Creating Your Lighting Floor Plan For Your Houston Home

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Considerations For Your Houston Lighting Floor Plan

Can you really live with those lights the way they are?

There are not many ways to perfectly design lighting. However, unfortunately, there is almost an infinite number of ways that a bad job can be done. That doesn’t really seem fair, but that is what the reality is.

One of the most obvious signs that disaster is imminent is when somebody says, “hey you know what I think would look great over there?” Although we would all love to equate creativity and spontaneity to artistic flair and talent, the truth of the matter is that it takes planning to achieve the right lighting design. This is true for both Houston residential outdoor lighting as well as indoor lighting.

A clear understanding is needed of the dimensions of the room, sources of natural lights (including daily exposure), the kind of furniture that will be in the room, the actual use of the room, and the various ceiling heights in each location. Living rooms or dining rooms that have vaulted ceils have needs that are completely different to the ones for a home office or den when it comes to lighting needs.

Safety First

However, that’s not all, since the individual who does the design and layout will need to know what type of power is available for sustaining the design, and whether or not there will need to be wiring upgrades. Keep in mind, Robert Huff Illuminations as certified electrical installers on staff. We do not cut corners and ensure that your installation is up to code (or even higher) and is completely safe.

Common Errors

It is difficult to blame customers for making mistakes whenever they purchase LED bulbs randomly in stores. Bulbs that have various Kelvin Temperatures look similar when lit. When you look at a bare bulb, it is practically impossible to differentiate between them other than noticing the differences in brightness.

Each Assignment Is Unique

In reality, they will, of course, be different, compared to when you are looking at them on a monitor screen since it has a bias all its own built-in already. However, the human eye is able to literally see millions of different colors, and when the human eye is trained it can recognize which colors complement one another. So lighting design is actually much more complex than you might have initially thought.

Our Knowledge Protects You

Our designs have the right knowledge to choose the right colors; they also know how to choose the right fixtures so that your lighting goals can be achieved. They know to avoid the huge influx of cheap LED lightbulbs ha recently have flooded the retail marketplace. We use only similarly priced, high-quality bulbs that last 50,000 to 100,000 hours. There are no advantages to using planned-obsolescence, short-life LED bulbs, that have been designed for sustaining the constant replacement market that has been relied on since the 1880s by the bulb manufacturers.

However, most importantly, our installers, technicians, and designers know how to ensure that the right power supply is available and can support the design in a manner that will be approved. It is your home, so that is why it must be completely safe, and you need to have real experts who have years worth of practical experience.

The proof is that every year we make sure to invest in Continuing Education hours for our designers, installers, and technicians. We have the most knowledgeable team around. We promise you that.

The Main Takeaway

There are numerous reasons why people may decide to undertake this type of job on their own. On the surface level, it doesn’t appear to be that hard. There is the perception as well that money can be saved.

If there is one thing all of our experience has been able to teach it is that it is more cost-effective and faster to have an expert do a job right the first time than it is trying to repair something that didn’t meet the goals, specifications or didn’t come out the way you wanted it to. Let us prove to you that we are your best option. We guarantee it.

Contact or call us today for further information.

Let Us Take Care of Your Houston Outdoor & Indoor Lighting Issues

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If Light Flickering Issues Are Bringing You Down, Robert Huff Outdoor Lighting Specialists Can Help

Gone Before You Know It

It has been long established that flickering lights can cause people to suffer from nausea, headaches and sometimes even seizures. Because flickering lights work on a subconscious level, sufferers often have no clue what is responsible for these health effects.

When computer monitors were first released back in the old days of personal computing, computer monitors were pretty much just like your average television screen. Like television screens, computer screens had low refresh rates. Images on the screen would appear to be steady when looked at directly, but in actuality, these images would be flickering like crazy, and this could be seen when looking to the side of the image.

While the image appeared steady to your eyes, your brain would pick up what was actually happening, which would often result in stress, headaches, and even nervous breakdowns for some. Eventually, some folks discovered the cause of these health effects and monitor improvements were made that included higher refresh rates to help minimize these issues. Thankfully, this isn’t as big an issue today due to the invention of plasma, LCD, and LED monitors which don’t have this problem.

