Every gardener strives to create a unique landscape design on his site. To do this, in addition to ornamental plants, use paths, ponds, and clay figurines. This list can be supplemented with stones that glow in the dark. Using them you can not only decorate, but also illuminate your garden area. This will save energy.
The stones are decorative, easy to make and can have a large number of shades. They are easy to make yourself, and if you involve children in this, they will definitely thank you.
Common types of glowing stones
You can buy finished products in stores. But a purchased product has no soul. Many people think: if you want to do it well, do it yourself. In addition, it will help you save money.
Glowing stones differ in composition and manufacturing method. There are three main types of decor.
- Fluorescent.
- Plastic.
- Polymer.
Consider each type separately.
Application of fluorescent coatings
Fluorescent paints are the fastest way to make a luminous decorative stone with your own hands. You can choose the products yourself:
- pebbles;
- gravel;
- cobblestones;
- crushed stone
You can paint anything: curbs, paving slabs, part of a fence. There are three ways to apply paint.
- Spraying.
- Filling.
- Painting with a brush.
Special cans are used for spraying. They are bought in advance. Use taking into account the precautions specified in the instructions. This method of applying paint is good for boulders, or partial coloring of a large mass of small elements. Also, the spray can is useful if you need to make a drawing or apply paint to tiles or borders.
Pouring is one of the best ways to paint small elements: crushed stone, pebbles. To do this, the paint is diluted in a special container. Gloves must be used. The stones are immersed in the composition and then dried.
Painting with a brush is used together with filling, for cobblestones and other elements. Fluorescent paints are sold in construction stores and at points of sale of decorative elements for decorating a site. Before applying the composition, the surface must be cleaned of dirt and dried. Like any paint, luminescent compounds are applied to a clean and dry surface. It's easy to make glowing stones for landscaping with your own hands.
TOP10 interior design options using marble
All photos In the photo: Bathroom design with marble walls.
Marble is the most common type of stone in the world for finishing rooms. It is used on walls, floors, furniture designs, podiums, stairs, partitions and countertops of many different types.
An interior decorated with marble can immediately be classified as elite, since marble is a natural stone and is not so cheap. However, its durability and practicality, especially important for areas such as the corridor, staircase, kitchen and bathroom, are beyond doubt.
The design of the floor or walls involves the use of both one type and marble with different colors and patterns at the same time. The designer will help you create patterns, ornaments and aesthetically pleasing combinations.
Marble wall decoration in the living room
All photos In the photo: Design of the living room of an apartment in the Dynasty residential complex
Decorating walls with stone has been popular for more than one millennium. In the 21st century, talented designers not only revive or support this tradition, but take it to a fundamentally different level. You can see this by looking at the project options from the portfolio of designer Anzhelika Prudnikova below.
Finishing the staircase steps with natural wheat-colored marble
All photos In the photo: Marble in the finishing of the floor and steps for the stairs
The flooring for this staircase hall and steps is natural marble, which looks great in any luxury interior in a classic or neoclassical style.
Finishing the floor in the corridor and hallway with marble in coffee tones
All photos In the photo: Finishing the floor in the corridor with marble
The beige interior of this corridor with chocolate and golden accents will appeal to many. For the design of the floor and part of the walls, marble was used here in two shades - milky coffee and dark brown.
Kitchen island design with white marble countertop
All photos In the photo: Interior design project for a kitchen with a marble floor in the Fili Grad residential complex.
The marble floor in this room is made of black and white marble. The countertop is decorated with white marble with small gray veins. The monochrome of the interior surprisingly closely matches the marble itself and its color scheme.
Marble flooring and walls in a white bathroom
All photos In the photo: Interior design of a bathroom with marble finishing
The decoration of this bathroom is based on white marble. An option with large cocoa-colored veins was chosen for the floor, and small and not too noticeable for the walls.
Luxurious kitchen with splashback and marble floor
All photos In the photo: Kitchen interior with marble floor
Finishing the floor in the kitchen with natural marble is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also very practical. This solution will allow you to enjoy luxury comfort for many years, because marble is a very durable material.
