typical in-front-of-door measurement is 18 inches, but a wood stove requires acceptable distances around the stove on all sides. The bigger the hearth, the safer it is.

Measure and mark out this distance from the front of your fireplace or around your stove. Use a pencil to do the markings on hard floors or a washable marker to mark carpet.

Cut out the flooring where you've marked. Depending on the flooring surface, this may require a saw or utility knife. For hardwood or laminate planks, a pry bar may do the trick without any cutting needed. Do not damage the subfloor.

Clean the exposed subfloor by sweeping it and removing any debris, staples or other items that make the floor uneven. These items can damage tile or other floor materials and result in a defective hearth.

Install the recommended R-value subfloor in the area you are expanding the hearth if you are not installing over a concrete subfloor. Depending on the product, it may be installed using a mastic, nails, screws or another adhesive product. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Install your hearth material in the area. Again, this will vary based on the type of product you are installing. Tile and stone are the most common; follow the manufacturer's guidelines for installing the product in the hearth area.

Finish the hearth with wood trim if you are installing against a wood or laminate floor. You can also install the floor directly up against the hearth; trim and molding simply adds another decorative touch and hides the gaps.

How to Make an Interior Doorway Bigger

Enlarging an interior doorway can make it easier to move furniture and other large objects between the rooms of your home. It can also improve the aesthetics of your interior space by giving your living area a more open feel. Enlarging a doorway is an extensive process that may take two or three weekends to complete. However, as long as the wall does not support the weight of the home's structure, you can complete this task using common carpentry supplies and tools. Does this Spark an idea?

Check the position of the wall to determine whether it runs perpendicular to the floor joists -- if it does, the wall may be load-bearing. Contact a building inspector or contractor if you are not sure whether the wall is load-bearing. Enlarging a doorway in a load-bearing wall may compromise the home's structure.

Mark the measurements of the enlarged doorway on both sides of the existing doorway using a measuring tape and a pencil. Snap a vertical chalk line at these marks to create the new doorway outline. Check both sides of the doorway to ensure that the project does not involve moving wires, light switches or electrical outlets.

Locate the studs on both sides of the existing doorway with a stud finder. If there is a stud behind one of the marks, you need to move the mark so that you do not cut through the stud while removing the drywall.

Cut the drywall along both lines on both sides of the wall with a drywall saw, starting about 2 inches from the top and ending about 2 inches from the bottom. Break the drywall on both sides of the existing doorway with a sledgehammer and remove the drywall with a pry bar.

Cut the soleplate of the wall frame along the expanded wall outline on each side using a reciprocating saw. Cut through the nails that attach the studs to the top plate. Remove the studs from the doorway with a pry bar.

Measure the interior distance between the top plate and the soleplate. Cut two sections of 2-by-4-inch lumber to this measurement to form the door studs. Stand one stud on each side of the doorway, so the exposed side of the stud is flush with the drywall cutout. Drive 4-inch wood screws through the studs and into the plates at 45-degree angles using a drill outfitted with a screwdriver bit.

Cut a section of 2-by-4-inch lumber to the distance between the new door studs to form the door header. Place this section horizontally between the studs, at least 84 inches from the floor. Attach the header to the studs with 4-inch wood screws driven at 45-degree angles.

Measure the interior distance between the header and the top plate. Cut one section of 2-by-4-inch lumber to this measurement for each 16 inches of door width. Stand these sections between the top plate and the header at 16-inch intervals. Drive 4-inch wood screws through these sections into the header and top plate at 45-degree angles.

Cut two sections of drywall to the height and width of the exposed area above the doorway, one for each side of the wall, using a drywall saw. Cut additional sections to fit the sides and top of the doorway. Attach these sections to the studs with 2-inch drywall screws at 4-inch intervals.

Apply drywall compound over the corners, seams and screw heads with a 4-inch putty knife. Cover the seams and corners with drywall tape. Allow the compound to dry overnight. Sand the compound and tape edges with a palm sander and paint the wall as desired.

What Kind of Shirts Look Best With a Bigger Chest?

Different styles of shirts typically compliment women differently depending on their natural features. Find out what kind of shirts look best with a bigger chest with help from an image expert, author and speaker in this free video clip.

Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Sarah Shah, image expert and author of Dress Yourself Skinny. The book that teaches you how to dress the body you have to look like the body you want. And today, I'm here at Tweak Style Boutique in Houston, Texas to answer the question what kind of shirts look best with a bigger chest? Well, here are a couple examples. First, look for necklines that are high and cover all your cleavage. Most people who have a bigger chest want to minimize their chest. Or look for tops that have a very flat and dark and simple neckline. That's very minimizing. And finally, you can look for shirts that have details that are up and away from the bust line. So this collar has a really nice detail inside or here on the sleeve. And when you're choosing accessories, put them up and away from your bust line. So earrings or choker style necklaces work really well. So those are the shirts that work best when you have a bigger chest. I'm Sarah Shah, and thanks for watching.

How to Apply Mascara to Make Eyes Look Big

You can apply mascara in a number of different ways to actually change the appearance of your natural features. Apply mascara to make your eyes look big with help from a makeup artist and industry expert in this free video clip.

Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Christina Farrell of themakeupblogger.com, and today's trick is how to use mascara to make your eyes look bigger. The first trick is you don't use just one mascara. And that way you are are going to really get the benefit of both formulas. Another trick is when you are applying mascara you want to pull your eye as taut as possible. That's really going to give you the firm hold that you need to apply the mascara. So the first trick is to start with your lengthening mascara. You want to get a firm grip on your eyes so that they're very taut. And lift up a little bit. Start at the base and wiggle upwards. What this does is to create a really nice deep base at your lashes. As you can see they are already very dark and deep. The next trick is to go with your thickening mascara. And this is where you really kind of get that false lash look that everyone is wanting right now. Once again you are going to do the eye really tightly, lifting up, holding it firmly and squiggling up. As you can see the eyes are really deep. The color is rich and you have the length and the thickness . So remember find your favorite brand of mascara and get one in lengthening and thickening formula. And then you will have the best eyelashes around. This is Christina Farrell with The Makeup Blogger giving you the tip of how to use mascara that will help you make your eyes look bigger.

How Do I Make Eyes Look Less Puffy?

One of the best things to use to prevent puffy looking eyes are green tea bags. Make eyes look less puffy with help from the Beauty Director at Anisa International in this free video clip.

Video Transcript

Hi there, Shana King, senior director of beauty and education for Anisa International, and we all like to fake a good night's sleep so I want to give you some tips that you can use at home to really help prevent those puffy looking eyes. One of my favorite things to use are green tea bags. Now you simply soak them in cold water. You can even put them in the fridge or freezer for a little bit just to get that extra you know, circulation and that extra boost of cold. You know, rinse out any excess water. Of course make sure that you are removing any of the paper because you don't want to irritate your eye and if you have 15 minutes to chill out, simply place each tea bag over each eye, lie flat for like 15 minutes. You'll really notice that it will tighten and firm the skin underneath the eye area, a great option, also takes away from redness and irritation which is awesome too. I also love eye gel. Eye gel really tightens and firms the skin under your eye area. A great trick, try keeping it in the fridge. Wake up in the morning, run downstairs in your kitchen, simply dab it to the eye area with your fingers or even using a concealer brush and let it dry for 30 minutes and you'll really notice a difference. I also keep my concealer brush and this may sound crazy but I keep it in the fridge too because I find when I apply my concealer, it really stimulates and circulates and helps soothe any red irritated skin. My name is Shana King, senior director of beauty and education for Anisa International and I am helping you de-puff your eyes just a little bit.