Outdoor TV and other Outdoor Entertainment Area Essentials
When the sun comes out. Many of us jump at the opportunity to spend time outside. The garden is a great place to entertain guests, so it makes a lot of sense to create an outdoor entertainment area so you always have a comfortable space ready when you invite friends and family around. With plush seating and outdoor sound systems, an outdoor entertainment space can act as an outdoor living room, so what better centre piece to invest in than an outdoor TV?
If you have ever dragged a TV outside to enjoy summer sport, you’ll no doubt have been underwhelmed by the results. When the sun is out, glare on your screen can be a nuisance when your television is indoors, let alone directly in the path of the sun. You may even have had a worse experience if your TV has been damaged by the heat of the sun, or even by a sudden rain storm. For an amazing viewing experience outside, an outdoor TV is a must have.
Why an Outdoor TV is important
You may ask “Why do I need an outdoor television? Won’t any high-end TV work in an outdoor setting?”. We will talk you through the most important reasons that this is not the case, and why you will get so much enjoyment from a TV meant for outdoor use.
More durable
Standard indoor TVs are not built to be constantly exposed to extreme heat or cold, so a day spent outside could potentially result in the loss of your expensive TV. In contrast, outdoor TVs are built to withstand all kinds of conditions. As well as UV coated screens that can absorb the sun’s UV rays, they also feature a sophisticated heating and cooling system that helps to keep the interior workings of the TV at the optimal temperature.
It’s also important to consider that indoor TVs are not waterproof or weatherproof. Using a TV outside could not only lead to a broken TV in the case of rain, but could also be extremely dangerous to you due to the increased risk of electrocution. An Outdoor TV is built to be resistant to all weather conditions, so if there is a sudden rain shower, there is no need to worry.
Brighter picture quality
When it comes to picture quality, even if a HD provides an amazing picture quality inside, when moved outside, it will fall far short of a TV designed for outdoor use. Factors such as glare, ambient light, and other environmental elements can pose difficulties indoors, and these issues are further magnified when moving outdoors. In order to combat these issues, outdoor TVs are designed to have excellent colour accuracy and brightness, and feature a special anti-glare screen.
TV screen brightness is measured in nits. In most cases, indoor televisions have a brightness rating of 450 to 550 nits, whereas an outdoor television can be anywhere from 700 to 2,500 nits, along with a much higher contrast ratio than standard television sets. This increased brightness and contrast makes a notable difference when trying to watch content outside on a bright sunny day.
Excellent audio quality
Outdoor TVs are designed to address the increased ambient noise levels that are usually experienced outside. Whilst standard TVs usually have open speaker grilles, outdoor sets are often equipped with downward facing speakers to prevent the ingress of dirt.
To further optimise sound projection, outdoor televisions can often feature curved metal discs that reflect sound towards viewers, however, this can sometimes cause an echo, so the best solution for outdoor TV is to integrate it with detachable soundbars, or a complete outdoor speaker system, creating a more cinematic experience.
Integration
A major benefit of outdoor television sets is the ability to integrate them with your smart home control systems, not only allowing for lighting and speakers to be programmed to work perfectly in tandem with the TV, but for the same choice of visual entertainment to be available outside as well as in.
Creating an Outdoor Entertainment Area
Outdoor entertainment systems help to ensure that the garden becomes an extra living space – an extension of the home. With home automation control systems, outdoor entertainment technology can be programmed and controlled remotely, via a user-friendly interface.
In addition to a great outdoor TV, some of the other most important features to consider for a garden outdoor entertainment area include:
- Comfortable seating – to spend long periods of time outside, comfort is important. Choosing the right seating and seating formation is essential for an effective outdoor entertainment area.
- Outdoor audio – outdoor speakers installed in the perfect formation to offer great sound quality throughout the garden, whether listening to music or watching the TV.
- Lighting – As well as illuminating walkways when it gets dark, outdoor lighting also helps to transform the appearance of your garden, and create the perfect atmosphere for any occasion. Floor level lighting is perfect for an outdoor cinema experience, providing enough light to move safely away from your seat, without affecting the TV picture.
- Cabling and connectivity – Safe and high spec cabling, along with WiFi connectivity, are absolutely key to an outdoor entertainment space.
In order to get the most out of your outdoor living and entertaining space, it’s always highly recommended to work with home automation and entertainment installation experts to ensure you choose the right products, install them in the right positions, and ensure complete integration and control.
To discuss your garden entertainment area project, talk to Veritais, who specialise in outdoor entertainment design, installations and programming.
Why Do I Need Hot Tub Servicing?