Marble floor design for a sunny beach kitchen
All photos In the photo: Marble in kitchen floor design
In this kitchen interior, marble is such an important element in the design that it can be called the main one. The design of the countertops and tables, floors and walls is made of marble of various shades. In the living room in the background we see the same picture.
Design with geometric patterns for marble flooring in the living room
All photos In the photo: Finishing the floor in the living room with marble of different colors
The interior of this living room is truly unique. Particularly noteworthy is the floor, which is designed with ornaments that create different versions of marble. Here, marble of truffle, chocolate, sand and wheat shades is used in one interior!
Art Deco bathroom with chocolate and white marble
All photos In the photo: Interior design of a bathroom in the Avenue residential complex
In this small bathroom, the bowl stands on a podium, the steps of which, like the walls and floor, are decorated with natural marble. It uses an amazing chocolate-colored marble with white veins, which is ideal for a premium bathroom interior.
Bright bathroom interior with walls and floors decorated with snow-white marble
All photos In the photo: Interior design of a bathroom in the Aivazovsky residential complex
The walls and floor of this stylish bathroom are decorated with white marble. This particular version of marble is universal for professional interiors and decoration in the kitchen, living room, dining room and bathroom. It always looks luxurious and, thanks to its unique patterns with torn lines, is ideal for both laconic and complex interior design styles.
The advantage of glow-in-the-dark stones
Such decor today attracts site owners for many reasons.
- The backlit decor looks amazing at night.
- Helps navigate space at night.
- Glowing stones for landscape design serve as an additional source of light.
- This is very exotic, it is not found in every yard, which allows you to make your site unique.
Making it yourself will not take much effort and time. And the result will please the owner of the site.
Glowing Stone Decor Ideas
The design of a site using luminous stones is limited only by the designer’s imagination.
Fluorite storage and care
Fluorite has many advantages. And it seems that he has great strength. But only you can protect him. Fluorite jewelry must be handled with care to avoid scratches and abrasions on the edges. They must be protected from proximity to harder minerals, metals and glasses, as well as from impacts.
If dropped, it may break. It is better to store it separately from other jewelry and in a soft case. The stone is sensitive to temperature fluctuations; temperatures below five degrees and above forty Celsius are contraindicated.
To clean a product with fluorite, simply wipe it with a damp cloth or rinse it under running water. When cleaning, you should not use various cleaning agents, since fluorite is a very active stone and can enter into a chemical reaction with them.
Technology for making glowing stones
We make luminous stones with our own hands. To evenly apply the coloring composition to small and medium-sized cobblestones, it is better to use a fill. The coloring composition is diluted in a special container. You need to prepare a place for drying in advance. The stones should not be placed on the site until completely dry. Dust particles will be absorbed into the surface and dry out. This will reduce the glow effect. It will be impossible to wash away dust and dirt.
The brush is used to paint large decorative details: boulders, cobblestones, tiles, borders. This is a more accurate way of applying the composition. You can use a regular brush to paint windows.
A spray can is used less frequently. It is impossible to paint a mass of pebbles or crumbs with it. The coloring will be uneven and complex. The can is suitable for point distribution of the coloring composition on a flat surface. It can also be used to apply an additional layer to small stones after pouring and drying.
Fluorescence effect
Fluorescence is the optical effect of precious stones, which is expressed in their special glow. This happens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light or heating.
Why do stones glow?
Fluorescence is a visible reflection of chemical processes taking place inside a substance. Under the influence of an external energy source: light or thermal waves, the electrons of atoms transition to a different energy level. Which in turn leads to changes in light parameters.
When was the glow of stones first discovered?
The phenomenon was discovered by the English physicist D. G. Stokes while studying fluorite in 1852. The name is suffixed with “essence,” which is Latin for “weak action.” Subsequently, the term began to be used in relation to gems, to describe their specific characteristics.
What are the types?
According to the degree of intensity, fluorescence can be of several types:
- Zero;
- Weakened;
- Moderate;
- Strong.
from left to right 4 types of fluorescence
DIY installation of glowing stones
blue glowing stones
green glowing stones
glowing stones
When the decor is dry from the paint, you can start decorating. The pebbles are scattered chaotically, there are no questions about this. Large boulders should be pressed into the soil. Over time, it will settle, and the stones, glowing in the dark, will look natural.