Even a Little Flicker Is Bad

If you’re having LED lighting installed in your home in the installer tells you your current lighting system is fine, chances are they are probably wrong, at least partially. Your current wiring is most likely sufficient as long as it’s reaching your light sources, but odds are your other lighting hardware isn’t.

A perfect example of a situation that often rears its ugly head for clients is when they have installed fully dimmable LED lighting in their house. Without an upgrade to the current hardware in place, chances are the lights won’t work at all. Or, they may work in a limited fashion, but could flicker, buzz and hum, and may not be adjustable at all.

Houston Outdoor Lighting Quality Tops Everything

If quality is a concern as it is with many homeowners, you should know that bulbs purchased in your local stores are not the best quality bulbs available. Most store-bought bulbs have limited operating lives of approximately 10,000 hours. In rare instances, you can find bulbs with operating lives of up to 50,000 hours, but it is highly unlikely that you will find high standard bulbs with operating lives of 100,000 hours.

If we do the math, a 10,000-hour bulb used around five hours each day has a lifespan of about five years. Using the same math, calculations show that a 100,000-hour bulb has a lifespan of 50 years when used for five hours each day.

Clearly, the bulbs available in stores aren’t the better deal, but to be fair it’s not their fault they don’t have longer life bulbs available to sell. Light bulb manufacturers make more money with bulbs that have shorter lifespans because they have to be replaced more often, so these are the ones they make available for resale in your local store. And you really can’t blame them for doing this because if everyone purchased lightbulbs that last up to 100 years, manufacturers probably wouldn’t stay in business very long.

Stick With The Professionals

After being in business for 40 years, we have accumulated the necessary experience to understand which components work best with one another and which components must never be used together. Sometimes this is due to safety issues, while other times the reason is based on functionality purposes. In addition, it makes financial sense to make sure the job gets done correctly the first time as opposed to going the cheap route initially and having to have someone come in and do the job right afterward.

Making the world a better place for everyone is a goal we should all strive for, but doing it one bulb at a time isn’t the way to go. A properly integrated lighting system combined with a well laid out design can win awards and create a stunning effect for your property LED lighting installation, whether it be new installs or replacements, is our specialty. If given the opportunity, we can set you up with an LED lighting system that won’t disappoint.

Call or contact Robert Huff Illuminations for more information or to get your project started!

Compare & Contrast: Exterior Or Interior LED’s For Lighting in Houston

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Interior versus Exterior LED Lights for Houston Lighting

Make the Right Choice

LED lights offer complete brightness as soon as they are turned on. This is similar to filament or incandescent light bulbs we have had since the late 19th century. The same is not true for Compact Fluorescent bulbs or CFLs. In some cases, these take more than a minute to turn on to provide complete brightness.

The filaments in bulbs are weakened from thermal expansion and contraction when they are turned on or off. They become prone to burning out when they are put through this constant action. With CFL bulbs their lifetimes are shortened when they are turned on and run for less than 15 minutes. They use up more power and the result of all the on-and-off cycles shortens their lifetimes significantly.

Durable

LED bulbs do not go through these problems. They are also not made of glass. This means that they are not fragile and they do not get so hot that they explode from thermal shock if they are exposed to drops of water or rain suddenly.

Outdoors

For outdoor applications, these bulbs are especially suited to providing superior lighting. They are tough, weather resistant and offer better lighting than you are getting from traditional light bulbs. They also use a smaller fraction of power than traditional bulbs do which means they save power and money.

More importantly, if your family spends summer nights outside or you like entertaining in the evenings, these LED lighting sources do not emit UV light. There are some bulbs that are designed to emit ultraviolet light but most do not.

This means that LED lights are invisible to millions of insects outside. They do not attract moths, bugs or other insects. Imagine how much nicer any barbecue or outdoor party – including a wedding – might be with LEDs.

There are many advantages to using LEDs for outdoor use. Usually, LED lights are too bright to consider using for indoor use. They can also be a waste of resources because LED lights are weatherized and are more expensive than indoor LED bulbs are. Whatever your needs for outdoor lights, the professionals at residential landscape lighting Houston can help design the perfect arrangement making all your outdoor events better.