If you own a hot tub, you know how relaxing and enjoyable it can be, but are you aware that regular hot tub servicing is crucial to keeping it in good condition? Hot tubs require proper care and maintenance to ensure they function properly and remain clean and safe for use. Neglecting regular servicing can lead to costly repairs, malfunctions, and even health risks, so it’s important to invest in an annual service.
You can compare your hot tub to buying a car. Whilst you wouldn’t expect anything to go wrong with a relatively new car, it’s still important to get it serviced to make sure everything is in order and ensure it is in good condition when your MOT comes around. Servicing your hot tub helps ensure it continues to run smoothly and any potential problems are found early and fixed.
Read on to explore the importance of hot tub servicing and why it should be a top priority for any hot tub owner.
Do I need a service if I look after my spa well?
While taking care of your hot tub and following all hot tub cleaning and maintenance recommendations from the hot tub manufacturer and supplier is a great place to start, having a professional service carried out annually is highly recommended.
During a service, a professional will check the hot tub’s electrical system and plumbing, along with all other components. Even with high-quality components, certain parts can still deteriorate over time, such as rubber seals that can be eroded by over chlorination. It’s essential to have a trained hot tub technician to check all seals and valves to ensure optimal performance and avoid any potential failures. These checks help to identify early warning signs of wear and tear, which can extend the lifespan of your hot tub and prevent costly repairs in the long run.
When to schedule a hot tub service
Whilst an annual service is recommended, if something does not seem quite right with your spa when you decide to take a relaxing soak, it’s important to arrange a professional service. Here are some common signs that it is time to schedule a service appointment.
Your jets aren’t functioning properly
One of the biggest advantages of a hot tub is the hydrotherapy it provides via jets, helping you to relax, recuperate and recover. If you have turned on your hot jets to find that you are not getting the same power of massage that you are used to, this is a sign that your hot tub may need to be inspected by a professional.
It could be that the problem is caused by an airlock, which can happen following a water change if air gets trapped in the jet during the refilling process. This can potentially be fixed by opening the jets all the way and turning them on for 15 seconds at a time until bubbles come out of the jet, however, if this does not fix the problem and the airlock remains, it’s important to arrange hot tub maintenance and servicing.
Your energy bills have suddenly increased
When operated as recommended, hot tubs are designed to be energy efficient, so if you find that your energy bills have shot up suddenly despite no other changes in your lifestyle or to tariffs, it could be that your hot tub is not functioning as efficiently as it should and hot tub servicing is required.
Water temperatures are unstable
Fluctuating temperatures can be caused by a number of different factors. For example, the problem could be as simple as dirty filters, however, other issues could include a damaged heating element or a blockage in your circulation system. It’s important to contact a professional technician to inspect for the potential causes and provide maintenance as necessary to prevent further problems.
You have discovered a potential leak or have been topping up hot tub water often
If you find any unexpected pools of water during your inspection, it’s best to schedule a service appointment right away. A technician can diagnose the root cause of the issue. The three most common places where you’ll discover excess water if your hot tub has sprung a leak are around the base of your spa (usually in one corner), in your insulation, or under your pump or heater.
If you have been topping up your water more frequently, this could also be a sign of a problem. Natural evaporation occurs every time you use your spa, resulting in your water level slowly going down by around 1 inch of water a week. If your water is dropping much faster, it’s a surefire sign of a leak, which could be from a crack in your shell or a damaged seal around one of your jets that’s allowing water to leak out.
These issues aren’t easy to diagnose on your own, so it’s best to call in the professionals to thoroughly inspect your spa and diagnose the issue and carry out hot tub maintenance before it begins causing additional damage to other areas of your hot tub’s system.
Hot Tub Servicing in the Midlands
If you are looking for a professional hot tub servicing provider in the Midlands, or are looking for advice on hot tub cleaning and maintenance, you can contact All Weather Leisure.
5 Reasons to choose a Professional Oven Cleaning Service
If your oven is looking worse for wear, you are planning a deep clean of your kitchen this weekend, or you are vacating a rental property, then you may be considering cleaning the oven yourself. Whilst cleaning an oven may seem like a straightforward task, dirty ovens can be a safety hazard and can impact the performance and longevity of your appliance. Opting for a professional oven clean is a cost-effective choice that will have the appliance looking, and functioning, as good as new.
Here are 5 reasons to invest in a professional oven clean for your kitchen.
Safety
One of the most important reasons to have a professional oven clean is to maintain the safety standards of your kitchen. Over time, cooking residue can build up on the walls, ceiling, and floor of your oven, which can become fire hazards if they’re not addressed. If these stains become difficult to remove, then you can damage the heating elements or other parts of the appliance by cleaning the oven yourself.
When you hire a professional oven cleaning service, you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging your oven or putting your family at risk by having a dirty oven.
