Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips

Published on: 01 November 2017 Last Updated on: 22 February 2020

When you think about landscaping, you probably think about visiting a nursery to pick out plants or planting flowers to create a beautiful accent garden. Flowers, plants, and trees are only one part of the equation, however. You also need to think about how your landscape will look after the sun goes down. Residential landscape lighting can enhance the look of your home after dark, drawing attention to key architectural details of your house and highlighting the beautiful plants that surround it. Use these tips to boost your home’s curb appeal today.

Understand that landscape lighting goes beyond solar path lights

Lighting up your landscape involves far more than just sticking a few solar lights along the edge of your sidewalk and calling it good. Instead, it is about creating a specific feeling in your yard after the sun goes down. When done correctly, landscape lighting can transform your outdoor space, turning it into a beautiful accent for your home. This type of lighting is not only meant to be functional but also to enhance the look and feel of your home.

Decide what you hope to achieve

Before you start picking out lights and deciding where to place them, come up with an overall plan for what you hope to achieve. Are you trying to make your yard safer by lighting up your sidewalk or patio area? Do you want to create a well-lit area where you can entertain? Do you want to draw attention to certain areas of your home, highlighting its unique architecture? Are you trying to improve the security of your property? By identifying your objectives before you begin, you can do a much better job of designing a lighting setup that will help you achieve your goals.

Take care of an essential lighting first

There are certain parts of your yard that should definitely be lit. Here are some of the key components that you should include in your overall design:

- Pathway lights. Any sidewalks, pathways, or entrances should be well lit to make it easy for people to see.
- Driveway lighting. You should incorporate plenty of light in your driveway area so that you can get to and from your car with ease.
- Stairs. If you have stairs leading up to your home, make sure that they are well illuminated so that people don’t trip and fall.
- Patios or decks. Any outdoor gathering area should incorporate lighting so that it can be used after dark.
- Trees. If you have any trees that you want to highlight, you can easily do it with lighting.
- Key architectural features. You can use lighting to enhance the architecture of your home. If you have any water features on your property, you should also consider lighting them.

Choose LED lights

Rather than going with halogen bulbs, opt for LED lighting. Not only do these bulbs last a long time but they are extremely energy-efficient.

A single bulb can last as long as 100,000 hours. That means that you won’t have to replace them often – an important consideration since outdoor lighting fixtures are not always easily accessible.

LED lights can also stand up to the elements, making them perfect for use outdoors. No matter how bad the weather gets, you shouldn’t have to worry about your lighting.

Another advantage of LED lights is that they are extremely versatile. You can change everything from the color of the light to its intensity. This can allow you to create a completely customized look for your outdoor space.

Incorporate multiple types of lighting to create an interesting design

Your residential landscape lighting design should include ambient lighting, which is lighting that shines over the entire space. It should also incorporate task lighting, which is used to provide illumination for tasks like cooking. Finally, it should also include accent lighting, which is used to draw attention to certain features of your yard. For instance, you could put a spotlight on a tree to draw attention to it. Incorporating all three types of lighting will help create a balanced, professional look that will set your yard apart from others in your neighborhood.

