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Ever walk into a room and trip over something on the floor while tracing the wall with you fingertips looking for the switch? If your like most people today, this has happened to you more than once. Not only do we all struggle with those illusive light switches, but out of reach ceiling fans can be a pain to switch settings or turn on and off as well. There are many different solutions to these problems and a few handy household electrical gadgets that can make life so much easier.

Lighted or glowing switch plates and switches can make the locating those troublesome switches much less of a bother. Plates can glow by utilization of phosphorescent coatings that absorb light during the day and glow with a pale light in the dark that is easily seen. The switches themselves can be treated with the same phosphorescent coating. Although in many cases the switch itself is equipped with a bulb that automatically turns on when the switch is turned to the off position. This light stands out distinctly in the dark and makes finding the light switch more convenient.

For less obvious solutions to the run away light-switch problem, many people have turned to the use of remotes. These remotes can come in many forms and perform many handy functions. The simplest is a key fob remote, which can turn on your lights inside from a distance of up to 50 ft away and around corners in many cases. This gives a little added security by being able to actually turn on the lights inside the house from the outside. Other types of remotes can be set for more than one light or set of lights. These tend to take on the more traditional appearance of a remote and can vary in size. For example, a universal lighting and component remote can change the settings of your fan, turn on specific lights, and turn down the volume on your home electronics.

Before considering a particular remote for your home consider first, your particular needs. It can be frustrating to have a highly technical remote that would be able to control lighting, home entertainment components, open garage doors, and engage security systems if all that was needed as a simple remote to turn on the lights inside the house while carrying an armload of groceries to the kitchen. Likewise it can be discouraging to have a remote that performs only part of what you may need it to do.

Once you have an idea of what you may be in need of, consider your current lighting and component arrangement. While many lights will work wonderfully with a remote, many may not. Consult your electrician about any additional equipment that may be needed for the best suited remote set up. It may be necessary too, for you to invest in more than one remote. If there are multiple family members or more than one major entry point of your house, a second remote could be a very good idea.

Home lighting has come a long way from the glass domes spaced directly in the middle of each room, with perhaps a fancy ceiling fan in the bedrooms. Now we have such a multitude of lighting options that we can almost turn to lighting as an art from in itself. Lights can be used to wash a particular wall in just such a way as to imply more space or height. Light can be installed to provide subtle mood lighting or can illuminate a room to the point of hospital sterility. It can be a difficult task to design and layout the perfect lighting plan that is more than just light to see by in the evening hours.

So how does one go about working with lighting in order to produce an artistic effect while still providing a functional home setting? By playing with it of course. Look into different lighting options by reading magazines on home remodeling. Look through the uncatalogued and on line inventory of your provider. Consider what kind of options they have. Then imagine new uses for those lights and setting in which you may want to have them installed.

Options for lighting uses come in a variety of styles. Small low voltage lights can be hidden behind molding or in niches built into walls and ceilings. This kind of back lighting washes the surface behind with a soft glow and makes a room feel phosphorescent rather than lit. Recessed lighting provides direct light that can be controlled to the point of almost pinprick. They can illuminate an area directly below, above or off to one side. Lenses harness the light and direct it in a specified manner. Hanging or pendant lights can be stylish and provide setting to a room.

Color of shades, lenses, and other kind of diffusion’s or bulbs can alter the effect of a light fixture dramatically. A red lit room make a much different statement than a yellow lit room. Using color diffusion or bulb is a good way of defining areas in wider spaces as well. A seating area lit with a low hanging overhead red tinged light in a larger room, feels private, almost intimate. A blue light set in the floor almost makes the are look smoky, and implies an ambiance of mellow shared space. Playful rope lighting hidden behind a boxed in raised ceiling, defines an area terrifically for games or home movie viewing.

A room is simply a room, until the proper ambiance is assigned to it. An underused and effective tool in doing this is lighting. By exploring the available products and playing with the setting, any room can be dramatically altered with the proper attention given to the lighting. Take time with your installer to talk about your ideas, and see what they suggest. You supplier will often have ideas and examples in their inventory catalogs that may help with this too.

Home security is more than surveillance and expensive security systems. Home security starts with a safe home. And just what is a safe home you may ask. A safe home is one that is well prepared in case of an emergency and has adequate preventative measures taken. These include escape routes, emergency back ups, proper exterior and storage area lighting, door and window locks where appropriate. This can also mean integrated systems for programmed lights, water and home systems. It is a matter of the needs and desires of the household.

In determining what your home may need to become safer take the time to access your current escape routes. The front door may not be enough. Basement window can be utilized for egress windows and escape ladders can be installed. Ladders are also a good idea for bedrooms above the first floor. Check your windows, if they are large enough for a person to fit through and can be opened functional locks should be installed. Inspect your doors as well. Check for ease of opening and closing. Be sure the locks are in good and working order. Look over the jambs to spot any potential weakened areas that may not hold up to an attempted forced entry. These are the basic home safety practices.

If your home has met all your expectations for the recommendations above, consider the next level of home security. Fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are very important especially when small children are around. Be sure you have fire extinguishers in the kitchen and furnace room. Teach everyone in your home how to use one. Emergency lighting in case of a power outage is always a good idea. These could be lamps, candles, flashlights or small press lights. So long as you can see, it doesn’t matter what the form is. A land line or cell phone is also important in the event of an emergency during a power outage. Cordless phones can be rendered useless without a constant power source. Land lines and cell phone work interdependently of plugged in power and will remain relatively unaffected.