Professional oven cleaners will clean your oven with industry-specific cleaning products and techniques to ensure the highest safety standards. Similarly, a professional cleaner will have the expertise and experience to address any potential safety concerns before they become hazardous.
Time Saving
Depending on the size of your oven and the extent of the buildup, cleaning your oven is likely to be a time-consuming and difficult task. It can take hours of consistent effort to clean an oven, which you likely do not have. This is particularly true if you are on a tight deadline to vacate a rental property and do not have the hours to spare on cleaning an oven.
When you hire a professional oven cleaning service, you won’t have to spend your valuable time scrubbing your oven, and you won’t have to worry about whether you’re doing it right or not. An oven cleaning franchise will know what they are doing and will have the oven cleaned much more quickly and efficiently.
Professionalism
When hiring professionals for any job, you expect to receive an excellent standard of service delivered by experienced people. Hiring professional oven cleaners is no different. Professional oven cleaners have the experience and knowledge to complete a professional job, and you can trust that your oven will be cleaned to the highest standards of quality. You won’t have to worry about whether you are using the right products or the right technique, or whether you are accidentally damaging fixtures or surfaces. They know which products to use for different areas of an oven, and how to remove the toughest stains and buildup, leaving your oven looking like new.
Performance
Regular oven cleaning improves the performance and longevity of an appliance. When cooking residue builds up on the inside surfaces of your oven, they can interfere with the heat distribution and cause your food to cook unevenly. Whilst undercooked food is frustrating and dangerous, overcooked food risks becoming a fire hazard. Similarly, cooking residues can cause your oven to work harder than it needs to, which can lead to increased wear and tear. Over time, an unclean oven is likely to break down and need replacing much quicker than a cleaner oven.
By hiring a professional cleaning service to clean the appliance, you can ensure that your oven is working at its best. A deep oven clean will remove the excess buildup from the surfaces, vents and fixtures, which you may not have cleaned properly in the past. This can help extend the life of your oven and save you money on repairs and replacements in the long run.
Health
Finally, a clean oven means a healthier cooking environment. Over time, bacteria will build up in cooking residues which can be transferred to food cooking in the oven. An unclean oven also risks excess residue falling into food from the ceiling or walls, as well as an increased risk of the food or appliance catching fire.
When you hire a professional oven cleaning service, you can enjoy homemade food safe in the knowledge that it has been prepared in a clean and hygienic environment. This is particularly important if you have a compromised immune system or you’re cooking for children. Prioritise the health of your family and your oven by investing in a professional oven clean.
Professional Oven Cleaning
A professionally cleaned oven can make a big difference in your home. It can save you time and effort, ensure a professional job is done, improve the performance and longevity of your appliance, and create a healthier cooking environment. If your oven is in need of an extensive deep clean, save yourself time and effort by hiring a professional and ensure that your oven is working at its best.
Domestique provides a range of general cleaning services for homes around the UK, including oven cleaning services. Explore their full range of services, and the areas they cover, by visiting their website.
What To Know When Choosing Hot Tub Covers and Shelters
If you have recently purchased a hot tub, or you are thinking about investing in one ahead of the summer months, then make sure you protect your tub with a durable shelter or cover. Hot tubs come with an insulating cover as standard to protect your tub and filters from the elements, dirt and leaves. However, a cover alone may not offer the level of protection needed to allow you to enjoy your hot tub. Hot tub covers and shelters offer the ultimate level of security from prying eyes, whilst also providing complete protection from the elements. With hot tub shelters, you can enjoy your hot tub experience in privacy and comfort, so read on for everything you need to know when choosing hot tub covers and shelters.
Key Considerations
When looking for hot tub covers and shelters, there are a few key points to consider:
Function
The key purpose of the hot tub covers should always be the first consideration. Your key requirement when choosing a hot tub shelter may be to provide protection from the elements, privacy from neighbours, or simply to be a stylish addition to your current hot tub set-up. Many shelters are incredibly stylish and are designed to create a beautiful, relaxing space, so make sure you keep your key requirements in mind to avoid setting your heart on a shelter that may not meet them.
Once you have decided on these key requirements, you will want to make sure that the shelter you choose is highly durable, water-resistant, and offers comprehensive protection for your tub. Additionally, you’ll want to think about how much coverage you need, as some covers and shelters are designed to provide more protection and privacy than others.
Size and Space
Before choosing the ideal structure for your garden, it is important to make sure that it will fit.
To ensure that your shelter fits the space available, measure the dimensions of your hot tub and the surrounding area before viewing covers. These measurements will also help you consider whether the area will require extra building work or reinforcements to create solid foundations for your shelter.
