15 Aug

20 Years of Outdoor Lighting Magic with Decorating Elves!

When it comes to enhancing the beauty and ambiance of our outdoor spaces, lighting plays a pivotal role. For the past two decades, Decorating Elves has been at the forefront of creating mesmerizing outdoor lighting displays using energy-efficient LED lights. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of LED lights and how Decorating Elves has been transforming outdoor spaces into captivating wonderlands for the past 20 years.

This means we are perfectly positioned as seasoned experts in the wake of the phasing out of incandescent lights. The recent ban is leading to homeowners and commercial properties alike switching to LEDs. This article by Architectural Digest details the new law and what it means for you. Read on below for all the info on LED lights!

The Evolution of LED Lights

LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology has come a long way since its inception. Initially, it was limited to indicator lights and small displays. However, with significant advancements, LED lights have revolutionized the lighting industry, finding applications in various fields due to their exceptional energy efficiency and longevity.

Energy Efficiency: The Green Lighting Solution

One of the most remarkable benefits of LED lights is their energy efficiency. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lights consume significantly less power while producing the same or even brighter illumination. This energy efficiency not only reduces electricity bills but also contributes to a greener environment by minimizing carbon emissions.

Decorating Elves recognized the potential of LED lights early on and has been using them extensively to create awe-inspiring outdoor lighting displays while reducing their clients’ environmental footprint.

Longevity: Lights That Stand the Test of Time

When it comes to outdoor lighting, longevity is a crucial factor. Traditional bulbs have a limited lifespan and require frequent replacements, which can be a costly and time-consuming affair. In contrast, LED lights have an impressive lifespan, lasting up to 20 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

By incorporating LED lights into their designs, Decorating Elves ensures that their clients enjoy long-lasting, low-maintenance outdoor lighting solutions that continue to shine brightly for years to come.

Versatility in Design

LED lights offer immense flexibility in terms of design possibilities. Decorating Elves has harnessed this versatility to create stunning outdoor lighting displays that cater to various aesthetics and themes. Whether it’s a subtle and romantic ambiance or a vibrant and festive atmosphere, LED lights allow for an endless array of creative options.

From string lights delicately weaving through tree branches to smartly arranged path lights illuminating garden walkways, Decorating Elves crafts outdoor lighting arrangements that enhance the beauty and functionality of any outdoor space.

Safety and Security

Outdoor lighting serves more than just aesthetic purposes; it also plays a significant role in ensuring safety and security. Adequately illuminated outdoor spaces reduce the risk of accidents, deterring potential intruders, and enhancing visibility during nighttime activities.

Decorating Elves’ expert lighting designs prioritize safety while adding a touch of elegance to outdoor areas, allowing clients to enjoy their outdoor spaces confidently at any time of day or night.

Energy Cost Savings

LED lights not only last longer but also save a substantial amount of energy, translating into significant cost savings in the long run. By utilizing LED lights in their outdoor lighting projects, Decorating Elves has not only been able to create stunning displays but also helped their clients save on energy bills, making the investment in LED lighting a financially wise choice.

Over the past 20 years in outdoor lighting, Decorating Elves has been synonymous with transforming outdoor spaces into enchanting realms with the magic of LED lights. Their commitment to using energy-efficient and long-lasting LED lights has not only contributed to the beauty of their creations but also to the well-being of the environment.

As we move towards a more sustainable and eco-conscious future, Decorating Elves continues to lead the way by proving that outdoor lighting can be both mesmerizing and environmentally responsible. With their expertise and dedication, we can expect to witness many more decades of outdoor lighting brilliance, making the world a brighter and more beautiful place, one LED light at a time.

01 Jun

Summer Storm Season: Safety and Surreal Beauty in Illumination

As the temperature rises and the days grow longer, summer storms bring a unique beauty and energy to our lives. However, with the arrival of storm season today, it’s crucial to ensure that our outdoor spaces are both safe and enchanting. In this post, we’ll explore the significance of landscape lighting during the summer storm season and how Decorating Elves can help by implementing appropriate lighting solutions. We can work with you to transform your outdoor spaces into captivating havens, no matter the weather.

storm cloud over homes on water

1. Safety First, Lighting as a Protective Measure

When it comes to summer storms, safety should always be a top priority. Adequate lighting can help prevent accidents and ensure that your outdoor areas remain safe during inclement weather. Consider installing pathway lights to illuminate walkways, stairs, and potential hazards. Low-voltage LED lights (one of our specialities) are a cost-effective and energy-efficient choice, offering bright illumination while consuming less power. Additionally, motion-activated floodlights can provide added security by deterring unwanted intruders during the stormy nights.

