We, of course, love lighting. Layers of light help to brighten any space, highlight certain aspects of a room, and help set the mood. Justin Krutz, a blogger for Palatin Remodeling, sent us this guest post with interior design decorating tips to help you brighten your home beyond just lighting. Thanks Justin!

It may seem hard to believe, but the holiday season is almost upon us. In addition to ensuring that your heater is in good condition and your electrical components are all in good shape, it’s time to think about the security of your home.

Whether you’re going out of town for the holidays or you are going to be storing gifts in your home, the holiday season is also the season for burglaries, and you want to make sure that you do everything in your power to reduce the chance that you’ll fall victim. We’ve noted some ways to do so below.

In the unfortunate event that an intruder does get in your home, you want to know that you have a security system that is ready to respond. Many security systems today are connected through phone lines, which can be vulnerable and unreliable. What you really want is a security system that is hard-wired into your electrical system.

With smart technology, you’re able to get updates and alerts about what is going on at your home when you are away. You can ensure that doors and windows are closed, and check to see if there’s been any activity in or around your home.

While our home security systems are highly effective at deterring burglars once they’re in your home, of course you’d ideally like to prevent them from entering in the first place! One way to do this is by making it look like you’re home, even if you’re not. Do this by closing your blinds, keeping a few lights on, and having a trusted neighbor collect your mail and newspaper instead of letting it pile up.