Picture This

If you find yourself looking at photos of yourself and shuddering at your frightfully pale face or dark features, it may be time to learn how to use lighting to your advantage while taking pictures. Many people have strikingly beautiful friends who just do not have good pictures. Lighting can help you capture that one awesome picture they have been yearning for.

One tip for the best lighting is to remember that natural lighting makes for the best photos. If you live in a rainy area that is always gloomy and dark, mimic the bright sun with a low-level bulb that provides brightness without a harsh glare. In low light conditions it is best to turn off your camera's flash. The flash washes out all of the rich colors and leaves you with the pale zombie look. Practice at home with your camera's settings and using different lamps or bulbs to make the perfect setting for photos. Have fun at your photo shoot!

Bright Lights, Bright Minds

Did you know that there is a direct correlation between learning and lighting? Apparently, according to a 1999 University of Georgia study on achievement in children, lighting has shown to have a significant effect on children's ability to focus. It was seen that students who attended class in a room that was brightly lit earned higher scores than students who learned in dim classrooms. The study reported that low lighting was not damaging, but it reduced the amount a child's brain could collect information. It was seen that if a child had a pattern of learning in a low-lit environment, their brains would steadily become slower at absorbing new information.

So do yourself and your children a favor when planning out rooms that will be used to study or do homework and focus on having bright lighting. Bright lamps on desks and overhead can greatly increase a brain's activity and ability to absorb, so choose your lighting accordingly.

Cozy and Warm

Cozy and warm is how everyone wants to stay now that the weather has turned cooler. Armed with fuzzy socks and a throw blanket, we all expect a chill this time of year. One easy way to maintain your warm and comfortable feeling year round without having to lug around all sorts of warming gear is simply by firing up the old chimney. The perfect place to lounge in front of and bask in its heat, a chimney brings on the holiday season like nothing else. More than just a place to hang stockings, it is the ultimate winter home accessory.

Maintain your level of comfort and keep safe with a fireplace screen. Perfect for guarding your carpet from sparks and a wonderful accessory for any room, a fireplace screen comes in vintage styles that evoke images of the traditional homes of the last century. Find one that suits your home!

Holiday Decor 101

It is that jolly time of the year again! Fun times and hopefully family filled events are in every one's plans for the month of December. Now is the time to kick the decorating into high gear, so brush off that Thanksgiving stress, and get ready to spread some joy. Whether you decorate a Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush, December brings a great deal of fun. Make your home festive with twinkling lights and holiday decor! With so few times a year to spread some cheer, your home can be the house on the block that will have everyone in awe. 

Decorating the exterior of the home is a cinch with some festive string lights and some colored bulbs. Easy to hang, these lights make a huge impact when they follow your roof line and any other structures. Wrap some around trees and over shrubbery to create a vision of twinkling lights. Exchange your typical white bulbs for colorful bulbs that will bathe your home in festive lights. Enjoy getting into a cheerful, holiday mood with fun decorations that can involve the whole family!

All Work and No Play

All work and no play can zap you of every ounce of energy you may have. Let's face it, being a serious and responsible working adult is exhausting. Stuck inside for most of the day and living off too much coffee can make you feel like you need to nap through next week. How to wake up up and give yourself a kick without the Red Bull? Brighten up the lighting around you. Turn on those lamps and scare those dark shadows from your cubicles and from under your eyes.

Bright lighting has been known to give people that extra oomph to get them through the day. Regardless if your light source is artificial or coming directly from the happy sun, we need lighting to give us energy. So brighten up your office space with an easy lamp that you brought from home or have someone finally change out the bulbs over your desk. Either way get your energy levels up with brighter light that is sure to get you moving again.

Goodnight Lights

Nightlights are the comforting force that drives many children to bed. Packed with a safety blanket and the knowledge that they can be prepared to attack any monsters that may be lurking under the bed, nightlights help make the nighttime less of a time for battles and more of a time for dreams. Plug-in nightlights are easy to use, but can be a bit of an eyesore. Lamps can be used with a low wattage bulb to create the same effect as a nightlight and be used in conjunction with a light switch to be easily shut off when the parents feel the monsters have retired for the night as well.

Some lamps are available in designs that children will go bonkers for such as airplanes, princesses, etc. Choose one that is sure to bring fond memories and perhaps be taken with them to college to remember the love of their parents.

So Shady

Lamp shades do more than just add pizzazz to your room, they also change the look of the light itself. Shades come in just about every color, shape, and texture you can think of. So plan out the effect you would like this fixture to give off in your soon to be fabulous room. Thinner textured shades, some made from natural plant fibers, give off a warm light that not only shines from underneath the shade, but also through it. Other shades, such as those in dark hues, create a more funneled lighting effect that is more severe and contemporary.

