2013 Winter Home Improvement

8/13/2019 2013 Winter Home Improvement

1/6

&

HOME IMPROVEMENTCAR CARE

T H E V I L L A G E R E P O R T E R

2013

Come visit ourDesign & Selection Centerin Edgerton!Whatever your project whether its remodeling or building new, see and touch everything

you will need for your project. You will not find another showroom this complete in the area!

Among the many items you will see:Cabinetry & Countertops

Flooring

Siding & Roofing

Windows & Doors

Composite & Natural

Wood Decking,Handrail

& Spindle Systems

And more!

444 N. Michigan Ave Edgerton 419-298-2371 800-892-6708


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2 Winter Car Care & Home Improvement 2013 Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Many motorists rarely think about

their auto insurance policies. Among anadults many monthly or annual expens-

es, once signed, an auto insurance policyis essentially forgotten. However, with a

few simple tips, drivers can signicantly

reduce the cost of their auto insurance. Reexamine your coverage. As a ve-

hicle ages, its wise for men and womento reexamine that vehicles coverage. Older

vehicles without much market value, forexample, probably dont need collision or

comprehensive coverage. Thats because

your claims on older vehicles are not likelyto exceed your deductible, so paying for

collision or comprehensive coverage onan older vehicle is essentially paying for

something youre never going to use.Another area where motorists fre-

quently spend more than they need is on

personal injury protection. Chances are,men and women with health insurance

are just duplicating coverage by payingfor more than the bare minimum personal

injury protection under their auto insur-ance policies.

Say so long to your muscle car. The

type of vehicle you drive can also impactyour bottom line. Drivers facing a nan-

cial crunch might want to look at whatsparked in their driveways.

Put safety rst. Insurance compa-

nies value a vehicles safety features, anddrivers can take advantage of that by put-

ting safety at the top of their vehicle wishlists. The Insurance Institute For High-

way Safety (www.iihs.org) annually ranks

the safest vehicles by category, includingminicars, small cars, large family cars,

midsize SUVs, and a host of other catego-ries. To save on auto insurance, choose a

vehicle that the IIHS deems a winner whenit comes to safety.

Combine policies. Drivers who also

own their homes should consider combin-ing their policies if they havent already.

Let your provider know if youvechanged your driving habits. Drivers who

drive a lot tend to pay more for auto insur-ance than drivers who dont drive very of-

ten. Thats because insurance companies

offer low mileage discounts that rewarddrivers who dont drive very often. Let your

provider know if you no longer have a longcommute to work, are unemployed, par-

ticipate in a carpool, or take public trans-portation to work. Any of those things

might make you eligible for a low mileage

discount.Drivers looking to save money might be

able to adjust their auto insurance policyto earn substantial savings.

(MS) -- Given the turbu-lent economic news, con-

sumers are tightening theirbelts and cutting back on

spending. Delaying or ig-

noring routine automotiveservice is no exception, but

a bad decision, accordingto the experts at the non-

prot National Institute forAutomotive Service Excel-

lence (ASE).

Car care extends the lifeof your vehicle and can pre-

vent minor problems fromgrowing into much more ex-

pensive issues. Worn brake

pads, if ignored, can esca-late into more costly rotor

repairs. A check-enginelight may signal something

as minor as the need to re-place an inexpensive oxy-

gen sensor. But if ignored,

costly damage to the cata-lytic converter can ensue.

Nor should service in-tervals be ignored. Failure

to change out the enginestiming belt according to the

owners manuals sched-

ule can result in majorengine damage if the belt

fails. Must less dramaticare routine things such as

scheduled oil changes, re-

placing dirty lters, or sim-ply paying attention to tire

pressure. These seemingly

minor services help you getbetter gas mileage.

ASE -- the group thattests and certies automo-

tive technicians -- offersthe following tips on locat-

ing a good repair shop:

Start shopping for arepair facility before you

need one. Ask your friends and

associates for recommen-

dations; consult local con-sumer groups.

Arrange for transporta-tion so you will not choose

a shop based merely on lo-cation.

Look for a well-orga-

nized facility, with vehiclesin the parking lot equal

in value to your own andmodern equipment in the

service bays. The staff should be

courteous and willing to

answer your questions. Look for policies on

estimated repair costs, di-agnostic fees, guarantees,

and methods of payment. Look for signs of pro-

fessionalism such as civic,community or customerservice awards.

Look for evidence ofqualied technicians: trade

school diplomas, certi-cates of advanced course

work and certication.