Indoors

To make your home feel cozier, it helps to know how Kelvin temperature of light works. The ideal range could be between 2700 and 4000 in a den, great room, living room or dining room. This depends on your color choices and your décor, of course. If you are using lights to spotlight a work of art, you might want to use what is called phantom daylight lighting of 5700 K to make all the colors in the work come out beautifully.

The years of experience that we have with this type of lighting have given us the skills to orchestrate it in any home. Lighting blends seamlessly to expose the beauty of your art and your home. Visitors will never notice the lights, just the beauty, the colors and the subtle tones and textures of your décor as you intend it to be. Visit our Gallery of Fine Art Lighting to see samples of our work.

Any installer that does not know the difference between Kelvin temperatures and various LEDs are not worth working with. Without the right amount of experience, training, and education, you are not getting the help of true lighting experts.

Amateurs can also underload circuits which cause problems and sometimes hazards. They try to use conventional dimmer switches or power supplies not suitable for the task. This causes flickering, buzzing, and humming all of which lead to revisits for things to be changed and fixed.

Call or contact Robert Huff Illuminations about getting your project started today!

Houston Landscape Lighting To Wow Your Audience

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Create A Show-Stopping Home With Outdoor Landscape Lighting In Houston

If you are like most homeowners, you probably don’t want your house to look bland and boring, blending in with all of the others around it. Instead, you want your home to be a reflection of your own personal style, giving it a unique look that sets it apart from all of the other houses in your neighborhood.

Even if you live in a row of cookie-cutter homes, most of the houses probably have their own unique style. Once you walk through the front door, you may find that some homes are decorated in a sleek, modern style whereas others have ornate furnishings or traditional decor. Still, others might incorporate designs inspired by exotic locations or cultures throughout the world.

Your unique style is what sets your home apart from others. Once you identify your style, you can use it to create a home that perfectly reflects your tastes and personality.

Over the years, lighting technology has undergone some major changes and innovations. In the earliest days of electric lighting, Edison bulbs were considered to be on the cutting edge. The amount of light that they put out was similar to the light put out by a modern day 25 to 40 W bulb. At the time, people were hesitant to focus their eyes directly on the bulbs because they were afraid of damaging their eyes with the bright light.

Even though that amount of light might seem dim today, at that point in time, people were used to relying solely on gaslight or candles. When electric light bulbs were introduced, they were considered to be a miraculous invention. The amount of light that they produced and their reliability made them far superior to other lighting methods of the time.

Continued Advancements In Lighting Technology

Over the years, lighting technology has continued to change and evolve. Incandescent bulbs are now considered to be outdated, largely because they waste so much power compared to other lighting options. Not long ago, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) were introduced, providing a more energy-efficient lighting source. Unfortunately, these bulbs had a lot of drawbacks. Not only did they burn out relatively quickly but they had to warm up for a long time before they reached their maximum level of brightness. Additionally, they contained mercury, posing a health and safety risk if the bulbs were broken.

Today, light emitting diode (LED) technology has completely transformed the world of lighting. These bulbs have incredibly long lifespans, making them an energy-efficient option. They also eliminate many of the problems associated with other types of bulbs.

LED Bulbs Lead To Artistic Innovations

The introduction of LED bulbs led to a number of artistic innovations in the world of lighting. Despite their incredibly small size, these tiny bulbs were capable of producing a tremendous amount of light. This led artists to look for new ways to use the technology in both interior and exterior design.

For instance, traditional recessed lights were problematic, simply for the fact that they got so hot. Once LED lights were introduced, however, that problem was eliminated, making recessed light fixtures much safer and more energy-efficient. Thin strips of lighting could be installed in tight spaces such as ceiling coves, creating artistic lighting effects. The color of the light itself could be changed to match the surrounding decor. In fact, it was no longer even necessary to change the bulb if you wanted to change the light color thanks to color-changing LED technology.

As lighting consultants, we work with homeowners to find ways to incorporate the latest lighting innovations into their homes. When you hire us, we work with you to come up with a lighting plan for your home that is not only attractive but that also captures your own personal style.

