From movies candle-lit dinners, lighting is one of the most important factors in everything we do.  Science and technology teams around the world have put an amazing amount of effort into developing the sturdiest, longest-lasting lights for any application you can think of.  Color, saturation, brightness, and even beam shape are all important when it comes to picking the right light for the situation.  The best part?  Mood lighting is a careful art that’s pretty easy to pull off once you know which settings work best.  Romantic lighting is especially simple and can set the stage so long as you have the right room and the right lights.

It could be our culture that has led us to see certain settings as romantic.  But there are also a few scientific aspects of lighting that genuinely make a setting more romantic.  While it may be that decades of amber-colored lights or the flicker of candlelight have fashioned our notions of what makes for romantic lighting, there’s also the effect of the light itself to consider.

Light with a low color temperature (below 3000K, or ‘yellow’ light) produces a very interesting effect on surfaces.  These lights, which are standard for most incandescent lamps, soften features and improve appearances.  If you want to look good, use an incandescent lamp.  While not ideal for getting ready in the morning, a standard light gives that warm and cozy feeling we all enjoy from standard incandescent bulbs.

The next step is to keep the lights dimmer than normal.  Dimmer lighting creates a closer, more intimate feeling to any room.  But there is a trick to this.  Don’t simply remove a few light bulbs from the dining room, you need to use an actual dimmer.  Uneven lighting is jarring and distracting.  Removing lamps or relying on recessed lights that have been dimmed can ruin the effect.  Recessed lighting that’s been dimmed can create cave-lighting (when there are unintended dark corners along the upper part of the wall).  Uneven lighting isn’t cozy, it’s distracting.  Use a dimmer switch.  Just be sure to match your dimmer to the type of lights you’re using.  If you plan to use LED lamps, make sure the dimmer is compatible with your brand of LEDs.

When we say to keep lighting even, we don’t mean equal throughout the room.  Even lighting in this case is designed to highlight focus areas.  Think about how restaurants stagger their lighting, with islands of light at each table and muted lights everywhere else.  If you want the greatest effect, use a fixture that focuses a soft light where you’ll be spending your time while ambient lighting casts a light glow everywhere else.

A romantic setting demands more than just the right lighting.  Pair the lighting with a favorite meal or entertainment.  Some background music will set things off nicely, but only if you select something that matches the mood.  You may enjoy electronic dubstep, but when the lights are lower something quiet and soothing is the way to go.

For the best in quality electrical repair work and installations, contact the professionals at Custom Electric!  Be sure to check back here each week for helpful advice, news, and guides or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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This summer is the time to plan plenty of outdoor events including backyard barbecues. If you have been thinking about having that new outdoor kitchen installed, now is the time to do it. Being able to stay outside with your guests as you prepare a fantastic feast is a luxury you can only get when you have an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen would not be complete without electricity and lighting. You will need an electrician in Pasadena to help fulfill your dreams of cooking outdoors with all the modern conveniences of your kitchen. The team at The Electric Connection can help you achieve that dream.

One of the most important factors of your outdoor kitchen is the lighting. Many cookouts are held in the evening hours when things are a bit cooler because the sun is setting. With the setting sun, you will have less natural light. You don’t want to burn your meal and will definitely want adequate lighting for the cook. This can be installed by a Pasadena electrician. LEDs are an excellent choice and can be installed over the grill area to ensure the cook can see clearly.

Your counters, seating area and the walkway will also need to be adequately lit. You can choose to have lights installed along the pathway or have several large fixtures installed by an electrician. Pasadena homeowners have a number of different outdoor lighting options. You can choose soft lighting for the dining area or make it fun and festive with brightly colored lantern lights hanging over the seating area. Your first step is visiting your local home improvement store to check out what you can do or give your friendly electrician a call. The team at The Electric Connection can help you come up with the perfect lighting scheme for your outdoor kitchen.

Losing power during a storm is always frustrating, particularly during storm season. But if you ask the best Frisco electrician how to prevent power outages, his answer is likely to be the same every time—during severe storm season, power outages are inevitable. However, you don’t have to go without power. Without an alternative power source, you’re likely to stay in the dark, but your best Frisco electrician can assure you that, with a generator, you never have to go completely without electricity.

Gas-Powered Generators — Are They the Answer?

While gas-powered generators have been the norm for some time, and they have proved to be a reliable means of keeping electricity on in the midst of a power outage, homeowners have found that owning one may not be without its problems. For instance, homeowners who live under a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) may find that there are restrictions prohibiting them from owning a gas-powered generator simply because the HOA may not allow generators to be placed outside of a home. This renders a gas-powered generator obsolete, since it can’t be placed inside your home due to the fumes. Those who live in apartments or condos face a similar challenge, as they may lack the outdoor space necessary for a gas-powered generator.

If you think this limits your options for power during an outage, however, don’t fret. Indoor generators may be just the ticket for you and your family to keep power on while the rest of the neighborhood’s electricity stays off.

Indoor Generators — An Eco-Friendly Solution

Indoor generators bring with them a myriad of benefits that go beyond keeping your lights on. Built specifically for indoor use, an indoor generator is a safe alternative power source that you can feel good about using.

Rechargeable. Indoor generators use batteries for power, so all you have to do is plug them into an existing power supply to charge. In the event of a power outage, power will stay on seamlessly as the unit picks up where the outage left off. In addition, some generators can be charged with wind and/or solar power, so you can charge your unit without being plugged into the grid. Fully charged, an indoor generator can keep you powered anywhere between 2 hours to seven days.

Gas-free. Because the generator is battery-powered, there are no fumes to worry about and no gas to burn off.

Custom-made and easy to store. Depending on the indoor generator you choose, they can be customized to fit the décor of your home, keeping your home looking neat while also making it simple for you to store your unit.

Simple to install and affordable. Indoor generators are more affordable than you might think, and they are easy to install, so you can have peace of mind right when you need it.

You don’t need to be the best Frisco electrician to recognize the benefits of an indoor generator.