Header image: A suited astronaut uses a touch panel in the Dragon capsule. Image credit: SpaceX
10.08.2024 - 10:15 / thespruce.com / Melissa Epifano
Lighting isn't always the most intuitive part of decorating a room. But when you do it well, the whole atmosphere can change—it can even boost your home's value.
That said, mistakes are often made on the road to achieving ideal lighting—whether it's the wrong color of bulb or a lampshade that's three sizes too big.
Fortunately, that's why we have experts who can help us avoid disappointing results. Up ahead, several designers share the biggest lighting mistakes they see in homes and offer advice for preventing and fixing them.
Pendants and chandeliers hanging at the wrong heights and of the wrong proportions is something Keri Lainas, owner and principal designer at Keri Michelle Interiors, says she sees this all too often.
Whether it's over an island or a table, Lainas says you should always measure to ensure your lighting is installed to be balanced and symmetrical.
For the average 8-foot ceiling, hang your dining room chandelier about 30 to 36 inches from the table. This final height might differ depending on how high your ceiling is and the table style you've chosen.
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Sconces may look beautiful mounted on a wall, but they're not a great design choice for vanities.
«Sconces provide downlight but not forward light, so applying makeup and seeing your face with good light feels shadowy,» Lainas says.
If you have already picked out a set of sconces you love too much to keep off the bathroom walls, Lainas recommends adding an overhead light. This way, you won't have to compromise style or functionality.
While they're great at shedding light evenly in a room, recessed lights
Header image: A suited astronaut uses a touch panel in the Dragon capsule. Image credit: SpaceX
When it comes to pruning your garden as well as shrubs and trees around your yard, it can be a bit intimidating, especially if you haven't done it before. Especially with the fall season, it can be tricky dealing with unexpected weather and more. Fortunately, it's not as complicated as you may think. Just make sure to avoid these pruning mistakes this upcoming fall season.
If your Crassula ovatais losing its charm and you haven’t got a clue why, then this article has your back! We investigate things that might be killing this hardy succulent and what you should stop doing immediately.
Living in an apartment doesn't have to feel stifling, so long as you have a few space-saving tricks up your sleeve.
Have you ever wondered how often you should water your vegetable garden? Watering may seem straightforward, but there are some important considerations to think about before you get out your watering can or the garden hose. The way you water your plants is essential for them to grow and thrive. “Just like the sun, water is a key component to having a successful veggie garden,” says Nicole Shah, gardener and co-founder of Garden Girls, a garden design company in Houston, Texas.
After a long winter, it's exciting to look forward to pulling out summer furniture when the weather warms up. But it can be disappointing when you pull out your outdoor items and they've been ruined by a rough winter and poor storage.
Scent is powerful, triggering memories from long ago and transporting us to faraway places. In the garden, fragrant perennials often connect us to childhood walks through our grandparents’ gardens or summer days spent gathering bouquets. Aromatic flowers and foliage also play upon our emotions. Some scents are soothing and can be used to enhance outdoor seating areas to help us unwind after a long day. When planted near the front door, fragrant perennials make an alluring first impression. Fragrant blooms also attract a diversity of pollinators to the garden.
Chances are, if you have a lawn, you have crabgrass! This fast-growing weed thrives despite heat, humidity, or drought conditions. “It’s a prolific seed producer,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at theUniversity of Georgia. “If you do nothing about it this year, expect a higher and more dense population of crabgrass next year.”
Ready to have a hoot? Whether you’re an owl enthusiast or just someone who loves a good laugh, you’re in for a treat with this bumper list of owl puns and owl jokes.
Fall armyworms (Spodotera frugiperda) are not a welcome visitor in the Southeast. They often appear in large numbers inlate summer to early fall and make the ground appear as if it’s moving as they devour every bit of vegetation in their paths. “They will march across your lawn, just like an army,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass extension specialist at theUniversity of Georgia. “The adult moths are not a turf issue, but they lay eggs which become voracious caterpillars that can decimate a lawn and heavily damage certain types of turfgrasses.”