All About Light Bulbs

Incandescent, CFL, LED - with so many types of light bulbs to choose from, how do you know you’re choosing the best type of light bulb to brighten your home? What are the benefits of using one light bulb over another? Lighting Concepts can provide you with those answers and many more! Here are some types of popular light bulbs, where they’re typically used, and their pros and cons.

Light Emitting Diodes, LED for short, are durable light bulbs with long life spans and low energy consumption. These bulbs are never to hot to touch, and they aren’t made with mercury. You can usually find LED bulbs in styles like diffused bulbs, track lighting, recessed lighting, spot lights, and outdoor flood lights.

Compact Florescent Lights, often referred to as CFL, are similar to LED lights because they don’t produce as much heat as other light bulbs. These popular light bulbs are the best choice if you’re looking for efficiency and life span. They use anywhere from 50% to 80% less energy than the incandescent light bulbs. They are also environmentally friendly, reducing pollution in the air and water! These eco-friendly lights can be used in mostly any type of light fixture, and the bulbs are available in a variety of shapes. One of the disadvantages of CFL’s is that they are made with mercury.

Most people are familiar with incandescent light bulbs. These bulbs light up using electricity to heat a tungsten filament, which glows inside of the bulb. These bulbs are becoming more unpopular, since compared to LED’s and CFL’s they hold more disadvantages than advantages. For example, the bulb becomes hot after being lit for awhile and it can be hot to touch. They also have short life spans. Some advantages of using incandescent bulbs are that they cost less than CFL’s and LED’s, and they also fit almost any type of light fixture.

These are only three of the many light bulbs to choose from. Visit LightingConcepts.com to learn about the other light bulb options we have available for customers.

Celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month in your Backyard

There’s no need to travel in order to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month. You can celebrate at home, right in your own backyard. Set up the lawn furniture, fire up the grill, and switch on the outdoor lights because these backyard activities will keep you busy outside well into the evening.

Having a water balloon war is a great game for kids or adults to play during a hot July night. The rules are exactly like the rules of dodge ball, but played with water balloons instead of balls. If the game doesn’t last as long as expected, fill up more balloons and play again!

Play a traditional game of hide-n-seek, but add tag into the game, making it Hide-N-Seek Tag. Just like hide-n-seek, whoever is “It” must find the players who are hiding, but they also have to tag them before the hiders reach home base. Before beginning the game everyone should decide on a spot in the backyard that qualifies as home base.

Instead of playing games you can get creative with some wood and nails, and create a fort for your children and their friends to play in. Not that good with carpentry? You can use cardboard boxes too! Get the kids involved and let your imaginations lead the way.

Design paper airplanes with crayons and fly them in the backyard. If you have a second floor deck, let the airplanes loose and see whose airplane makes it further. If you have a driveway an old fashioned game of hop scotch is always fun to play.

Some backyard activities for adults include sports like kickball, volleyball, softball, football and any other sports you enjoy. You can also sit at a table and play a card or board game.

Whatever you do this July to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, LightingConcepts.com hopes you have fun, and enjoy the outdoors!

Bring the Family Together Under Outdoor Lights

July is National Family Reunion Month, and family reunions usually mean outdoor parties. This year don’t just cut the grass, impress your family with your backyard by planting flowers, plants and trees, providing comfortable lawn furniture, and adding outdoor lights in just the right places.

Which flowers you plant depends on the time and care you plan on putting into taking them, and how much experience you have with growing flowers. Flowers that require less care are perfect for beginners and those with not much time. Some low maintenance flowers include Coneflowers, Sea Thrift, Siberian Irises, Black-Eyed Susans, and Stella D’oro Daylilies. Search the internet or visit your local greenhouse to discover more low maintenance flowers. You can also ask about shrubs, bushes and trees which don’t require much care.

The next thing you’ll want to think about is lawn furniture. When choose furniture for your backyard or patio consider how many people you’ll be accommodating, the amount of time you’ll be spending on the furniture, and whether you’ll be eating meals outside or not. For a family reunion, we suggest a picnic table. Picnic tables provide seating for about eight people, 10 if you add a chair to each end of the table. Shop around; picnic tables are sold in different sizes and are made from different types of wood. As for patio furniture, choose furniture that would be comfortable to sit on for extend periods of time.

The last part, our personal favorite, is the outdoor lights! Here are a few things to take into mind when selecting your outdoor lights.