Let Us Help You With Your Indoor And Outdoor Lighting Needs

After years of helping homeowners create beautiful outdoor landscape lighting in Houston, we have in-depth knowledge of all of the latest lighting technology. Not only can we help you choose the right type of lighting technology for your project but we can also help you choose the right color of light to create the mood that you are going for. All that you have to do is examine some of the photos in our gallery to see some of the ways that we have helped our past clients. Spend some time reading through our customer testimonials or checking out some of the lighting design awards that we have won and you will quickly see why working with a qualified and experienced lighting company like ours makes so much sense.

Quality That You Can Trust

When you hire a company to design lighting for your home, it is important to know that you are getting service you can trust. Our licensed electricians have the knowledge and experience to do the job right every time. Don’t take a risk by hiring an unknown company. Instead, choose a company that has the experience and expertise to help you get the results you are looking for.

Our business is headquartered in Houston. We work with clients in all of the surrounding areas including Bellaire, Southside, Royal Oak, Heights, River Oaks, Memorial, and West University. Additionally, we also serve many other cities in the state of Texas including San Antonio, Midland, Dallas, El Paso, Austin, Beaumont, and College Station, just to name a few.

No matter what type of lighting solutions you are looking for, we can help. If you are ready to take your indoor or outdoor lighting to the next level, please feel free to reach out to us today to discuss your project. Contact Robert Huff Illumination now to speak with one of our representative about your new project! Visit our blog for more outdoor lighting ideas!

Finding The Right Outdoor Lighting in Houston For Your Patio

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Getting the Best Outdoor Patio Lighting

There is something magic and inviting about patios for a get-together of all types. From small picnic tables to larger functions around burn pits and BBQ grills, the outdoor area makes a great place to entertain. Taking the time to combine the right tones from today’s most impressive lighting designs can change an outdoor patio from simple to simply spectacular.

Bringing a good lighting option makes the location more livable and an extension of your indoor home life outdoors. The options you will find at Robert Huff lighting options are innovative, high-quality and complementary to other lighting aspects that you may already have in play.

Start Simple

Use simplistic lighting designs to create special pools of light for beauty and functionality. Specific lighting features can be used to illuminate doorways and passages. Other touch-style lighting options can be used to illuminate stairways and stepping stones. The right lighting element can then tie all the others together into one attractive outdoor lighting system.

Complete the Look

Take the look a step further by looking beyond the need for lighting to something special in your garden or landscaping that you would like to illuminate. A water feature like a pond or waterfall is one such example. Another idea is to use the lighting to illuminate and accentuate an architectural aspect of your building.

A Total Space

To add some attractive final touches to your outdoor living space, consider adding some special lighting elements to your walkways and paths. These aspects cast the entire outdoor area in mystery and beauty as the sidewalks and path add a sense of adventure and dimension to even smaller outdoor areas. Path lights do much more than just provide some light to see where you are going. They add a measure of distance and even an artistic touch as they can be used to enclose the entire outdoor area.

Improve the outlook of your living space with a completely new selection of improved and innovative outdoor lighting fixtures and solutions. You will find that every family function from a simple family dinner to a larger and more involved dinner party is better with the right lighting choice. If you need some help on getting the look just right, talk to your friendly Houston residential outdoor lighting experts at Robert Huff Illumination.

Call or contact us today for more information!

Watch Where You’re Going With Houston Outdoor Lighting

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A Homeowner’s Guide to Path Outdoor Lighting in Houston

The night sky is absolutely gorgeous with its twinkling stars and beautiful moonlight. Unfortunately, there are only a few nights a month that the moon and stars are bright enough to light your way. Outdoor path lighting helps you be able to safely get from point A to point B after the sun goes down. Whether you are traveling to your front door from your driveway or going to the pool, outdoor path lighting makes all the difference. These low-voltage lights are not bright enough to spoil your nighttime view; however, it will keep you safe.

If you are looking for outdoor lights that are brighter and offer more control than your typical solar path lights, look no further than the LED or halogen lights. These lights last longer than incandescent lights and are more energy efficient. Once we design your outdoor path lighting, you will be able to enjoy a lit up walkway without worrying about costs, replacement lighting or burnt out light bulbs.

