When I talk to people about LED lights, the response is often the same: “That’s very exciting. LEDs are really cool. But they’re so expensive.” While you can say the prices of LEDs are going down, and you can promise that once you buy an LED it will save loads of energy, this doesn’t change the fact that many LED lights and light fixtures still cost a pretty penny.

But finally, LEDs are becoming less expensive. Today, you can buy a high quality LED A lamp for well under $50, and many kinds of LED fixtures for around that price as well. For today’s blog post, I’ve come up with a list of my 10 favorite LED task lights that cost less than 60 bucks each.  If you’ve never used an LED light fixture before, give one of these a whirl and I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

1. The LED Flexible Work Light – $29.90

How to Choose the Right Sized Chandelier for Your Home

Chandeliers are designed to float in a room as an important part of the decor. Too large and this fixture will overpower the space. Too small and it will look out of place as an afterthought.

“Placing a chandelier that is too small in a space is likely the biggest mistake because it’s very noticeable,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and assistant professor of interior design at the University of Kentucky. “Great designers, therefore, tend to make their decisions on fixtures that may appear slightly larger than might be appropriate. It’s generally always best to make the mistake on a fixture being too big than too small.”

Capitol Lighting offers a wide range of modern chandeliers to crystal and Italian chandelier styles to choose from.  Whether you are purchasing an Italian chandelier or a modern chandelier, size matters! To make sure your chandelier is the right size for the room in which it will hang, consider the following questions:

1. How high is your ceiling? Taller ceilings demand larger chandeliers. 4. What is the form and design of the chandelier? Light, airy fixtures tend to look larger.

To have all of your chandelier questions answered, visit one of our seven Capitol Lighting showrooms today!  

By Hannah Haseloff

Candles can be a homeowner’s best friend, especially around the holidays. They can add style to a room, create mood lighting, and make a house smell delicious.  They are also useful to have during those emergency power outages and can help you find your way in the dark.  With the introduction of electric candles, candles are increasing in popularity. But what is the difference? Are electric candles safer than traditional ones? Which is better? Maybe our guide to electric candles can help you to decide for yourself!

One drawback to traditional candles is the fire hazard that comes with having an open flame. Knocking over a candle or placing flammable objects too close can have disastrous effects. Between 2007 and 2011, there were over 10,630 started by candles in the home. Although electric candles present much less of a fire hazard, they can still be dangerous. Small children can easily remove the button sized batteries from the candles and swallow them. It is a good idea to tape over the battery access panel and keep the candles out of reach.

Candles are great for setting mood lighting and traditional ceremonies. In an emergency, candles can be used as a source of light. Traditional candles produce more light than electric ones; however, electric candles still provide a good source of light.

Both electric and traditional candles can be used as a calming agent using aromatherapy.

Electric candles can be placed on a timer and can be set to turn on automatically.

One nice thing about electric candles is that they won’t melt or ever lose their shape. Traditional candles can create a mess when they melt or be rendered useless because of their distorted shape.

Electric candles not only have a variety of fragrances, but can also serve as an insect repellent. For people who love candles, but do not love the scent, unscented electric candles are also available.

One advantage of electric candles is that they come in more variety than traditional candles. Another advantage is that electric candles be placed in areas were traditional candles could not because of the fire hazard. For more candle styling tips, visit My Home Life Magazine Pinterest board.

Source:

There are few things more chilling than a home burglary. Imagine a stranger rifling through and stealing your possessions – to say nothing of the danger if you or your family members are home at the time of the break-in. Fortunately, you can take steps to deter potential thieves by using outdoor lighting to increase the visibility around your home. Today's inexpensive LED and smart technologies mean that you can create a system that is attractive, efficient and responsive without breaking the bank. Protect your home and your family with some of these outdoor lighting ideas.

A Light in the Darkness

Your outdoor lighting system should include lights near any doors and windows where a person could enter the house. "The biggest thing for any person who can burglarize a home is the ability to secrete movements," a Chicago Police Department spokesperson told the Chicago tribune. "This means darkness.”

Many outdoor lighting systems are easy to install on your own, although a few may require the help of an electrician for new wiring. LED bulbs are an attractive option because they use only about a quarter of the energy of incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times as long. Some outdoor lights come equipped with a built-in security camera that will not only light up to scare off any would-be burglars, but also capture their image so you can notify police of the suspicious activity.

Stand-alone solar panel lights are a good option for walkways, although they shouldn't be relied on as a home security measure since variations in weather mean they might not always provide enough light to deter a prowler.

Getting Smart About Your Lighting

Smart lighting systems let you control your entire home’s lighting setup from your smartphone, even when you're away from the house. You can adjust timers, motion sensors, dimming functions or manually instruct the lights to come on or off. Certain smart lighting and security systems will automatically alert you when someone is at the door and allow you to talk to them through your phone no matter where you are in the world.

With smart technology, you can also add an extra layer of deterrence by having indoor lights come on for a period of time when you are away, giving the appearance that somebody is home. If you already have a lighting system in place, you can upgrade it to a smart system by swapping in some wireless smart switches and installing a control hub.

A Safer and More Attractive Residence

Lighting up your outdoor space is more than just a way to deter burglars. It can also make your yard look more attractive at night and help visitors safely navigate their way to your door.

If you need help planning or installing an outdoor security lighting scheme, contact your local electrician right away.