• Illuminate pathways with lantern path lights, or area lights. This will allow you to move safely and easily in the dark. You should also light stairs with post lights.
• You can also add post lights to the railings on your deck. These outdoor lights will create a fantastic atmosphere for a nightly snack or card game.
• You can illuminate parts of the yard by adding a spotlight to the house or a tree.
• Brighten up the barbeque or grill with a wall light, so you can provide those evening card players with a snack. 

After all of that work, take some time for yourself to enjoy your new backyard paradise. Have a great July, and happy National Family Reunion Month from all of us here at LightingConcepts.com!

Illuminate Your Office with Touches of Home

After the three day long Fourth of July weekend, it’s time to head back to the office. Most people dread the end of these long weekends more than the ends of regular two day weekends. After a spending the last three days relaxing at home with your family and friends, who could blame them for being a little down in the dumps? Although, there are ways to make work feel a bit more like home.

For cubicle dwellers, you can use small personal touches to personalize your space. Here are some things that may brighten your day.

• Flowers and plants can boost your mood and add some color to your work space.
• Place one or two framed photos on your dek. These photos will remind you of happy times with family and friends.
• Add some light and style to your cubicle with a desk lamp. Make sure you choose a size lamp that will fit on your desk.

Below are some tips for those of you looking to make your office a bit homier.

• If you can paint your office walls, choose a color that represents your personality, but make sure it’s also business appropriate.
• Hang some artwork or family photos on the walls. If you have children, let them draw you a picture, frame it and hang it on your office wall.
• Offices aren’t restricted to small potted plants. You can place a large potted flower, plant or a small tree in the corner of your office.
• Buy floor lamps that suit your style and your tastes. Instead of using the ceiling lighting, light your office with the floor lamps.
• Invest in a set of comfortable arm chairs. These will come in handy when you’re working early in the morning or late at night.
• You can also purchase end or accent tables for decorating purposes.

Be creative and have fun when decorating your work space, but don’t go overboard in the decorating department. You don’t want it to look like your bedroom did when you were 16. These tips are sure to help you add a little touch of home to brighten your work day.

Enjoy the "Lights" this Weekend

At LightingConcepts.com, we love to be able to provide you with the latest and greatest lighting fixtures, lighting design advice, and the newest innovations when it comes to lighting. Anytime we can offer assistance to anyone who has questions, we are more than happy to help.

But sometimes we also just like to have fun and enjoy some other types of “lights.” One example will occur all around the nation this weekend: Fireworks! We love fireworks and hope that you all get the chance to get outside with your friends and family and help join in the celebration of the Independence of the United States.

All we ask is that you play it safe when you go out to the fireworks displays or set off your own. Hospital emergency rooms are usually the most busy on the 4th of July because of accidents related to fireworks. Therefore please remember:

-Don't allow children to be unsupervised
-Keep a source of water readily available
-Don't light fireworks near flammable objects
-Don't light fireworks near homes or swimming pools
-Don't park too close to an area where fireworks are being set off
-Have a flat and wide surface to use as launching point for your fireworks

We hope you are all safe and enjoy your holiday weekend!

National Lightning Safety Week

Over the past few months on our blog and Facebook page, we've been talking about that various ways you can utilize our outdoor lighting fixtures to help you enjoy the warm summer weather, even when the sun starts to go down. Although we still strongly encourage experiencing the outdoors, we did want to present you with a warning: Be aware of lightning.

The further we get into the warmer months, the more likely there are to be thunderstorms; some of which can become severe. In honor of this being National Lightning Safety Week, we wanted to do our part to give you some lightning safety tips.

1. Listen for thunder. A lot of people don't know this, but if you can hear thunder, you are still close enough to the storm to get struck by lightning. When most people hear thunder, they think they still have some time before they are actually in danger. This is not true. When you hear thunder, get to safety.

2. Avoid tall objects. If you get caught outside in thunderstorm, avoid hiding under tall objects like trees, telephone poles, or metal structures. Lightning is often drawn to the highest object and if you're hiding under the only tree in your yard, you could be in trouble. Try to find a ditch, car, shorter trees and lay down so you are as low to the ground as possible.

3. Split up. If you get caught outdoors with a group of people, make sure you all split up. Lightning has the ability to jump from person to person if they are close enough together. Try to stay within line of sight from one another so you know where everyone is, but still put some distance between you. Also make sure everyone is low to the ground.