Every Landscape is Different and Should Be Designed that Way

Our professional outdoor lighting specialists’ focus on making sure that all of your outdoor paths are effectively lit for your safety. In order to do this, our specialists will schedule a complimentary consultation where they will discuss your goals for the project and any challenges that they may be facing. They will determine how to place path lights so that the safest route is illuminated, even in uneven areas or through the thick greenery.

Do you have children? If so, the professionals will ensure that areas, where toys may be located, are illuminated. This will help prevent guests from accidentally running into toys and tripping or damaging your child’s toys.

Even if you do not have a defined walkway made of pavers or concrete, our specialist can help. We offer a number of different lights to illuminate both the perimeter of our landscaped beds as well as your defined walkway. The best path lighting will ensure that your pool, hot tub, driveway, garden, and walkway are illuminated to ensure your safety throughout the year.

Call or contact Robert Huff Illumination & Houston Outdoor Lighting to get started on your project! Visit our blog for more outdoor lighting ideas!

Residential Outdoor Lighting Ideas For Your Houston Home

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Houston Residential Outdoor Lighting Designs

Our passion is residential outdoor lighting Houston. Here, we are always trying out new ideas that are both innovative and creative. They show off the beauty of the great outdoors. Come, explore our ideas on residential lighting to get inspiration for your next design.

Bring The Inside Outside

A lot of our contemporary lighting fixtures appear to look much like the stylish indoor lighting you’re used to. From pendant lights to modern floor lamps and even drop lights, we can help you to design and create your own ideal outdoor lights. Your outdoor area will look both chic and unique. If you have a design aesthetic that you want to show off, you may want to focus on some of this inspiration.

Consider Both Safety And Security

With our innovative designs, you don’t have to sacrifice your safety for style. There is a way to get the best of both worlds. Consider LED lights along the path. Your guests will appreciate being able to see along the way. Your architectural lighting and landscape can all double as security lighting on your property. this way, intruders will be seen and your family and friends can navigate to and from your home safely.

Set The Mood

What mood do you want your outdoor space to show? Quiet? Fun and exciting? How about relaxing? Regardless of whether you’re hosting the most fabulous pool party, or just relaxing in the great outdoors, you can still create the ideal ambiance with your outdoor lighting. There are many great adjustable solutions that will allow you to design your outdoors and set the mood. We can help you to design the ideal outdoor spaces.

Remember: Less is Always More

When it comes to residential lighting, less is always more. You don’t need the brightest or the largest, you simply need to subtly accent the best features in your outdoor areas. You can use simple lighting which is far more effective at showing off your yard. Designers can assist you in your lighting as you go.

Call or contact us today with any questions you might have. Visit our blog for more outdoor lighting tips and tricks.

The Proper Lights To Use This Christmas In Houston

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Choosing The Right Outdoor Lights For Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching. Most people start celebrating the holiday season shortly after Thanksgiving, meaning that now is the perfect time to start hanging decorations. One of the best parts of celebrating Christmas is coming up with a fabulous display of lights on the outside of your house.

If you are looking for the highest quality Christmas lights currently available, consider reaching out to Robert Huff Illumination. Because we only employ the most skilled lighting experts, we are able to create some truly dazzling light displays for the holidays. We have spent a lot of time figuring out which lighting choices are the best for Christmas and are more than happy to share that information with you. New technology is constantly being introduced to the field of lighting. Because of that, we are going to focus primarily on the basic types of lighting rather than on any specific brands.

The Ideal Outdoor Lights For Christmas Outdoor Lighting Houston

LED Lighting Is A Great Choice

When it comes to just about any type of lighting, LED is the way to go. Not only are LED bulbs extremely energy-efficient but they also last for a long time. You can string together multiple strings of light without having to worry about overloading the circuit breaker. They also come in just about every color of the rainbow, meaning that you can create whatever type of lighting display you prefer. If you want, you can even add flashing lights to really draw attention to your home.

The only drawback to LED lights is that they are a little bit more expensive than standard incandescent lights. However, when you consider how much longer they last and how much energy they can save, they are actually a really good investment even with the higher price tag.

