Choosing A Lamp For Your Bedroom

Your bedroom. It is the place where you return to each night to rest and regain your strength for the next day. The bedroom is home to many relaxing activities such as watching television, reading, knitting etc.

You ever sit in your bedroom with your spouse at the end of the night and argue about who is going to get up and turn off the light? It is an irritating argument because the light switch is only a few feet away, but neither of you want to get up and turn it off because you are so tired!

This issue is easily fixed by lamps on the nightstands on each side of the bed. Whoever came up with that idea deserves a BIG thanks!

After establishing the necessity of nightstand lamps, all that needs to be decided on is the style of the lamp you would like next to your bed. There are so many styles to choose from. Here we will discuss three styles and then you can choose which is best for you.

Stained Glass- Table lamps made of stained glass are quite beautiful. There is a huge selection available with literally thousands of different types of stained glass table lamps, so someone interested in this type of lamp has a wide range of options to choose from in order to match their current decor. This style is most often seen in homes with older residents.

Sleek Metal- The younger demographic seems to be more drawn to lamps with sleek designs using light metal bases and even some metal shades. This type of lamp is also characterized by it's sharp edges and corners instead of a softer, rounder style.

Classic Style- What we categorize as a classic lamp style is an item with the classic round, cone-shaped lamp shade and a normal base made of any material. These classic lamps are the most common and are found most commonly in family homes.

So whether you are a customer looking for a stained glass lamp, a sleeker more modern looking metal lamp, or a classic lamp, you have lots of options when it comes to purchasing something to put in your bedroom. And no matter what you purchase, at least when you have a nightstand lamp, you do not have to be arguing about who is going to get up out of bed and turn off the light. So enjoy your night time relaxing activities, and enjoy them in the light of your very own nightstand lamp.

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Popular Techniques For Mounting Wall Lights Outside

One of the more popular uses for wall lights around the home is, believe it or not, outside. It can be used to completely change a person's perspective of an area of your property at night, or even of your entire home. To ensure that you are achieving the sort of perspective that you want, however, there are a number of tips and techniques for mounting fixtures that you should familiarize yourself with first.

Wall Washing This technique involves large walls and other big surfaces being lit up using an even distribution of illumination from a fixture. This type of lighting is able to 'flatten out' textured surfaces, which has led to its common use in covering up imperfections and illuminating certain features. Unless you want a reflective or flattened out look, properties with textured or glossy walls should not use the washing technique.

Grazing This is similar to wall washing in that it aims to achieve an even spread of illumination on surfaces. These wall lights differ to those used in the previous technique, however, in that it does so without sacrificing on the attractiveness of textured surfaces.

Spotlighting This technique involves smaller features of your property (such as sculptures, landscaping structures, plants and so on) being illuminated. In terms of wall lights, these fixtures are used to illuminate a feature that is situated above or below.

Light Scallops This technique is commonly used to add a certain impact to the exterior of your property. With diffused lighting or a reflector lamp, you can create a softer effect with the fixtures, whilst PAR lamps will ensure that you have a more defined scallop on your walls.

LEDs When it comes to choosing the globes that will be used in your wall lights, LEDs tend to be a very popular choice. As they operate on a low-energy system, they can be used for long periods without bumping your electricity bill into extreme proportions (and you can do your bit for the environment). They are also renowned for producing light (not heat), so they are perfectly safe for use around plants and children without risking fires or burns.

If you are in the process of choosing wall lights for use somewhere in the landscape of your property, you should begin looking at the various techniques that you can use and picking up some tips. This will ensure that you present your home in the best possible light at all times, regardless of whether it is day or night.

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LED Lights - Word Games

If I said "My very eager mother just served us nine pizzas" or that "King Philip came over for great spaghetti" I don't suppose you would know what I was talking about. They are actually two very handy mnemonic devices, the former to help remember the names of the planets in our solar system, while the latter is used to recall the taxonomic order. One I think is perhaps more familiar will be sohcahtoa, which probably helped a lot of us with revising those tricky trigonometrical functions during our school maths lessons.