4. Get out of the water. If you are swimming, fishing, water skiing, or participating in any other sort of aquatic activity, try to get to dry land immediately after hearing thunder or seeing lightning. Water will act as a conduit for lightning and can send the deadly electrical charge great distances across the water.

Hopefully with these tips you will all have a healthy and happy summer.

Quoizel Lighting 50% Off!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That blog post title says Quoizel lighting fixtures are now being offered at 50% off from LightingConcepts.com! Quoizel Lighting is a leading name when it comes to high-quality and beautiful lighting fixtures for any type of home decorating theme. Whether you're looking for something classic or contemporary, Quoizel has a product that is suited to your tastes.

Now you can purchase these items at 50% off of their original price. There is only one stipulation: You have to become a Facebook fan. We have had many loyal Facebook fans, and we want to reward them for their loyalty. But we also want to use this opportunity to reward our newer fans, as well!

If you want to take part of this offer, simply go to our Facebook page, click “Like” at the top of the page, then click “Shop now” on the left hand side to be taken to our store… where you can find the great Quoizel products at half price! We hope you find what you are looking for!

Lighting Concepts and the Great Falls Balloon Festival

One of the many missions of LightingConcepts.com is to help you design and find the perfect lighting atmosphere for your home. When you have the proper lighting situation, you can work and relax with ease. At our store you can even find some beautiful, efficient, and affordable outdoor lighting to help you enjoy your yard, porch, or patio once the sun has gone down.

Even though LightingConcepts.com loves to talk about lighting fixtures, we also do love to talk about the most abundant source of light: The sun. The summer is a great chance to get out there and bask in the sun's warm rays. There are many things to do in and around Lewiston, Maine where you can be out in the sun.

For our local readers, we wanted to give you a reminder about one of the area's greatest outdoor festivals: The Great Falls Balloon Festival. This year the festival will be held on August 19th-21st. The festival is well known for the amazing hot air balloons that fill the skies. It is also well known for helping to raise funds and awareness for many local charities and organizations.

So make sure to visit the Festival's website so you can learn everything you need to know about the festival and hopefully we will see some of you there!

Casablanca Ceiling Fans Beat the Humidity

Have you ever been wandering around on a hot day, sweating your socks off, wishing that the temperature would just drop by about twenty degrees? Have you ever then heard someone say, “It's not the heat, it's the humidity”? Did you ever wonder what that means, exactly?

Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. The more humid it is, the more sticky, sweaty, and all around disgusting you feel. Those are the days that you feel like you need to shower constantly. Humidity actually makes the air more dense which gives it the sensation of being heavy, which also can make it harder to breathe. As the humidity sits in the air, you become more miserable.

How can you counteract this problem? Air flow. Having your windows open can be a great way to promote airflow through your home. If you can get a nice cross breeze going, you can keep that damp and dense air moving, which should help keep you cool.

But sometimes the air is so dense or the atmospheric conditions are such that there isn't even a breeze. It's times like these where you really wish you had a Casablanca ceiling fan available to keep your air circulating. Not only will these ceiling fans keep you cool, but they are beautiful fixtures that can help add to the décor of your home.

So don't wait until the middle of August to get cool, get your fan going now! The dog days of summer aren't even here yet. Let LightingConcepts.com help you find a solution to the heat. Oops, we mean humidity.

Outdoor Lighting for Nighttime Sports

At LightingConcepts.com, we know that the summer is an important time of year for athletes. The weather is finally good enough to get outside and enjoy a fun game of your favorite sport. As friends gather together, a backyard game of football, baseball, volleyball, or other fun sport can last well into the evening. There are several reasons for this:

1) It is lighter longer, so you can remain outdoors longer.
2) If it is a 90 degree day, it is cooler to play outside as the sun starts to go down.
3) It may take a while to get people and a game organized once people are done with work or school for the day.

But one of the most frustrating things that can happen if is your game is called on account of darkness. An intense or entertaining game can become unfair or even dangerous if not properly illuminated.

At LightingConcepts.com, you can find a number of outdoor lighting fixtures and outdoor lighting tips on how to properly light your yard. With proper lighting, you can have your game go well into the night, and if you are that dedicated, even to the next morning!

If you need any help or have any questions about any of our fixtures, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are more than happy to talk with you about any of your lighting needs or concerns.

Outdoor Lighting for National BBQ Month

Did you know that May is National BBQ Month? As the temperatures keep getting warmer and the weather keeps getting nicer, we can finally start planning such outdoor galas such as a BBQ.

