Monday, September 20, 2010

Fantastic Outdoor Benches- Choose Your Favorite Outdoor Bench To Accent Your Cherished Garden

Have you ever thought of purchasing a fabulous outdoor bench for your garden or patio? If not, then with their fabulous look, and so many options, you may see outdoor benches in a whole new light.

Outdoor benches are quickly gaining in popularity. And outdoor garden benches are only one member of the family of outdoor benches that are not an exception to this. The main reason for the popularity of outdoor furniture is its various features that make it unique, such as being beautiful, elegant, natural looking.

Besides, most are also resistible to the things such as insects, moisture, chlorine, water containing salt, etc. It is well built and retains the features of being comfortable as well as durable for quite long time.

Now a days outdoor garden benches give not only comfort, but style to your home. With so many different varieties, you can choose benches with or with out armrests as well as giving you the choice of a bench with or without a back. You can see how it would be possible to do a number of activities such as reading a book, enjoying your favorite drink, taking a rest on this bench. So, one can pass his time quite easily while sitting on these benches.

You can choose from a number of benches to suit your style, requirements and personality. There is a wide variety of outdoor benches; teak benches as a whole in different natural-looking colors and styles that are available in the market. Some styles give you the option to show off your gardening skills with attached planters.

Christmas Season is the most anticipated holiday of the year and most of us get busy during the months that end in –ber . Some of us are going already to bazaars to look for great gifts for our family and relatives, while some are also busy decorating the house with garlands and twinkling commercial christmas lights

As far as painted colors of these benches are concerned, there is a wide variety of the same. The colors of these are resistible from being faded. You can choose from different colors such as white, sand, hunter green, dark teak, black, etc.

Another advantage of buying these benches is that generally they are available at a comparatively reasonable price. Therefore, you can purchase these benches of various styles within your budget.

Though prices of these teak outdoor benches may be slightly higher in certain cases, that should be considered immaterial since it is a lifetime investment that enables you to make your house look more beautiful.

The one thing is sure that you will be proud of yourself for making such an excellent choice.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Outdoor Lighting Tips For Your Home


The perfect lighting outside your house is great at enhancing the beauty of it; however, choosing the wrong outdoor lighting can spoil the whole environment. Knowing what kind of lighting will suit your house and garden is important. Your dream to stroll down the garden in the evening with the lights creating the perfect ambience and the wind slowly blowing on your face can come true; you just have to know what, and how, to get the right outdoor lighting for your place.

Outdoor lighting is also helpful for security reasons. When the days get shorter, especially in winter, outdoor lighting can lengthen the day and dramatically change the environment of your outdoor living spaces. With proper planning you can also create your outside space for entertaining your guests.

Types of Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting can be divided into four categories:

Security lighting: This lighting is used for lighting up the vulnerable areas of your property. It is advisable though to keep it away from the living areas so it's not distracting, as the lights used are bright, and often motion activated. You can also have a manual on/off switch for your lighting so that you can override automatic illumination.

Task lighting: This type of lighting is for specific purposes such as outdoor grilling or walking safely up and down steps and along paths. Task lighting should be kept between your eyes and the object that needs to be lighted. See to it that it does not glare, as an overly bright light will blind rather than guide.


If you want to see the beauty of your garden, the trees you've cherished, the pond you bought and all other landscape features you have chosen for your home at night then low voltage outdoor lighting is the right tool for you because it gives lovely effect to your landscape.

Accent lighting: This can create a dramatic effect, or highlight an unusual feature. For example, uplighting can illuminate an interesting piece of statuary. Silhouetting can be achieved by keeping the light between the object and your fence or wall. General or ambient lighting can display overall lighting so that people feel comfortable and look good.

Moonlighting or starlight - You can also imitate moonlight or starlight for creating magical lighting. Moonlighting can be produced by putting outdoor lights in trees. The lights should be pointing downward to create a dappled effect, as if the area were lit by a full moon. And what could be more beautiful than natures own gift to us - stars in the night! This can be imitated by suspending tiny lights in the branches of a tree to create a sparkling night time canopy, or by using flickering candles, sprinkled here and there throughout the space.

Tips to remember:

No matter what type of lighting you want, remember not to over-do it, as less is more when it comes to lighting. Don't use lights where they're not necessary, and you can also be subtle by using a low watt bulb. Also be careful not to send light "upward". Never use lights in straight lines up and down paths like the airport runway effect which is a very common error.

Avoid using yellow lights as they are unflattering to both people and plants. Instead use blue-white bulbs or purchase daylight-blue filters for your fixtures. The lights should be kept where they are easily accessible for changing light bulbs. After setting up your outdoor lighting, get outside after dark and light up the night!