With so many styles to choose from, it will be hard to not change the look of your room every week. Burlap lamp shades create a look that is both natural, yet chic. Be creative and discover the many lamp shades available. With such a plethora of products available, it is important to have a strong sense of what room design you have in mind.

Bulb Safety

Fluorescent light bulbs can be very dangerous to handle. Most of these bulbs contain around 5 mg of mercury vapor within them. Mercury in any form is toxic and if you are exposed to it, you may be subject to some severe side effects. Neuromuscular changes, nerve response changes, and even death have been seen to happen due to exposure. Stay safe by applying some easy household rules in case of a mercury accident.

If you find that a bulb is no longer needed or is no longer usable, recycle. Take it to a recycling facility that knows how to properly dispose of these bulbs and reduce the risk of mercury exposure. Another important tip to remember is that they should be kept away from children, let your children know that these bulbs are only to be used/changed by adults. If a bulb does break or begin to leak, immediately open a window and quickly vacate outdoors for at least fifteen minutes. Then use a wet rag to clean up the broken bulb. Stay safe with easy tips that will keep you and your family safe.    

These days it seems that everyone has a high definition, wired for everything, giant flat screen t.v. With so many new ways to use your entertainment box, such as Netflix and Xbox, it is hard not to make your media center the focal center of the room. So why not do it? Turn a room into a dedicated movie room with a few stylish touches and a great lighting design. This room will become your most popular one in the house with some easy changes that are sure to bring happiness to the whole clan.

Keep the room dark, making your eyes adjust to different levels of lighting can be harsh on your eyes and create glares. Choose lighting that minimizes these glares, such as with recessed lighting that shines away from sitting areas. Perimeter lighting also creates a wonderful glow that is easy to adapt to and allows for enhanced safety as family is piling out of the room. Wall sconces also add a wonderful design element to the room and if placed behind the main seating area it can create a warm glow that is easy for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy your movie night.

Stop Squinting

Reading can wreak havoc on your poor eyes. We know that your favorite novel just does not want you to put it down, but at least get the right lighting before embarking on such a long adventure with your favorite book characters. Snuggling into bed with your favorite book is what a lot of people dream of as they tirelessly glare at their computer screens, reading things for a minimum of 8 hours about (let's face it) very boring things. Treat yourself right and get rid of that flashlight, once and for all, with a proper reading lamp.

With so many to choose from, there should be no excuse as to why you need glasses after reading Ulysses. Ranging from lamps that shield light to not awaken your dozing partner to lamps that have movable parts so that you can read while in any position, there is no reason why you can't find the perfect one for you. So get shopping for one and while you are out, pick up some more novels for your favorite relaxation time.

That Color is Hot!

Color temperature is the "warmth" or "coolness" that a light source emits. The color appearance of a light bulb can make a huge difference in the overall look of a space, which is why it is such a vital part of the design when choosing your lighting scheme. Color temperature can be measured in Kelvin degrees. The lower the color temperature the warmer the hue. These hues are your reds, oranges, etc. The higher the color temperature the cooler the color, blue is one of these shades. So how do you choose what color temperature you need in a room?

All residential rooms generally look best in 4,100 Kelvin. This is a cool white color that is noticeably warmer than pure white. Commercial buildings or warehouses, are generally much brighter. They require a cooler lighting scheme due to their need for less of a relaxing environment and one more attuned to safety. Discover the many schemes that you can develop with the many bulbs and fixtures available!

Tiffany Glass

Tiffany glass has a long and distinguished history. Produced from 1878 to 1933, Tiffany glass was created at the Tiffany Studios by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Known for their rich tones and for their use of quality materials, these lamps were the lighting fixtures that got you into trouble as a kid for stepping foot into a sitting room. Louis Tiffany had a deep affection for stained glass, having studied many museum pieces he was moved to begin to create his own masterpieces.

Wanting to put his own twist on this type of art, he developed a type of glass called Favrile. This type of glass possesses an iridescence that causes the surface of the glass to shimmer. It is made by mixing in different colors of glass together while still hot. If you are so fortunate as to come across a masterpiece made by Louis Tiffany, take special care to preserve it for many years to come. Many companies offer similar looking lamps with a price tag that is much easier to swallow than an original Tiffany. So if you are looking to add a classical piece to your room, look for one of these richly toned masterpieces that are sure to bring warmth and elegance into any room.

