Over thousands of years of human history, we have effectively become an indoor species. Particularly for those of us trapped in the cubicle life, often the only times we regularly step foot outside is for our daily work commute or to run errands. In 2001, a survey sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that, on average, Americans spend 87% of their time indoors and 6% in an enclosed vehicle.

A number of scientific studies emphasize that reveling in the great outdoors promotes human health. Spending time in natural environments has been linked to lower stress levels, improved working memory and feeling more alive, among other positive attributes.

In an effort to combat our indoor epidemic and reap these health benefits, a growing number of people worldwide have turned to stargazing indoors in their own Starscapes F/X® Cosmic Environment Simulator™.

David Yaden, a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center says "In the natural setting, people are more relaxed and less stressed." His recently published study was about the inspiration and awe of the perceptual vastness experienced by astronauts in space.

• Improves the healthcare experience of patients and they recover quicker. Professor Roger Ulrich study

Prof. Roger Ulrich’s research has quantified the health benefits of viewing nature. Patients with images of nature in their rooms recovered more quickly than those with no images. In an extensive research study, Ulrich and colleagues delineated numerous strategies for improving the healthcare experience for patients and staff. "…Investigators have consistently reported that stress-reducing or restorative benefits of simply viewing nature are manifested as a constellation of positive emotional and physiological changes." The sky is our largest, most universal, and most globally available experience of nature.

The paints we use, and the method we use are proprietary, and we guard our trade secrets with vigilance. Otherwise, we would be out of business. The methods and materials used are part of a process of perfection and a journey. All STARSCAPES® Licensed Artists are under contract never to reveal the secrets behind the illusion. We hope you understand the reasoning behind it, but sorry, no, you can't watch.

Usually there is no need at all to remove any of your furniture as long as there is enough room to move a stepladder around. No room preparation is necessary since the painting process is not messy at all. We do ask that you temporarily remove any valuables and any breakable items from the room before the job.

No, it certainly is not the same paint we use. As noted above, the paint I use is mixed and used exclusively by STARSCAPES® F/X Artists. The professional grade phosphorescent pigments used in my paints glows at least 10 times brighter and longer than mass produced paints you will find sold at some retail stores. For this reason it is no wonder why glow paint sold at some retail stores does not mention glow time or brightness! With exclusive STARSCAPES® paints your mural will glow all night long and is brightest in the first few hours. As the saying goes " you get what you pay for". With your STARSCAPES® F/X painting, not only are you getting our exclusive super glowing paint, you are also getting the artistry, expertise and the STARSCAPES® name behind it!

No! Your STARSCAPES® F/X painting is custom-painted, signed and dated by me... (a licensed STARSCAPES® Professional Artist-Illusionist). I use rare earth phosphorescent paint that is mixed especially for me.

Prices depend on application and size and all projects are quoted individually as no two jobs are the same. Please call me or email me to set up a free, in home demonstration. I'll get all the information I need to give you an accurate estimate. I'm sure you'll be delighted.

Our Super-3 Creation Paint™ glows for up to an hour and is brightest in the first 15 minutes. It slowly fades as the star gazer falls asleep. Great for young children's rooms. As the stars dim, it makes their little eyes slam shut so they can get some sleep. Parents like that benefit! The Super-10 Creation Paint glows all night and is brightest in the first couple of hours.

The darker, the better really. A simple pull down shade for a window, or closing the door to the hallway really provides the best possible effect.

Well, all that is needed is to have the lights on for 15 minutes. Even the glow of a TV will suffice, and once the lights are turned out you will see the night sky above you. After a few minutes as your eyes become accustomed to the dark, the effect truly comes into full effect.

There is no need to remove the light. When the room is dark, the lamp will recede and not be noticed in front of the stars. The same with ceiling fans, they are no obstacle to the process. When the fan is on, it merely feels like a cool breeze coming from the starry night sky.

I don't use gallons of paint and a roller to paint the ceiling. The only paint used is the rare earth paint used to paint the stars. The method is proprietary, so we can't talk about the process, but we can tell you that the paint is water-based, leaves no lasting odor, no clean up, and will last for years, at least over 25.

Since most ceiling paints take up to 3 months to cure, we will not paint your ceiling for at least that time. Due to some techniques, waiting the 3 months ensures that it will come out the best.

We can do any. Flat, popcorn, acoustic, vaulted and even beamed ceilings.

Well, you have to really see it to get the real effect, and we can give you an idea of the effect by scheduling a free in-home demonstration. But roughly, the illusion gives you the effect of your roof being taken completely off, and you see the view as if your house was high up in the mountains where the sky is crystal clear. A dark, rich sky full of thousands of stars is revealed. And there is a real 3-D effect. Many clients tell me they can see the stars twinkling when looking at the ceiling for a while. Many tell me it's actually much better than the real sky, especially if you live near a city of any size.