Hey, Old Timer

At Christmastime and throughout the rest of the year, lighting timers are a practical and money saving tool. I always have one to plug my Christmas tree and other decorations into so they only glow at the appropriate period each evening. Timers are great at limiting the use of electricity until just the exact time it is needed.

January through November timers also prove just as useful. I love uplights in the corner of rooms, especially behind palms, ficus trees and other plants. Picture lights too and other mood lamps on a timer work very well together; at least one per room. It is nice to not come home to a dark house in the evening. When you travel, timers also keep up your usual lighting pattern habits, throwing off possible thieves.

I like to have my interior lights to activate about 30-45 minutes before dark. When setting an off time for each light, I usually start at the front of the house and then have the bedroom lights turn off last, following a natural progression to retire for the evening. It is nice to be able to get into the bed with some soft light and then not have to worry about turning it off once you are settled.