Read More:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

The Kratom Botanical Family

The Kratom tree is a tropical evergreen native to Southeast Asia. Officially called Mitragyna speciosa, the Kratom tree is a member of the Rubiaceae botanical family and thrives in warm, humid climates. If you’re making a kratom strains comparison to see which type of Kratom offers the best properties for you, it’s worth taking a more in-depth look at the Kratom botanical family. Here is a simple guide for those new to Kratom and seeking further information about the botanical group this versatile leaf comes from. What Are the Most Important Rubiaceae Botanicals? While the Rubiaceae botanical family is vast, there are a few species that have numerous practical applications. These family members are known for their uses in medicine, recreational use, and consumption. From Kratom powder to medicines, this plant has vivid uses. Mitragyna speciosa The Kratom plant is where the leaves for Kratom powder and capsules are harvested. These recreational plant products can boost your motivation, improve your outlook, and even reduce temporary muscle aches or tension, like after a workout. While traditionally used in Southeast Asia, where the tree originates, Kratom is gaining traction in the Western world as its many wellness-promoting uses become better known. Coffea plants Coffee plants are trees or small shrubs found in tropical Asia and parts of Africa. There are over 120 species native to these areas, but only three are safe for human consumption: Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora, and Coffea liberica. While the leaves of Coffea arabica are poisonous, the seeds can be harvested, dried, and roasted to produce coffee beans, which are then ground to be used in hot or cold beverages. Uncaria gambir The Uncaria gambir is a wild shrub that grows in China and parts of Southeast Asia. This plant produces the substance gambier, which is used as a brown dye and tanning agent in leather production. Cinchona Quinine, which comes from the bark of the Cinchona, is integral to human medicine because it’s been used to treat malaria since the 1600s. As of 2006, it is no longer officially recommended by the World Health Organization for malaria treatment, but its economic impact is historically significant. All cinchona trees are native to South America. Carapichea ipecacuanha The roots of the Carapichea ipecacuanha provide ipecac, which has been used medicinally to induce vomiting after poisoning or drug overdose. Physical Properties of Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae botanical family consists of shrubs, some trees, and a couple of herb species. The base of these plants is a branched root system, and they have an erect stem. Many members of this botanical group also have floral characteristics, and for the most part, are hermaphrodites. This means the plant’s reproductive parts (complete or partial) are usually linked to both the female and male sexes. Others within the family are unisexual, though this is rare. The plants within the Rubiaceae family are commonly referred to as the bedstraw, madder, or coffee family and are recognizable for their simplistic opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules. The Rubiaceae botanicals also have endospermic seeds, which means there is an endosperm inside the mature seed. It’s a fleshy, oily storage organ that contains the reserve food. What Are the Characteristics of the Kratom Botanical Family? Within this family of flowering plants, over 13,000 species of trees, herbs, and shrubs serve various purposes for physical wellness, consumption, ornamentation, and more. The Rubiaceae are the fifth largest flowering plant family worldwide. A similarity between the many members of the Rubiaceae botanical family is the alkaloids that give each plant its unique properties. Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) is known for the alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, both of which interact with receptors in the brain to deliver the mental and emotional benefits that Kratom is known for. These alkaloids are incredibly potent but can become less intense if they’re broken down by mixing Kratom powder with boiling water since the extreme heat causes alkaloid instability. In the Coffea arabica plant, you’ll find the most popular purine alkaloid, caffeine, which is enjoyed daily by people across the globe for its neurologically stimulating effects. In Carapichea ipecacuanha, the alkaloids present are called emetine and cephaeline, and it is the alkaloids that are responsible for inducing vomiting when people consume ipecac. In the Cinchona bark, quinine is the most potent alkaloid. The traits that many families of the Rubiaceae species offer can be broken down into three primary categories: Medicinal plants Many plants from the Rubiaceae family possess medicinal properties and have historically been useful in the medical field. Cinchona is perhaps the most notable of this group. Beverage plants The most popular Rubiaceae plant used for beverages is Coffea arabica, which is the source of coffee beans. Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, can also be included in this grouping because of its popularity as a tea. It’s delicious when mixed with orange juice and other fruity beverages as well. Culinary plants While not considered staple crops, plants in the Rubiaceae family have been consumed by various cultures during famine or rituals due to their complex nutritional profile. African peach, Nauclea latifolia, with its deep red, sweet flesh, is often cooked and eaten as a side dish, consumed raw, or dried and used as a seasoning. They have a high concentration of antioxidants and are purported to have medicinal applications for managing blood sugar levels and as a digestive aid. Ornamental plants The Rubiaceae family also has plenty of floral botanicals that make beautiful decorative pieces for the home. Rubia, Gardenia, and Mussaenda are just a few that fall into this category. Dye plants Botanicals have been used as a natural source of fabric dye for centuries, and the Rubiaceae family creates a plethora of colors. Rose madder makes a bold red hue, while gambier gives a deep brown color and morinda citrifolia produces a rich yellow. Understanding the Kratom Botanical Family The Rubiaceae botanical family have been a crucial part of civilization for centuries, providing medicinal, culinary, and decorative plants for people in numerous cultures. Kratom, derived from Mitragynia speciosa, has recently gained popularity among the wellness community for its therapeutic benefits ranging from calming an agitated nervous system, to assisting in faster post-workout recovery, to promoting increased alertness throughout the day. By understanding the historical uses and biological properties of Kratom and its cousins in the Rubiaceae family, you can learn more about how Kratom products interact with your body and purchase Kratom with confidence. Read Also: 5 Ways To Use Medicinal Mushroom Extracts Do You Need A Restaurant Consultant to Open A Restaurant? Why Engraved Gifts Are the Perfect Gifts to Show That You Care Top 5 Health Benefits Of Taking Daily Showers According To Medical Experts

