Pegasus Lighting Blog Guest Posts

Guest Post

This post is written by a guest blogger for Pegasus Lighting.

Winning The Battle On Christmas Lights: Artificial Trees

Oct 182012

4140192290 97fc7e53b8 Winning The Battle On Christmas Lights: Artificial Trees

Stringing lights onto your Christmas tree can be a major nightmare. I mean, people have written songs about how terrible it is. Before the stress of the season takes over, check out our latest guest post from holiday expert Linda Knighton. These simple tips for lighting your artificial Christmas tree will help keep peace on earth throughout your holiday preparation.

If you’re new to owning an artificial Christmas tree, you may discover that it’s a little different to decorate. Although it generally takes more time to put light strands on an artificial Christmas tree, the benefit is that once you’ve placed them on the branches, you won’t have to remove them again. Below are some ideas for selecting the right lights for your Christmas tree, and some tips on how to decorate with them.

Use 50-foot light strands. According to Better Homes and Gardens, these lights are less likely to have electrical problems or burn out. If you want subdued lighting, Better Homes’ website suggests 12 boxes of 50-foot light strands for a 6-foot tree, or 20 boxes for an 8-foot tree. If you prefer a brighter look, use 20 boxes for a 6-foot tree or 30 boxes for an 8-foot tree.

Check the Christmas lights before you start putting them on the tree. Make sure all the strands are untangled and that none of the light bulbs are loose. Plug each into an electrical socket to ensure that they work and that none of the bulbs are burnt out. Continue reading »

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Energy Efficient Windows: Worth It In The Long Run?

Tips For Your Home No Responses »

Oct 082012

Energy Efficient Windows: Worth It In The Long Run?

Energy-efficient lighting is always a big topic on our Light Reading blog. Today, thanks to Jim Klossner, a home and garden writer, we are able to put a focus on another big energy-efficient topic – windows and doors. There is some great information in this post about figuring out if it is time to upgrade your windows and doors and the options available. Enjoy!

When it comes to energy costs in the home, heating and cooling are a major factor. Many of the weakest points in your home’s fight for thermal efficiency are the windows and doors. This is especially true of older homes or those with large entryways and windows. Most retailers make it sound like the only fix for this is to buy the latest, greatest doors and windows. While newer energy efficient doors and windows can offer benefits in the right situations, are they truly worth the time and cost investment?

When to Consider Upgrading Existing Doors and Windows

The benefits offered by these upgrades are largely dependent on your existing windows and doors. One of the biggest factors to consider is the current configuration and the seal of the windows or doors in question. Single pane windows and metal doors offer little in terms of insulation and thermal resistance. They are especially prone to temperature changes due to wind. Combine this with aging seals, weak frames or shoddy installation and you have the perfect recipe for a drafty home and expensive energy bills.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Doors and Windows

Energy efficient doors are often made of materials such as fiberglass, vinyl or wood. These materials reduce the thermal conductivity of the door and help to maintain separate temperature zones on both sides of the door. High-quality seals and frames help to improve these characteristics by ensuring that your heater or air conditioner is not leaking its efforts into the surrounding area. This means easier regulation of temperatures during high or low periods and lower monthly energy bills. Continue reading »

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4 Simple Ways To Improve The Exterior Of Your Home

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Sep 102012

PinExt 4 Simple Ways To Improve The Exterior Of Your Home

nice exterior home 300x195 4 Simple Ways To Improve The Exterior Of Your Home

Today’s guest post focuses on the outside of your home. Jennifer, a staff writer for Fortified Roofing, reviews four ways to really give the exterior of your house that “Wow!” factor. I am going to go ahead and add a fifth way to this list – outdoor lighting. No big surprise there, huh? Now back to our regularly scheduled guest post.

Having a beautiful home with a lot of curb appeal requires work! That said, approaching an exterior makeover with the right priorities will save you time, money, and a ton of stress. Let’s take a look at the best ways to improve the outside of your home:

1. Landscaping

This is the first thing someone sees when they look at your home – your only chance to make a first impression. You should mow the lawn at least once every week, and make sure not to neglect edging (creating clean lines around flowerbeds, trees, sidewalks, and fences). For the hedges we usually recommend trimming after you mow, but if they hang over the lawn, you might want to reverse the order to save yourself work. This way you can mow over the clippings. Pine needles, mulch, or rocks are all great, visually pleasing options for flower beds, but don’t forget to pull the weeds! Continue reading »

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Using Dynamic Lighting Arrangements to Liven up Your Yard

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Aug 222012

Using Dynamic Lighting Arrangements to Liven up Your Yard

Today we have a guest post from Jillian Watkinson of Community Home Supply, a family-owned Chicago kitchen and bathroom showroom. Jillian’s post gives us some tips for improving the look of your home’s yard with strategically placed outdoor lighting.

