It may seem hard to believe, but the holiday season is almost upon us. In addition to ensuring that your heater is in good condition and your electrical components are all in good shape, it’s time to think about the security of your home.

Whether you’re going out of town for the holidays or you are going to be storing gifts in your home, the holiday season is also the season for burglaries, and you want to make sure that you do everything in your power to reduce the chance that you’ll fall victim. We’ve noted some ways to do so below.

In the unfortunate event that an intruder does get in your home, you want to know that you have a security system that is ready to respond. Many security systems today are connected through phone lines, which can be vulnerable and unreliable. What you really want is a security system that is hard-wired into your electrical system.

With smart technology, you’re able to get updates and alerts about what is going on at your home when you are away. You can ensure that doors and windows are closed, and check to see if there’s been any activity in or around your home.

While our home security systems are highly effective at deterring burglars once they’re in your home, of course you’d ideally like to prevent them from entering in the first place! One way to do this is by making it look like you’re home, even if you’re not. Do this by closing your blinds, keeping a few lights on, and having a trusted neighbor collect your mail and newspaper instead of letting it pile up.

The rule of 3’s. They’re the triple threat of lighting design. Three types of lighting: ambient, task and accent. Three levels of design: top, middle & bottom. For today’s blog post I’ve put together a quick reference guide on what the different layers are, along with a few tips on how to use them to pull your space together.

Three Layers of Light: Ambient, Task & Accent

this interactive picture that shows the dramatic difference in a kitchen after under cabinet lights were added. (That’s next on my project list!)

3. Accent lights add depth & dimension and showcase individual items or areas. A favorite painting or photograph displayed under a picture light on the wall is a popular way to accent with lighting. One of my favorite examples of decorative outdoor accent lighting are Annie’s original post to see if you’re right.]

Three Layers of Design: Top, Middle & Bottom

Spring weather is finally here, a welcome relief for those parts of the country that have spent the last few months plagued by snow and ice. With the warm weather comes an increased dependence on air conditioners, which can use up a large amount of energy and add to your utility bills each month. There are certain steps you can take to reduce the overall electrical consumption of your house so you do not have to pay as much when you write out that check.

Here are a few ways you can improve your home's power use: