Landscape Lighting: Let There Be Light

Landscape Lighting: Let There Be Light

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Category : Home Renovation

No matter how well you planned your indoors and outdoors, the whole landscape design can completely fall apart if you didn’t include lighting in the planning process. When night falls and it’s time to turn on the lights, displeasure may set in when you find out that the fixtures you had placed are not highlighting the best features of your house and garden. From a soft glow of light along a pathway to a warmly lit patio, we all want our property to look mesmerizing to any passersby. Indeed, attention to even the smallest details can help create a sense of welcome and make your property stand out from the crowd.

Outdoor lightings are also commonly used for decorative purposes during the holiday season, such as for Halloween and Christmas. Regardless of when they are used, you have to make sure that your house, family, pets, and guests are safe from any electrical hazard. From the lights, the power cords and the controls, everything has to be done with safety as a priority. And this means no skimping on equipment and installation. Whether temporary or permanent, everything has to be up to code, including your contractor. The contractor has to be adequately qualified and respect all necessary guidelines.

Doing Outdoor Lighting the Safe Way

1. Use the right type of light bulbs

For longer-lasting light bulbs and ease of replacement, it would be advisable to use only outdoor-rated light bulbs. Even if you want to use LEDs, they should be outdoor rated.

2. Be careful when using decorative lights

Whether you are hanging some lighted pumpkins or icicles on your eaves, make sure that they are labeled for outdoor use. Ensure that nothing damages the wires of the temporary lighting strings and ornaments. You might want to avoid any ornament made with metal since metal is a conductor of electricity.

3. Weather-resistant receptacles are the way to go

Despite the special outdoors covers, the outdoor receptacles you have installed must be weather-resistant. They need to be able impervious to dampness, freezing, and heat for them to be truly safe.

4. Consider getting covers for damp and wet locations

Whether the outdoor receptacle is on your porch or your screened-in patio or in the open, you want to make sure it’s protected. If it’s covered by a roof you can choose to get a “trap door” cover that is suitable for damp locations, and if it isn’t under a roof get an “in-use” cover that will keep the receptacle​ and the plug dry.

Things to Take into Consideration When Planning

Outdoor spot or accent lighting fixtures are most commonly used to highlight the landscape design of homes. Whether you want to accent gorgeous towering trees, classical statuary or other striking elements in your garden, the perfect fixture, and bulb placed in just the right place can create the perfect effect. In addition to considering in-ground or well lights for trees, you can also take the following into account:

1. Creating safer walkways

Using outdoor lighting, you can not only make the walkways safer but can also make your guests feel very welcome. As with everything else associated with interior and exterior décor, there is a wide range of pathway lighting you can choose from. Whatever you choose, you want to make sure that they fit the style of your house and that they are not placed too close to each other.

2. Saving energy

In addition to protecting the environment, you may want to lower your energy bills. And what better way than to get solar lights? Solar path lights installed into the ground alongside a walkway or solar string lights hung over an outdoor area can gently illuminate the path or provide a warm ambient glow without heavily impacting your monthly bills.

3. Concealing unsightly fixtures

Although outdoor lights are meant to amp the look of your house, unattractive fixtures can easily mar the whole style. You can try using landscaping rocks to hide the fixtures so the lighting blends seamlessly with your outdoor environment.

Designs You Might Want to Consider

There are a lot of designs you can choose from:

1. Floodlights

Floodlights are perfect for large areas. Versatile, they can illuminate an entire area with just a flick of a button.

2. Star Floors

These are essentially lighting that run inconspicuously through the wooden floors of decks and patios. The flexible cables can be installed in the floor and will create a unique floor that has subdued, but mesmerizing, light.

3. String Lights

String lights are an easy, affordable way of enhancing the ambiance of your patio or courtyard. Draped from the ceiling or to the railings, string lights can easily complement your garden furniture and turn it into an enchanting oasis.

4. Twinkling Lighting

Twinkling lights can add mystery to an area or create a playful mystery. You can also get them installed around your pool if you have one.