For major jobs askwhether the repair facility

usually handles your typeof repair work.

Patrol Offers Tips & Warnings

About Driving In Winter Weather

Patrol Offers Tips And

Warnings About Driving InWinter Weather

DEFIANCE - The De-ance Post of Ohio State

Highway Patrol is warningdrivers about the dangers

of driving in winter weather

and is offering some tips onwhat drivers should do in

the event of a vehicle breakdown or a crash.

From December 2011

through March 2012,15,526 crashes occurred on

snow, ice or slush coveredroadways killing 27 people

and injuring 4,529. Speed-related factors were report-

ed as a cause in 72 percent

of these crashes. To view abreakdown of winter crash-

es visithttp://www.statepatrol.

ohio.gov/doc/Winter_Driv-ing_Bulletin_2012.pdf

In the event of inclement

weather, the Patrol is urg-ing motorists to allow extra

time to get to their destina-tion, maintain a safe dis-

tance between vehicles andthe trafc ahead, pay close

attention to bridges andoverpasses - as they are of-ten the rst to freeze over

- and to drive slowly, as ev-erything including acceler-

ating, turning and braking,take longer on snow-covered

roadways.

In case of a vehicle

breakdown, motoristsshould turn on their hazard

warning lights, safely posi-tion the vehicle as far off the

road as possible, call #677for assistance and remain

in the vehicle until help ar-

rives, explained Lt. KevinThomas, commander of the

Deance Post.Troopers further sug-

gest that if you get stuck in

snow; make sure that yourtail pipe is free of all snow

and debris, to decrease yourchance of carbon monoxide

poisoning.All motorists are encour-

aged to prepare their vehicle

for winter driving by ensur-ing that the battery, cooling

system, tires, wipers anddefrosters are all in work-

ing order. Drivers are also

encouraged to carry the fol-

lowing winter car kit itemsin their vehicle in case of a

breakdown: Cell phone with car

charger Road ares or re-

ectors

Help of Call PoliceSigns

First Aid Kit Flashlight

Blanket/Sleeping

bag Bottled Water and

energy foods Candles and

matches Tow strap/ chain

Up-to-the-minute road

conditions are always avail-able by logging onto the

Ohio Department of Trans-portations website, www.

buckeyetrafc.org.

Routine Auto Service Never More Important

How To Lower Auto Insurance Costs

WE INSTALL RADIATORS - ALL MAKES & MODELS

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[email protected]

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Phone (419) 636-8925

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Full Service - Tires - Farm & Implement Tires22155 State Route 2

(1 mile north & 1/2 mile east of Archbold, Ohio)

419-445-4406

We Install Jasper Engines & Transmissions


3/6

Wednesday, December 11, 2013 2013 Winter Car Care & Home Improvement Tab 3

Curb appeal can havea dramatic impact onprospective home buyers.Landscaping improve-ments and renovations tothe outside of the homecreate a strong rst im-

pression on buyers, whooften feel a home with anappealing exterior has anequally impressive inte-rior.

A patio is one area ofa home that can boost ahomes appeal while alsoproviding a great placefor current homeownersto relax outside. Many

homeowners waver whenchoosing a material fortheir patio because eachmaterial has its own ad-vantages and disadvan-tages.

A backyard patio is aplace where friends andfamily members can con-vene in the nice weather

to enjoy dining al fresco.In the cooler months,a patio is a great placeto gather around a repit and warm chilly toes

while sipping mugs of hotcocoa.

When designing a pa-tio, homeowners mustmake a host of decisions,not the least of which is

choosing a patio material.Wood, stone, concrete,paving blocks, and tileall can be used to createappealing and functionalpatios. Because of thewidespread availabilityof concrete, pavers andwood, many patios areconstructed of these ma-terials.

ConcreteConcrete is one of the

more affordable patiomaterials. With stampedconcrete, homeownerscan enjoy more colorsand designs than ever be-fore, and new technologyin tinting and styling en-ables concrete to look like

other expensive stone ma-terials at a fraction of thecost of stone.

For the experiencedmason, laying concreteis a relatively easy job. Itmay be more difcult forthe novice do-it-yourselferbecause laying concreterequires knowledge ofgrading and also install-

ing spacers correctly todeter cracking. Becauseconcrete is not as labor-intensive as some othermaterials, homeownersmay save some money ifthey choose concrete.