2. Enhancing the Beauty of Your Landscape

Despite the occasional stormy weather, summer is a time when outdoor gatherings, barbecues, and relaxing evenings with loved ones become more frequent. Well-planned landscape lighting can enhance the beauty of your outdoor spaces and create a magical atmosphere even during stormy evenings.

a. Accentuating Key Features: Use uplights or spotlights to highlight unique elements of your landscape, such as tall trees, sculptures, or architectural details. This not only adds a touch of elegance but also draws attention away from potential storm-related imperfections.

b. Festive String Lights: String lights can transform any outdoor area into a whimsical wonderland. Hang them across patios, pergolas, or even in trees to create a warm and inviting ambiance. Opt for weatherproof and durable string lights to ensure they withstand the elements.

c. Silhouettes in the Rain: Rainy weather can create stunning visual effects when paired with proper lighting. Experiment with backlighting or silhouette effects by placing lights strategically behind rain-soaked objects or plant life. This creates a surreal and captivating atmosphere, bringing out the unique charm of summer storms.

3. Resilient Lighting Solutions

When selecting lighting fixtures for your outdoor spaces, we understand what is crucial to withstand the elements. Here are a few resilient lighting solutions ideal for the summer storm season:

a. Weatherproof Fixtures: We only invest in fixtures designed explicitly for outdoor use and those with high IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, indicating their resistance to water and dust. These fixtures will keep your landscape lighting functioning flawlessly even in heavy downpours.

b. Underground Lighting: Pathway lights or recessed fixtures that are installed below ground level are not only visually appealing but also less susceptible to damage from storms. They remain protected while providing illumination to guide you and your guests safely through your outdoor spaces.

c. Timer Controls and Smart Lighting: Consider installing timer controls or smart lighting systems that allow you to program your landscape lighting to turn on and off automatically. This feature ensures your lights operate efficiently, even if you’re away or caught off guard by an unexpected summer storm.

Summer storms bring a unique charm to our lives, especially here in Florida. With the right landscape lighting, you can fully embrace the enchanting atmosphere they create. By prioritizing safety, enhancing the beauty of your outdoor spaces, and selecting resilient lighting solutions, you can ensure that your landscape lighting stands strong during the storm season. Let your outdoor areas shine bright, rain or shine, and make the most of this captivating time of year. The design team at Decorating Elves is happy to meet with you to address any concerns you may have or improvements you’d like to make. We look forward to connecting with you.

12 Jul

Protect Your Landscape Lighting Investment – Install Surge Protection

surge protection landscape lighting tampa

Central Florida, specifically the Tampa Bay area, is known as “The Lightning Capital of the United States” because of the frequency of lightning strikes the area sees. A lightning strike is an electric discharge between the atmosphere and the earth. These strikes carry a very high level of energy and can cause extreme amounts of damage in your home – especially to your electronics and to your landscape lighting system (even more so if it is LED). It does not take a direct strike to cause issues or failures because the energy from a strike can carry up to 2 miles through the grid.

Why you should add surge protection

It is important that home and property owners add surge protection within their houses to provide protection from lightning and other electric surge issues. It is important to have surge protection added to your main panel but you should also have your electronic devices protected with inline protectors. You should have your outdoor landscape lighting system protected also, whether it is on a branch circuit or at the box for 120v system, as well as a surge arrester on the 12v secondary side of a system.

The LED’s that illuminate and emit light in our new outdoor lighting systems are small electronic components, with diodes, drivers, circuit boards, regulators, and more. Each of these components is very susceptible to surge and lighting strikes. Automation devices are also very beneficial when it comes to protecting your lighting system from surge protection. On all of our new systems that we install we protect these highly sensitive electric components by using surge suppressors and surge arresters at the main panels and at outlets. We are also adding surge protection to existing LED systems.

If you want to review surge protection on your outdoor lighting system, please contact Decorating Elves at 727-474-2628 and we will schedule an appointment.

16 May

Adjust Beach Lighting for Sea Turtle Nesting Season

wildlife-lightingSea Turtle Nesting Season is  March 1st thru October 31st. For millions of years female sea turtles have been coming ashore to lay their eggs on beaches. sea turtles FloridaIn the past the hatchling turtles were guided to the ocean by an instinct to travel away from the dark silhouettes of the dune vegetation and toward the brightest horizon which was the light from the sky reflecting off the ocean. In present times however, many coastal areas are highly populated. It is important to adjust beach lighting for sea turtle nesting. There are many artificial lights near the beach that can deter females from nesting and disorient hatchling sea turtles. The hatchlings travel inland toward the artificial lights, where they often die from dehydration, are preyed upon by fire ants and ghost crabs, or sometimes crawl onto the road where they are run over by cars.

One of the easiet ways to decrease beach light pollution is to simply replace existing light bulbs with those that emit light less detrimental to sea turtles. This can be done during a routine maintenance. Studies have shown that light in certain wavelenths does not affect hatchling and nesting sea turtles as musch as others. By simply modifying the bulbs, beachfront property owners can make a significant difference to prevent hatchling from from urban light disorientations. For more wildlife lighting information check out our webpage.

Let’s all make sure to do our part and become Dark Sky compliant. For more information on becoming Dark Sky compliant and to find out what options are available to you call Decorating Elves and we can discuss what fixtures, lamps, and shades will work for your property.

For additional outdoor  lighting blogs and topics visit Decorating Elves and for a pro in your area check out Outdoor Lighting National Consumer