The crumbs are scattered over the area. On laid paving slabs, small pebbles will fall into the cracks. This will take the shape of the tile frame and provide additional lighting. Large types of decor are laid out along the flowerbed, or around it. It depends on the shape of the flower bed. It is worth immediately calculating the length and number of cobblestones needed. Rarely laid out boulders will not look aesthetically pleasing. It would be better to lay them out tightly, but only in one place.
Small crumbs are not placed on the flowerbed itself: when raked, it will mix with the soil and will not be visible. Also, coloring compounds will not benefit the soil.
Physico-chemical properties of fluorite
Chemical formula – CaF2.
Crystal color
– colorless, pink, yellow, blue, green of all shades, violet. The coloring is often uneven; specimens are spotted and striped. Beautiful shades of fluorite are given by admixtures of chlorine, iron, as well as thorium, uranium and other rare earth elements.
Hardness – 4 on the Mohs scale. Density – 3.2 g/cm3. The fracture is stepwise. The luster of the stone is glassy. It can be transparent or translucent.
The stone has a unique property - its crystals glow in the dark...
Bright, clear and multi-colored, fluorites can sometimes be confused with other crystals, especially fluorites with violet hues, which are similar to amethyst. Depending on the color, fluorite can be similar to topaz and even ruby or sapphire. But distinguishing it from other minerals will not be difficult, since fluorite can be easily scratched by glass.
Varieties of fluorite are determined depending on the chemical composition and color of the stone:
1. Antozonite
(rich and deep purple color)
2. Chlorophane
(emerald),
3. Ratovkite
(almost lilac or pinkish)
4. Yttrofluorite
(yellow shades)
The stone is often polychrome (multi-colored).
One of the unique properties of fluorite is luminescence. It was thanks to this stone that this phenomenon was identified and studied. Imagine your earrings, rings and beads glowing in the dark. By the way, glowing in the dark after exposure to heat or ultraviolet light is another property by which fluorite can be distinguished from other stones.
Processing and use
Fluorite does not always end up on the jeweler's table. It is used in its raw form as part of fluorspar to produce hydrofluoric acid, used in the aluminum industry. Feldspar is also needed to produce hydrogen fluoride. Lenses for night vision devices are made from fluorite.
But today the fashion for decorative crafts and jewelry made from fluorite is returning. Beads, bracelets, inserts in rings and earrings, pendants, and various souvenirs appear on store shelves. After all, you know that designers, striving for unusualness, today use fabrics that shimmer in various color shades, including shimmer fabrics, photochromic fabrics, as well as a variety of reflective and luminous elements that adorn the outfits of fashionistas.
Gradient on fabric, and therefore in clothing, is another fashion trend. And if so, then the gem should take its rightful place in your outfits and in your jewelry box. The price of fluorite will allow you to do this. The stone is often processed in the form of cabochons.
What is a fluorescent mineral?
All minerals have the ability to reflect light. This is what makes them visible to the human eye. Some minerals have an interesting physical property known as "fluorescence."
These substances have the ability to temporarily absorb small amounts of light and instantly release it at a different wavelength. This change in wavelength causes a temporary change in the color of the mineral.
The color changes of fluorescent minerals are most impressive when they are illuminated in the dark with ultraviolet light (invisible to humans).
More about fluorescence
Fluorescence in minerals occurs when a sample is illuminated with a specific wavelength of light. Ultraviolet (UV) light, X-rays, and cathode rays are typical types of light that cause fluorescence.
These types of light have the ability to excite sensitive electrons in the atomic structure of a mineral. The excited electrons temporarily jump to a higher orbit within the mineral's atomic structure.
When these electrons return to their original orbit, a small amount of energy is released in the form of light. This process of releasing light is known as fluorescence.
The wavelength of light released from a fluorescent mineral is often noticeably different from the wavelength of incident light. This leads to a noticeable change in the color of the mineral. The glow continues as long as the mineral is illuminated by light of the appropriate wavelength.
How many minerals glow under UV light?
Most minerals do not have noticeable fluorescence. Only about 15% of minerals have a glow that people can see, and other examples of these minerals will not glow. Fluorescence usually occurs when certain impurities known as "activators" are present in a mineral.
