The Joycescape Network

Archive for the ‘Home Improvement’ Category

by : Jocelyn Iyog

One of the least expensive ways you can give a room a whole new look is to change the room’s lighting. This can mean anything from swapping out a dated looking chandelier for something new and different, to putting a new lampshade on an old lamp. There are so many options for lighting, you could spend all day browsing lighting websites or dreaming about a new way to light your existing rooms.

An option that people don’t think of often enough is “up lighting.” This simply means light that is directed upward rather than being directed downward (like a lamp with a lampshade), or omnidirectional (like ceiling light fixtures). These often look like “cans” of light that you set onto the floor or on a shelf to direct the light upward, giving the room a more indirect “wash” of light than traditional fixtures. If you have small children in the house you must place these very carefully, because they do get hot.

Task lighting under cabinets and on bookshelves can range from the simple “hockey puck” stick-on lights to adjustable track lighting. Using mirrors strategically to reflect light is another way to “wash” a room in light. A mirror opposite a window can be just the thing to maximize the natural lighting in a room. Light is a very important player in the decorating and design game - it can be almost as room-changing as rearranging the furniture.

While not as many people use fireplaces to heat their homes these days, a fireplace does make a welcoming sight when the weather turns cold. If you have a non-functioning (sealed) fireplace, or even if you don’t have a fireplace at all, a gel fireplace can make your home look much more warm and welcoming.

Gel fireplaces don’t require wood, gas, or any other traditional fuel. They use small cans of alcohol, which burns cleanly, leaving no smoke or fumes. A chimney is not required, and gel fireplaces can be moved from place to place if you rearrange your furniture. But if you want one to stay in one place, there are wall-mounted gel fireplaces.

You can’t use a gel fireplace for heat. They give off a little warmth, but their purpose is mostly to give your room a certain coziness. As for price, they start around $200 and can be ordered online. The cans of fuel run about $65 for a 24-pack. The cans of fuel burn for about three hours - perfect for an evening’s worth of ambiance. And you can blow out the flames if you want or need to.

Even if your house doesn’t have a fireplace, you can get the cozy feeling of having one by using one of the new gel fireplaces.