Quite simply, mnemonics are a great way of remembering things and there are plenty floating around. Everyone knows that LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, but here we believe it stands for a lot more. That is why we have been putting our heads together to devise a unique word game to help you remember why LEDs are so important. So, without further ado, we present the three rules of LED:

L is for Long Lasting

LED Lights have a far longer life span than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. They even outstrip energy efficient compact fluorescents for longevity, lasting anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000 hours, depending on what model you buy. Some of the newest LEDs, also known as SMDs, or Surface Mounted Devices, last more than 50,000 hours.

E is for Energy Efficient

LED Lights use about 90 per cent less energy than conventional forms of lighting. The ramifications of this are pretty self-evident. Not only do you stand to save an enormous amount on your electricity bills, but you will also be doing a huge favour to the environment. It is a good idea to keep your eyes peeled for data on incandescent equivalency, as these will tell you the wattage of the halogen-style bulb and LED is designed to replace.

D is for Durability

LED Lights are made from the high-quality materials, meaning that not only do they look incredibly stylish, but they are also very robust. This is one of the reasons that LED Lights have such impressive life spans, because of the quality of their components. The whorl shaped heat sink on some of our LED Lights also ensures that excess heat is dissipated towards the back of the unit, again guaranteeing a long life span from your bulb.

So every time you buy LED Lights you will know exactly how they are benefiting yourself, but also how they are benefiting everybody else as well. And look, we even got a four letter word score. Great stuff!

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Incandescent Bulbs Vs Fluorescent Bulbs: What's The Deal?

In the US, much of the legislation that was written in 2007 which would make the incandescent obsolete because they do not meet the energy efficiency standards was recently overturned in December 2011. What's left is efficiency standards for 40W-100W bulbs will require implementation by October 2012. All other bulbs will be exempt from adhering to efficiency standards.

International governments have begun banning incandescents and promoting the use of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives such as CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and LEDs. Countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, the EU, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Russia, China, India and the US have started or have plans to phase out the incandescent light bulb. Many consumers have reacted negatively to the decision to ban the bulbs as the CFL or LED light quality can be much harsher than traditional bulbs, but alternative bulb makers have begun to create a variety of color choices in lighting temperatures.

By 2020, a second tier of restrictions would become effective, which requires all general-purpose bulbs to produce at least 45 lumens per watt (similar to current CFLs). Exemptions from the Act include reflector flood, 3-way, candelabra, colored, and other specialty bulbs. In the US it looks like we will still be able to get our incandescent bulbs for the near future, but the way forward for lighting may be in CFLs and eventually LEDs. As the new alternative bulbs improve in lighting quality, they offer consumers power savings.

In a way, the overturning of the 2007 legislation is good news for customers that like the look and feel of the current incandescent bulbs. Perhaps by the time the 2020 legislation is in place, the CFL bulbs may offer even higher quality light.

Are there new bulb alternatives?

CFL: These bulbs use 1/5 to 1/3 the amount of energy as regular bulbs and have a much longer life span (5-18 times!). CFL's last 6,000-15,000 hours vs 750-1,000 hours by incandescents. CFLs do have a higher purchase price than incandescents, but the lower energy costs can save over five times its purchase price over the bulb's life. The light spectrum of CFLs is different than that of incandescents, but recent improvements in phosphor formulations have improved the perceived color of light emitted by them. "Soft white" CFLs are supposed to have a light color that is similar to standard incandescents.

LEDs: First introduced in 1962, LEDs have increasingly become used as lighting. They are commonly used in displays, televisions, and automotive lighting. Recently they have begun being used as room lighting for higher end or specialty lighting. LEDs can produce light over the entire spectrum. Benefits of LED lighting including lower energy use and longer lifetime. LED lifetimes can be 35,000-50,000 hours. They can also emit varying colors of light without the need for any color filters. However, LEDs for room lighting tend to be quite expensive. While they have the advantage over CFLs of not containing mercury, LEDs could also contain other harmful materials such as arsenic or lead. This is more common in colored LEDs, particularly red or yellow.