These activators are usually metal cations such as tungsten, molybdenum, lead, boron, titanium, manganese, uranium and chromium. Rare earth elements such as europium, terbium, dysprosium and yttrium are known to contribute to the fluorescence phenomenon. The glow of minerals can also be caused by structural defects in the crystals or organic impurities.
Some impurities quench fluorescence. If iron or copper is present as impurities, they can reduce or eliminate fluorescence. In addition, if the mineral activator is present in large quantities, it may reduce the fluorescence effect.
Most minerals glow in one color. Other minerals have multiple fluorescent colors. Calcite is known to glow in red, blue, white, pink, green and orange.
Some minerals exhibit multiple colors of fluorescence in a single sample. These may be banded minerals that exhibit several stages of growth from initial solutions with varying compositions. Many minerals fluoresce one color under short-wave UV light and a different color under long-wave UV light.
Fluorite: the original "fluorescent mineral"
One of the first people to observe fluorescence in minerals was George Gabriel Stokes in 1852. He noted fluorite's ability to produce a blue glow when illuminated with invisible light "beyond the violet end of the spectrum."
He called this phenomenon "fluorescence." This definition is widely accepted in the fields of mineralogy, gemology, biology, optics, commercial lighting and many other fields.
Most fluorite samples have fairly strong fluorescence. An observer can take them outside, hold them in sunlight, then move them into the shade and see the color of the mineral change. Only a few minerals have this level of fluorescence.
Fluorite typically glows blue-violet under short and long wavelength light. Some samples are known to accumulate cream or white color, but many do not fluoresce. It is assumed that the glow in fluorite is due to the presence of yttrium, europium, samarium or organic material as activators.
Fluorescent geodes?
You may be surprised to learn that geodes (geological formations) have been found with fluorescent minerals inside. Some of the geodes discovered near the community of Dugway, Utah, are filled with chalcedony, which produces a lime-green fluorescence caused by the presence of traces of uranium.
These geodes are amazing for another reason. They formed several million years ago in archaeolite gas pockets. Then, about 20,000 years ago, they were destroyed by wave action along the shoreline of a glacial lake and transported several miles to where they settled in lake sediments. Today, people excavate these geodes and add them to geodetic and fluorescent mineral collections.
Price
Fluorite is an inexpensive mineral, so anyone can buy it. Examples of prices in Russian online stores:
- bead (8 mm) - 20 rub. ;
- tumbling (2 cm) - 160 rub. ;
- earrings (brass) - 230 rub. ;
- cabochon (26 x 22 x 11 mm) - 270 rub. ;
- crystal (8 cm) - 708 rub. ;
- intergrowth of crystals - 840 rub. ;
- necklace— RUB 1,163. ;
- rosary (30 grains, d=10 mm) - 1,220 rub. ;
- ball (4.5 cm) - RUB 2,316. ;
- figurine “Owl” (15 cm) — RUB 13,000.
How to wear jewelry
The color richness, strong or moderate shine of the stone allows you to choose accessories for ladies of any age and for any occasion.
Men's line: inserts of cufflinks, tie clips, rings. They look non-trivial and solid.
Magicians say that the most powerful “helpers” are a ring, a ring on the ring finger, and earrings. Gold or silver.
The abundance of the stone (especially in beads or bracelets) requires caution: fluorite is able to take the initiative, making a person only a performer.
Benefits for the body
Fluorite stone, according to lithotherapists, can relieve a person from a variety of ailments:
- treats headaches;
- actively fights diseases of the nervous system;
- helps get rid of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- can effectively cope with stress, increases resilience in stressful situations;
- gives calm and harmony, reduces excitability;
- fluorite will improve the immunity of its owner;
- will have a beneficial effect in stressful situations;
- will help strengthen joints;
- fluorite is widely used to treat sclerosis and epilepsy;
- eliminates bad breath because it has a positive effect on bones and teeth;
- it perfectly helps to cope with the consequences of a stroke;
- has a beneficial effect on vision;
- when massaging the face with mineral balls (fluorite ball), facial rejuvenation procedures are performed, strengthening and toning the facial skin;
- the stone can cleanse the body of toxins;
- fluorite promotes tissue regeneration.
