Decorative Outdoor Lighting Ideas For The Holidays

Here are some ideas to light up this holiday season. In this article I'll offer you some tips for planning your outdoor lighting project this season. Then I'll give you some unique ideas you might want to try this year. I will also offer you some safety tips to help keep this season happy and bright.

Tips for outdoor lighting.
The first thing you need to do is plan. Walk around your yard with pen and paper in hand and jot down the ideas you have for this project. Now make a list of the following: 1 What lights do you need for this project? 2 Where will you plug them in? 3 How many extension cords and adapters will you need? You'd be surprised how much time you'll save writing this little bit of information down on paper. Answering these few questions will save you many trips back and forth to Home Depot or Lowe's.

Consider using timers and photocells. These devices will keep you from having to run out in the cold to turn your lights on or off and they will help you save electricity by automatically turning your lights off in the day.

You are probably going to have several cords that you will be trying to plug into one outlet. First follow the safety tips below and make sure that all the lights and chords you're using are rated for outdoor use. Then try this; take an old plastic container with a lid, one big enough to accommodate a three-way or five way plug. Then cut a couple holes in the side of the container to allow your extension cords to pass to the inside after you plug in your records cover the container with a lid. This will help keep all your connections dry.

If you are to have outdoor lighting installed as part of your landscape design one quick and easy way to add some holiday cheer to your lighting is to simply change the color of some of your existing light bulbs.

Some bright ideas.
Window planter boxes are easy to decorate for the holidays. Try stuffing them with bows of Holly or pine branches then add some Christmas lights and you're done.

Another easy idea to bring Christmas outdoors is to place a Christmas tree I'm your front porch or in your front yard. Try decorating it with some frosted pine cones and some bird ornaments, something to give it an outdoor theme. You can also try wrapping the base with some burlap for a nice effect. Another great Christmas tree idea is to buy a dead tree that the pine needles are already falling off of. You'll be surprised how cheap the dead tree is. When you get it home shake all the pine needles off and when it's bare spray paint it red. Then decorate it and display it on your front porch or front lawn.

A simple arch for your front lawn is easy to make. Using some wire rod or quarter inch PVC pipe make an arch by sticking one end of the pipe or Rod into the ground and bending the other hand over to create an arch and then anchor that end in the ground. Once you formed your arch wire tie or zip tie any kind of branches or grass you want to the arch. Then they had some lights and your done.

Birdbaths are nice lawn decorations; for the holiday season try stacking a bunch of shiny bulb ornaments on top of your birdbath. Then wrap your birdbath with icicle style lights and that's it. During the day the bulbs will shine in the sun and night the lights will create a nice sparkling effect.

For your parties try some light up beverage glasses.  There are all kinds of wine glasses, martini glasses, shot glasses and pitchers that have battery run LED lights built in.  These can add some Christmas bling to your party.

Safety tips.
Stay safe this season. Always check the UL listing for the lights and cords you intend to use. Your lights and records must be rated for outdoor use if you intend to use them outdoors. There is a difference between outdoor cords and indoor cords and outdoor lights and indoor lights. Don't run records through the doors or windows. When you close the window or door on the cord you run the risk of making the cord and damaging the protective outer sheathing. LED Christmas lights are becoming more and more popular with more and more choices available every year. You should consider replacing your old lights with LED lights. LED lights use less electricity and they don't get hot. You are much less likely to start a fire with LED Christmas lights.

Benefits Of Installing LED Lights In Your Outdoor Landscape

When designing a home, it can be easy to mistake inner décor for the premium point of concern in assuring aesthetic quality. The first thing that someone sees upon arriving to your home, however, is not the inside but the outside. Therefore, you should take every measure you can to ensure a successful presentation from the first sight by paying close attention to the residential landscape lighting accenting your home. This is no simple task given the wide array of options available to homeowners these days. Even within a modest budget, it is possible to produce designs of residential landscape lighting to meet any taste. For consumers who are environmentally conscious, there are two main options that can serve as helpful starting points in trying to narrow down everything in front of you into a viable set of choices: outdoor lighting and low voltage LED lighting. Do not worry if you are unfamiliar as of yet with these two innovative residential landscape lighting routes. They are both flexible and affordable enough to cater to a number of housing configurations, whether traditional or not, and can be easily understood after a basic explanation of their fundamental principles.