Regardless of what your backyard looks like, how big it is or what landscape style it’s been built to, the addition of decorative dynamic lighting arrangements in strategic places is guaranteed to improve your yard’s look immensely. Placing lights around your property in certain patterns is not difficult or expensive and can turn even an ordinary yard into a nighttime wonder.

Take a look at the following tips and maybe use some of them to liven up your garden space with dynamic light arrangements.

What are Your Existing Yard Features?

As a first step towards setting out your lighting arrangements, take a good look at your front yard, back yard and any walkways you have to decide where lights could be placed for maximum effect. For example, if you have a walkway in your front yard and a large stone or wood patio in your back, you might want to think about surrounding their edges with small decorative lights in order to accent their presence and shape.

The idea here is to notice the features against which lighting would look best and make them stand out while muting other parts of your yard that would be better off more hidden in the dark. Continue reading »

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How Proper Security Lighting Can Deter Burglars From Targeting Your Home

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Jul 312012

PinExt How Proper Security Lighting Can Deter Burglars From Targeting Your Home

A simple and relatively inexpensive way to protect your home from unwanted intruders is to install security lighting outside your home and to use timers to turn lights on and off inside your home. Thanks to Allen from YourLocalSecurity.com, an ADT authorized dealer, for this guest post with five easy tips to protect your home.

Lighting is a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to protecting home and property. Burglars love the darkness and feed on creeping around in the shadows. A poorly lit home reads like an invitation for them to commit a robbery. There is no such thing as having too much lighting inside and outside your home.

There are plenty of ways to get the most out of your interior and exterior lighting so you can turn your home into a secure environment for you and your family. Consider these lighting tips to discourage burglars from targeting your home:

1. Install motion sensors

Nothing startles a burglar and stops them dead in their tracks better than an exterior light suddenly flipping on as they are snooping around. When you install exterior lighting that operates on motion sensors, it gives the appearance that someone is home – even when no one is there.

Burglars canvas neighborhoods over a period of several days while they search for houses that are in the dark. Lights operating on motion sensors will encourage them to move on from your residence and choose an easier target elsewhere.

Exterior lights operating on motion sensors should be installed at the front and the back of your house. It is also a good idea to position lights at each corner of your house so that the motion sensors can catch anyone approaching from a side or an angle. Continue reading »

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All About Window Installation: What You Need to Know About New Windows

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Jul 252012

PinExt All About Window Installation: What You Need to Know About New Windows

Ah…windows. Windows, obviously, are an important part of any home and provide valuable lighting during the day. Unfortunately, sometimes windows need to be replaced. I know firsthand because I have had to perform a window installation in my home before. This guest post comes to us from Mark Cunningham of Cunningham Contracting, a general contractor in the Silver Springs, Maryland area. Thanks Mark!

Are you thinking about new windows for your home?

If you are, then it helps to know all about window installation and what you get from it.

So let’s take a look at the reasons why you should get new windows, how to go about the process, and what you ultimately stand to gain once it’s all said and done.

Afterwards, you’ll be ready to get the kind of windows you want for your home.

Why Should I Get New Windows?

There are plenty of reasons why people get new windows, among them being: Continue reading »

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Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting

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Jul 112012

PinExt Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting

We, of course, love lighting. Layers of light help to brighten any space, highlight certain aspects of a room, and help set the mood. Justin Krutz, a blogger for Palatin Remodeling, sent us this guest post with interior design decorating tips to help you brighten your home beyond just lighting. Thanks Justin!

bigstock Modern Bedroom Interior 400pixels 300x225 Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting So you’ve gotten that new lighting for your home and while it keeps you from sitting in the dark, the right lighting combined with the right decorative touches can do wonders for you and your home. It can bring new life to a room that’s been feeling tired for a while, help you get through the long winter days with little sun or even set the right tone for your home when the bright and warm summer days arrive once more.

Paint

Paint is widely recognized as a great yet inexpensive way to change up the look of any room, but a new coat of paint lends itself just as well to sparking new life in any area of your home.