If you are blessed with a lot of space around your hot tub, you might wish to create a seating area around or next to your hot tub, and will need to consider choosing a hot tub gazebo that also provides suitable coverage of this space.
Types of Hot Tub Shelters
Once you have a good idea of the space that you are working with, and the key requirements that you have, you can decide on the best type of hot tub shelter. There are several types of hot tub shelters available depending on your needs and budget. The most popular types include:
- Gazebo Hot Tub Shelters: Gazebos are free-standing structures with an enclosed roof, made of wood. If you are searching for something more sturdy that a pergola, then a gazebo is a sturdy and long-lasting option. Similarly, if you have a large garden, or a good amount of space to play with, then opting for a gazebo will offer ample shelter for your tub and the surrounding areas, while still allowing you to enjoy the view from your outdoor hot tub.
- Covana Hot Tub Shelters: If you have slightly less space to play with, a Covana hot tub is an excellent functional option. These hot tub covers are a great solution for smaller spaces, as they will provide the necessary shelter without taking up too much room. They also allow you to open and close the hot tub with a turn of a key, making it much easier to access without lifting off the traditional hot tub covers.
- Pergola Hot Tub Shelters: A pergola is an open-air structure made of metal columns with a slatted roof. They are perfect for hot tubs that are placed in an open area, as they provide a sense of enclosure while still allowing air flow. They are often more open-air than other types of hot tub shelters, and often have flat fabric panels for walls.
Investing in Reliable Hot Tub Covers
Choosing a sturdy, reliable cover from a reputable supplier will give you the peace of mind to enjoy your tub in privacy. For a one-stop shop for hot tub covers and shelters, visit All Weather Leisure at their Cannock or Shrewsbury showroom. Their range of hot tub covers and garden buildings offer a variety of options to choose from when it comes to creating a private, sheltered space for your hot tub. Enjoy your hot tub all year round, with excellent protection from the elements, and the highest level of comfort and privacy.
Is your child learning to tell time? Follow these tips
Do you have a primary school-aged child who is learning to tell time? Learning to tell time is an important life skill, but it can also be a tricky concept to grasp for the first time. As a parent, there are several ways to support your child’s understanding of time and their time telling skills, including making the most of the time telling resources that are available. With patience, encouragement, and a few helpful activities and resources, your child will soon be able to tell the time with ease.
If you’re searching for ways to support your childs’ learning, or you are interested in learning more about the time teaching resources available, explore these key tips to support your child in learning to tell time.
Start with an analogue clock
Although digital clocks are more common than analogue clocks, and many of us rely on phones or smartwatches to tell the time, it is always advisable to start with an analogue clock. These clocks are easier for children to read and understand, and the visual rotations of the hands around the clock will ensure that they understand the passage of time. Explain how the clock works, with the hour and minute hands representing the different times of the day, and encourage them to use statements such as ‘past the hour’ and ‘to the hour’. You can opt for a large clock for the house, an alarm clock for their bedside, or a watch that they can take with them to continue practising telling the time wherever they are.
Top Tip: Choose a clock that has been designed with ease and simplicity in mind and has a clear, vibrant design to engage your child in learning.
Make telling time fun
Whilst learning to tell time in school may be dull or repetitive, learning to tell time at home can be an engaging and fun family activity. There are a range of educational activities and resources available to help your child, such as card games and worksheets. Make a game out of it by using colourful clocks and time-telling activities such as drawing the hands of a clock or setting an alarm for a certain time, and have a reward on hand for positive encouragement.
Top Tip: Search for specially designed educational resources, such as Tell The Time Cards, to support your child’s learning.
Keep it real
You can also use real-world examples, such as meal times, bedtime, or playtime to introduce the concept of telling time. Ask your child questions such as ‘what time do you go to bed’ and ask them to draw a picture of the placement of the clock’s hands, or state the time as a full sentence. Building a routine of practising these examples will support your child’s understanding of time, as well as making time a more accessible and real life concept.
Top Tip: Encourage your child to ask you similar questions, as this will develop their understanding of time and push them to think for themselves, rather than simply repeating your words back to you.
Resources
With these tips, you will be able to support your childs’ understanding of time as a concept, and develop their ability to successfully tell time.
If these top tips have convinced you to invest in some simple, engaging resources for your child, then EasyRead Time Teacher is here to help. As an online retailer of time teaching products including time teaching clocks and watches, EasyRead Time Teacher has been successfully supporting children and adults in learning to tell the time for almost 30 years. Visit their website to browse their full range of time teaching resources to support your child in learning to tell time.
