Shopping Guides

Apparel & Accessories
- General Care Guidelines
- Glossary
  - Apparel Terms
  - Footwear Terms
  - Footwear Diagram
  - Handbags Terms
- Fabrics & Weaves
- Fashion by Body Type
- Five Fashion Essentials
- Handbag Weight Comparisons
- Fibers
- Scarves in Fashion
- Size Information
- Sunglasses
Beauty
- Cosmetics 101
  - Cosmetic Tools and Care
    - Cosmetic Brushes
    - Face Tools
    - Eye Tools
    - Other Beauty Tools
  - Makeup Application & Color Guide
    - Cheeks
    - Eyebrows
    - Eyes
    - Foundation
    - Lips
    - Hints for Mature Skin
    - Hints for Quick Application
    - The Smoky Eye Effect
  - Makeup by Occasion
- Hair Types and Styling
- Ingredient Glossary
- Skin Care
  - Acne/Oily Skin
  - Aging Skin
  - Dry Skin
  - Normal Skin
  - Sensitive Skin
- Skin Care Regimen
  - Cleanse
  - Tone
  - Exfoliate
  - Refresh
  - Moisturize
  - Firm
  - Protect
- Fragrance Types
Computers & Electronics
- Choosing a Camera
  - Camera Functions
  - Camera Glossary
  - Digital Cameras
- Choosing a Computer
  - Choosing a Notebook
  - Computer Glossary
  - Setting Up Your Computer
- Choosing a GPS
- Gaming Systems & Ratings
- Home Theater Systems
  - Home Theater Glossary
- Refurbished Electronics
- TV Glossary& FAQs
- Unlocked Phones
Coins
- American Coin Designs
- Coin Glossary
- Grading & Certification
- History of Coin Collecting
- History of Coin Jewelry
- Mints & Mint Marks
- Other Currency
- State & Territory Quarters
- Types of Coin Collections
- Types of Coin Collectors
Health & Fitness
- Bicycles
- BOSU Ball Exercises
- Heart Rate Monitoring
- Nutrition Glossary
- Pre-Workout Warm-ups
- Resistance Bands
- Stability Ball Exercises
- Stationary Bikes
- Treadmills
House & Home
- Bath Towels
- Bedding
  - Choosing Sheets
  - Down
  - Fabrics, Weaves & Fibers
  - General Care Guidelines
  - Size Information
  - Top Layers
- Cookware
  - Care & Maintenance
    - All-Clad Care
    - Cast Iron Care
    - Copper Care
    - Nonstick Care
    - Stainless Steel Care
  - Materials
  - Pieces
- Cutlery
  - Knife Construction
  - Types of Knives
  - Sharpening Knives
  - Safety Tips
  - Care and Cleaning
- Decor Periods
- Dining & Entertaining
  - Food, Drinks & Tabletop
  - Setting a Casual Table
  - Setting a Semi-Formal Table
  - Setting a Formal Table
- Feng Shui
  - Five Elements
  - Yin and Yang
  - Feng Shui in Your Home
- Furniture Styles
- Furniture Woods
- Gemstone Globes
- Home Decor Essentials
- Kitchen Appliances
  - Blenders
  - Coffeemakers
  - Deep Fryers
  - Espresso Machines
    - Types of Espresso Machines
    - Subcategories
    - Types of Power
    - Freshly Ground or Pod?
    - Espresso Glossary
    - Some Basics to Consider
    - Cleaning Your Espresso Machine
    - Cups & Saucers
  - Induction Cooktops
  - Microwaves
  - Rice Cookers
  - Toasters & Toaster Ovens
- Lighting
  - Types of Lighting
  - Types of Lamps
  - Light Bulbs
  - Lighting Glossary
- Luggage Tips
- Mattresses
  - Mattress Comfort
  - Mattress Sizes
  - Mattress Types
    - Air Chamber
    - Innerspring
    - Latex Foam
    - Memory Foam
- Rugs
- Sewing Machines
- Wine Enjoyment
  - Aerating & Decanting Wine
  - Storing & Preserving Wine
  - Wine Glass Types
  - Wine Glossary
  - Wine Tasting 101
    - Types of Wine Tastings
    - How to Conduct a Tasting
    - The Tasting Process
    - Tasting Cards
- Design Motifs & Symbolism
Jewelry
- Birthstones
- Care and Storage
- Clasps and Closures
  - Earring Backs
  - Necklace and Bracelet Clasps
- Cleaning Methods
- Created and Simulated Gems
- Gemstones
  - Clarity and Color Grading
  - Settings
  - Mohs Scale
  - Enhancement and Care
  - Shapes or Cuts
  - A-B Gemstones
    - Agate
    - Alexandrite
    - Amazonite
    - Amber
    - Amethyst
    - Ametrine
    - Andalusite
    - Ammolite
    - Andesine
    - Apatite
    - Aquamarine
    - Aventurine
    - Azurite
    - Beryl
    - Bloodstone
    - Boulder Opal
    - Brazanite
  - C-F Gemstones
    - Carnelian
    - Cat's Eye Chrysoberyl
    - Chalcedony
    - Charoite
    - Chrome Diopside
    - Chrysocolla
    - Chrysoprase
    - Cinnabar
    - Citrine
    - Coral
    - Diamond
    - Diopside
    - Drusy
    - Dumortierite
    - Emerald
    - Eudialite
    - Fire Opal
    - Fluorite
  - G-N Gemstones
    - Garnet
    - Howlite
    - Hematite
    - Iolite
    - Jade
    - Jasper
    - Kunzite
    - Kyanite
    - Labradorite
    - Lapis Lazuli
    - Larimar
    - Larvikite
    - Magnesite
    - Malachite
    - Mandarin Garnet
    - Marcasite
    - Moldavite
    - Moonstone
    - Morganite
    - Mother of Pearl
    - Mystic Topaz
  - O-R Gemstones
    - Obsidian
    - Onyx
    - Opal
    - Ouro Verde
    - Padparadscha Sapphire
    - Pearl
    - Paua Shell (Abalone)
    - Peridot
    - Peruvian Blue Opal
    - Pietersite
    - Prasiolite
    - Prehnite
    - Quartz
    - Queen Conch Shell
    - Rhodochrosite
    - Rhodolite
    - Rubellite
    - Ruby
  - S-Z Gemstones
    - Sandstone
    - Sapphire
    - Serpentine
    - Sodalite
    - Spessartite
    - Sphene
    - Spinel
    - Sunstone
    - Tanzanite
    - Tashmarine
    - Tiger's Eye
    - Topaz
    - Tourmaline
    - Tsavorite
    - Turquoise
    - Unakite
    - Venetian and Murano Glass
    - Zircon
    - Zoisite
    - Zultanite
- Glossary
- Jewelry Trends
  - Alternative Birthstones
  - Astrology
  - Chinese Zodiac
  - Italian Gold
  - Jewelry Designs
  - Right-Hand Rings
  - Traditional Anniversary Gifts
- Manufacturing Techniques
- Metals
  - Ceramic
  - Copper
  - Gold
  - Plated Silver or Bronze
  - Platinum
  - Ruthenium Plating
  - Stainless Steel
  - Sterling Silver
  - Tungsten
- Size Information
Watches
- Watch Glossary
- Invicta Collections
- Maintenance, Care & Cleaning
- Measurements & Sizing
- Strap & Bracelet Materials
- Watch Case Dimensions
- Watch Components
  - Case
  - Crystal
  - Dial
  - Movement
  - Strap/Bracelet
- Water Resistance Levels
- Watch Weight Comparisons