White: White or variants such as off-white or cream are popularly known for making a room look larger. While white by itself may be a bit overpowering – it’s a great base to start with and you can mix it with other colors such as sky blues for the baseboards and molding

Earth Tones: Browns, beiges and similar earth tones are also a great choice especially when accentuated with darker shades or used to complement existing furnishings such as dark hardwood flooring.

Pastels: While reds, yellows and other colors may be too dark – you can still use pastel shades of these colors to help brighten up a room. Continue reading »

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Six Things to Think About Before Installing Solar Panels

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Jun 252012

PinExt Six Things to Think About Before Installing Solar Panels

Recently, my wife’s uncle added solar panels to his roof to reduce his electric bill, and in some cases, actually sell back unused electricity. This was the first time I saw this in action, and I came away impressed. So, when I received this guest blog post from Randy Piccoli, of Jerry’s Roofing and Siding, an expert in the exterior remodeling field, I thought it would be valuable information for you, our blog readers. Thanks so much Randy!

For many people, solar panels are becoming an increasingly popular way to provide the home with much needed energy while reducing energy bills. If it’s something you’ve considered for your own home, it helps to know just how you can get the right solar panel set up for your own home.

Because the practice of adopting solar panels is still gaining popularity all over, you might have a few questions about them and what they can do for you. Don’t worry, because we’ll use this post to look at solar panels, what you need to look for, and how they can help you save money on your electricity in the long run.

1. Think About Your Home’s Roof

There is a wide range of roofing material out there and not everything is right for solar panels. If, for instance, your home has roofing made of clay tile or slate, then installation won’t work.

Solar panels are also harder to install on rooftops made of wood shakes and concrete, so you may face a higher than normal installation cost if your roof material falls under any of those categories.

Roof design is also a factor, as solar panels are easiest to install on rooftops with slopes that aren’t too steep. Continue reading »

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Six Ways to Safeguard Your House from Burglaries Before a Vacation

Lighting Tips No Responses »

May 312012

PinExt Six Ways to Safeguard Your House from Burglaries Before a Vacation

thief entering home 300x199 Six Ways to Safeguard Your House from Burglaries Before a Vacation

From time to time we have guest bloggers help us out with great tips that we think our readers will find valuable. This is one of those times. This one comes from Todd Bently who works for Lifeshield, a home security company from my home state of NH. Big shout out to NH! After reading these great tips I was happy to see that I made the grade. What about you? Any other ways that you safeguard your house when you are away. Please share your tips in our comments below.

It’s that time of year again! Summer is here and families all over the world will be heading out on holiday. Vacation is supposed to be a time of rest and relaxation but many people worry about their home the entire time they’re away. Most homeowners are constantly asking themselves: “Did I lock all the doors and windows before we left?” or “Did we remember to set the alarm?” Homeowners who want to protect their homes from burglaries should follow these six suggestions:

1. Contact your neighbors

Let your neighbors know when you’re going out of town. If you can, give an extended family member a key to your home so they can check in from time to time. You might even consider letting someone stay in your home while you’re gone so you know it’s always guarded.

2. Install motion sensor lights

If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to set up motion sensor lights outside of your home. When anyone approaches, the lights will turn on. It’s a simple solution–burglars don’t want to be seen, so they will stay away from a home that’s well lit. Continue reading »

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Lighting to Bring Out the Best in Any Bedroom Color Scheme

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Apr 252012

PinExt Lighting to Bring Out the Best in Any Bedroom Color Scheme

We are pleased to offer you, our readers, another guest post with great lighting tips for bringing out the best in your bedroom color scheme.

Have you ever noticed how different lighting types affect the color of your room? From the warm colors of the standard incandescent light bulb (which is being phased out) to the cool colors of fluorescent, the type of lighting you select affects your color scheme – for better or for worse. After investing in bedding, drapes, and accessories for your bedroom, don’t make the mistake of overlooking the lighting. Select the wrong lighting and you’ll ruin the mood; select the right lighting and your bedroom’s color scheme will pop!

Warm versus Cool

In general, “warm” light sources bring out the warm colors such as orange, red, and yellow, while “cool” lighting intensifies cool colors such as blue. This concept is referred to as color temperature, which is measured in units called “kelvin” or “K.” For example, warm incandescent light bulbs typically equal about 2,700K, soft white light falls in the 3,000K range, cool white is about 4,100K, and daylight is about 6,500K. Continue reading »

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