Top Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Home
Spring is the ideal time of year to open the windows, let the fresh air in, and focus on refreshing and tidying your home. After the darkness of winter, spring cleaning is a great way to freshen up and reset your living space and create a more comfortable and organised atmosphere. To help you get started on your spring clean, here are some top tips on what to include and the benefits that these activities will have.
Declutter
Taking time to declutter your home is a great way to start your spring clean. Getting rid of all the items that have been cluttering up a space over winter is a good opportunity to start the warmer seasons with a clean slate and organise your living space. By removing the distraction of excess items and unnecessary clutter at the beginning of the cleaning process, rooms and surfaces will be easier to reach and clean and this can reduce the overall time spent cleaning.
Decluttering a living space can also have a profoundly positive effect on your emotional and mental wellbeing. The process can help to reduce stress and anxiety as the room becomes less cluttered, as well as knowing that you are actively creating a more organised, clutter-free environment. Not only will the end result leave your home looking and feeling brand new, but it will serve as an empowering reminder that you are in control of your surroundings.
⦁ The first step when decluttering is to take a look around the house to identify and prioritise the areas that need the most attention.
⦁ Start with one room at a time, and focus on one area at a time. Sort out what items need to stay and what needs to go, either to be discarded, recycled or donated. This process can be time-consuming, but it is important to ensure that everything has a place and that you don’t keep items that are taking up too much space or are not necessary.
⦁ Finally, put all of the items that you’ve decided to keep in their designated areas. If needed, purchase storage solutions, like shelves or baskets, to help organise and store items.
⦁ Once your home is decluttered and organised, be sure to regularly clean and declutter to maintain a calm, inviting home environment and support your own mental wellbeing.
Deep Clean
Spring cleaning involves more than just tidying up; it’s a thorough process deep-cleaning many different areas of your home that may not get regular attention during your usual cleaning routine. These may include windows, bathroom tile grout, air vents and kitchen appliances, such as a deep clean of the fridge. Whilst the deep clean is the most challenging part of the spring cleaning process, it is also the most important. Dust, dirt, and other allergens can build up in a home over time and a thorough spring clean can remove these health risks, as well as keeping your home in good condition.
When spring cleaning, it is important to have a process in place to avoid becoming overwhelmed or miss out important sections of your home that need to be cleaned:
⦁ Once the house has been decluttered, or an area of the house if you prefer compartmentalising the cleaning process, start by wiping down or dusting any surfaces with a soft cloth or duster. This will make the cleaning process much easier and more efficient.
⦁ Areas such as bathroom surfaces and kitchen countertops can then be cleaned using the relevant cleaning products and disinfecting spray to ensure you have a clean base before moving on to more hard to tackle areas.
⦁ The areas may include scrubbing the oven, clearing out the fridge and disinfecting the bathroom grout. The majority of the time spent spring cleaning will be taken up by these tasks, so it is best to go room by room when deep cleaning your home.
⦁ Once each room has been disinfected and the surfaces are cleaned, then move on to cleaning floor surfaces by hoovering, mopping or sweeping.
⦁ The final stage of deep cleaning involves putting all of the items that you’ve decided to keep in their designated areas. During this stage you will see the benefits of decluttering, as each item will have a purpose in your home and your surfaces and storage areas will appear less cluttered and more manageable.
During the cleaning process, you may find yourself wanting a system that motorises many of these maintenance processes, or more control over the atmosphere of your home. Click here to explore the best home automation ideas and how they can improve your lifestyle.
Check the Condition of a Home
One often overlooked benefit of spring cleaning is the many opportunities it offers to check the overall condition of a home. During the cleaning process, take the time to inspect the walls, floors and ceilings for signs of wear, damage, and deterioration that may have occurred during the winter months. By doing so, you can identify potential areas that may need repairs or renovations and can even spot potential issues like mould or water leakage.
Additionally, spring cleaning and decluttering offers a chance to look for any outdated fixtures or furniture that could be replaced. It also serves as a chance to take a step back and see how any recent renovations or additions have been integrated in the home, or if there are any areas that could still use improvement.
If a successful spring clean has transformed your living space, you might be considering showing the exterior of your home some care and attention. If you are looking to upgrade the outside appearance of your home, click here to explore the how Tudor boards can create a charming and timeless style for your home.
Clear Your Mind
Spring cleaning can be great for your mental health, as it can create a sense of accomplishment and renewal as you start the season with a clean slate. Doing a spring clean often helps you feel more organised and productive, particularly if you live in a small space or have a lot of clutter. As a process, spring cleaning helps to clear your mind and reduce stress as you can see the improvements being made to your home, as well as making your home feel more inviting and relaxing once the clean is done.