More Motivation, Less Distraction: How To Pack For Temporary Storage

You’re among one of the thousands of Americans who find themselves faced with packing for temporary storage. You're not alone... Maybe you're staging your home for a quicker sale, making room for a home office or a temporary classroom amid the Pandemic, or desire the peace of mind that comes from a space that is free of clutter. With so many changes in the worldwide landscape, self-storage has become an asset to homeowners and apartment dwellers. Temporary storage offers flexibility while creating room in your home and free space in your mind. All of those distractions not only lead to lower productivity but also lead to feelings of overwhelm that disempower us from reaching our goals. Feeling encumbered by stuff is a growing trend since so many of us are faced with how many things we actually have during a shelter in place! The good news is that by utilizing temporary storage, you don't have to wait for a bigger home to create that spacious feeling. Whether you're packing for temporary storage due to a transition in your personal life, or just want to free up some space in your home in you home, it can feel overwhelming to do the research necessary to begin the process. How To Pack For Temporary Storage? Here is a full-step guide to pack for temporary storage. read the points below to know everything about it in detail. Clearing some space in your home would also help you concentrate on doing something meaningful to your life. Step 1: Assess the space you have Create a flow in your home. Your things should fit neatly into the space you have. Although it may be tough to decide what you need, storing things offsite means that your stuff is not gone forever! Get Rid of the clutter! Clutter can be overwhelming to deal with when starting to pack your belongings for storage. Once it's out of the way, it makes the packing process so much easier. Even a few hours of decluttering can make things run a lot smoother. Try getting the family involved, and make it a game! Read Also: Moving home checklist: What you need to know Step 2: Categorize & Inventory Making lists as you categorize your items for temporary storage will make it easier for you to find them as you need them. As you gather items from each category, make a list, or take a photo of what you pack in each box. Label your boxes with a number, and mark your photograph or list with the same number for a visual index. Having a list and documentation is also an asset in the event that an unfortunate or unexpected event should occur and you need to file an insurance claim. Things you use seasonally Your surfboard, your kid's inflatable pool, or your Bermuda shorts won't be of much use when it's snowing outside! Group all seasonal items by season, including decorations, clothing, and footwear together. When these items are packed together, and labeled, it's so simple to swap out a few boxes at the change of season. Sentimental Items You Don't Need Right Away High School Yearbooks, Stacks of your kid's artwork, and other items that have value but are rarely used in daily life can be prepared for temporary storage, so you can access them when you need them! Things You Need, Just Not Right Now Heirloom furniture, boxes of books, or clothes -you're saving for the next baby can all be stored off-site! Step 3: Gather Materials and Pack Following your inventory, pack items of each category together following these instructions for the safekeeping of your items. When packing, it is important to consider that life changes quickly, and although you are packing for temporary storage, you may enjoy the spaciousness this brings and decide to keep your items packed away longer than 3-4 months! Packing items to be stored indefinitely not only safeguards your items but can offer you peace of mind in the event that plans change. Since things often take longer than expected, you can rest assured knowing that your valuable items are safe. Be sure to use sturdy boxes, and always, always make sure the bottom is taped securely shut! Don’t overpack boxes, and make sure boxes can be comfortably lifted and moved. Pack lighter items on the top so they do not crush the contents beneath them. Fill any empty space in the box so it does not collapse. Furniture Clean each piece of furniture, removing any dust, debris, or food remnants. Condition any wood or leather items, and be sure to vacuum all upholstery. Disassemble any furniture. Often the assembly instructions are long gone, so it is helpful to take photos of each step along the way, documenting hardware as you go. When it comes time to reassemble, you can review your photos in reverse, making reassembly a breeze! Use a drop cloth, or moving blankets, wrap your items carefully for transport and storage. While bubble wrap is useful for protecting mirrors and glass, avoid using plastic coverings directly on your furniture. Plastic can trap moisture, which can cause wood to warp and upholstery to mold or mildew. Use only white drop cloths to cover wood or upholstery, as the dyes can bleed in humid environments leading to discoloration of your furniture. Electronics Remove any dust or debris from the item using a dry cloth. If you are storing an electronic device that stores data, be sure to back up any important information before packing it away. Secure packing of electronics is so important! In the event of any bumps or drops, you can be at ease knowing your electronics are secure in their packaging. Remove all cords, and wind them into a circle, securing with a tie. If possible, pack electronic items in their original packaging. If that is long gone, use a box slightly larger than your item, and create a shock-absorbing buffer firmly around the item using packing peanuts or styrofoam. Avoid using any plastics that will trap moisture, and be sure to include several silica packs to absorb any humidity. Always keep your electronics upright. Mark an arrow on the box with the correct direction to ensure that your item is stored and transported safely. Once your device is placed securely in the box, you can place the corresponding cords on top of the packing, and tape your box closed securely. Clothing & Specialty Worn Items Books, Papers, and Photographs Since mold is a common issue when storing books, and papers, it's recommended to ensure they are totally dry. If you live in a humid climate. Paper objects can be stored in smaller, opaque plastic totes to ensure they are kept free from moisture and light, and rodents. Pack larger books lying flat, and store smaller books upright, as you would on your bookshelf. Never store a book on its spine, as it can cause damage to the structural integrity of the book and damage it. Protect your photographs by storing them in an archival album before storing to ensure your photos will be around for generations. To store larger photographs, carefully place them between layers of cardboard, and lie flat. Instruments, Art, and Other Delicate Objects To properly store delicate objects, it is important to have a facility tha is climate controlled, even for temporary storage. Make sure all packing is secure, keeping packing materials out of direct contact with any painted areas, wood accents, or delicate features. You May Also Like: Small Kitchen Storage Ideas Step 4: Finding A Storage Space It can be difficult to conceptualize how much storage space you actually need. Many self-storage websites offer guides that can help you visualize how your things will fit in the space. Some storage units are multi-level, so be sure to ask about accessibility if you need a space that is on the ground level. If you are storing any sensitive items like instruments, electronics, or antiques, be sure to rent a climate-controlled unit. When people think of storage, the image that comes to mind is often a traditional storage facility. While traditional storage is an excellent option for many, there are alternatives that can offer some flexibility, convenience, or some sizable savings. Maybe you have a spare vehicle that never gets used sitting in your garage. Consider storing your vehicle, renting extra space from someone in your neighborhood, or asking a family member or friend to store belongings for you.

