Outdoor lighting fixtures can not only enhance your house’s exterior, but if done right, these can upgrade your entire home space. Garden lights can highlight specific features in your house’s outdoor area and also provide illumination for your walkway or others areas of the yard. Whether you want to use outdoor lights for decorative purposes, security reasons or both, you can do so for any house style, size, and budget.
Plan your initial landscape lighting setup
Sketch out your ideas for garden decoration in terms of needs, function, and budget. Do you need outdoor lights just for highlighting the walkway? Or do you wish to make the gazebo in your garden the focus of your home exterior? Perhaps you wish to revamp your entire backyard from dingy to fabulous? Make a list of whatever you desire in terms of your garden lights and plan a budget.
If you want to hire a professional to upgrade your garden, you can share your ideas and plans with your choice of landscape designer and watch the transformation unfold. If you wish to design your own backyard or garden, you can buy all the light fixtures as per your ideas and budget and hire an electrician to install the lights.
You can install solar lights, which may be expensive to buy than other high- or low-voltage garden lights. But the installation costs are low and the operational costs are negligible in the long run. You can discuss the option to use solar outdoor lights with your electrical contractor and install a combination of different types of landscaping lighting fixtures.
Simple ways to use garden lights in your home
Here are simple ways to create a beautiful garden with the use of outdoor lights.
– If you have a lot of planters in your garden, you can replace a few with ones that come with a built-in lighting system. For a small garden, you can buy one such big planter and use it in a corner as a focal point.
– For a mystical effect in your outdoor area, try light cubes or single light fixtures that you can place under a tree, in the middle of a rose garden or with rocks and pebbles near a fountain.
– You can create an instant magical look in your garden with the use of stake lights. The installation is simple as you need to just push them into the soft ground. These are available in different colors and shapes such as flowers, balls, and lanterns. If you have an elevated area in your garden, you can highlight it using stake lights, lanterns, or a combination of small lights in different colors for a dramatic cascading effect.
– Use fluorescent lights to create circles in the garden. You can place small statues or decorative pieces inside these illuminated paths.
– You can use underwater lights for any water features in your garden such as a pond or a waterfall. Use spotlights to illuminate your garden around the water features.
Fashion is a powerful tool that can enhance confidence and transform one’s overall appearance. While it’s easy to assume that looking fabulous requires a hefty budget or a personal stylist, the truth is that with a few smart fashion hacks, one can achieve a stylish and effortlessly glamorous look. Here are some fashion hacks for men and women that will help them elevate their style game and look fabulous for any occasion.
Fashion hacks for women
Fashion hacks for men
An essential aspect of dressing up is feeling youthful and vibrant. Dressing fashionably can enhance one’s mood and boost confidence. Moreover, staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends can enable one to shed their comfort zone and explore the intriguing world of fashion. However, some common mistakes can end up making the look feel contrived and overdone. Thus, here are some mistakes to avoid to achieve a young and trendy look:
Wearing ill-fitting clothes
Wearing properly fitting clothes is essential to accentuate one’s figure, which facilitates a young and modern look. For example, wearing well-fitting trousers can make one appear well-toned; hence, it is best to try out jeans and trousers of different sizes and purchase only those that fit well.
Pairing sneakers with casual wear
Wearing sneakers or running shoes is a good idea if one is engaging in athletic activities. However, pairing sneakers with casual wear like skirts and jeans, even for regular outings, can limit one’s options considerably. Footwear plays a significant role in enhancing one’s overall look. Although sneakers are typically comfortable, it helps to check out other types of comfortable yet fashionable footwear, including trendy flip-flops, slip-on loafers, huarache sandals, and strappy pumps.
Owning a wardrobe that represents a bygone era
Long beaded necklaces and bell bottoms may facilitate a great retro look, but wearing only such outfits can cause one to look old-fashioned. It is important to embrace changing trends and find a sweet spot that strikes the perfect balance between one’s personal dressing choices and preferences and the current fashion trends. While one may own a couple of outfits and accessories from a bygone decade, having a diverse and up-to-date wardrobe can ensure a young and happening look.
Using clothes to hide signs of aging
For example, trying to conceal wrinkles by wearing only high-neck and collared clothes can limit one’s choices. Furthermore, such clothes may not suit every occasion. It helps to opt for other subtle but effective ways to steer attention from certain parts of the body. For example, wearing longer necklaces like the opera-style and lariat-design necklaces, which fall below one’s chest and belly button, respectively, can act as excellent pieces of everyday jewelry and can subtly steer attention from the neck.
Wearing only black
While black has an indubitable charm of its own, wearing only black from head to toe can pass off a rather dull and boring look and take away from the radiance of one’s complexion. It helps to pair black with other colors, such as a black top with blue jeans or vice versa. Wearing a deep-neck black top can also ensure that the monotony is broken by the skin showing. Finally, one may pair black outfits with vibrant accessories.
Overlooking the importance of fashionable spectacles
If one wears eyeglasses, there is a lot that can be done with them to make or break an outfit. Wearing outdated spectacles can single-handedly bring down the appeal of one’s look. Conversely, certain basic tips for wearing eyeglasses can significantly elevate one’s style. For example, it is recommended to pick glasses with frames, as a variety of elegant frames is available today. Moreover, frames can help subtly conceal any wrinkles or dark circles around the eyes. The best bet is to look for trendy frames that match one’s outfit or opt for a classic style that matches most looks.
Not picking undergarments carefully
Panty lines are often overlooked, but they can spoil one’s look considerably. For example, thin-laced panties are good choices for light-colored trousers, as these can prevent panty lines from being seen. Visible bra straps, or bra straps contrasting the ensemble’s colors, can also work against an appealing look. Finally, wearing a bra of the wrong size can cause one’s breasts to appear saggy. Thus, it is important to purchase the right undergarments and coordinate them appropriately for each outfit.
Not going for the right make-up
Make-up is an essential aspect of one’s look. The color and brand of make-up one wears can determine whether a look is trendy or outdated. For instance, applying too much foundation or setting powder to hide wrinkles can cause one’s face and neck to appear cakey. Rather, it helps to master the various effective techniques of make-up application so that wrinkles and blemishes are not obvious, but one’s overall appearance is not affected. Moreover, choosing lipsticks of the right color and type is essential to stay trendy. Investing in lip primers and balms can prevent chapped lips and facilitate a smooth surface for the lipstick. Matte lipsticks may cause the lips to look thinner and flatter. Hence, it is advisable to opt for dewy lipsticks for a young and chic look.
Every aspect of one’s look, including accessories, make-up, footwear, and jewelry, is essential to complete the picture. Jumping onto trend bandwagons or sticking to an outdated wardrobe can prevent one from being fashionable. The best bet is to purchase outfits and accessories that are comfortable while being classy and trendy. Today, the online retail market has ensured easy access to various types of clothing, accessories, and footwear, opening up a world of opportunities for aspiring fashionistas. Exploring the latest trends and researching products by different brands can help broaden one’s horizons and can be a wonderful experience for personal growth too.