Concrete is durable,but over time cracking isinevitable. Some concrete

requires the application ofa sealant every few years

to protect coloring anddurability. Around pools,concrete can become slip-pery when wet if an anti-skid agent was not ap-plied with.

Paving stones

Many homeownersgravitate toward pavingstones because their var-

ied texture and shapescan create quite an ap-pealing look in a yard. Ifinstalled correctly, pav-ers will not crack and it ispossible to easily add onto an original design be-cause of the portability ofthese stones. And becausethey can be moved, pavers

can be repaired from un-derground and stones canbe replaced without anydemolition. Homeown-ers like that pavers canquickly make a yard lookhigh-end.

Although pavers canbe installed as a do-it-

yourself project, such in-stallation can be labor-in-

tensive. The ground needsto be accurately leveledand prepped before thestones can be placed tohelp ensure there is noshifting or movement.Polymeric sand should be

applied and pushed intothe joints between blocksto alleviate shifting. Thesand contains a polymer

that hardens and locksthe blocks in place. Suchdetailed work is beyondthe abilities of many ho-meowners, who typicallypay a substantial amountto have the stones profes-sionally installed.

Though the sand mayinhibit weed growth,

weeds can still pop upbetween the blocks, somaintenance is neces-sary. Also, paving blocksare slightly uneven andthey can loosen, whichcan prove a safety hazardto the elderly or youngchildren who arent sure-footed.

Wood

Wood is often thoughtof in a raised deck scenar-io, but it can also be laidat ground level to createa low-lying patio. A woodpatio can be unique andstained or painted in a va-riety of colors. It also maybe less expensive to install

than concrete or pavers.If the shape is relativelysimple, a do-it-yourselferalso may be able to do the

job without hiring a pro-fessional.

Though wood is a goodchoice for many hom-eowners, it is one of themore maintenance-heavymaterials. Wood must be

routinely cleaned, stainedand sealed. Even withthe best care, wood canwarp, splinter and chip.When surrounding a pool,wood may deteriorate af-ter coming in contact with

chemicals from the poolwater. Though most woodis treated, it may be sus-ceptible to boring insects

and other pests.Creating a patio can

add value to a home. Thehard decision is select-ing a patio material thatts your budget and gives

your patio the look youdesire.

In April 2012, a wildre

broke out in a compostpile in an area on Staten

Island, NY, that formerly

housed the Fresh Kills

Landll. Residents acrossthe island worried if the

billowing smoke rising

into the sky was toxic in

nature..Though its under-

standable to worry about

contaminants that could

be polluting outdoor air,its important not to over-

look indoor air quality as

well.According to the En-

vironmental Protection

Agency, air inside peo-

ples homes can be twoto ve times more pol-

luted than air outside

the home. Oftentimes,

people do not realize howpolluted the air in their

homes and businesses

can be. Cigarette smoke,

radon, carbon monoxide,lead-laden dust from old

paints, dirt-lled carpet,

household cleaners, and

furniture made with woodglue containing formal-

dehyde are all sources of

indoor air pollution. Even

cooking on a gas stovemay introduce high levels

of nitrogen dioxide into

the air.

The National SafetyCouncil says that Ameri-

cans spend about 90 per-

cent of their time indoors,

so poor air quality cangreatly affect personal

health.

There are several stepsthat can be taken to im-

prove the quality of in-

door air

Open the windowsand let fresh air circulate.

It is important to change

the air inside of the home

several times a day to pre-vent the buildup of pollut-

ants. Even opening win-

dows a crack can help.

Change the lters onhome heating and cooling

systems as the manufac-

turer suggests.

Routinely clean theexhaust vents.

Consider the installa-

tion of an air purication

system in the home. Orpurchase in-room HEPA

lters.

Routinely clean bed-

ding used by pets andgroom animals to remove

shedded fur.

Avoid the use of toxic

cleaning products. Thor-oughly cleanse the air by

opening windows after

doing any cleaning.Use natural pest con-

trol procedures inside

when possible.

Introduce more plantsto the home, which natu-

rally lter air.

Use detectors to test

for radon and carbonmonoxide in the home. If

there are high levels pres-

ent, go outside and inves-

tigate ways to identify theproblem and remedy the

situation.

Keeping your home at a comfortable

temperature becomes an increasingly

expensive proposition with steadily ris-

ing energy costs. With the full force ofwinter upon us, you can keep air leak-

age and energy loss in check with a mini

energy audit of your home that includes

these three quick stops:#1 - Check for drafts

Air leakage (especially in the base-

ment, on the main oor or through a

windward-facing wall) can make your

home drafty, uncomfortable and difcultto heat, no matter how much you turn

up the thermostat. Address air leak-

age by plugging the biggest leaks rst,

such as in the attic and around electri-

cal holes, plumbing vents, basement rim

joists (where the foundation meets thewood framing), recessed lighting, win-

dows and doors.