In terms of efficiency, there is no comparison with other types of Christmas lights. They also last far longer than other lights, meaning that you can get a lot more use out of them for your investment. Although we have a lot of different types of LED lights available, some of the most popular that we carry are the wide-angle conical lights. These LED Christmas lights are truly beautiful to look at thanks to their ability to refract the light.

In the past, one of the biggest complaints that people had about LED lights was that the color of the light was too cool. Today, however, LED light manufacturers have found a way to create lights that have the same warmth and richness as traditional Christmas lights. You can choose just about any color temperature that you want when you use LED lights.

Consider purchasing Energy Star rated lights that also carry Underwriters Laboratory (UL) labels. Underwriters laboratory independently tests products that use electricity to make sure that they are safe to use. It is extremely important to only buy electrical products that have been tested by this agency or one like it.

The Top Reasons To Choose LED Christmas Lights in Houston

  • Durable and capable of standing up to the weather.
  • Long-lasting.
  • Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED lights are as much as 90% more efficient.

Rectified LED Lights

When choosing LED lights, you may want to consider buying rectified lights. Also known as full-wave lights, these high-quality lights won’t flicker like some cheaper sets do. They flicker at a rate of 120 Hz per second, which is faster than the human brain can register. Lower quality lights, on the other hand, flicker at a rate of about 60 Hz per second, which can sometimes be visible to the human eye. Choosing higher-quality rectified LED lights can eliminate any problems with flickering. Both types of lighting are extremely energy-efficient. The primary difference is that rectified LED lights don’t appear to flicker, making them a good choice for your holiday lighting needs.

Incandescent Lights For Christmas

Although incandescent Christmas lights were popular in the past, more and more people are moving over to LED bulbs, simply because incandescent bulbs aren’t as efficient and don’t last as long. Instead of wasting energy using traditional incandescent bulbs, you may want to consider using highly-efficient LED bulbs. This can cut your energy usage, saving you money on your power bills. It can also allow you to add multiple strings of lights to a single outlet without having to worry about tripping the breaker.

If you decide to have incandescent Christmas lights installed on your property, make sure that you ask the company that installs them about the steps that they take to maintain them. These bulbs are more likely to burn out during the holiday season, meaning that they may require ongoing upkeep and maintenance.

Call today or contact Robert Huff Illumination for more information on our outdoor lighting solutions.

Prepare Your Outdoor Patio With Professional Houston Outdoor Lighting

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5 Tips To Help Get Your Patio Ready For Parties Including The Outdoor Lighting

Everybody these days is more focused on staying indoors due to all of the many comforts that are provided, from flat-screen TVs to video games, high-tech computers and much more. We spend so much of our attention on creating the perfect environment inside of our home, that we have a tendency to spend less time outdoors, especially kids. However, with some creative lighting design, a comfortable seating area, and a few decorations, an outdoor lighting Houston TX specialist can help make your outdoor living area be as comfortable and as inviting as the interior of your home.

Landscape Lighting in Houston

Your patio is an excellent place to start when it comes to transforming the outdoor living area. Having a well-lit and well-designed patio can help to inspire your entire family to want to spend more time in nature to breathe in all of that fresh air, benefit from the sun, and enjoy better health and beautiful trees swaying in the wind. Also, having a party-ready patio helps to encourage more social interactions and entertaining with neighbors, family, and friends. Just think of all of the fun activities you will be able to enjoy when you have the right patio ambiance: camping in the backyard, enjoying a nice glass of wine while reading, playing board games, evening barbecues.

Our professional lights installers are aware of the power provided by outdoor lighting along with all of the different options that are available. For example, battery-operated patio lights are perfect for areas that don’t have power sources. They are energy-efficient, easy to install, and may be placed in different areas throughout your patio area to provide more illumination. When you hang patio string lights overhead, it creates a cozy and charming environment, by wrapping them around trees and deck rails. Energy-efficient LED lights are best used for stairs and pathways, to increase visibility and safety at night.