After a hard week of work, you can have friends and family come over to grill burgers, hotdogs, and chicken on the BBQ pit. Your mouth will start to water as you slather the food in BBQ sauce and seasonings. You can wash it all down with a nice cool glass of lemonade. Sounds like a wonderful time, right?

Don't forget that just because the sun eventually goes down, that that doesn't mean you have to stop grilling! If you utilize effective outdoor lighting, you'd be more than ready to keep the party going even in the growing darkness. Just visit our outdoor lighting tips page to read up on a number of tips you can use when setting up your outdoor lighting for the upcoming summer season.

Bon Appetite!

Introducing LED Lighting at Lighting Concepts

When it comes to thinking about the environment, we all have to do our part to conserve what resources the planet has to offer us. One way that LightingConcepts.com can help you be more energy efficient is through LED lighting.

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode, and is a form lighting that greatly reduces that amount of energy requires to light a room. Utilizing LED lighting is a great way for you to transform your home into a more energy efficient one.

LightingConcepts.com is here to help you make the right decisions for your personal situation. If you are building a new home from scratch, renovating a portion of your house, or just looking to switch out an old lamp, LightingConcepts.com has the energy efficient trained staff to help light the way to a more ecological and economical lighting situation for your home.

Don't be afraid to contact us as we love to help!

Outdoor Lighting for the Summer

As we get closer to May we know that the Summer is not too far off. It will be nice to finally dig ourselves out from the snow once and for all. We want to find our shorts and flip flops and start enjoying the outdoors.

Summer usually brings a lot of classic images along with it: Back yard cook outs, swimming pools, relaxing on a porch, getting some sun, star gazing, and fireworks. There are a lot of summer outdoor activities that can go on well into the night. That is why it is important that if you have lights for your home's exterior, that they are properly situated to give you the maximum benefit.

Outdoor lighting can provide you both with ample light to continue outdoor fun after the sun goes down and can also provide you with safety by allowing you to not be surprised by anything lurking in the shadows. Since the winter thaw is just leaving some parts of the country, this might be the first chance a lot of people have to start situating their outdoor lighting. LightingConcepts.com is here to help. On our lighting showroom page, we have a whole article dedicated to helping you place your outdoor lighting and lighting fixtures so that you are getting the optimal benefit. Take a look in case you have any questions.

Have a healthy and happy summer! What kind of fun activities are your favorite for this time of year?

Lighting Concepts @ Maine Home & Design Midcoast Show

Do you live in the Midcoast region of Maine? Do you live near the Midcoast region and have recently been considering remodeling your home? Do you want to add a new, modern, and exciting lighting design to your home? If so, you might be interested in stopping by the Maine Home & Design Midcoast Show because LightingConcepts.com will also be in attendance.

This year's show will be on June 11-12 at Point Lookout in Lincolnville. You do need tickets to attend, so please make sure to download the registration form found on the show's website.

Not only will LightingConcepts.com be on hand to help answer any lighting questions you may have, but we can also offer you opportunities at free consultation. Interested in more than just lighting? You will also be able to find architects, builders, landscape designers, interior designers, kitchen and bath designers,suppliers, artists, food purveyors, and much more.

Learn more about this event at our Lighting Concepts Showroom Page.

Lighting Fixtures and Rain

Now that it seems like we have finally gotten away from snow for the year, we are faced with rain. Lots and lots of rain. An extraordinary amount of rain depending on what part of the country you live in. As spring turns to summer, we're also going to start seeing sudden thunderstorms that occur due to the high temperatures and humidity in the air.

If you were considering purchasing any type of lighting fixture, such a table lamp, we wanted to give you a friendly reminder: Be careful if you keep it by a window during the rainy season.

On days where there is heavy rain, or a lot of wind accompanying the rain, there is a chance the water can seep through window frames. You would hate to see your nice lamp suffer water or electrical damage.

The same is true if you like to leave your window open to get a nice cool breeze on a warm day. If a sudden storm pops up, the driving wind could push water through your window screen, again threatening your lighting fixture.

Therefore, just use caution when you decide to place your lighting fixtures throughout your house. Also be mindful of potential weather forecasts and keep your windows closed if there is a chance of rain in the future.