#2 - Check your insulation

If you have conventional berglass

or cellulose insulation, settling and sag-

ging can compromise its performance

and lead to a big hit on your energy bills.

Look for gaps and signs of moistureproblems in your insulation, especially

in the attic, in the basement and in the

room over the garage. If youre planning

home improvements or an addition, con-sider installing an insulation/air barrier

(like innovative Icynene) for complete air

sealing and energy savings of up to 50

percent over conventional insulation.

More information about your insulationoptions is available online at www.icy-

nene.com.

#3 - Check your furnace

How old is your furnace? If it pre-

dates 1992, it might only operate at

about 55 to 78 percent efciency. A newEnergy Star-qualied furnace can oper-

ate above 90 percent efciency as a re-

sult of more efcient heat exchangers

and electronic ignition.

Nine Ways To Improve Indoor Air

Choosing A Patio MaterialHow To Control Air Leakage &Energy Loss In Your Home

INSULATE ... Spray foam insulation can help overcome many issues associated withconventional berglass or cellulose insulation, such as settling, sagging and potential

moisture problems.

Winter Hours

Monday-Friday: 8:00am - 4:30pm

Closed Saturday in December & January

CHRISTMAS MONTH

Purchase a water softenerand receive a FREE

Reverse Osmosis Water System!

&

HOME IMPROVEMENTCAR CARE

THE VILLAGE REPORTER

2013


4/6

Home repairs are inevitable. For the homeown-er who also happens to be handy with a hammer,the occasional home repair is nothing to fear and

something that many even enjoy. But there many

homeowners who arent so adept at home repairs,

and such men and women typically rely on trained

professionals when something goes awry around

the house. For those homeowners who either dont

have the time or the ability to x issues that arise

around the house, the following is a breakdown of

three of the more commonly called on home service

providers.

Electrician

An electrician specializes in addressing a build-

ings or homes electrical wiring issues, station-

ary machines and the equipment related to those

machines. Electricians can x existing issues, but

many also can design and install new electrical

components and systems. The dangers of working

with electrical systems are many, so electricians

typically must be certied and licensed before they

can practice their trade. Such danger is one reason

why even those who are adept at xing problems

around the house might want to hire an electrician

should an electrical issue arise.

Plumber

A plumber is a professional whose area of ex-

pertise is in installing and maintaining systems fordrinking water, drainage and sewage. Though not

all jurisdictions require a plumber be licensed be-

fore he or she can practice, many do, and it can

take years of training and experience to master the

skill of plumbing. Many people call a plumber when

a toilet or sink backs up, but plumbers must have

far more extensive skills as well. Plumbers must be

skilled in a number of areas, including having an

ability to read and understand a homes blueprints,

detect faults in a plumbing system if the homeown-

er cannot install and repair xtures and systems,

and be aware of any legal requirements to ensure a

home is safe.

Landscaper

Homeowners have increasingly looked to profes-

sional landscapers to maintain their homes exte-

rior and subsequently ensure their property valueremains high. A typical landscaper offers his client

an array of services, from cutting the grass to rak-

ing leaves to more complicated tasks that gravitate

toward landscape architecture. A homes curb ap-

peal has been shown to vastly improve a prospec-

tive buyers impression of the house, and as a result

many homeowners rely on a landscaper to take care

of their property. Many landscapers an extensive

knowledge of the science involved in tending to a

lawn and how to help it weather the seasons with-

out losing its appeal.

4 Winter Car Care & Home Improvement Tab 2013 Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Renovating bathrooms is com-

monly at the top of home improve-ment to-do lists. Though some

rooms around the house may re-

main timeless, bathrooms, like

kitchens, show their age (and era)

much more easily.

Although many people may

dream about creating a spa-type oa-sis in their homes, not everyone is

lucky enough to have a large bath-

room. Small bathrooms are com-

mon, particularly in older homes,

but they neednt force homeowners

to compromise on style when reno-

vating.

When space is at a premium,

its best to look for xtures and

items that t with the scale of the

bathroom. Although you may want

a large vanity and cabinet in which

to hide all of your toiletries, this

simply may not be practical -- tak-

ing up most of the bathroom real es-

tate. Instead, look for elegant pedes-

tal sinks that have a much smaller

prole. Theyll also help you control

the clutter in the bathroom because

there wont be anywhere to hide it.