To begin with the best known of the two lighting options, outdoor LED lighting has been brightening up your surroundings for longer than you may realize. These handy light emitting diodes (hence the acronym) can be easily attached to bicycles, flashlights, lamps, outdoor porch lighting, and more. LED's have been around since the 1960's and have significantly increased in use due to their economic efficiency and low environmental impact. Since each diode only requires one tenth of a watt of energy, even large clusters of them do not rack up as high a cost or carbon footprint as do some lighting alternatives. Also, their makeup means that a sudden blackout is never possible, but rather just a slow decrease in light production after they have reached a certain age. The typical estimated length of function for an LED is 50,000 hours, making the relatively higher initial cost of purchase well worth the eventual savings they accrue. All of these factors contend well for the choice of outdoor LED lighting. Furthermore, it contains no mercury and converts 80% of the energy they use into light, rather than heat.

Even if you do not choose to implement outdoor LED's, you can still be sure that low voltage lighting can serve you well throughout the interior of your home as well. The millions of colors that the diodes can be programmed to emit present a veritable rainbow of options for decorating with low voltage LED lighting in any style. Their adjustable intensity also allows for the mood of a room to be altered with the easy turn of a knob at no extra cost or hassle. It should come as no surprise that more people every day is turning to LED's for their lighting needs!

Landscape Art Tapestries - 3 Decor Ideas to Transform Your Home

When decorating a home many people think of furniture, lighting and even trinkets and other small decorative accents to complete the look of a room. But one thing they often overlook, which can set the scene like nothing else, is landscape art tapestries.

Landscape tapestries are amazing works of art. Not only are they beautiful scenes that will be stunning on your wall, but also as you get closer to them you will truly appreciate the mastery that goes into weaving each piece of thread to create an overall design.

Unlike a painting or other piece of typical wall art, landscape art tapestries will capture the attention of your guests the moment they walk into the room. The depth woven into these pieces will draw them into the scene and the presence that comes from the artistic piece.

There are three types of tapestries that suit this style of home decor - verdures, country scapes and castle views.

Verdures

The word verdure literally means 'greenery', which should tell you a little bit about what these tapestries will portray. The basis of these artistic works is plants and their shapes and forms. Often in verdures you will be able to 'peek' thought the plants and see a scene beyond them. You may be able to watch life in a country village or peek in on birds merrily building their nests. Many of these tapestries take the greenery to a new level, not only peeking through the greenery to a scene beyond, but also with an additional border inspired by other plant shapes.

Country Scapes

This style of tapestry is rather self-explanatory as well. Looking at the tapestry you will be taken from your modern day home to an old country location. You may be able to watch the workings of a field in centuries past or a couple courting along a river's edge with the small country village nearby. These tapestries almost seem to be a view into another world and seem to open up your home as well.

Castle Views

If you really want to take a trip back in time, there is no better way to go than with castle view tapestries. These tapestries will bring medieval living to life in your home through a stunning view of a castle that was operational at the time. Whether you are a fan of medieval life and want to create a completely medieval room or you just want your own window to centuries past, castle view tapestries are a perfect way to accomplish that goal.

So there you have it.

As you contemplate or begin a home decor project, you should not overlook one of the pieces that can completely set the scene in your home, landscape art tapestries. Whether it's to give you a textured view to the outdoors or to give you a window of the past, these masterful woven expressions of art can be the scene setter that you can use to create the decor for the rest of this space.

Outdoor Rooms - Extend Your Homes Square Footage by Going Outside!

If your looking for a great way to add square footage to your house - bring it outside! Add an outdoor room to your home and have a unique fun setting to entertain your friends and family. Our clients are bringing everything outdoors - fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, living rooms, fountains - even decorating with plush furnishings and lighting!

When designing your outdoor room, start by defining the function you want your room to serve and the foundation for your room. Do you just want to add square footage to your current living space? Do you want a pool as your focal point with separate living spaces around it, a separate kitchen space and living room and fireplace space? Do you want to create a private covered courtyard space complete with walls and a roof? Or the ultimate MAN room with built-in grill and kegorator, plush reclining chairs and outdoor big screen television!

Once you have decided how you want to use your room, start thinking about the foundation. Many rooms start with a patio - brick, paver, blue stone, travertine, or concrete. Once you have your foundation think about if you want walls - paver columns, brick walls, or wood fence - and a roof - trellis with vines, pavilion roof, pergola or just wide open sky.

Now that you have the structural details in place you can really get creative with all the other features you want to include in your outdoor room. Below is just a small list of what you can do. Use your imagination to create the perfect space for you!

Fireplaces - Bring your fireplace outside for those cool fall nights. You can do something as simple as a small round fire pit or as elaborate as a full blown fireplace with chimney and wood box. Both options can be run off natural gas (just like the ones inside) or the good old wood burning option.

Outdoor Kitchens and Grills - Create a grilling station by building your grill into your patio and creating nice paver countertops for preparing food. Or create an entire outdoor gourmet kitchen with a sink, refrigerator, grill, warming draws, kegorator and side burners - complete with granite counter tops! Even build in a bar to create outdoor seating for your guests to enjoy their meals or just as a place to sit while you are cooking dinner.

Outdoor Televisions - Build a great space to watch your favorite football or baseball games. With the invention of flat screen televisions, it is easy to put your television outside. Enjoy the sunshine while you enjoy the game.

Fountains and Waterfalls - Create a focal point for your room and add a fountain or a waterfall. They can be placed on walls, on the patio, in containers or in pools. You can even create a reflecting pond with a water fountain. Get creative and add a little running water to your room.

Pools and Hot Tubs - Don't forget a fun and relaxing feature to your outdoor rooms - pools. Create an area for a pool or hot tub. Relax on a raft in the hot summer sun or enjoy the cool nights under the stars in your hot tub.

Lighting - Outdoor lighting can add dramatic effect to a focal point, provide security or just extend the amount of time you have for enjoyment. There are so many options for lighting that there is bound to be something that fits the style and décor of your room.

Seating - Add some permanent seating to your room. Add seat walls around the edge of your room to provide extra seating for guests. You can even dress them up with seat cushions and pillows.

Whatever you decide, start with a plan so that your outdoor room serves your needs and fits your style!

Four Essentials to a Beautiful Yard Using Simple Garden Basics and Garden Decorative Items

With a full time job and 2 kids in the house, I understand that it's hard to find the time pursue the perfect backyard. It's frustrating to spend time and money on new plants, only to have them die over the winter or to survive but not flower the next year. It seems like all your hard work was for nothing. Whether it's time or money we don't want to waste either so here are the top four essentials to having the yard you want.

1. Prepare.

Preparation is the key and the most important of the group. Skip this one and I can guarantee you will be disappointed. The first thing to do is to evaluate your soil.

· Evaluate Your Soil - You can test it by squeezing a handful of soil and then rub it between your fingers. If the soil feels gritty, you have sandy soil. If it sticks together or feels slippery, it's clay. This will tell you something about how your garden uses water and nutrients. Sandy soil dries out quickly, so your plants roots dry out faster, too. In hard clay, the soil stays wet but it's difficult for the roots to absorb the water as well as nutrients and oxygen

· Loam - For most plants, loam is ideal. it contains clay, sand and silt, plus organic material such as decayed plant matter which will encourage the growth of microorganisms and bacteria, therefore providing food for your plants.

· Compost - Adding compost is the single best thing you can do for your soil. It adds bulk to sandy soil and helps it hold in moisture, while dense clay, will become lighter and fluffier. Compost provides nutrients for any type of soil. If you can't make your own compost, it can be purchased by the bag at any garden center. Apply compost by spreading evenly about 2 inches deep. Till or turn the soil to a depth of about 6 inches or so and put in your plants. It's also important to add about an inch of composted soil to tip each year.