The next level of home security moves into a more integrated home security. This includes in home monitors, monitored security systems, alarms the notify the authorities in the case of a larger emergency like break ins, and automated home systems.

Home monitors can include a set or cameras installed in and around the home and wired into a monitoring station within the home. This works well for seeing who is coming up to the house or watching your children play in the yard while you are inside. Some monitoring systems are completely independent and others can be set to work with and be displayed on your computer. It is best to speak with your provider about options and what would be most effective for you and your family.

Monitored security systems are install in much the same way a home monitor is installed. It also come with a service that is paid for, where a security agency is hired to monitor your system and call you in case of an emergency or notify the authorities. A security agency may or may not be employed to watch over your fire and burglar alarms. These may also be set to simply sound off in the home, or hooked directly into your phone lines to ring into the local emergency system 911 line.

The last and oftentimes most advanced option for home security are automated home systems. This can be as simple as putting a time on your lights when you are away, or as elaborate as a computer controlling everything from lights to furnace functions. Manifold and monitoring stations can be installed in your home. Your water for both the lawn and your home can be adjusted as well. The automated systems can be linked in with your paid security service for an all inclusive monitoring system. It is just a matter of how mush your household needs in the way of protection and security. There are many options available to you, speak with your provider and installer for what options may be most effective for you and your needs.

Our lives are busy and hectic. As such, any help in organization, efficiency, and atomization is regarded with near reverence and strong desire. Automatic and programmed responses are not only for email and computer reminders. Oh no. Our homes can be automated as well. Everything in our homes that require electricity to operate and function can be automated to a startling degree. This includes the oldies but goodies, lights, sprinklers, and alarms. But one may be surprised to know that this handy little auto feature can be found in appliances designed to make our lives so very much more easy.

Remotes can be very useful for automation. They can control everything from the television to the stove. Providing of course you have equipped your home with one of these handy, hand held devices. Dampers can be installed into the electrical system and work to tie everything together into one cohesive system which is then monitored by one single control panel. If you do not wish for your house to be completely automatic, you can opt for appliances and devices which you set yourself and then let run individually. Program your coffeemaker to turn on at 7am, then when you’re finished showering and primping, go enjoy your fresh cup-a-jo without waiting.

Monitoring stations can be installed, and are easily programed for you to check your home system and be sure things are set and running just the way you like it. So set it and forget it, and go on with the more pressing matters of your life, like sharing time in the evenings with your family. Along with your home automation system come sensors, that will serve as backup in case a system is set in a way that may not work well for daylight or if there is a failure along the line somewhere. Fail safes are an integral and important feature in any automated system. Be sure to investigate the fail safes of the system(s) you are considering.

Options for various home automation include, kitchen appliances, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, security and surveillance, lights, watering systems, telephone, windows, locks, etc. The list goes on and on and on, depending on your very specific needs. Your stove can be programmed to start cooking that pot roast at 3pm when you are still at work. Your dehumidifier can be set on a sensor to ventilate the attic or basement at particular humidity levels. Security systems can be wired into your telephone system so that no matter where you are in the house, if something happens you can call the police. You can also peep outside the garage door to check on your kids playing in the front lawn, from your refrigerator. It just takes a careful attention to detail, and a close analysis of your family’s needs, and expectations.

As with any home project, carefully consider how far you are willing and need to go with your work. Weigh the costs and benefits to find the best balance for your pocket and home. Evaluate your home and choose wisely the appliances and integrated systems the best suit the layout of your home and the lifestyle of those living within it.

Way back in 1967 Gaylord Russell founded Russound in Stratham, New Hampshire. The company supplied music buffs with speakers for turntables as well as equalizers and preamplifiers. In the late 1970’s Russound entered the surround sound market and quickly started producing different pieces of audio equipment and moved their headquarters to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In 1984 the company was sold to Maureen Baldwin. Under Baldwin’s direction Russound products developed a reputation for quality and performance. Fast forward to 1994. That was the year that Russound released the first multisource-multizone system called the CS-1 and things started to move quickly after that. Russound now has over 850 SKUs and ships to over 48 countries. Regal Home Source is proud to feature Russound products in their online product catalog.

Regal Home Source offers an assortment of Russound products including A-Bus Hub # A-H4DCONV Color Conversion Kit for in wall hubs, which is available in Almond, Black and White. The 4 Zone 1-Source In-Wall Expansion Hub: A-Bus Hub A-H4DX is also in the line. Regal Home Source also offers the A-Bus Key Pad #A-KP2, and the A-Bus Hub A-H4P.

Regal Home Source also offers the Advantage HI-FI Series Speakers # SP-H5TT which is the 5 ¼” Round in ceiling Twist/Tilt speaker and the 6 ½” Rectangular In-Wall Iso-Mount speaker # SP-H6IM which is also part of the Advantage HI_FI Series. There is also the 8” rectangular in wall Iso mount speaker # SP-H8IM as well as the 8” Round in ceiling Twist/Tilt speaker # SP-H8TT. There is something for every music lover and every room design.

That is just a partial list of the great products that Russound manufactures and Regal House Source offers on their website: www.regalhomesource.com. Whether you are building a new home or remolding your existing home, Russound and Regal Home Source has a product that will make every room a musical adventure. You’re just a click away from experiencing the beauty of a new sound system.