For those who are overwhelmed with the thought of spring cleaning, or do not know where to start, breaking the task down into smaller, manageable chunks can make it easier to tackle. However, for some, the task of cleaning may be the last thing on your mind due to low energy, lack of time or mental fatigue. Clutter and grime can negatively impact your mental wellbeing, so prioritising cleaning is an important way of maintaining stability and control over your life. If you require cleaning services at home, click here to explore the benefits of affordable cleaning services.
3 Smart Home Trends to Follow for Your Home This Year
Whilst those of us who grew up dreaming of the flying cars of the Jetsons or Back to the Future II may be a little disappointed by the limitations of modern smart technology, when it comes to the latest smart home trends, there is plenty to be excited about. Whilst smart home tech may not have quite the same pizazz as a hovering Delorean, the continuing development of home automation and smart technology certainly makes our life much easier.
Today, there are predicted to be more than 2.2 million smart homes in the United Kingdom, and as new technology to save time, entertain us and reduce energy bills becomes increasingly more accessible, this number is expected to boom.
The Biggest Smart Home Trends
If you are ready to smarten up your home technology in 2023, here are some of the most important smart home trends to focus on.
Smart Climate Control to Reduce Heating Costs
Soaring energy costs was a key concern for many of us in 2022 and this year will be no different. As we look for ways to reduce our energy consumption and keep bills as manageable as possible, without affecting our comfort, the good news is that there are a range of smart home devices to help.
Smart heating systems make it easy to control the heat in your home wherever you are, helping you to cut down on wasted energy. Rather than leaving your heating on all day so that your house is warm when you return home, with remote access to your smart climate control systems, you can simply turn your heating on when you are on your way home, or set heating to come on at a certain time, or when your home drops below a certain temperature.
Smart climate control also allows you to remotely control the temperature in different rooms of your home, so if you are not using a certain room, you can choose to lower the temperature or switch off the heating in this room completely.
You may be surprised just how much you can stand to save on bills by cutting out wasted energy.
Smart Lighting Systems
Smart lighting systems are another of the most important smart home trends to take note of. As well as offering control over the colour that lightbulbs emit, smart lighting can also contribute to reduced energy costs.
Whilst lightbulbs controlled by an app may seem like a big investment when you are looking to save money, when you consider the versatility and control of energy consumption that smart lighting allows for, you’ll understand just how much of a difference it can make to your life.
Did you know that by reducing the brightness of your lights just a small percentage can add up to impressive savings over time? Have you considered just how often you accidentally forget to turn off lights when they are not in use? With smart lighting integrated with your smart home control systems, it’s possible to link lights with sensors so that they will turn off after a certain length of time when there is no activity in a room. If you are unsure about this, then with smart lights, you can at least check on lighting throughout the home wherever you are, and turn them off or on remotely.
In addition to the energy saving benefits of lighting, you should also consider how beneficial the ability to change lighting colours and intensity can be. Smart lights help you to set the atmosphere for any occasion and can help to boost your mood. In the winter months where the dark mornings make it difficult to feel energised, you can rely on smart lights to slowly brighten to wake you up naturally, as you would in the summer. You may be surprised just how much more light can boost your mood.
Smarten Your Security
In 2023, home security systems go much further than intruder alarm installation or a dog with a loud bark. With smart home integration, it’s possible to link a wide range of security systems to help keep your home safe and notify you of any potential intruders, wherever you are.
In addition to intruder alarms and digital CCTV systems, smart control systems can also be linked to smart locking systems, so you’ll never need to worry if you remembered to lock the door again. If you regularly forget your keys, or want to allow remote access to your home for people that you trust, smart locks are an excellent innovation.
We can expect smart video doorbells to continue growing in popularity this year. Integrated with your smart control systems, smart doorbells can instantly notify you when anyone visits your home, whether they ring the bell or not. In the case of intruders attempting to enter your home or causing damage to your property, whilst a smart doorbell is a very simple device, it saves as much video and as many images as possible for evidence in the case of a crime.
Whilst certain home security devices have been viewed as superficial in the past, with modern technology and the benefits to your everyday life, integrating security devices into your smart home automation systems will soon be the norm.
Smart Home Installation Services
If you are ready to follow the latest smart home trends and introduce home automation to your lifestyle, you can visit veritais.com. Veritais are specialists in all aspects of smart home installation, including integration and control, home cinema, lighting, audio visual and connectivity.
How Smart Lighting Benefits Any Home And Garden
As more and more households, interior designers and architects prioritise the importance of lighting in homes, smart lighting continues to grow in popularity and demand. Light systems are being incorporated into the initial designs for buildings, rather than dismissed as an insignificant factor, due to their numerous benefits, including convenience, energy-saving potential, and the increase in security that lighting automation offers.
If you are considering installing smart lighting in your home, or are curious about the advantages of these systems, then here is our list of how smart lighting will benefit your home and garden.