Disposal of bulbs - Most CFLs have 3-5mg of mercury, and states such as California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin have bans of disposing CFL bulbs as universal waste. In the US, The Home Depot is the first retailer to make CFL recycling available. The EPA website has advice on avoiding breakage and also how to deal with breakage of a CFL bulb including airing out a room and putting broken pieces in a jar.

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Change The Look And Feel Of A Room

When it comes to decorating your home, the task can seem both monumental and expensive. Even making the smallest of changes seems to cost the earth and yet you obviously want a room that reflects your tastes and personality. Making large changes can be exorbitant, so going down the route of DIY is clearly best to ensure that you remain within your budget. But what exactly can you achieve without paying the earth?

One of the easiest ways to effect a rapid change in the look and feel of your room is by adding a new touch of colour via new wallpaper or paint. Both materials are inexpensive and even the most rudimentary DIY enthusiast should be able to manage them. Indeed, although wallpaper is usually associated with slapstick comedy routines form the early days of television, putting it up is surprisingly easy. The vast array of modern adhesives make the task a lot simpler and the preponderance of You Tube videos certainly provide you with every conceivable tip or practical pointer that you might want. As with any DIY task, the key is to take your time and remember to measure twice and cut once. Many novice home improvement advocates make their biggest mistakes in the full flush of their new hobby and will easily waste a lot of money by failing to take caution.

Painting is all about preparation and if you ensure that the surface you are going to paint is properly prepared, then you should not have any problems. There are a wide range of products that make it a lot easier to fill cracks and help with any uneven surfaces. Paint technology has advanced exponentially in recent years, making the task a lot easier for the avid DIY enthusiast. Look out for some of the more modern range of paints that are advertised as helping avoid splatter when you are using a roller brush - such small things make all the difference when it comes to decorating.

Other small changes that can have a big impact on your room include changing small fixtures and fittings such as light switches, door handles and curtain poles. Easily overlooked, it is often these accessories which guide our eye to the rest of the room and will make a huge impact on how we perceive it. Traditional wall lights and other forms of lighting are also important - not just because of how they look intrinsically, but because of the lighting effects which will make a big difference on how your room is seen.

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What Is The Difference Between Desk And Table Lamps?

At first glance, desk and table lamps appear to be the same thing, but there is actually a difference between the two that sets them apart. The main difference is that both of these lights are used for very different purposes, so each has been designed with that purpose in mind. This makes a desk lamp unsuitable for use as a table fixture and vice versa. Read on to discover more of the ways that these lights differ from each other.

Table lamps are seen as being the more decorative of the two. Whilst they may be used for some light reading, their main purpose is to simply add some more light to the room, which allows plenty of room for decorative shades and bases. Desk lamps, however, are used as task lighting and are primarily placed on a desk or shelf to provide illumination for the completion of tasks, such as writing, reading, studying, typing and so on. Table lamps are available in a large range of styles, designs and sizes, which allows homeowners to choose one that matches their existing décor perfectly. Many fixtures will have intricately decorated bases or shades, as well as being able to be constructed out of a number of different materials. Desk lamps tend to be made in just one colour and are usually constructed out of plastic or metal. They are not designed to be decorative features of the space and are, instead, quite plain in their appearance. Table lamps are known to take up a considerable amount of room; they often dominate the table surface and will make anything else placed nearby look out of place or unnecessary. The lights require their own space and do not take well to sharing the spotlight. Desk lamps take up very little space and can often be placed in the corner of a desk or shelf. Some fixtures can even be clamped to the surface, allowing them to hang and be directed wherever you need them; this leads them to take up even less space.

Whilst there may be a number of similarities between the humble desk and table lamp, it is their many differences that set them apart. Placing a desk lamp in your lounge room, for example, would look very out of place and would not provide much additional illumination to the room, except to the space either side of it. In the same way, using a table fixture at your desk would probably cause you to strain your eyes whilst trying to study.

