15 Jun

Using Permanent Lighting to Shine in Dark Times

Do you wish you could brighten up the mood of your neighborhood? In these dark times of a global pandemic, many people are isolating themselves and keeping their contact with others to a minimum. As summer goes on, people are missing their neighborhood barbecues and block parties. Everyone is feeling isolated, depressed, and scared.

Sometimes it can help boost everyone’s mood if they just know that they are not alone. You can help them feel as though you are there celebrating summer with them with a well-planned, permanent lighting scheme for your home that the entire neighborhood can enjoy. Read More

15 Apr

Why Lighting Makes You Awesome

Outdoor lighting might be an afterthought for some, but truly awesome people instinctively know that the right outdoor lighting is essential. Installing permanent lighting outside your home isn’t just about making it safer or increasing a home’s value. There are so many awesome things you can do when you have the right outdoor lighting scheme.

Cookouts

Everyone knows the guy hosting the cookout is the most awesome of the group. With outdoor lighting, you can host cookouts any time of the day or night. You could host a cookout that starts with lunch, segues into a sports game, then goes through dinner. You could also cook out no matter what time of year it was, even if it was dark at 5 P.M. Read More

15 Apr

The Best Outdoor Lighting for Handicap Accessibility

With a little specialized knowledge, you can create an outdoor lighting design that is both beautiful and handicap accessible. There are just a few key aspects of your outdoor lighting design you need to keep in mind to create that accessibility. It is important to pay attention to the glare of your lighting, how well-lit your pathways are, and how easily switches can be accessed.

Reducing Glare From Lighting

Glare causes visibility issues for those who use wheelchairs. The reason for this is that many people who install lights hanging from cabinets, coming from the ground, or hanging downwards are thinking of the visual effect for people of an average height who are standing. Many lights can, accidentally, be placed in a way that shines light directly into the eyes of someone traveling through your outdoor space in a wheelchair.

To reduce the glare coming from your outdoor lighting design, keep the various eyeline levels of people in mind when placing lights. You can position some lights at a lower level so they won’t shine in anyone’s eyes. Frost-tinted bulbs are another way to reduce glare and make your space more handicap accessible. Read More

15 Jan

Commit to Better Lighting This Year

Outdoor lighting is an important feature of your home. Not only does it provide safety, but it can also highlight the beauty of your home and landscaping. A comprehensive and unique outdoor lighting system also adds home value. There are several different techniques you can use to improve the safety and attractiveness of your home.

Hardscape Lighting

Walkways, stairs, decks, patios, and driveways should all be well lit at night to prevent falls. Lighting along the hardscape to project onto the pathway is common for walkways and driveways. You can also get lighting to shine down from above. This type of lighting offers the most security against intruders or trespassers. Read More

20 Aug

How to Use Your Outdoor Lights to Honor Important Initiatives This Fall

Every year, Choose Hope and other organizations encourage Americans to learn more about important causes by representing each initiative with a ribbon color. However, wearing a colored shirt and adding a ribbon into your Facebook profile picture aren’t the only ways to spread awareness for a cause.

You can also use the lighting outside of your home or business to draw attention to a cause you want to champion. Changing the color of your outdoor lights for a week or month will encourage neighbors and visitors to ask about your lighting theme. This will give you the opportunity to spread awareness and encourage others to learn more about your cause. Read More

14 Jun

The Importance of Using Timers with Your Outdoor Lighting Landscape

There are some elements of your daily routine that you simply need to be present for: your toothbrush can’t brush without your mouth, and your cereal won’t make it very far unless you’re there to eat it. But you definitely don’t need to be present each day to ensure that your outdoor lights turn on and off.

Regardless of the size and scope of your outdoor lighting landscape, you can (and should!) use timers to automate your lighting schedule. This is more important than you might realize! Read More

15 May

Adding Outdoor Lighting for Your Summer Parties

Summer is a time of celebration! Every warm evening with a late sunset is a good enough reason to stay outside and relax with a cool drink. Of course, summer is also the season of barbecues, graduation parties, swim parties, and so may other festive gatherings. If you want to make the most of your outdoor space this summer, whether just for yourself or for all of your guests as well, the right type of decorative outdoor lighting can transform the atmosphere of your backyard.

Patio Stringers Are the Secret to Great Outdoor Lighting Read More

15 Feb

How Does a Lighting Expert Become a Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician?

Creating an attractive outdoor lighting landscape is not nearly as simple as just installing a few light bulbs and exciting LED colors. In fact, designing, installing, and maintaining a jaw-dropping outdoor lighting landscape requires extensive talent and years of training.

That is why Decorating Elves, Tampa Bay’s premier outdoor lighting company, is proud to be led by Nick Schriver, a Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technician with years of experience in the industry. Decorating Elves also has five technicians in the progress of becoming Certified Low Voltage Lighting Technicians. Read More

13 Feb

Residential Lighting and Security: What You Need to Know

From a security perspective, lighting can have a substantial impact on reducing the fear of crime. Sufficient lighting is necessary to see and be seen. An adequate level of lighting should allow the identification of a face from a distance of about 30 feet.

Outdoor lighting should be uniformly spread to reduce the contrast between illuminated areas and shadows. Better consistency of lighting can be achieved by using more fixtures with lower wattage rather than less fixtures with higher wattage bulbs. Read More