Convenience
Installing a smart lighting system into your home transforms your rooms into a personalised space that will change the way your household thinks about lighting. Synchronised lighting systems can be tailored to your preferences and needs, including timers for lights, the ability to control lighting systems across several rooms at once, changing colours for a specific ambiance, and touch and voice controls.
Smart lighting systems are as engaging and interesting as they are functional. Many systems come with colour-changing options, as well as the ability to alter a rooms’ mood lighting. These features can be set to a timer, as well as remote controlled, making smart lighting the brilliant choice for family movie nights, romantic dinner dates, or exhilarating parties, with limitless possibilities.
Set the perfect ambiance
The power of internal lighting to transform a room is often overlooked – but the perfect mood lighting is arguably the most significant factor in creating the atmosphere and ambiance of a room. Smart lighting is a unique application which can be tailored to suit your requirements, including highlighting the best features of your interiors and reflecting the intended mood of the room.
The perfect lighting system can also improve your mood whilst inside the house or in the garden and can encourage relaxation or activity depending on the settings. The quality of lighting can greatly enhance the mood and desirability of your interiors, as well as increasing a sense of comfort and ease as you relax into your surroundings.
If you spend a lot of time within the house, potentially through working from home, then you may not have considered the effect that your lighting systems can have on your mood. Spending long amounts of time in glaring artificial lighting, particularly during the winter months when there are significantly less hours of daylight, can negatively affect your mood over time. Making the switch to smart lighting can make a big change to the atmosphere of your home without requiring extensive innovations or intrusive construction. In the dark months of winter, smart lighting can mimic the daylight of the summer months, whilst automated blinds and shade systems can monitor the amount of natural light in a room during the summer to prevent unnecessary glare and intensity. All year long, these home automation systems can be tailored to suit your unique preferences and can help you feel more productive and happier, as well as more comfortable in your home.
Smart outdoor lighting has the potential to transform your exterior spaces by creating a feeling of space and allowing you full control over the ambiance of your garden, whilst removing the need for huge numbers of bulky, unaesthetic external wires. Smart outdoor lighting can be controlled remotely, giving homeowners complete control over the timing and intensity of outdoor lighting, or can be controlled through timing schedules, darkness sensors, or motion sensors.
Energy Saving
We are all always searching for new ways to improve our energy efficiency and manage our electricity usage, and smart lighting systems and bulbs can greatly improve the efficiency of your home. Smart lights use LED bulbs, which are proven to be more energy efficient, as well as lasting much longer than conventional bulbs. Many LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and can reduce energy consumption expenses by 40%.
Both indoor and external lighting systems can also include home automation systems, which also offer security and energy-saving features and can reduce the overall energy consumption of your home. Integrated home automation systems build upon this initial saving by providing a comprehensive, energy-efficient system that utilises dimmers, timers and reduced power bulbs that offer house-wide energy savings. Many smart lighting systems can detect sunlight through sensors, which automatically dim to conserve energy and, when paired with smart blinds or curtains, will ensure your home has the perfect balance of natural and artificial light, reducing your homes’ dependence on electricity.
Increase Security
Smart outdoor lighting also provides an extra layer to your alarm system, as motion sensors can be paired with a range of home security devices to act both as a deterrent and as a vital element of external security.
Security features, such as motion-detection features, can be incorporated into smart lighting systems both inside and outdoors. The lights can be set to detect motion in certain hours of the day or night, meaning that your smart lighting system can double up as an efficient automated home security system.
When away from home, automated home and garden lighting systems can be set to switch on and off at different times to simulate an occupied house and act as a deterrent against potential intruders.
How Smart Lighting Specialists Can Help
If you are considering installing a smart lighting home automation system, either as the first step into home automation or to transform your living space into a fully integrated smart home, then get in touch with Midlands based experts, Veritais. Their team will be able to offer expert advice and guide you through the process, from providing detailed recommendations based on your unique requirements, to working closely with electricians and designers to achieve the desired results.
For expert advice, design assistance, installation and programming for your smart lighting home system, call their team today on 01827 64688.
How Glass Balustrade Stairs Create a Sense of Space
Glass balustrade stairs are increasingly being used in homes across the country to create a contemporary, open-plan living space that has a positive impact on the entire house. These staircases are often used as an alternative to more traditional materials, such as wood and metal, to create a sense of openness and space, including providing a clear view of the different levels of a home and allowing natural light to flow throughout the building.
If you have been noticing a distinct lack of space or light in your home, then there is a very good chance that this is created by an outdated, confining staircase that no longer reflects the mood and space of your home. If you are considering making a change to your home, then here are the key ways that a glass staircase will create a sense of space in your home.