Untitled Document

Lighting falls into three categories: ambient, task and accent lighting. Well-lit rooms feature a combination of the three, allowing you to be comfortable without squinting or straining your eyes. The number and types of fixtures will vary with your room sizes, décor and personal preferences.

Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting illuminates the whole room with unfocused light that bounces off walls and the ceiling. This is your general room illumination, generated both by natural sunlight and overhead light fixtures. Ambient light eliminates shadows and lights the floor for safety.

Determining how much ambient light you need in each room is really just a matter of balancing the amount of natural light available with enough additional overhead illumination to provide adequate safety. The goal with ambient lighting should be to have enough so no one trips over furniture, but not so much that it's hard to relax. Dimmer switches are an excellent way to help you adjust the level of ambient light to suite your needs and moods.

Don't try to rely on ambient light alone. You will need some additional light sources, such as accent lamps, in each room to achieve the best overall lighting scheme.

Task Lighting
Task lighting brightens up activity areas and contributes to overall room lighting. The two most obvious task lighting needs are reading lamps and vanity lights over a mirror, but there are probably many other areas in your home that require extra task lighting. A work desk, card table, kitchen countertop, stovetop, utility sink and hallway closet all count as areas that could require good task lighting.

Effective task lighting needs to be both bright and focused on a particular area. Sometimes it's also important for the light to be easily adjustable, so lamps that are easily moved or have adjustable arms are a good choice. Dimmer switches can also be very useful for permanent fixtures.

Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is often the final touch in a well-decorated room. It is often used to highlight special room features such as artwork or a specific architectural element. To achieve the proper effect, the accent light source should be approximately three times as bright as the surrounding ambient light.

Because accent lighting usually comes from small lamps or fixtures, it is very versatile and often nearly hidden. Recessed lights, under-cabinet lamps and picture lights are all examples where the light itself is the eye-catching element, not the source that it comes from.

Track lighting is another very common method for introducing accent light to a room, and it works best when you have a high ceiling.

Sconces have also become very popular in recent years for adding a little extra light to hallways, stairs and just about any other area where space is limited. Sconces also look great when they are mounted in pairs around artwork, cabinets and mantels.

Perhaps the easiest and most pleasing way to add accent light to a room is with small decorative lamps. A tiny 15-watt incandescent bulb can provide a huge amount of romance to a room.

Shopping Guides

Manage Your Account

Get More with ShopHQ Card