Holiday lighting like any form of decorating and design is based on ones own personal tastes.  Whether you prefer elegant and understated as show in this home the winner of the Northwest Civic Associations 2008 Contest.

Or perhaps your tastes lean towards the look below that is best described by Sydney’s daily telegraph as a display that even puts the Griswald’s to shame.

In either case this is the time of year when we all like to create a magical and welcoming home for ourselves and guests.  Holiday lighting and the use of colorful lights is one way to accomplish this.  In these current economic times however any additional expense to ones electric bill can put pressure on an already strained budget.  Thankfully LED technology has become more prevalent in Holiday Lighting options and you can now replace many of your old light strings with new LED holiday light strings come in a variety of colors.

From the traditional red, green, and white lights:

To the purple, blues and multi colored strings:

Consumer Reports found that a 50 foot string of incandescent holiday lights would cost the average consumer $8 for 300 hours compared to the LED equivalent at 14 cents for the same 300 hours.   You may find that it is time to replace your old faux holiday tree with a new pre-lit LED model.

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Show your friends and family how much you care by selecting the perfect gift from Bellacor.com. We have gifts for all occasions, all ages, all styles and all budgets.

These felt animal throw pillows are adorable and right on trend for 2010.

This throw is perfect for cold winter nights and will be a fabulous addition to any living room.

This dog house is the perfect gift for the stylish animal lover.

These TV trays work great for casual family gatherings or sporting events while adding a personalized touch.

These soft and supple bath towels come in several Asian inspired designs, perfect for any zen home.

This line of home office accessories is right in time for those New Year’s resolutions to organize your home.

This child sized chair and ottoman would make any little girl squeal with delight, and also comes in blue for the boys.

Teal is one of the hottest color trends for 2010 and these vases would beautifully update any décor.

This iHome lamp comes in 3 styles and several colors and plays or charges you teen’s ipod.

Create instant ambiance with this personal faux stone fireplace.

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Lamps are commonly referred to as the “portables” in the lighting industry meaning they can be “carried or moved with ease”. Also, they can be plugged into electrical outlets and do not require an electrician for installation. This makes them a very easy way to decorate and light your home.

There are 4 primary categories of lamps: table lamps, floor lamps, desk lamps and outdoor lamps.

There are hundreds of different table lamps offered on Bellacor’s website in many different styles, colors, sizes, shapes and materials. Table lamps can be used to read by, work on tasks, or to create ambiance in your room. They are usually placed on an end table but there exceptions to that when it comes to accent lamps and buffet lamps which are “special” table lamps. Accent lamps are usually smaller than your standard table lamps, usually not higher than 24 inches, and are used to decorate or light a specific place in your home wherein you wouldn’t necessarily be using the light to work or read by. An excellent example of an accent lamp are the tiffany glass accent lamps that Quoizel have been creating for many years including this Lady Bug Accent Lamp, Bellacor item number 62646.

Lady Bug Accent Lamp

Buffet lamps, on the other hand, are usually slender and taller in height, generally 32”- 40” high, and are used on console tables to highlight decorative objects or buffet spreads. The Jelani Buffet Lamp from Uttermost, Bellacor item number 474243, is a modern example of a buffet lamp reaching 37 ½ inches in height.

Jelani Buffet Lamp

Floor lamps are usually taller than 48 inches and are designed to stand on the floor.They are oftentimes used for reading and task work but don’t necessarily have to be as in the case of a torchiere wherein the light is directed upward as with the Dale Tiffany Garden Leaf Torchiere Floor Lamp, Bellacor item number 499620.

Garden Leaf Torchiere Floor Lamp

Desk lamps are primarily used on desktops but can be placed anywhere you might have a work area. Desk Lamps usually have a downward task light to expose light on to your work area and oftentimes have a swing arm in order to direct the light as you choose.This conventional Brass Desk Lamp from Holtkotter, Bellacor item number 29323, is functional as well as lovely to look at.

Brass Desk Lamp

Lastly, we have outdoor lamps, this category has been rapidly growing as outdoor spaces become more important to our homes. Outdoor lamps are available in table, accent and floor lamps and are generally made of weatherproof resin and fabrics in order to withstand the elements. Kichler has a wide variety of quality outdoor lamps including the Brown Bark Outdoor Table Lamp, Bellacor item number 102856.