5 Ways to Decorate Around and Above Ground Pool

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Category : Home Improvement

Have you recently added a pool to your home and you are thinking of decorating it? Well, when adding a pool or shopping for a pool, then you have to focus on how the pool will look once it’s decorated. Above-ground pools boast a ton of positives (budget-friendly, easier to keep clean), they simply aren’t as aesthetically pleasing as their in-ground counterparts. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be! Whether you’re searching for ways to spruce up your current pool’s look or are on the hunt for inspiration before you buy, we’ve got you covered with eye-catching design ideas to fit any size budget or backyard.

1. In-Pool Chaise – Create the perfect place to lounge in or out of the water. The chaise loungers are made from nearly indestructible polyethylene which is UV16 resistant for 16,000 hours. These are easy to clean and adjustable in any area of your pool. These chairs are designed to create perfect outdoor spaces for entertaining and relaxation.

2. Shade Sail – If you don’t want the pergola to take up space, then consider a shade sail! They are durable, UV-blocking, and very affordable. The shade sail is ideal if you don’t want to lounge in the sun. These shades can be embellished with ribbon and sisal. The shade sail does not obstruct the view and does not take up space. It gives a bohemian air around the pool. Think outside the box and dare a totally exotic decor around the pool!

3. Use decorative stones – Decorative stones determine the space between the pool and the relaxation area. If you want them to evoke the beach, sunbathing, and summer then sprinkle them around the pool to create a Zen space. You can use decorative stones and gravels to make around the pool more versatile.

4. Go for beautiful garden furniture – During summer, you will spend more hours on the edge of your pool than inside of your home. That is why it is important to decorate your garden and around your pool. Even though, you are looking for comfort then blend your garden with elegant furniture. Choose colors that will match the garden and the deck around the pool.

5. Install a large pergola – Even though shade sail is trendy, pergolas haven’t lost their charm and they are in demand even now. If you want a long term decoration, then go for pergola as it has a charm of its own and it doe not deter with time. The pergola near the pool creates a nice and relaxing space in which you can install sunbathing chairs and sofas. Add a shade if you don’t like the afternoon sun.

How Feng Shui affects your bedroom?

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Category : Home Improvement

Ancient Chinese art of arranging living spaces, Feng Shui is based on the same principles as alternative medicine therapies. The point of Feng Shui is to maximize energy or life force in the environment for utmost safety and productivity. Feng Shui also strengthens the bond between a couple and attract love as well as boost your sleep pattern. So here are some tips for improving the Feng Shui in your bedroom.

  • Start with your bed – Placing your bed in an ideal position that is in front of the door, a close view of the door gives a sense of safety and helps in relaxation and sleep. The ‘foot’ of the bed should not point towards the door as this position is known as the “coffin”. If it can’t be avoided, then place a foot-board, high bench, or a table at the foot of the bed. It acts as a buffer and does not block the view of the door. The head of the bed should be against a wall. But be careful not place a bed under a window as it causes restless sleep.
  • Remove all electronics – Television, exercise gear, or a workspace in a bedroom changes the meaning of bedroom as it symbolizes wakefulness and consumes energy. If you have no option, then it is better to hide such items. You can place the TV in a cabinet or neatly cover it with a cloth.
  • Clear clutter – According to Feng Shui, clutter is more distracting than mess as it can block the flow of qi, disturb sleep, and prevent things in your life from moving forward. Remember that neatness is also for places that you can’t see. Remember, don’t use the space under your bed and always keep the inside of your closet tidy. It is important to close your closet door at night. Also, don’t pile books on top of your nightstand or dresser.
  • Feng Shui color balance – To have a good Feng Shui balance, remember to use soothing colors. A balanced décor promotes the best flow of energy for restorative sleep as well as sexual healing. Choose colors from pale white to rich chocolate brown that will work best for your bedroom décor.
  • Relocate mirrors – According to Feng Shui, if you are not sleeping well the real culprit is the mirror. Mirrors are thought to bounce energy around the bedroom which may result in restlessness and increases worries. It is also cautioned not to hang a mirror on the wall opposite your bed.
  • Artwork according to Feng Shui – If you are planning to hang any images that are inspirational, uplifting or relaxing, then the best place is on the wall opposite your bed as it would be one of the first things that you see when you wake up.

So now let Feng Shui be part of your life!

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