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The Latest Spark Of Hope - Presenting Sustainable Solar Lights to People in Growing Countries

If you're taking electrical energy for granted, you better think again. Are you aware that throughout the world, there are approximately 1.3 billion people that are deprived of today's electrical power? They need to rely on diesel and biomass as energy to light their nights. And sadly, Mother Earth and the people using this sort of fuel are taking the cost from the harmful gases brought about by burning it.

The WHO accounts there are over 195,000 lives are being claimed due to burns, with children and women from low income countries to be the majority of the victims. Kerosene provides a low intensity light however is extremely combustible. The smoke it produces is laden with particulate matter that produces severe respiratory and eye problems. Breathing in the dangerous gases from a kerosene lantern is the same as smoking two packs of tobacco each day.

Luckily, many companies function as a silver lining on the horizon due to their effort in developing transportable solar lights to better the life of the damaged people, delivering neat and effective lights. They deal with these problems by giving a selection of solar powered lamps to low to middle income families.

One of many solar lights being distributed is the mobile one. The apparent benefit of this is, because men and women from African nations wake up early during daybreak, they can easily bring it outside once the sun is still sleeping and the morning is way from awakening everybody up.

Another advantage is its effectiveness. Lightweight solar lights provide to 6 hours of continuous 100 % output or nearly thirty five hours on dim light. Protected by the rubber disk, it can instantly be placed in the grass with no threat or impediment of light. In addition, the light can quickly be hung over a table to light up nice meals. The individual solar charger can easily be attached to public charging posts be applied the following evening.

Typically, men and women spend 38 billion dollars each day for lighting, making a hefty thirty percent of their salary. A study in Africa was performed and the results were breathtaking - off-the-grid houses that replaced their candles and kerosene lamps with solar lighting saved an average of $0.80 each day. The family obtained their money back within just 2 days of employing this technologies, freeing up funds to apply in additional fees such as education.

The solar lights utilize LED technology for a prolonged life-span and happen to be created to defy shock from accidentally bumping or dropping it. A support band set at the bottom of the light will secure it in the event of an unexpected fall. Companies use eco-friendly components such as ABS and re-cycled materials and minimal ink to limit pollution and provide a much better outcome.

The trickiest part of the task would be the shipment, the job of shipping the solar lights from the hub to their ultimate location. However in some way, makers together with distributors build a program to successfully set aside the lamps to each reachable family.

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Sleep Better At Night With Home Solar Lights

Your home used to be your safe haven but nowadays there are lots of instances when the security of the home is breached by burglars while the owner is away or asleep. Watching all of these on the news can really make you worry especially if the incidents are happening near your neighbourhood. It would be difficult to sleep soundly at night knowing that your home may not be as safe as you want it to be.

If you want to sleep soundly at night then you need to secure your home with home security lights. You can install them in strategic places around the perimeter of your home. These kinds of lights are very effective deterrents for burglars who may want to invade your home. If you have a huge garden outside your home then you must install security lights there as well. Your garden has large shrubs and trees that could be the perfect hiding spots for burglars. If you install security lights there then the entire place will be illuminated so it would be very easy to spot anyone who could be hiding there.

Some home security lights also come with motion sensors. These types of lights are very effective in securing your home. The lights turn on whenever the sensor is triggered by any movement. If an intruder approaches your home and triggers the motion sensor, the lights will immediately turn on. The intruder will be startled by the sudden bright lights and run away.

Security lights near the entrance of your home can be very helpful when you come home at night. It is very dangerous to come home and open your door without any light on. A burglar could be hiding in the shadows and grab you from behind as you open the door. If you have security lights near your front door then you will be in plain view of your neighbours as you open your door when you come home at night.

Surrounding your home with security lights can make you feel more secure even as you leave your home. You no longer have to keep worrying about the security of your home each time you leave. At night, you will also sleep more soundly knowing that you have security lighting installed all over your property. The cost of the lights is nothing compared to the sound sleep and peace of mind that you will have knowing that your home is protected.