Home Lighting for Easter

Easter will be coming up later this month. Since we here at LightingConcepts.com are constantly thinking about lighting, we are always nothing new trends in the way that people light their homes. Normally these types of trends refer to traditional types of lighting such as outdoor landscape lighting. But since we are getting close to Easter, we have been noticing something interesting when it comes to lighting: Easter Christmas Tree Lights!

As we've been driving around at night, it is becoming more and more common that families are decorating their homes for Easter with the same type of outdoor lights you see at Christmas. Of course, the colors are actually different: The dark and deep colors you see around Christmas time have been replaced with lighter and more pastel hues.

We also have noticed similar lighting decorations for other holidays as well: Purple and orange lights for Halloween, pink and red lights for Valentines Day, and green lights for St. Patrick's Day. We are excited to see that Christmas tree lights are now being utilized throughout the year and not only during one time of year.

Seeing fun and exciting lighting designs and trends, even from a holiday decoration standpoint, is something we love to talk about here at LightingConcepts.com. Do any of you use lights for other holidays throughout the year? Let us know in the comments section.

Looking for Free Lighting Consultations in Portland, Maine?

Do you live in Portland, Maine? Are you planning on a remodeling or construction project? If so, don't forget one very important component: Lighting.

The way that lighting can affect a room is crucial. If you are working on a bedroom, then you may want softer lighting so that you can rest and relax. If you are working on an office space, you will want brighter lighting so that you can easily work on important projects.

But what kind of lighting fixtures provide you the type of lighting you need? Where should you place those lighting fixtures in your room? These are questions that you really need to consider while you're planning your room design.

LightingConcepts.com can help you by offering free lighting consultations to those of you who live in Portland, Maine as part of our Maine Home Show promotion. All you need to do is show up to our lighting showroom in Lewiston, Maine and we will provide you with a free lighting consultation based on your needs. You can interact with all of the fixtures we have available so you know exactly how everything looks before you spend money on something you may not like.

If you have any questions, feel free to get a hold of us and we'd be happy to help.

Outdoor Landscape Lighting Spring Maintenance

Much to the relief of many, it would seem as though Spring is almost here. Although, we have been seeing reports of a possible Nor'Easter for April Fool's Day, maybe we shouldn't hold our breath just yet. It certainly has been an intense winter.

But even if it is not in the near future, Spring will soon arrive. Once it does, we will be spending more time outside getting our yards and home looking their best. This also includes starting to use your outdoor landscape lighting.

But before you turn on your outdoor landscape lighting for the first time this year, make sure you take a few seconds to do some maintenance. Walk around your whole lighting system and remove any winter debris. Check to make sure that there are no broken fixtures or bulbs. Make sure all of the wiring is safely contained and not damaged. Once you've doubled checked everything, then turn on your system for the first time this year.

By taking a few extra minutes to look over your outdoor landscape lighting, you will be able to spot any repairs you will need to make, and you may prevent any type of electrical short that may be the result of damaged wiring or fixtures.

Swing Arm Lamps for Video Game Rooms

You've just been summoned by your superior commander to report to your base of operations. You stand nervously, watching the rest of your company fall into line. Everyone wears a look of confusion. You are greeted by your commanding officer and told that you will be on the first wave of a counter strike to help defend Earth from a race of hostile aliens. You pick up your weapon an prepare for battle.

Sound like a typical Friday night with all of your best friends? Everyone gathered together playing intense video games while trying to save the world? It is truly amazing how technology has allowed for such immersive and multi-player gaming experiences.

But when it comes to video games, a lot of people need to have the setting just right. If they aren't sitting in a suitable position, don't have the right controller, or don't have the proper lighting conditions, they can quickly lose interest in the game.

That is why if you have your own video game den, you should consider a lighting source that is adjustable. If you can control the angle of the light, or how much light is being given off, then people may have a more enjoyable time. Take a swing arm lamp for instance. A lot of the swing arm lamps you can find at LightingConcepts.com give you a large range of flexibility when it comes to determining where in the room you'd like the light source to be coming from. This can be very beneficial so that you can create the perfect lighting solution for any gamer who utilizes your space.

Introducing Norwell Lighting

Are you looking for high quality lighting for your home or remodeling project? Have you been conducting an exhaustive search looking for the perfect lighting but have only found expensive pieces from the top name brand companies? Why pay extra money for the “big names” when you can get amazing quality chandeliers, sconces, bathbars, and other such fixtures from a brand name that is not usually discussed?