Use optical illusions to make

the bathroom appear more roomy.

For example, lay tile diagonally to

create the impression of space. Alarge mirror will reect the roomback and make it appear muchlarger than it really is.

Select lighter hues in paint col-ors and accessories. Dark paintsand xtures could make the roomfeel cramped. Dark colors are gen-erally used to make spaces feelmore cozy. In a small bathroom, itmay make the space feel claustro-phobic.

Windows are often welcome inbathrooms because of the ventila-tion they provide, but they could bea hindrance in smaller bathroomsbecause they take up prime wallspace.

Maximize wall space if youneed storage. Find cabinets thatwill t beneath windows or be ableto t in thin areas between sinksand toilets. Over the toilet is primearea for cabinetry.

Consider a frameless shower.This is a partitioned area of thebathroom thats set aside for theshower and is typically only cor-doned off by a thin wall or piece ofglass. Or a shower with no walls atall is the ultimate in space-saving.

Think about installing a sky-light if you prefer natural light.

Thinking creatively can help turna cramped bathroom into a space-saving and well-designed room ho-meowners desire.

Make The Most Of Small Bathrooms

SPACE ... A frameless shower can take up less space in a small bathroom.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013 2013 Winter Car Care & Home Improvement Tab 5

Beauty, spaciousness,interior design -- and ev-ery other eye-pleasingesthetic -- are importantwhen building a personaldream home. Today, how-ever, with the reality of

energy and environmen-tal concerns, homeownersalso insist that the placewhere they will be livingfor years on end must beas eco-responsible as pos-sible.

As it turns out, manydecisions that are initiallybased on responsibilitycan deliver unexpectedesthetic results, too.

Sometimes the leastglamorous decisions canbe the ones that give yourlifestyle far more qual-ity and value--and a goodcase in point is the use of concrete to build the walls,

instead of traditional wood-framing, says Todd Blythat Nudura, a leading name in this eld. Our Cana-dian technology has advanced the development of theinsulated concrete form, a system that that interlocksto erect a building, like Lego. For the occupants, thebenets of improved comfort, energy efciency, safetyand interior air quality are delivered immediately withICF construction -- and for the homeowner-investor,all those benets assure top resale value later on.

In addition, Blyth points out, an ICF structure canbe nished on the exterior just like traditional woodframe structures. Stone, stucco, brick or whatever isenvisioned can be done with the insulated concreteforms.

Take a look at a few more of the head-turning ben-ets of concrete:

Fuel Savings: Premium insulation is essential withenergy costs on the rise. Solid concrete walls vastly

reduce air inltration (compared to wood walls), opti-mizing energy performance and reducing carbon foot-

prints. The R-value (insulation effectiveness) comes inat R-50 and can save you to 70 percent on energy bills.

Comfort: Outside cold easily travels through wood-framed walls, causing thermal bridging and creatinguncomfortable chilly spots inside your home.

Quiet: Solid concrete is an effective sound barrier.It dampens sound vibrations from outside noise, suchas trafc, trains and neighbourhood parties. Sound-proong is an addition to home comfort.

Safety: The re protection rating is up to four hours.If high wind in your community is a concern, datashows that Nudura homes (nudura.com) demonstrateimpact resistance up to 402 kph, or 250 mph.

Improved Value: It is generally expected that astronger, safer, greener home, and one that is moredurable, more cost efcient, and needs less mainte-nance and repair, will build and hold its value.

Responsible Building DecisionsDeserve Benefts Too

If you live in NewYorks Nassau County,

you are possibly payingsome of the highest prop-erty taxes in the country.Nassau County residentshad an average propertytax bill of nearly $8,500

in 2011.Understanding prop-

erty taxes is not very cutand dry. They are sup-posed to rise and fallwith home values, butthis isnt always the case.

There is roughly 80,000pages of federal code onproperty taxes, and eachstate and town often hasits own rules governinghow property taxes areassessed. State and lo-cal budget cuts can raisetaxes even if your homevalue remains the same,as will an increase of ben-

ets for public employ-ees. Property tax is typi-cally the primary meansthat many jurisdictionsraise revenue. So if yourcommunity needs money,

you can probably counton it nancing that needthrough higher propertytaxes.