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Types of Light Bulbs

There are a lot of styles of low energy bulbs. Throughout this report I will certainly offer you a simple introduction of seven diverse sorts of light bulbs. These seven varieties of light bulbs consist of:

1. Incandescent

2. Halogen

3. Fluorescent

4. Compact Fluorescent

5. High Intensity Discharge Lamps

6. Low Pressure Sodium Lamp

7. Light Emitting Diode

Incandescent

The incandescent light bulb is what nearly all people today would name as an ordinary light bulb. The quantity of light made per watt used by this variety of bulb is pretty low. These are generally the highest energy use light bulbs at this time readily available.

Halogen

The halogen light bulb functions in a really comparable method to the incandescent bulb. The halogen bulb is a little more efficient. These bulbs will get incredibly warm and attention should to be used when these types of bulbs are in use.

Fluorescent

This lighting could be viewed as a low energy bulb. They are commonly tubular in appearance and are found in industrial facilities, workplaces, garages, etc. They have a prolonged life duration and are very well-liked. In order for fluorescent lights to function properly, they must have a part known as a ballast.

Compact Fluorescent

The compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) is the exact same as an ordinary fluorescent lamp but designed in a much smaller bundle. CFLs have the ballast constructed into them and are normally manufactured with a screw type fitting, matching the typical incandescent bulb. These types of bulbs have turn out to be very well-liked for home and office use.

High Intensity Discharge Lamp

These low energy bulbs are very efficient. This type can still be broken down directly into a few distinct varieties of high intensity discharge lamp. High pressure sodium (HPS), mercury vapor, self ballasts mercury, and metal halide are all viewed as high intensity discharge lamps. These varieties of lamps all call for a type of ballast or starter like the fluorescent lamp. They develop large volumes of light from a somewhat small bulb.

Low Pressure Sodium

These low energy lamps are the most efficient lamps readily available. They call for a ballast and have a warm up time. They are typically used in industrial settings such as car parking lots, paths, and highways.

Light Emitting Diode

The light emitting diode (LED) is very low energy and is turning out to be more common in homes and restaurants. Commonly, these lights do not develop as many lumens as typical lights do, like incandescent lamps and CFLs.

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How To Choose A Table Lamp For Your Home

When buying a table lamp for a room or area of your home, there are a number of factors that you should first take into account to ensure that you are making the right decision. Failing to take even one of these considerations into account could lead to the purchase of a lamp that is completely unsuitable for your lighting needs. So, what factors should you be looking into?

Size of Room As table lamps are used in a number of different rooms around the house, it is very important that you choose one of an appropriate size for the space. A tiny desk lamp, for example, would look completely out of place in a spacious lounge room and a giant floor style would look odd in a tiny toilet.

Size of Table After the size of the room, the next essential factor to look into is the size of the table that you wish to place the lamp on. If the fixture is so big that there is no surface left or too small that it is lost, this is no good. Choosing the best style and type is all about getting the proportions right. Before going shopping, make sure that you measure the table's diameter or area and its height.

Size of Base When actually choosing your table lamp, it is important that you take into account the size of its base in comparison to the size of its shade. Lamps that have overly large or small shades tend to look out of place, regardless of whether the base is the right size for the space or not.

Furnishings of Room It is important that your lamp complements the other furnishings and features of the room, including colour, texture, style and even material. Closely scrutinize your walls, furniture, accessories, carpet and even your other lighting fixtures for an idea.

Quality of Materials The final consideration that you must make involves a careful inspection of the table lamp before buying it. You need to ensure that there are no sorts of dents, scratches or faded areas, as they may become increasingly noticeable once you have gotten the fixture home and turned it on.

By taking into account each of the above criteria, you will find yourself in a much better position to make an informed decision regarding the choice of a suitable table lamp for your home. Fortunately, there are plenty of lamps on the market, so you will still be spoiled for choice.