Brown Bark Outdoor Table Lamp

The great thing about all lamps is that they are a relatively easy way to change up a room or create a new environment without hiring a handyman. You can easily switch lamps in any setting for a brand new look, or purchase an accent lamp for the kitchen counter, or put a new pair of table lamps on either side of your bed. As we say in the industry, they are “portable”!

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One of the advantages of shopping on Bellacor.com is the ability to shop by style.  By going to http://www.bellacor.com/shopByPage.htm you can pick the style that appeals to you and start shopping there.  In this post I’ll talk about the Contemporary styled items on Bellacor and how contemporary lighting or modern furniture might translate into your own personal style.

Contemporary and modern are two terms that can get academics and grammarians awfully riled up (see this recent story from NPR’s All Things Considered).  However, for the purpose of this blog post I’m going to put that debate to the side and use the word Contemporary to refer to these items on Bellacor.com, but on most items you could substitute the word Modern.

So, what is contemporary design?  Most people think of clean lines, shiny metal finishes, and simple or no patterns when you mention contemporary lighting or modern furniture.  And it is true, contemporary design does utilize those design elements.

But it is also so much more.  Your home doesn’t have to feel cold and have a lot of sharp edges to utilize contemporary design.  All of the following items would fall into the contemporary/modern aesthetic, but still bring a bit of unexpected life or a punch of color to your home.

Contemporary furnishings can utilize vibrant patterns:

Contemporary design can be made from wood:

Contemporary design can include crystals:

Contemporary design can use bold colors:

Contemporary design can be a stark black and white:

Contemporary design can have a sense of humor:

And contemporary design can be inspired by nature:

If you would like to read up further on Contemporary or Modern decorating here are some helpful links:

• HGTV has a couple of basic references on contemporary and modern design.
• HowStuffWorks also has another brief overview on contemporary decorating.

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Bellacor makes it easy to find lighting products and luxurious home decor in any style.  From ceiling lighting to wall lighting, and even outdoor lighting, we make sure to offer the widest variety available. When looking for that colorful mini pendant for your kitchen or that particular ceiling fan to ventilate your family room, we are your source.   It can sometimes be difficult going from show room to show room trying to find that unique chandelier for your formal dining area, the one that defines your style.   For over 10,000 different chandeliers, simply go to www.bellacor.com. With that kind of selection, you’re sure to find your dream piece without even leaving your home.   With an impressive inventory of lighting fixtures, it can be difficult to navigate through all the lighting we have to offer.

Our search tools help simplify the shopping process by refining shopping results by style, finish, color, and brand.  We’ve designed our site and blog with your convenience in mind. Imagine the convenience of shopping for kitchen lighting from the comforts of your home! We’ve made searching for home lighting easier than ever by allowing you to browse through collections for matching lighting fixtures. For instance, once you find your ideal chandelier you will then be able to identify the matching wall sconces and foyer lighting just by clicking the collection link.  This is how easy it is with Bellacor to carry your new style throughout your home.  We’ll help you transform any room in your house. Bellacor’s large selection of bath lighting will help you create your dream bathroom retreat or help you find that perfect wall sconce as the focal point for your powder room.  Whatever type of lighting you are searching for; wall sconces, pendant lighting, chandeliers, or ceiling fans, Bellacor.com is your source.

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Get ready to be inspired by our home décor and lighting experts! Our bloggers are looking forward to sharing tips and ideas on how to make your home a brighter, more beautiful place. On average, we spend more time at home than any other place. In fact, the average person is home 13-15 hours of the day. As such, it makes absolute sense to invest in our home and make the most out of our dwelling space. The good news is you can have a gorgeous home without breaking the bank. We’ll share tips on how to beautify your home on a budget with our posts on mini room makeovers. Our home décor bloggers will show you how to change the look and feel of your living space by simply adding stylish pieces like a unique table lamp or a lush area rug in a bold color. Home lighting experts will discuss how you can soften a room by creating layers of light. We’ll cover everything from designing your home office to choosing the right chandelier for your dining room.  Whatever style or theme you prefer, our bloggers and lighting design experts can help turn your home into a personal oasis.

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