Home Furnishings News and Ideas

Author : Mitch Endick

Since the time that humans first discovered fire, artificial lighting has become an engrained part of the human experience From prehistoric times until the start of the Industrial Revolution, open flame remained the sole source of artificial lighting Even the incandescent light bulb has remained a lighting standard for well over one hundred years Technology has propelled lighting into a new era with more to come

The humble gaslight was a vast improvement over what had been the use of candles and oil lamps Candles burned away and oil lamps needed to be refilled The availability of natural gas made lighting more of a convenience and less of a chore While it is true that gaslights needed to be turned off and on, the convenience combined with its drastically lower cost, made gaslights very practical One problem that took time to overcome was the presence of impurities in the gas and several methods of filtering and purification were developed

The lighting of public streets became common during the eighteen hundreds with natural gas eventually being supplied to private homes The availability of natural gas grew throughout the eighteen hundreds and so did its application as a lighting source The use of gaslights would continue until another very important technological development that would change our lives in ways beyond just lighting our homes and streets

We have come a long way since the days of the gaslight The incandescent light bulb and the modern fluorescent light are just some of the ways lighting, both interior and exterior has advanced In recent years, the emphasis has been on reducing energy consumption without sacrificing quality and output As the cost of energy rises, that has been a move towards developing high tech approaches and solutions to illuminating our homes Beyond the financial cost of electricity, many people feel that there are serious environment reasons for reducing our energy consumption

The early nineteen hundreds saw the introduction of electric lighting though it would be many decades before electricity found its way into rural America

City dwellers in America took the availability of electricity for granted Meanwhile on farms and in many small towns, reliable old standbys like oil lamps and gaslights were in use until the middle of the twentieth century The creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority made electrification of rural America a reality for millions of people Electric lighting became widespread but the basic technology would no change for quite some time

Much of the household lighting in world still relies on the incandescent light bulb The technology of incandescence has not change much over the years The basics rely on passing an electrical current through a metal filament In order for the filament to glow, it must be in the gas filled vacuum of the bulb Even though manufacturers have tried to design light bulbs that lasted longer or were more efficient, there are significant limits to incandescent technology

Fluorescent lighting is quickly overtaking the incandescent bulb as the standard for interior and exterior lighting Fluorescent lights are known for producing more usable light while consuming less electricity The savings has been shown to be significant since fluorescents consume only about twenty five percent of the electricity used by a comparable incandescent light In this age of higher costs, the savings have shown to be very important in making the case for switching to fluorescent lighting

Low voltage outdoor lighting has long been a popular component of landscape design Low voltage lighting has also undergone significant design changes of the last few years Once dependent on the incandescent bulb, many LV lights use light emitting diodes or LEDs Light emitting diodes are solid state lighting devices that consume less power Long used in critical aerospace applications such as cabin lighting in spacecraft, LEDs can last a very time in rugged environments, making them a great choice for outdoor lighting

Advances in lighting technology will continue at a much faster pace, driven by issues such as cost, quality and impacts on the environment When making lighting choices for your home think ahead, and be sure to consider the long term cost

Mitch Endick is a staff writer for the quality online store FineWebStores.com.
Shop for Lighting solutions for your home or office. Please visit FineWebStores.com today.

Syndication Source: Thought Search Articles
By thoughtsearch.com

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Antiques Roadshow Home Furnishings

A customer walks into a store and asks the clerk behind the desk about a mattress for their bed. The clerk says ok, then asks “do you want a spring mattress?” To which the customer replies “Oh, well… I actually need it for the whole year!” This little joke is all in fun but there are many new types of mattresses in the marketplace for beds that many consumers are unaware of. These new trends in mattress bring many interesting features to the typical bed and are definitely worth taking a look at. In this article we’ll examine some of the new trends in mattresses and what they can offer your bedroom.

Innerspring mattresses for beds. These mattresses are among the most traditional and classic designs in mattresses. Spring mattresses provide good support and are used well throughout the world. The first thing you’re going to come across is coil count. The coil count tells you how many coil springs are used throughout the unit. This of course varies from mattress to mattress. Typically a queen mattress with a coil count greater than 390 coils should be suitable for every night sleeping as opposed to a guest mattress. Different layers of foam and batting will be used at the surface of the mattress which will make the mattress firm or plush. Pillow top models are also available that make the mattress quite soft. Most innerspring mattresses feature a fabric quilting sewn into the mattress. There are many brands of innerspring mattress available at many different price points. You should find one that is comfortable, made for everyday use and is within your budget. Major brands include Serta, Sealy, Simmons, Spring Air and King Koil to name a few.

Viscoelastic mattresses for bed frames. Introduced over twenty years ago these mattresses started out quite pricey and were only in select higher end homes by people who could afford them. Today, there are many brands of viscoelastic mattresses and can be found in a much greater number of homes. Viscoelastic has unique properties in that the mattress is made up of material called visco cells. These cells have a memory and when they sense heat the material conforms around the heat. Your body supplies the heat and the mattress molds around you. This is different than innerspring mattresses in which you lay on top of the mattress. With visco mattresses you actually feel the mattress around you. Coverings for these mattresses can range from fabric, bamboo, cashmere or any number of materials. In recent years some customers have commented that the mattress becomes hot while laying on it. Tempur-Pedic which is a leader in viscolelastic mattresses has since created a more breathable covering to disperse heat. Its not immediately clear if other manufacturers of these mattresses have done the same. Viscoelastic mattresses have been promoted as helping those with bad backs find greater comfort. Tempur-Pedic and Dormia are just a couple of the many brands available.

Waterbed mattresses for platforms. Popular in the 1970’s waterbed mattresses are still available through select specialty stores. These mattresses of course feature water as their primary filler. Special platform frames are made that accommodate these mattresses due to the heavy nature of the mattress. In recent years the waterbed industry has come up with new innovations in design. There are several types of waterbed mattress. The hard-side waterbed mattress requires that in be surrounded by a wood/MDF system to ensure that the mattress is contained. Soft-side waterbed mattresses feature a sturdy foam around the perimeter of the mattress that allows it to keep its shape. The soft-side is the most popular waterbed mattress today. The biggest complaint about waterbeds were movement. Motion sensor technology and or tube or bladder systems were created to help reduce this movement so as to provide a more comfortable sleep.

Air mattress beds. Often thought of as that blow up mattress your grandmother uses for guests, air mattresses have actually come a long way. Select Comfort is one of the fastest growing companies offering air beds. The air mattresses feature chambers that pump and release air in and out of the mattress to help the user find the perfect firmness or softness for their sleeping needs. Referred to as finding your “Sleep Number” which starts from zero to 100. Because each user can adjust their own side each mattress provides the user with their own unique comfort. Some individuals have said that they can’t get the mattress firm enough for their needs so its best to try one out first to make sure it’s right for you. Aero Bed is another type of inflatable guest mattress.

An uncomfortable mattress can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a bad night’s sleep on your bed. Poor sleep could lead to things like dreaming about eating a giant marshmallow and waking up to a missing pillow and feeling a little down in the mouth. Avoid this situation by picking the right mattress and you can get you the restful sleep you need and deserve.

About the Author

P.Pendleton is a furniture professional writing about new trends in the furniture industry. He invites you to visit this platform bed website for more about innerspring and viscoelastic mattresses.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

By philpendleton

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