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What Is Lumen Maintenance?

The lighting industry has many standards governing the safety and performance of lighting products. When assessing the "useful life" of a bulb, manufacturers must follow strict guidelines.

Every type of lighting, whether it be fluorescent, incandescent or "solid-state," has its own distinct test procedure, which can be found in official publications from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

For example, LM-49 and LM-65 define the test procedures for incandescent bulbs and CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) respectively. LED Lighting has its own test procedure called LM-80.

Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lighting, the useful lifetime of an LED cannot be fully tested. This is largely due to the fact that LEDs last a very long time. By the time a thorough test were even close to being completed, technology would have already overtaken the bulbs being tested.

The effectiveness of an LED bulb is instead extrapolated by testing its "lumen maintenance."

What is lumen maintenance?

Like all light sources, LEDs gradually lose their luminosity over time. This phenomenon is called lumen depreciation.

Over the course of its life, 1000 hours or so, an incandescent bulb will lose between 10-15% of its light output. A CFL will become up to 20% dimmer.

In LEDs, lumen depreciation is caused primarily by heat generated at the diode's p-n junction. You will find that most LED bulbs are designed with a heat sink, which carry heat away from the diode and thus prolong the life of the bulb.

Lumen maintenance measures the amount of light produced by a source when it is brand new and compares it with its light output at a specific time in the future. Lumen maintenance is expressed as Lp of X hours, where L is the initial light output and p is the percentage of light retained over X number of hours.

For example, if a light source has an L50 rating of 10,000 hours, after 10,000 hours of use the light source will be operating at half of its initial light output. Put another way, if a light source produces 1000 lumens when it is brand new and 700 lumens after 50,000 hours of use, it has a L70 rating of 50,000 hours.

The Significance of L70

So far so simple. But there's a problem. Assessing the useful life of an LED bulb based on the rate of lumen depreciation begs the question; what is an acceptable level of light? Obviously this will vary depending on the application and specific requirements of the user.

The Alliance for Solid State Illumination Systems and Technologies (ASSIST) have deemed L70 a suitable level for most commercial LED bulbs, with the reason being that lumen depreciation only becomes noticeable when a light source has lost 30% of its initial luminosity. For decorative lighting, L50 is considered acceptable.

The amount of time it takes for a bulb to reach this point varies based on the conditions in which it is used and the quality of its components. Naturally, a well-built bulb will remain brighter for longer than those with poor quality components.

So, the next time you are buying LED bulbs, make sure you are comparing the L70 rating as well as other factors such as price and efficiency.

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Installation Of Burgundy Patten Fabric Lamp Shades

Lamp shades play an important role when it comes to adding style to your bedroom or office. They have both functional and decorative use and should never be neglected when choosing lighting accessories for your home. With the right shade, a tired looking old lamp can be given a fresh and stylish look to add charm to the interior of any place. Now a days there are different types of lamp shades available and fabric lamp shades are one of the most popular types.

Fabric lamp shades do have different practical uses. For example if one wants to read a book by the bed then the shade should allow enough light so that the text can be read. Certain shades which are used only for decorative purposes do not shine enough light for reading. So before purchase consider how you want to use it. Burgundy pattern shades are better suited for decorative purposes.

They portray a traditional look and add style and class to the surroundings. Burgundy pattern silk shades are known to add a rich feel to their surroundings. They are available with designs on the shade or plain. The most notable in this category is Taj silk. Some burgundy pattern even have pleats in them where as others come with dangles, giving them an exotic touch.

When considering Burgundy pattern fabric lamp one of the most important thing to consider is the type of fabric used in the lamp. The fabric quality used differs based on the wattage of the bulb used in the lamp.

The two most popular ones are hardback and silk. Other commonly used fabrics in these are cotton, canvas, linen and damasks. These fabrics are combined with pleats, dangles, embroidery and rope trims to make them look beautiful. Burgundy pattern fabric shades are not just meant to cover the light, but they also add an envied chic to their surroundings.