2. Garden Decorative Items

After you've planted, adding a personal touch to your garden by adding garden decorative items will make it more enjoyable for you, your family and your guests. Here are some ideas to get your started.

· Put a garden bench in a niche or cranny of your garden for a quiet spot to sit and relax or to read or meditate.

· A fountain is a smart addition to garden. The sound of running water is proven to reduce stress.

· Garden statues and/or stakes are common garden decorative items that help brighten your landscape and add to it's sense of style. Gazing balls, sundials, and decorative planters all bring your design together for a total look.

· Don't forget your feathered friends. Garden decorative items include bird houses, bird baths, and bird feeders. You will enjoy watching the birds and might even be surprised by the species of birds you attract.

· Keep entertaining in mind. Outdoor living furniture, potted plants, and tabletop fountains make your outdoor environment ideal for you to entertain your guests.

3. Upkeep

Once you've got everything planted, there are only 3 things you need to focus on during the growing season; watering, fertilizing, and maintaining the foundation. Here are some tips to guide you.

Watering

Watering by hand is the best system to keeping your plants healthy. Sprinklers just don't do the best job. Use sprinklers only when you are unable to water by hand.

· It's best to water in the morning but evening will do if that is the only time that you have to do it. Never water during the heat of the day. The sun will burn the plants.

· Over watering is a common mistake. Only water when the soil is dry to a depth of two inches; more than that is over watering.

· Start watering at one end of your garden and use a nozzle with a gentle flow. Water each plant at its base for about 30 seconds then move on to the next plant.

· When you have watered all the plants, repeat and go around one more time.

· Check the top 6 inches of soil. When it's wet to 6 inches, you've watered enough.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer is a necessary component to the upkeep of your garden however it can be easy to overdo fertilizing. Nature has its own process of feeding and if you planted with good compost, you probably do not need extra fertilizer. If in doubt, take a sample to your local extension office. For a small fee, the lab will test your soil and tell you what type of nutrients your soil needs.

Keeping it Clean

Maintaining the structure of your garden is also important. Keeping a clean garden makes your hard work more rewarding and regular upkeep keeps it from becoming too overwhelming. Pulling out weeds, keeping your plants in shape by keeping them pruned, and removing spent flowers are all that is really required.. You might want to try using a layer of bark mulch to keeping the weeding to a minimum. Mulch keeps the soil cool and retains moisture making intervals between watering longer.

4. Winterizing

In the fall, rake leaves and put them in your compost pile if you are composting. Protect tender shrubs by covering them with burlap. If you live in an area where the temperatures get to freezing, after the ground freezes, put mulch around your dormant plants. This will keep the soil temperatures even, protecting the roots from frequent freezing and thawing. Another benefit of this is that as the mulch breaks down, it will add nutrients to the soil.

Don't forget about your garden tools. Cleaning them and then oiling them with WD-40 will make them ready for use next spring after they have been stored all the winter.

That's all there is to it. Anyone can have a green thumb by following these simple suggestions. You will be pleasantly surprised at the garden you have begun and in just a few short years your garden will flourish into a beautiful landscape. Happy Gardening!

Landscaping For Beauty and the Environment - Landscape Lighting

A Night Landscape

As the sun disappears, no longer does your garden have to fade into the darkness not to be seen until the dawn sun rises again. Landscaping with lights can bring your night-time garden alive again with dramatic shade and light. Landscape lighting is not only functional, but can make a dramatic difference in the visual appeal of your home. Using outdoor lighting will create a sense of life and drama in a front or backyard all year-round. When Springs brings new growth and blooms or when the ice shivers on tree limbs - imagine the interplay of light and shadow in them.

Dusk and Early Evening Gardens

One of the most pleasant and relaxing things to do after a hard days work is to sit in the garden on a warm Spring or Summers evening, sipping a crisp white wine from California or an ice cold beer. Landscaping with lights makes this possible

This is enhanced with subtle landscape lighting that allows you to both see what you are doing and also enjoy the aspects of your garden and yard from a different perspective as shadow and light interplay with foliage, flowers, features and the structure of the trees and shrubs.