9 Things need to Know When Moving to a New Neighborhood

Moving to a new neighborhood can be daunting. Just because a neighborhood looks inviting does not necessarily mean peace of mind. Ever gone phone shopping without knowing the specifications and how it will meet your needs? Shopping blind means you may go home with something less than ideal for your needs. The same goes for looking for a new neighborhood to move in. You can’t call your agent after moving in a couple of days to say you do not like the place. Before you sign a lease or mortgage do your homework first. Thanks to the internet, you don’t have to worry about how to find a job based on your geolocation. I mean, online Ghanaian job postings for employers have facilitated the search for jobs. Nevertheless, searching for the neighborhood of your dreams means you have to consider a lot of other things. For instance, you might want to consider safety, amenities, architectural style, just to name a few. These are some questions to ask yourself before moving to a new neighborhood. These questions will help you to streamline your search in finding the perfect neighborhood with your specifications. Read More: Are You Planning To Relocate To Canada? Question 1 Does the neighborhood have sidewalks? Reason A lot of people do not think of sidewalks when searching for a new neighborhood. Sidewalks actually say a lot about the neighborhood. Sidewalks suggest an active presence of your neighbors. It means amenities are easily accessible either by walking or jogging. Sidewalks also mean the neighborhood is safer. This is because you are less likely to get hit by a car when taking a stroll. The safety of sidewalks makes it extremely desirable especially if you have children and pets. Question 2 Do you have to take care of taxes and other expenses? Reason Most often than not, we focus on buying a home but forget additional expenses. These costs should be an important factor in your decision to move to a new neighborhood. For instance, you may be responsible for your pricey home owner's association fees when moving to a condo or country club. Some of these fees come with rules so you need to understand these before making a decision. If the association forbids parking of motorcycles in driveways and you happen to own one, it is time to consider. Property taxes are another important cost people overlook particularly if you escrow and pay as part of your mortgage payment. Property taxes are taxed based on the value of your home. Therefore, they can increase if you escrow which changes your monthly payment. Prepare yourself to make sure your budget can handle such increment. On the other hand, if you decide to move to a declining housing market, your taxes may decrease. It has its own perks as well. Moving to such a neighborhood means less access to good public services. Question 3 Does the neighborhood have amenities for you and/or your family to indulge in activities? Reason This is a pretty obvious question. Whether you’re single, have a family with children or is retired with your spouse pretty much sums up what you should look out for in a neighborhood. You will want a new neighborhood that has everything to suit your lifestyle. For families with children, they might be interested in communities with parks, a swimming pool, libraries, and others. A young single person with a dog might want a neighborhood with a dog park or bike trails. If you enjoy a good movie at the cinema and you have to drive a long distance to access one from the new neighborhood you might want to reconsider. On the other hand, a new neighborhood may not have some amenities. You will have to compromise in some situations. Make sure the necessary basic amenities are within your reach. Question 4 Does the neighborhood provide you with convenience? Reason Convenience is walking to a shopping center nearby and accomplishing several errands within a very short period. Convenience is getting easy access to stores you frequently visit. The biggest convenience is the ease to commute to work daily. In other words, the more convenient your neighborhood is, the more it affects your happiness. Moving to a neighborhood that has your favorite stores within reach is a plus. Not only do you save money on gas, but you also get to patronize these services at your own time. Ask yourself this, do I have to double my commute trip to work or to school if I move to this neighborhood? Is it really worth that trouble? Question 5 What are your plans for the future? Reason The neighborhood may look great in the present but may be liable to change in the future. In a neighborhood you move into, living in the here and now may be a good outlook on life. However, it does not necessarily mean a good neighbourhood. Check with your local planning office about future developments in your area. It is because you may not want to purchase a new home only to find out it’s in the middle of a new community