Create Or Buy An Outdoor Bar

Having an outdoor bar on your patio is practical and also decorative. You can easily host intimate gatherings or dinner parties without needing to back inside each time someone’s drink needs to be refilled, which allows you to participate fully in your party without needing to sacrifice any of your great hosting skills. There are different bars to choose from including a wicker cart-like bar, contemporary polyethylene bar or port one that can be moved from one area to another. There are some patio bars that have drawers included for storing extras such as accessories and napkins or even serving dishes.

Fire Pit For Providing A Warm Glow

One very cozy addition that you can add to your patio area is a fire pit. Just think of your skin being caressed by the warmth of a fire on a crisp, cool evening.Just the flickering sound can help you relax at night with a companion. It isn’t very complicated or time-consuming to build a fire pit. You can use brick, concrete blocks or stones. A fence post sized hole of around 3 feet deep will need to be dug and then filled in with gravel. To ward off fumes, dry-stack the stones rather than using adhesives.

Use More Greenery

You might be surrounded by greenery, after all, we are discussing the outdoor. But you still might want to think about adding foliage to your actual patios such as colorful vines, flowers, and potted plants. There can even be wall plots adorning the walls of your home that surrounding the patio or aromatic greenery can be hung to provide the entire area with more depth. When greenery is added to your patio is provides more privacy, to leverage small trees or shrubs to block the view of your neighbor’s house. Just adding a few plants really can go a very long way towards creating the ideal retreat for your entire family.

Revive Your Outdoor Furniture

We recommend that you give your old furniture new life. It tends to take a real beating from the sun and rain. From rust and discoloration to nicks and scratches, there is plenty to get cleaned up. Lounge chairs might have ripped mesh or loose screws that need to be repaired.

Call us now or contact us today for more information regarding starting or finishing a new or existing outdoor lighting project of yours!

Outdoor Landscaping & Lighting Trends In 2017

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What’s New In Landscaping? 2017 Trends To Watch

A lot happened in landscaping this year; in particular, there was a trend toward green. When most people think about the upkeep of their yard, they don’t necessarily think in terms of trends. However, flowers, trees, and other greenery can certainly be trendy; consider everything that must happen in order for landscaping to flourish. The soil must be healthy, for example. There has to be an appropriate amount of sunlight for the plants in the yard to grow as well. However, keep in mind that there is a lot that encompasses landscaping. Landscaping isn’t just flowers, plants and trees; it is the whole area that you are working with. That means that pathways are a part of landscaping. So is decor and furniture. Finally, don’t forget about outdoor lighting; Houston landscape lighting services are a huge part of the process as well.

Just one year ago, landscaping was all about color. If you took the time to look at lawns in your area, you may have noticed a variety of color interspersed in both the front and back yards. Things have gone in a different direction in 2017, and green is now the dominant color. However, because there are many shades of green, there is still quite a variety to see!

Natural is all the rage these days as well. Before this, there was a minimalist focus. That trend toward modernism is a thing of the past, however. Now, it is not unusual to see free-form patios and a fluidity in design. One difference we’ve personally seen is that there is a lot more wood when we go to do lighting installations.

Nature is the focus everywhere, including in the decor, the plants themselves, and more. There is also a focus on the environment, as landscapers try and plant foliage that is native to the region.

If you are considering installing outdoor lighting, pick an energy efficient option. Not only is it good for the environment, but it is less expensive for you in the long run. In particular, if you have a commercial property, you could save a bundle. There is a lot of space to work with, which is why it is important to be conscious of how much energy you are using. For example, if you own a strip mall or a health care center, you could save a lot of money if you pick LED lights for your outdoor areas. And, regardless of the weather outside, your property will always be aglow and will always look its best!

Outdoor lighting in Houston is a crucial part of any landscaping project. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it also serves an important purpose. Lighting helps you to see better and therefore stay safer, particularly when it is very dark outside. We can help with any lighting project, regardless of the scale. We work closely with you to ensure that you get what you want. We know how to make the process as painless for you as possible, even when there are additional challenges that present themselves along the way.

Get in touch with us or call Robert Huff Illumination & Outdoor Lighting today and let us know how we can help you going forward! We are happy to talk about your options with you.