Hunting for Perfection

Furniture is a wonderful way to bring character and charm into any room. Unique as you, choosing a piece to fit into a particular space takes some of your personal style mixed in with a great eye to find what makes you giddy. Furniture is an element in your home that when intermingled with a fabulous lighting design, completes your living space. Choose pieces that are versatile, yet do not necessarily match. Buying matching pieces from a furniture store is an ends to mean, but choosing individual chairs, tables, etc. is so much more meaningful. Each selection should make you realize its importance in your home.

Choose quality pieces that will last for years and be worthy of being a family heirloom. Whether you choose something classic or as quirky as you, finding the right piece takes time and patience. Enjoy the hunt!

Direct Lighting vs. Indirect Lighting

When designing a space, you can easily be overcome with all the information available telling you to do this or that. Simplify with easy design steps that are easy to follow and that can make a huge impact on the overall effect of the lighting in the room. The most important step in designing the lighting in a room is choosing where you need direct or indirect lighting. Direct lighting provides a strong illumination in a particular area. This type of lighting is great for kitchens and other areas where you are performing tasks, but beware of the sharp shadows and highlights they can create. So be mindful of the placement of lighting to prevent a chiaroscuro style from developing. 

Indirect lighting has always been more forgiving. This type of lighting is used to illuminate surrounding areas and give a soft glow. Mixing this type of lighting with direct lighting helps prevent excessive brightness and contrast. Find the middle ground for you with a blend of both those types of lighting to provide you with the effect that you are looking for. 

Simply Brilliant

Be brilliant with some easy, cost-effective tips that will help reduce both your lighting costs and lighting usage. Go beyond energy efficient bulbs. Yes these bulbs are wonderful and have truly revolutionized lighting, but there are also additional ways for you to keep your home energy efficient. The first tip is to reduce the wattage in specific rooms. Choose bulbs that have lower wattage for rooms that do not have to be sunshine bright and discover the fun in creating mood lighting. The second tip is to use a lamp. This not only creates focused lighting for whatever tasks you may have at hand, but it can create great ambiance. Another tip to save some of that hard earned money and get your lion's share of vitamin D is to open up those curtains and get some natural lighting. Make use of every window, even if it is not the best view. Be brilliant with some money saving tips that aim at saving money and electrical usage. Check out the video below for some more great ideas!

The Slow Spin

Like any other appliance in your home, ceiling fans wear out and eventually have to be replaced. What does it mean that it is broken? It means that it is beyond repair. Some ceiling fans can be fixed with a few minor internal replacements or some service. How can you tell if it is time to hit the stores for that fixture you have been keeping your eye on?

First check for electrical problems if the fan does not turn on or if the fan doesn't make any noise at all. Another sign that your fan's fate may aligned with bulk trash pickup is if it's emitting a burning smell. This is most likely is a sign that the motor and/or ball bearings have been damaged beyond repair. If your fan is wobbly or is making an odd noise as it spins, it might simply have to be balanced. Like any other appliance, ceiling fans need to be maintained. Call a technician or read your original manuals (if you have them) to service and lengthen the life of your much needed fixture.

Harmonize Your Property

Landscape lighting is all about beautifying your exterior environment. Some lighting can be too harsh or look a little too forced. Adding lighting to your outdoors takes a lot of planning and designing. Give your home a beautiful 3-dimensional look that highlights the features that you think makes it special. The first tip on planning your design is to sketch the property and make note of plants, paths, flowers, etc. After you have constructed in a likeness of your property consider the different fixtures available and draw them into the areas you would like to install them.

Some types of outdoor lights include area lights, which are indirect light sources that distribute light on the ground and is commonly used for isolated planters or perimeter lighting. Path lights are very common and look great as a uniform row bordering driveways or footpaths. Directional lights aim a beam directly where you want it to and are usually placed under shrubs. Find the lighting that works best for you and design an outdoor lighting scheme that will make all your neighbors jealous.

Fall Back

2012 is quickly passing us by! November is here and with this month comes a change to our normal daylight. This weekend on November the 4th, we will all hopefully remember to "fall back" at 2 a.m. on Sunday. "Falling back" is a simple way to remember what to do with our clocks. We set our clocks back one hour and return to standard time. Let the celebration begin as we get an extra hour of sleep! So as our days gets shorter, everyone will notice that their nights will be getting darker earlier as well. Remember to set your lighting timers appropriately so you don't have to stumble around in the dark. 

Daylight savings time was initially started in World War 1 as a way to save energy for war production by taking advantage of the of the later hours of daylight between April and October. This has continued due to the belief that we are still able to save some energy. It is estimated that 10,000 barrels of oil are saved each day through reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours.So we not only save energy, we get an extra hour of sleep. Sounds like a win-win situation. Happy November!