every room

HALLWAY DINING ROOM

BEFORE YOUBUY ABULB,KNOW THIS

Floodlight-shaped bulbs focus hall lighting on the floor, making nighttime navigation easier. Consider installing a motion-sensing fixture that turns on the light automatically whenever there’s movement— you won’t have to grope for that switch in the dark again. The goal is to create an intimate atmosphere where you gather for meals, so dimmable bulbs that give off a warm yellow glow are ideal. Vintage-style or candelabra bulbs are a sophisticated choice for chandeliers or pendants.

THE PROS’ PICKS

EcoSmart soft white dimmable LED bulb, $30 for six; homedepot.com

“This bulb is compatible with fully enclosed fixtures, meaning it won’t overheat and damage the wires. It’s fine for a kitchen or dining room but especially effective in a hallway, where a soft white glow helps the whole house feel welcoming. It’s also dimmable—great for a light you may want to leave on at night.”

—JOEY CORONA

Bulbrite 776609 7W LED bulb, $13; commercialbulbs.com

“If you want to give an open fixture a vintage vibe, this fully dimmable bulb looks quite authentic. It has LED strips arranged to resemble the thin, glowing filament of an Edison-style bulb— and the amber-tinted globe design gives it that old-fashioned look.”

—TERRY McGOWAN,

director of engineering at the American Lighting Association

BRIGHT IDEAS Find more useful tips from a home-lighting expert at realsimple.com/lightingpro.

Doyou really have to abide by the recommendedwattage label taped to the lamp cord?

Yes. It’s a safety issue. That label lets you know how much heat the fixture can handle without damaging the socket and internal wiring. If you’re using a standard incandescent bulb, you should be especially obedient about the wattage guide. With CFLs and LEDs, you have a little more flexibility: “They use significantly less energy than standard bulbs, so you can go up in wattage if you want a brighter light,” says Rider. No label on your lamp? “Use a CFL or LED to avoid exceeding its wattage,” advises Rider.

QUICKIE COSTCUTTER

Replace the incandescent bulbs in the five mostoften-used fixtures in your home with Energy Star–rated bulbs and you’ll save about $75 in energy costs each year, according to the EPA.

THEY’VE GOT THE POWER

Three bulbswe love for theirspecial talents

PARTY BULB

SLEEPBETTER BULB NO-BUGZONE BULB

GE C sleepsmart bulb, $20; lowes.com

“Researchfrom sleep studies led our team to create this smartphone app–controlled bulb. For night, it can provide warm, calm light that doesn’t interfere with your body’s production of melatonin [a natural sleep hormone]. In the morning, it can give off a cool, vibrant light, reducing your body’s production of melatonin and helping you get ready for your day.”

—CARMEN PASTORE

Philips 60Wequivalent yellow LED bug-light bulb, $6; homedepot.com

“On a covered porch that you want to keep insect-free, try a yellow ‘bug light’ like this. The yellow coating makes it difficult for most flying insects to see, so they are not drawn to the fixure as they are to white bulbs.”

—JOEY CORONA

Philips Hue 65W BR30 connected bulb, $62; amazon.com

“If you love to entertain, this bulb is a fun way to give your living room a more special feel. You can use your smartphone to change the light to any of the ROYGBIV hues and tons of variations along the way. You’ll also be able to set up a lighting scheme in advance or sync color changes to music. Of course, when you’re not in party mode, this multitasker can behave like an ordinary bulb. It’s pricey, but it has a 25,000-hour lifetime, depending on use—over a dozen years if you use it five hours a day.”

—TODD MANEGOLD,

connected homebusiness lead at Philips Lighting North America

KITCHENSKILLS

Things cooks know

Strategies, techniques, and tips—from the Real Simple test kitchen toyours

THE REALIST

food

EVER HEARD OF...?

Aquaponics

Today most of the tilapia you buy is farm raised. That’s efficient, yes, but it’s not always good for the environment, as these farms can introduce contaminants to local waters. Enter aquaponics. This sustainable technique involves growing plants andraising fish at the same time. Fish waste is recycled into fertilizer for the plants, which then filter the water the fish live in. Plant trimmings create food for worms; the worms are food for the fish, completing the cycle.

HOW TOPREP LEMONGRASS

Lemongrass adds a unique citrusy-floral flavor to soups, stir-fries, and even beverages. If you’ve never cooked with it before, here’s how to get started. Trust us—it’s easy.

STEP 1 Trim off the dry end and the skinny, papery tops.

STEP 2 Make a slit down the length of the stalk with your chef’s knife.

STEP 3 Peel off the tough layers, as you would peel a scallion, to get to the pale, compact inner core.

STEP 4 Using a rolling pin or meat mallet, whack down the core to bruise it. This releases the oils in the stalk that provide the lemongrass flavor. If you’re making soup, you can add the whole bruised stalk; finely chop it for a stir-fry.

WHATIS HOMINY?

These chewy nuggets are the star ingredient in the hearty Mexican soup pozole (see page 139). With a flavor similar to that of tangy corn, the swollen white kernels are made by soaking corn in a solution of water and powdered lime (an alkaline mineral); this removes their hull and germ. Look for canned hominy near the canned beans at your supermarket. But if you’re lucky enough to find dried hominy, go ahead and prepare it as you would dried beans.

QUICKHACK

You can grate peeled, frozen lemongrass stalks on a box grater instead of finely chopping them. Written by Heath Goldman Illustrations by Kendyll Hillegas

ROOT TOUCH-UPS

The best fixes for pesky regrowth, no matter whatdelivery system youfavor

THE REALIST

beauty

1BEST SPRAY L’Oréal Paris Root Cover Up This quick-drying spray is highly pigmented, so you can hide grays in one shot. The pointed nozzle offers a precise application, and the sweatproof formula lasts until your next shampoo. In six shades. TO BUY: $11; at drugstores.

2BEST POWDER Color Wow Root Cover Up Available in seven subtly shimmery hues to mimic hair’s shine, this compact is makeup for your hair. The dual-tip brush makes it easy to hit large or small sections, and the bristles are densely packed, so the powder won’t fall onto your forehead. “I love that there’s no dry time,” said a tester.

TOBUY: $35; colorwowhair.com.

3BEST LONG-TERM FIX dpHUE Root Touch-Up Kit Too busy for the salon? Extend the life of your dye job at home with this permanent hair color kit. It contains everything you need for two applications and takes less than an hour. Choose between eight neutral shades that won’t fade. TOBUY: $30; ulta.com.

6 5 ROAD TEST

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re al simp l e ROAD TEST

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4BEST FOR BLONDES Everpro Back2Blonde Dark regrowth on blondes can look ashy or gray when covered up. This spray keeps the tone bright. “My roots start to show after just a week. This buys me a week or two before my next appointment,” raved one tester. TOBUY: $13; cvs.com.

5BEST CRAYON Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch-Up Stick Stash this crayon in your bag for rogue grays you notice on the go (say, under the brutal fluorescent lights of the office bathroom). The waxy pigment is ideal for detailing the hairline and even works well on brows.

TOBUY: $25; ritahazan.com.

6BEST MARKER TouchBack Marker This combines the strong color of a liquid with the precision of a pen. Simply color grays for a naturally shiny finish (as in, not that matte shoe-polish look) and use the comb to distribute and blend. Said one tester, “The wide tip lets you cover your whole part in just a few passes.”

TOBUY: $25; touchbackgray.com.

Written by Chelsea Traber Burns Photograph by Yunhee Kim