college. Visiting the planning office and inform you of any future construction project that will affect the neighborhood. So you like the quiet private nature of the neighborhood with mature trees lined up along each side. Probably in the future, these trees will be cut down to build another subdivision. So even if your lot is not directly affected, it may impact the serene environment you’ve come to love. All this may affect your decision of moving to the neighborhood. Question 6 Is the neighborhood situated in a noisy place or has a bad smell? Reason Your well being and health is one important factor when choosing a neighborhood to move into. Visiting the neighborhood several times during the day is extremely important. On paper, the place might be a perfect fit for you, but visiting the place will reveal its secrets. The perfectly lined trees behind the house may be hiding a major road. Train tracks, restaurants, clubs and all that create noise that may be a menace. These bothersome noises will never go away. So while you may get used to them is a gamble. In addition, in the eventuality that you want to move from the place, it is usually harder to sell a place with so much noise. While you are listening, you may want to get a good whiff of the air in the neighborhood. A stagnant lake, sewage problems, and even a corner BBQ joint can create some odors that do not go away. Question 7 What is the crime rate in the neighborhood? Reason This is for your own sake and safety. You do not want your new home to feel like you are trapped in a war zone. It is also easier to know the crime rate of the neighborhood as they are many websites available for that. This makes it especially easier for you to decide if you are stuck between two neighborhood choices. If you find a neighborhood you love and to your dismay, you find it has a questionable crime rat, you should speak to your local police office for more details. It could be just a small area away from your new home acting as a crime magnet. Question 8 Are they good schools? Reason This is a very important question to ask if you have children. The presence of public and private schools from kindergarten to high schools affect the value of a home. If you do not have children, it is very important to understand that the quality of the school system in that area will affect the resale of your home. Also, good schools may add unnecessary costs to your rent if you do not have children. If you do have children, research about the school by seeking advice from fellow parents in the neighborliness. Most schools give tours as well, so might want to take advantage of this. Also, inquire about school activities and extra-curricular activities the school permits. Question 9 What is the neighborhood culture? Reason So you’ve found a neighborhood that fits your budget, has low crime rates, great reviews and all that, what of the culture? Your dream neighbourhood isn’t about statistics and information, is about how the place makes you feel. If you are used to a hip urban neighborhood, you may not be happy in a quiet, family-oriented neighborhood. Doing so means you have to compromise on some things if that’s your wish. The bottom line is, you won’t be happy moving to a neighborhood that does not fit your lifestyle. Make sure the neighborhood you choose has the right culture, then other pieces may fall into place. Read More: Dalhousie, A Perfect Place To Unplug The Anxiety Of Rat Race Of Modern Cities Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips 5 Essential Tips To Designing A Beautiful Front Yard Garden List Of Most Durable Kitchen Flooring

Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips

Understand that landscape lighting goes beyond solar path lights

Decide what you hope to achieve

Take care of an essential lighting first

Incorporate multiple types of lighting to create an interesting design

Tips for Selecting a Window Frame Color

Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean in One Hour or Less

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

How to Choose a Gift That Matches Their Personality Perfectly

Discover the Best Carrier Oils for Hair & Skin

How Modern Technology is Transforming Dental Care Solutions

What to Expect from Upcoming IPOs in the Next Quarter

Related

The Kratom Botanical Family

More Motivation, Less Distraction: How To Pack For Temporary Storage

9 Things need to Know When Moving to a New Neighborhood

Create A Stunning Outdoor Space With These Residential Landscape Lighting Tips

Understand that landscape lighting goes beyond solar path lights

Decide what you hope to achieve

Take care of an essential lighting first

Incorporate multiple types of lighting to create an interesting design

Share this Article

Tips for Selecting a Window Frame Color

Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean in One Hour or Less

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related