Let us look at some points to keep in mind while making the selection.

Fabric lamp shades can be used for different types of lamps. They can be used for lamps on tables, ceiling or floor too. Some of the popular fabric shades include classic pleated soft cream shades, silk shades, quilt shades, bedding shades, octagonal fabric shades and burgundy pattern fabric shades. It is easy to get confused with the wide variety of fabric shades available in the market. So the best way to decide the perfect shade is to know the lamp.

A round fabric lamp shade is best suited for round lamps. If the base of the lamp is square, you can choose a square lamp shade that best compliments the looks. There is no hard and fast rule and creative ideas are always an add-on.

It is also recommended to take into consideration the surroundings before choosing lamp shades. Burgundy pattern fabric shades are best suited for interiors with somewhat dull colors. This highlights the lamp and heightens the effervescent glow effect. Getting the right lamp shade can add personality to the room. Before you select one, decide on the type of ambiance and look that you want for the room.

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Landscape Lighting - It's More Than Lighting Plantings and Pathways

What comes to mind when thinking of landscape lighting? More than likely it is path lights along a front walkway or possible up-lighting a few ornamental trees in your front landscape. These tasks can easily be achieved by a do-it-yourselfer; however it is important to consider other elements prior to sticking in a number of lights.

Most residences have architectural elements that can be accented. This is the first area to consider when creating a lighting plan. Accent lights on a home will provide the back-drop to any lighting that is done in front of that area. Key features to accent would be; a stone facade, columns or pillars on a porch, corners of the home, front door, etc. There also may be other elements on the property that will help illuminate your entertaining areas. This can include steps, deck rails, retaining walls, sitting walls, fire pits, etc.

Another key principle to consider is to try to add depth to a property using lights on trees around the perimeter of your property. By only lighting directly around the home the landscape will feel small at night. Be sure to select a strong fixture (high lumen output) when attempting to up-light large mature trees a distance from your home. Using an LED fixture will help to eliminate voltage drop and still provide great output a distance from your home. Voltage drop is seen when your farthest light is the dimmest. This can be corrected using a multi-tap transformer and a number of installation methods depending upon application.

Does your property have a focal point to light? This is an area where you want a higher intensity of light to showcase the focal point at night. Whether it be a piece of statuary, a waterfall, or a specimen tree, the light output on this element should be the brightest relative to the rest of your property to showcase that element as the focal point.

It is important to not over-light, for example; you would not want to up-light a tree directly in front of a corner of a home that you plan to up-light. The placement of light fixtures is just as important as the placement of shadowed / un-lit areas.

Landscape Lighting can be accomplished using very little power. In many cases an entire front landscape can be lit using the same power as a typical front post light. This is due to the advancement of LED bulbs which are 50-80% more efficient than Halogen Bulbs. The LED bulbs will also last for 10-30 years compared to a halogen that typically lasts for 2 years. For a comprehensive lighting design it is recommended that you contact a lighting professional to create a plan to illuminate your property.

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Easy Ways to Protect Your Solar Lighting During Fall Cleanup!

Summer's over and it's time for many of us here in the United States to think about fall cleanup.

If you have solar lighting, or any landscape lights for that matter, it's easy to damage or even ruin lights once rakes and leaf blowers come out. Luckily, there are some very easy and quick things you can to make sure your solar lights, fountain and other garden items survive fall cleanup!

Solar Accent Lights and Water Fountains

Most solar lights have a huge advantage over low voltage electrical lighting: they're easy to install and they're easy to remove and re-install.

Whether you rake or blow leaves yourself or hire others to do the job, whenever possible you should temporarily put away solar lights, solar fountains, pest control devices and solar lawn and garden products.

Even if rakes don't strike lights, raking or blowing alone can turn harmless rocks, sticks, acorns and other debris into high-powered missiles. Along with the lighting fixture itself, solar panels can be damaged.

If you hire someone to do your clean-up, we strongly recommend taking extra time to protect your solar lights, fountains and pest-control devices.

