A Little Outdoor Decorating MakesA Big Difference (NAPSA)—If you knew you could increase the value of your home by 17 percent just by doing little decorating outdoors, wouldn’t you? This is the yardstick used by real estate agents, the people best suited to gauge the impact that outdoor improvements can have on the value of your home. Landscape lighting is the easiest way to make a dramatic difference. To begin, take a stroll around your property and decide which features of your landscape you would like to highlight or downplay. While you’re doing this, think about the mood you want your outdoor lighting scheme to create and consider how you will use different areas of your yard or deck. “Your home never gets a second chance to make a great first impression, so you should highlight its best features,” said Jack Miller of Kichler Landscape Lighting. You may want to create a romantic effect using soft lighting in one spot but use bright party lights in another for outdoor entertaining. “Landscape lighting has come a long way from purely functional use, and is now able to help you take your personal decorating style outside,” said Miller. What’s more, it’s surprisingly simple. Lighting Tricks of the Trade Path and spread lighting are easy ways to increasevisibility for paths and stairs because just a few strategically placed lights can make a big impact. “Uplighting” also works well. You can “uplight” a tree, or other structure by placing an accent light near the base of the object and angling it upwards. Two or more accent lights can be used to illuminate an object from different angles and create a “crosslighting”effect. ILLUMINATING IDEA:This uniquely lit birdbath brightens a yard day or night. Makesure to coordinate lighting styles throughout your yard. Kichler offers several families of outdoor lighting that help homeowners match path lighting, outdoor wall lanterns, post fixtures and decklights. Low Voltage Outshines Others For the best results, install low-voltage lighting systems rather than solar lights. Using just 12 volts, low-voltage lighting outshines solar lighting becauseit “throws” the light better so you notice the lighting effect, not just the lightitself. “With today’s safe and easy-toinstall low-voltage landscape lighting systems, it’s possible for homeowners to increase the aes- thetics and value of their property,” said Miller. For more information on landscape lighting optionsor to find a dealer, visit www.kichler.com or call 800-659-9000.