The two things thatdetermine property taxesare the assessed value of

your home and the prop-erty tax rate for where youlive. In many cases, mak-ing improvements to theinside and outside of your

home can result in highertaxes on your property.Many homeowners do notthink about the tax manwhen they are about torenovate their home. Butit is important to considerthat home repairs -- evenplanting a garden -- couldlead to higher propertytaxes. Although the vast

majority of repairs thatmost often affect taxes in-clude major renovations,there are lesser knownrepairs that can catcheven savvy homeownersby surprise.

Here is a look at someof the renovations thatcould raise your propertytaxes.

* Adding a room: Con-verting the garage intoa bedroom or adding ona new bathroom will in-crease your homes val-ue and the property tax

youll pay on the home.Although tax assessorsdont usually make sur-prise trips to your hometo check for renovationsindoors, they may pe-ruse permits led at theclerks ofce and theninvestigate. Permits arethe primary way asses-sors learn about improve-ments, so much so thatsome homeowners look tocircumvent permits whenmaking renovations. Butthat can cause a numberof problems down the lineif and when you decide tosell.

* Pools and outdoor

structures: Changes to ahomes exterior are someof the easiest to see anddocument. Permanentchanges outdoors, suchas the installation of ashed with a concreteoor, a deck or a pool candenitely increase prop-erty taxes.

* Landscaping: Hiringa professional to do yourlawn and plants can re-

sult in higher taxes. Itscalled alteration of landimprovement. Repavinga driveway or adding anew cement walkway mayalso increase your homesvalue and, subsequently,

your property tax bill.* Fireplaces: The in-

stallation of a replacecan also increase ahomes value, leading to ahigher tax bill as well.

Home Renovations CouldIncrease Property Taxes

TAXES ... The addition of a pool or outdoor landscaping can raise property values andproperty tax.

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6/6

Want to improve your mood, productivity and

general well-being? Consider turning on a light.

The psychological effects of lighting have long

been a subject of study. It has been documented

that the intensity and quality of light can impact the

psychological and physiological well-being of a per-

son, affecting daily mood. The Mayo Clinic says that

a lack of adequate lighting can make people feel de-

pressed. Thats because light deprivation can affect

the production of the hormone melatonin, leading to

physiological imbalances. An abundance of light can

get bodily systems back in check and also may be

an alternative therapy for common emotional issues.

Lighting is such an important factor in mood that

even stores and businesses study the impact certain

lighting can have on people and their impression of

a space. In fact, lighting design is an art and a sci-

ence. Lighting designers must have an understand-

ing of the visual quality users of a space need for

their health, safety and enjoyment.

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North

America lists the basic body of knowledge on light-

ing in the IESNA Handbook. It includes summaries

of recommended practices based on research and

consensus of successful lighting for specic ap-

plications. But individuals dont need an extensive

knowledge of lighting principles to improve their own

interior lighting situations. Instead, a cursory un-

derstanding of what works can do the trick. Here are

some things to consider.

*People are attracted to light. If lighting is neces-

sary for safety, brighter illumination will guide the

way.

*Brightness focuses personal attention on a par-

ticular object or area.

*To create a more pleasant atmosphere, use wall

lighting instead of overhead lighting in a space.

*In public spaces or areas where individuals need

to be alert, overhead lighting is the best option.

* Dim lighting is best for rooms in which relax-

ation is desired. That is why table lamps are often

used with a shade to diffuse the light.

*Homes typically need a combination of lighting

sources. An overhead light paired with ambient light

and task lighting can help most people get things

done.

*According to light bulb manufacturer Sylvania,

think in terms of layering light. Light sources should

be placed at different heights throughout a room to

supply adequate illumination as well as visual inter-

est.

*For those who want to boost mood, consider full-

spectrum light bulbs that mimic the spectrum of

outdoor light.

*Another easy remedy (during the day) is to sim-

ply let more outdoor light in. Keep blinds open wide,

especially those that face west and south. Bedrooms

with windows facing the east may help people rise

with the sun. Skylights can help light shine indoors

when the sun is directly overhead. There are also suntubes that help direct sunlight into rooms under an

attic where traditional skylights cannot be installed.

Remember, bright light can energize a person, so

it is important to wind down from a long day by dim-

ming the lights and preparing for sleep in the eve-

ning.

Individuals often take light for grant-

ed and only realize something is off

kilter when their homes

are not adequately lit. There are different ways

to remedy inadequate lighting situations. Speaking

with a lighting designer may help.

Improve Indoor Lighting & Mood

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