Seamless blend of functionality and style
A contemporary, stylish glass staircase opens up space that otherwise would have been overlooked or underutilised. Rather than expensive renovations to the kitchen or an overhaul of the living room, making the transition to a glass balustrade staircase ensures that the space immediately feels uplifted and larger, as well as creating a simplistic aesthetic that adds to the illusion of space.
Many staircases are an overlooked space within the home that often feels smaller than it actually is and the potential of this space is often forgotten. Staircases are often located in a darker area of the home that does not see much natural light and other, more dense materials, such as metal and wood, not only prevent light from entering the hallway, but the darker tones also create a boxed-in, confining environment that can bring down the mood of a home. Glass balustrade stairs eradicate these issues and ensure that natural light is able to flow freely throughout the space, creating a much more open and light environment without actually changing the size of the space.
The focus upon encouraging light to enter the home is also mirrored in the materials used in glass balustrade stairs. Glass allows the light to freely travel through the hallway and fill the space, rather than reflecting harsh light as metal does, or trapping light in shadows as wooden staircases so often do.
Connects all levels of the house as a unit
As the central transitional place of a home, the importance of the staircase in creating the tone and ambiance of a home is often overlooked. A glass balustrade staircase creates a seamless transition between the different levels of a residential building, reducing the physical space between the floors and removing the surfaces that could create shadows or trap light. As well as letting light pass freely through the structure and illuminating previously darker areas of the home, a high-quality glass balustrade staircase will also provide a clear view of surroundings and create an authentic and impressive illusion of there being much more space.
The structure of the staircase itself also offers more space, as the staircase is no longer a solid, opaque design that takes up space within the home. The removal of a wooden or metal structure, taking up space and trapping light, allows the glass staircase to function as an unobtrusive object that allows the aesthetic and decor of the hallway and landing to become the central focus of the space.
Ready to unlock the full potential of your home? Click here to visit the Wyatt’s Welding Services website today. With over 30 years of experience in bespoke stainless steel fabrication and welding, Wyatt’s Welding Services transform commercial and residential spaces for clients across the UK with their specialist glass balustrade services.
Mock Tudor House Inspiration for Your Home Renovation
Whatever the age of your home, if you’re in love with Tudor styling, there’s no reason why you can’t incorporate some of these themes into your home renovation. Tudor architecture is easily recognisable thanks to its pitched roofs, front facing gables and decorative half timbering. It is these Tudor style planks, with stucco or stone in between the boards that really give the sense of a Tudor style exterior, and if you’re worried that wooden planks need a lot of maintenance, you can instead opt for mock Tudor boards.
Wooden Beams or Mock Tudor Boards?
If you’ve previously lived in a Tudor property then you may be well acquainted with exterior timber beams. Whilst these beams have an amazing aesthetic and are a powerful reminder of this architectural style, they are prone to weathering, rotting and cracking, so they will require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking at their best.
The alternative is to opt for mock tudor boards, made from polyurethane and moulded from real oak beams. These durable boards don’t require any upkeep but have the grain and appearance of real wood – offering the best of both worlds to those looking for a Tudor style exterior, without any of the hassle of wooden beam maintenance.
How to Design a Mock Tudor House
Tudor styling is timeless, so if you get it right from the onset, you’ll have a house that you can be proud of for many years to come. If you live in a modern home you’ll most likely want to incorporate Tudor styles but without detracting from your overall contemporary feel. You could think about contrasting your colours and styles, such as finely grained Tudor Boards with your textured brick finish, or grey faux beams and window frames to contrast with the earthy colours of your brick walls.
Planning your Tudor Home Exterior
The planning process starts with sketching out different designs to work out what space you have to place your Tudor boards and where you’d like them to go. Once you have the final design, it’s time to measure up accurately so you can order the right boards. Remember, that many mock Tudor planks come in a range of RAL colours, so you can match and contrast with your home’s exterior to complete your overall mock Tudor aesthetic.
Fitting Tudor Style Boards
When ordering your beams to create a Tudor style exterior, it’s important to also order the fixtures and tools you’ll need to easily place and secure your boards. When fitting the boards, ensure you follow correct health and safety protocols with using ladders and be confident in drilling precisely, as otherwise you’ll be left with lots of unsightly holes that you also need to fill!
Don’t worry if your planks have imperfections, as handworked, irregular beams were typical of the Tudor homes of the 16th Century, so you’re just in keeping with this architectural style.
If you want to extend the Tudor styling of your home, you can also consider features such as open plan spaces, large and elaborate fireplaces, small windows with vertical mullions and oak skirting boards.
There are more tips on designing a mock Tudor house on this website: tudorboard.com.