The Beauty of the Night

Staying indoors means we too often we miss out on what evening brings - quiet (or quieter!), a sense of ease at days end, a closure to work that is natural and peaceful. Garden lights also turn the outdoors into a great entertainment area. Using landscape lighting allows us more freedom to utilize our yards and gardens more - allowing the life growing there to enhance our sense of wellbeing. In the case of many who work long hours, sometimes it is the only time to enjoy the garden and landscape lighting can literally shine the spotlight on your landscape design. Some aspects of your landscaping will take on a special beauty at night, if properly illuminated. Lighting up walkways and 'hidden from view' areas of the home is a good safety and security measure and a deterrent to burglars.

Summary of Good Reasons for Outdoor Lighting

o It is decorative
o It offers a sense of welcome and ease of passage for visitors to your home.
o It highlights or accents the architectural features of your house
o Adds interest - with the interplay of shadow and light
o It provides security and safety (around pools and ponds etc)
o It enhances your property's value.

Part 5b "Painting with Lights" - see next article

Part 5c "Think Green" - see following the above

Final articles in this series are Landscape Architects and Value Adding with Landscaping

Garden Wedding Decorations - How to Decorate the Outdoor Wedding of Your Dreams

As the weather gets warmer and spring arrives, so do the many wedding invitations that come in the mail this time of year. June is a very popular month to get married, especially if the bride and groom are planning a garden ceremony. While there are many pros and cons to outdoor weddings, the results are usually spectacular. After all, what else would you expect when Mother Nature herself provides the setting? Decorating a garden wedding can be a minimal task or a major undertaking, depending on size and style of wedding desired. In this article, we'll cover some important considerations in planning and decorating the garden wedding of your dreams.

A small personal ceremony is what many couples are choosing today. In a smaller ceremony, the bride and groom can really be the focal point of the event. Often times, decorations for a small garden wedding are very minimal, with the bride's flowers setting the tone for simplicity and color scheme. If you're having your ceremony in a private garden or at your home, you may have the ability to plant some flowers in-ground early in the season, to assure that you have just the right colors and textures for your special day. This is a beautiful and cost effective alternative that only requires a little planning.

If you are planning a larger garden wedding, then the amount of decorating you'll need to do will likely depend on the outdoor location you choose. Some locations require very little in the way of additional decorations, such as a rose garden in full bloom, for example. If you are choosing a public location, you will likely want to add to the existing flowers. Some areas of your wedding to give attention to when decorating include the wedding alter, guest seating area, and the entrance to the event.

Typically, the wedding altar should be the focal point of the event. One great option for decorating the altar would be to include an overhead structure. If your outdoor location has a small gazebo, this can serve your purpose well. A good alternative might be a wedding arbor or pergola, because they are relatively inexpensive and add a lot of visual punch to the altar decoration. If you prefer a backdrop to an overhead structure, consider potted trees, urns of flowers, or possibly a row of free-standing patio trellises covered in flowers or greenery. If possible, try to select decorations that can be used later in your new home's yard or garden. These fixtures will become very special to you over the years and will serve as a memento of your wedding day.

The seating area for your guests should be configured so that the wedding altar is easily viewed from every seat. For decorations in this area, chairs can be adorned with bows or flowers. You can also use ribbons, roping, pots of flowers, or even solar landscape lights to surround the seating area. Outdoor lighting is a particularly nice addition for an evening wedding.

Last but not least, don't neglect the entrance to your wedding. Even a garden wedding must have some kind of entrance, and the decorations here should set the tone for the rest of the event. Create a pathway to your wedding location from the parking area by marking the entrance in an impressive way. An arbor covered with flowers or greenery for your guests to walk through is always a beautiful addition. You can also flank the entrance with pots filled with flowers, free standing trellises, or bubbling fountains. For an extra touch of class, have your ushers escort guests from the entry point to their seats.

Garden weddings are a great option for spring and summer events, and they offer a lot in terms of versatility. Decorating a garden wedding can be extremely simple or very elaborate, depending on the type of event the couple desires. No matter how basic or extravagant you choose to go with your decorating, you can be sure that your outdoor wedding will be nothing less than spectacular.