This month we wanted to introduce you to Norwell Lighting and Accessories. Norwell is a lighting manufacture right here in Maine and we've taken kindly to getting to know our neighbors. If you are looking for expert craftsmanship and quality, you need to look no further than Norwell. An example of their work is the picture of the Norwell Calais Flemish sconce that accompanies this post.

The best part? Their prices are comparable if not lower to the competition. And they are going to get lower for anyone who “likes” us on Facebook. Right now on our Facebook page is a coupon code and instructions on how you can save an additional 10% off of any Norwell items in your order. So get over to Facebook and check it and us out. Be fast; this offer expires at the end of March.

Facebook.com/LightingConceptsMaine

A Bit About Torchieres

Torchiere lights can also be referred to as “torch lamps.” (The word itself is actually derived from the French word for “torch.”) We’ve got a great selection here at Lighting Concepts, we’ve got torchieres from many of your favorite brands. Take the time to browse through our selection and find the torchiere that’s perfect for your décor!

Torchieres originally consisted of multiple decorative candles. When they were introduced to the French in the late 17th century, however, they only had one mounted candle. (Of course, our torchieres use light bulbs!)

Torchiere lights can be used to illuminate just about any space. Whether you’re looking to light a home, restaurant, spa, or other relaxing space, a torchiere can do the trick. These lights are a great addition to central overhead lighting. You’ll notice a wonderful play of lights and shades when the two lighting fixtures are used in tandem.

Living rooms, bedrooms, and family rooms are common areas where you need a fair amount of lighting. Torchieres are ideal for these spaces since they concentrate light upwards—and they’re quite tall. Light is deflected and spread across a large amount of the ceiling.

We’ve got a wide range of styles—from modern to classic.

Brand Spotlight: ELK Lighting

ELK Lighting, Inc has to be one of our favorite manufacturers. These gorgeous lighting fixtures are the ideal addition to just about any décor or style. ELK Lighting was founded in 1983 in Eastern Pennsylvania by three leading industry experts—Adolf Ebenstein, Jonathan Lesko, and Russell King. (Hence the name ELK!) Since the company began, their commitment to deliver quality, innovative, and beautiful light fixtures is really second to none.

Are you looking to add a little bit of class and style to your home? Look no further than ELK lighting from Lighting Concepts. We have a great selection of ceiling lighting, wall lighting, and chandeliers to help you make a real design statement. ELK Lighting’s design department is constantly coming up with new and innovative twists on classic designs—and we’re sure that you’ll love what you see.

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about making changes in your home. Spring means new life and regeneration, and you can bring that to light in your home with great fixtures from ELK Lighting. Trusted for over 25 years, ELK Lighting is truly inspirational.

Look through the selection of ELK products here at Lighting Concepts and make some design changes in your home.

Meet Us at the Home and Garden Show for Lighting Advice

Home and Garden, and Lighting Concepts!

We're very excited to be hosting an exhibit at the 2011Maine Home, Remodeling & Garden Show at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland. There will be over 180 exhibitors on hand to give advice on remodeling and updating and Lighting Concepts will be one of them!

If you come to the show, bring along your home plans and questions for lighting advice. Find us at the show and we'll be more than glad to answer simple lighting questions then and there! We will also be offering free lighting design consultations which will be scheduled for March 7th though the 18th. So stop by our exhibit during the show and set up a time for a lighting consultation on us!

The show is open from 10pm to 6pm on Saturday, February 18 and 10pm to 4pm on Sunday, February 20. There will be a book signing, raffle benefiting Habitat for Humanity, and of course drawings and prizes. There's also going to be instructive cooking demonstrations all weekend from award winning chefs. This is the 21^st year the show has been held and the theme is “Updating and Remodeling in Today's New Eco-Friendly World”. For more information on the the schedule, exhibits, and directions to the show check out the show website. Just a friendly reminder, if you do plan on coming, there is a $2.00 off coupon off adult admission available on the site!

We're looking forward to the  show and hope to see you there for all the excitement and education!

Learn a Bit About Sconces

Here at Lighting Concepts, we have the sconces you need to make your home look absolutely beautiful.  A sconce is a nice light fixture that attaches right to the wall.  We have many different shapes and sizes of sconces in our store.  Take the time to browse through and find the one that’s right for you.  Interestingly, sconces existed prior to electrical lighting—they just held candles instead.

What does it do?

Sconces provide lighting in your home.  (That was pretty obvious, though.)  They often coordinate with chandeliers or other light fixtures in the room.  Sconces are ideal for ambient lighting or illuminating artwork on the wall.

