Issue No. 3, Winter 2009

Money-smart Ideas for Your Home

Check out the hot color trends for 2009.  Find tips for saving money and energy with a few simple decorating updates. All in this issue of BRIGHT IDEAS.
 

CONNECTIONS: Spice Up Your Home with Bright Colors 

There was a time when white, gray and taupe were about the only color choices for home interiors. Not so anymore: Designers across the globe have created a colorful spectrum for homeowners. Artist and designer David Bromstad, host of HGTV's "Color Splash" dishes, on how to easily - and inexpensively - add on-trend hues to your home.  According to Bromstad:

1. Purple: The news, the weather, the economy may have people in a rut, but colors are definitely on the festive side for spring, with purple the hottest color of the moment.
2. Brights: A few key colors promise a bright, happy splash for 2009: fuchsia, orange, watermelon, blue iris, lavender, celery green, turquoise, mimosa yellow.
3. Accents: The thought of a purple room may be overwhelming - but the new brights aren't intended as a primary color but as an accent. It's all about color combining. You take a color like mauve, pop it with fuchsia, and calm it with taupes.
4. Vintage: Trends move in 20- to 30-year cycles, and the '80s are the current retro-cool. The shades, tones and usages differ, but the colors are definitely inspired by that era.
5. The new neutrals: Once gray was considered a safe, boring choice. But contemporary neutrals - including gray and taupe - provide an interesting, varied palette, especially combined with brights, such as lime green or bright fuchsia.
6. Geometry: Patterns - in pillows, fabrics and accessories - have taken on a geometric look, with just a tinge of influence from Morocco.
7. Color combination: Today's homeowners have made decorating - including color - all about personal style. People want to have choices, and the industry is giving them a palette that's different and interesting.

Photo courtesy of Sea Gull Lighting Products, LLC


Photo courtesy of Quoizel


Photo courtesy of Sea Gull Lighting Products, LLC

ENERGY WISE: Saving Energy is Beautiful for your Home

It doesn't matter if you live in a home with a modern kitchen that has all the fancy upgrades, or one that just has a single overhead light in the center of the room.  If you're not using the latest generation of energy-efficiency bulbs, it's time for a lighting upgrade. In today's market place, decorative energy-efficient fixtures are available in every product category, whether you're looking for something traditional, modern or artsy.

When shopping for energy-efficient fixtures, it's important to look for the Energy Star label.  In order to qualify for the Energy Star designation, the product must meet specific performance criteria for energy-efficient performance set by the U.S. Department of Energy.

BRIGHT TIPS: Make a Big Splash for a Little Cash

The economy may be in the doldrums, but that doesn't mean your decor has to be there too. It's possible to turn dark, dreary and dated decor into light, lively and "now" on just a shoestring budget. What's the secret to sprucing up on a shoestring? Lighten up - literally.

Upgrading your home's lighting can impart a whole new atmosphere, and you don't need to spend big bucks on pricey new fixtures to do it. Simple, budget-friendly changes can make a big difference in how your home looks and feels, and how much you enjoy living there.

Here are seven tips for creating a big impact on a small budget:

1. Consider the first impression guests (or potential buyers) have of your home. Upgrading exterior or entryway lighting can improve the curb appeal and first impression of your home.
2. Once you've upgraded the outside, take a look at the first parts of the house guests see - often the entryway or dining room on modern floor plans.
3. In other rooms, take a look at your table lamps. One way to make an impact on a small budget is by changing outdated lampshades with newer trend-forward versions that incorporate fashion-friendly colors, fabrics or patterns.
4. Simple upgrades in kitchens and baths can also deliver big impact and enhance your home's value on a shoestring budget. Adding fixtures such as mini pendants that can be shown off and enjoyed can make a big impact.

To read the complete article about how to use lighting to enhance your home's decor, visit www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com.

Photo courtesy of Elk Lighting



Photo courtesy of Juno Lighting Group

STRESS BUSTERS: Revive High Traffic Areas

When time or money is an issue, concentrate your decorating efforts on the most visible areas of your home. In many homes, the kitchen and dining areas see the most activity. Perhaps the dining chairs are a little worn, the colors are drab, or the room just needs some new life.

A minor change like new chair seat covers can really help the visual perception and physical experience of those rooms. Add little splashes of color with a flower arrangement and bright dishes. A small spark of color can make a dramatic change. For an even bigger impact, change out an ordinary kitchen light fixture with a chandelier.

Photo courtesy of Elk Lighting

VALUE TRICK: Lower Your Energy Bill while Lowering the Light

In today's homes, the three main types of lighting available are incandescent, magnetic low voltage and electronic low voltage, which are all easily dimmed.  There are several different types of dimmers.  They include:

• Simple wall box dimmers, which allow you to bring the light up and down slowly
• Scene lighting dimmers, which allow you to control multiple light sources from a single panel to set a mood
• Whole house systems, which allow you to control all of the lights in your home from one panel at the touch or a button
• Occupancy sensors, which turn on and off whenever someone enters a room