Here's why. Many landscapers tend to "overbook" during busy seasons and often, the person with whom you arranged the job won't do the actual work.

Since time is money, most workers are told to go in, get the job done as quickly as possible, and move on to the next customer. Unless you have it in writing, it's not their responsibility to take care of any lights or garden ornaments. Make sure you ask the contractor when the workers will arrive and prepare in advance. Like your mother said, "Better safe than sorry."

Protecting Solar Fixtures that Aren't Easily Removed

Many people who really appreciate solar lighting have solar lamps, lamp posts and security lights in addition to accent lighting.

While accent lights are relatively inexpensive, quality solar lamps and security lights cost quite a bit more, though not necessarily more than traditional lights. Protecting your investments in cost-effective lighting is important, particularly fixtures at the higher end of the cost spectrum.

Your solar spotlights or floodlights probably are located high enough to be safe without any action if a rake is used. But, if a leaf blower will be anywhere near your security lights, you should temporarily remove them whenever possible.

If removal isn't an option, definitely cover both lighting fixtures and solar panels.

Solar lamps are a bit trickier, since they are permanently attached to fences posts, walls, buildings or mounted on posts set in concrete.

Make Your Own "Hoodies"

Whether your lamps have polycarbonate or glass panes or covers, all have solar panels integrated into the lamp. Our recommendation: cover them up!

Here's what we came up with when a pane in an old electric lamp post was broken by an acorn or rock during lawn mowing. It looks ridiculous, but our technique is highly effective.

We took old comforters and cut out pieces large enough to completely cover each lamp. During yard work, we secure the covers with large rubber bands, tape or string. The result: a cushioned hood that covers the lamp and solar panel, protecting both from flying debris.

Because comforters have some padding in them, they provide great protection.

Towels also work, but add extra padding like rags, crumpled newspapers or old bubble wrap. We keep our "hoodies" in the garage and reuse them regularly.

When the work is done, we just remove them and tuck them away until we need them again. With these tips, all of our solar lights are standing up well to fall and spring cleanups, as well as routine yard work.

This fall, take the time to make sure your investment in solar lights is protected!

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Can You Use Energy Saving Lighting Outside?

Whilst there are not many people spending too much time outside at the moment, it is steadily growing closer to that time of the year when homeowners are preparing their properties for the nicer weather ahead. One thing that they may do as a part of this is update the globes in their outdoor lights, getting them ready for long nights of entertaining under the stars. Is it a good idea, however, to swap over to energy saving lighting?

There are three main purposes for lighting that has been installed outside:

Security, such as illumination at your front door or garage Accent, such as illuminating features of your landscape Task, such as over your patio or swimming pool areas

Like indoor lighting, each of these fixtures can really increase your electricity consumption, especially if they are turned on for extended periods of time.

It is possible, however, to save some money by fitting all of your outdoor fixtures energy saving lighting, unless they are controlled via motion sensor. So, if you have a floodlight above the garage for times you come home late at night or you use a fixture to illuminate a tree or sculpture, you should swap these over to energy saving globes as soon as possible - the savings (both in money and carbon emissions) will be almost instantaneous.

To further prove why you should use energy efficient lighting outside wherever possible, let's look at some of the figures:

An incandescent globe only produces around 14 lumens per watt, which will cost you around $20 per year to run (if switched on for 8 hours a day) and will produce about 349 pounds of carbon. Now think about the cost and emissions when compared to every single outdoor light you have. An energy efficient globe produces around 55 lumens per watt, which will only cost you around $15 per year to run (also for 8 hours a day) and will only produce about 87 pounds of carbon. Now think about the savings you will make by swapping over.

As you can see from the statistics outline above, not only can you use energy saving lighting outside, you really should be using it for all fixtures that do not operate off motion sensors. Not only will this allow you to considerably lower your home's electricity consumption, it will help you to sleep easy at night knowing that you are doing all you can for protecting the environment. Don't wait - switch over your outdoor fixtures today!

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