How does the ALA define it?

The American Lighting Association says that if it provides light and hangs on a wall, it’s considered a sconce.  Many of the sconces here are available in gorgeous designs that can be considered artwork in and of themselves.

Some features of a sconce

A sconce is right for you if you’re looking for some ambient lighting, as we said before.  If you’re looking to get enough direct light to use for reading or writing, you’re out of luck.  (Unless, of course, the sconce has a swing arm.)  Sconces are ideal for illuminating hallways and the walls of dining rooms and living rooms.

Design tip

When you’re using a series of sconces in a row, be sure to wire them so that they all operate with the same switch.  This will just make your life easier.

Lighting Concepts Helps with Small Spaces

We’re sure that many of you live in small homes or have small rooms in your houses. 

No matter what your reason for living in a small place, there are certainly some unique decorating challenges you’ll face.  If you’re looking for a space that’s cozy, intimate, and comfortable, that’s easy to do.  Use soft upholstery, dark and warm tones, and some dramatic lighting.  Check out Lighting Concepts for the right lighting solution for your small space.

But if you want to get the most of your small space, you can make some decorating changes that will make the area look and feel a bit bigger.

• Clear out the clutter!  When things are neatly arranged and out of sight, the space will feel larger, orderly, and more open.  This can help create the illusion of more space.
• Move furniture out of the walkways.  If you can see the floor, the room will look larger.
• Warm colors make a space feel small and intimate, but light and cool colors will make the space feel more open.  Soft tones of blue and green work perfectly. 
• Any room will feel larger if it’s well-lit.  Get rid of heavy draperies and let the natural light in.  Adding some flush and semi-flush lighting to the ceiling will also help to brighten the space up.

How do you decorate your small space?  Leave us a comment!

Save Money on Lamps

When you’re decorating your home, adding lamps can really kick things up a notch.  They add style as well as light.  There are many different types of lamps to choose from here at Lighting Concepts.  If you use the code “lamps11” at checkout, you can save 10% off of table lamps and floor lamps.  Let’s learn a little bit about the different kinds of lamps and what they can mean for you.

• Table lamps are small, and made for end tables and night stands.  They generally have a wider base and narrow body—and they aren’t too tall.  Table lamps can be made from wood, plastic, glass, metal, etc.  We have a wide variety here at Lighting Concepts.
• Floor lamps, in contrast, are very tall and they can light up an entire corner of a room.  The lamp shades on table lamps generally point upwards towards the ceiling.  This helps to distribute the light around.
• Desk lamps are the ideal task lighting for your office space.  They generally have long and narrow shades so they can illuminate your paperwork properly.
• Tiffany lamps are basically a specialty lamp—the glass used for the shade is truly exquisite.  Like other lamps, they come in many shapes and sizes.

Look to Lighting Concepts for the lamps that you need!

More Lighting Quotes

A little while ago we brought you some inspirational quotes about light.  We felt so good afterwards, that we decided to bring you some more.  Remember, Lighting Concepts is your stop for beautiful chandeliers, desk lamps, sconces, and many other lighting fixtures.  We help you bring light into your home!  We hope you appreciate light as much as we do.

Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?  ~Maurice Freehill

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.  ~Chinese Proverb

There are two kinds of light - the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures.  ~James Thurber

In a profound sense every man has two halves to his being; he is not one person so much as two persons trying to act in unison.  I believe that in the heart of each human being there is something which I can only describe as a "child of darkness" who is equal and complementary to the more obvious "child of light."  ~Laurens van der Post

Moonlight is sculpture.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Firelight will not let you read fine stories but it's warm and you won't see the dust on the floor.  ~Irish Proverb

Lighting Quotes

As you’re shopping for great light fixtures here at Lighting Concepts, think about the reasons you want to bring light into your home.  We couldn’t really function without it, could we?  We love light—that’s why we do what we do.  We think these quotes bring the notion of light up to a whole new level.

An age is called "dark," not because the light fails to shine but because people refuse to see it.  ~James Michener


For sleep, one needs endless depths of blackness to sink into; daylight is too shallow, it will not cover one.  ~Anne Morrow Lindbergh


Sadness flies on the wings of the morning and out of the heart of darkness comes the light.  ~Jean Giraudoux

Nothing travels faster than light, with the possible exception of bad news, which follows its own rules.  ~Douglas Adams

The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson