Preparing for the School Year

August is coming to an end. In just a few weeks summer will be over and children all over the nation will be heading back-to-school. Unfortunately, as all parents know, with new school years often comes new organization challenges. To help you out, we’ve put together a few tips to get you ready and organized!

Get Organized

1. Ease Into It. Drastic changes can be tough, especially for young children. When preparing for a new school year, it’s a good idea to ease into it. Take the last two weeks of summer to gradually reintroduce school year routines such as bedtimes, wake up times, and eating habits.

2. Calendar. Before the school year begins, do yourself a favor and create a central calendar. No matter the number of children you have going back-to-school, a large central calendar, with plenty of room to write, will help calm the chaos of the new school year and keep you and your family organized.

3. Clothes. Kids seem to never stop growing! Fortunately, plenty of stores have back-to-school sales. Get ahead of school shopping by being prepared with a list of exactly what you need. Once those new school year clothes are bought,  organize the summer clothes in your home by storing them in an ottoman or a storage bed.

4. Papers. Oftentimes schools will require documentation including last year’s report cards, proof of medical check ups, or even immunization shots in order for your child to start the school year. Ensure your child is prepared by calling the school or visiting the website to learn what they require before the year starts. Once you’ve obtained the correct information, make a list of what you’ll need documents you’ll need and post it somewhere in your home where you’ll see it often, such as the fridge.

5. Practice Run. A day or two before the first day of school, try a practice run. Wake up your kids when they’ll need to get up during the school. Prepare yourself for work while helping prepare your children for school. Doing this will make sure you and your child are organized and ready for the first day of school!

Back-to-school is just around the corner and it’s important to be prepared. Counteract the chaos of back-to-school with our back-to-school tips for organization! And when it comes time to organize your home and buy back-to-school furniture, visit Home Decor Outlets here: http://bit.ly/Vq0Do7

August Deals and Factory Surplus

Due to factory surplus we have a surplus of thousands of new items from top manufacturers!

4 Tips to Protect Your Furniture During a Move

Photo by Vermont Timber

Moving can be stressful and the last thing anyone wants is to damage furniture and other home decor in the process. Before you start moving your furniture from your old home to a new one, there a few precautions you should take to decrease the risk of damage. Below we have listed a few furniture moving tips.

1. Disassemble if possible - Some pieces can be taken apart into smaller items, making it easier to handle and less bulky to move. However, you have to be expertly organized and make sure to keep all of the parts together, so that you can put it back together again. 
2. Wrap it up - Carefully wrap your furniture with plastic or bubble wrap and/or disposable moving pads. Put extra layers on fragile items. Depending on how long it will be packed up, wood furniture doesn't preserve well with plastic wrap, so protect it with the pads instead. 
3. Mark fragile - When packing up smaller fragile decor and items, mark them as fragile. That way, extra care will be taken when moving and arranging them during your move.
4. Secure - Be sure to tie down heavy items and furniture in your moving truck to prevent them from shifting and toppling during transit. You can use bungee cords or straps to secure them.

Preparing and protecting your furniture during a move can help limit stress and costs that can result from the damage. If you would like more information on our furniture protection plan or would like one of our items delivered to your home, visit our site or a store near you! 

Save Space without Sacrificing Style

Keeping your home clutter free can be a daunting task, nearly impossible especially if you live in a smaller space or have children. Luckily, it isn't impossible and can be accomplished with some neat tricks and furniture pieces that are perfect for concealing items for storage. Below we have some accessories that you can use in your home to help save space and organize. 

Media Chest

Hanging storage unit

Storage ottoman

Kitchen cart

Visit our online inventory to view more space-saving furniture accessories! 

How to Upgrade Your Furniture

1. Make a Plan
It happens to everyone at some point. You come home from work, look around your home, and realize that your furniture has lost its luster. Sometimes furniture wears down, sometimes you just get bored of seeing the same colors and designs. Either way, when you come to the decision to replace your furniture it is a good idea to make a plan of attack. Try and visualize a central theme (or set) for your new replacement furniture to ensure your home has a cohesive style and look. You don't want to mismatch everything if it can be easily avoided!

2. Choose Timeline
Timing is everything. If you have the budget to grab each new piece of furniture at the same time, you can make the transition in a single weekend. If you wish to purchase each piece individually, make a payment plan to do so, and slowly replace each item as you grab the new pieces of furniture. It may take a few months to make this happen, but just keep your goal in mind!

3. Choose Your Furniture
This part is easy- everyone loves furniture shopping. You can try out new beds, chairs, living room sets, etc all day long and not get tired of it! But you should also focus on what items fit your budget, which items will go well together, and even which colors will best suit your needs. Don't rush it, but be sure to take advantage of anypromotions you find!

Investing in the Right Mattress

Whether you are replacing the old mattress, or just want to sleep better, there are a few things to remember when looking for a new mattress. Read on for the top three tips to grabbing the perfect mattress for you!

1. Do Some Research
Decide which size mattress you need, how much you are willing to spend, and that type of mattress you are considering. When going to look at mattresses, it's always better to have something in mind so that you know what to expect, how much to spend, and what you can get with your particular budget. This can include knowing if you want Tempur-Pedic, sleep number, memory foam, firm vs hard, etc.

2. Start Higher
You spend a good portion of your life sleeping, don't ignore what you are sleeping on! This is one purchase you do not want to err on the side of spending too little. To sleep, you need to be comfortable, so be sure to lay on each mattress for 30 seconds to a minute before moving on.

3. Take Advantage of Great Deals
Once you find your perfect mattress, ask if there are any deals or warranties that might sweeten the pot. Mattresses are an investment, and you want to get as much out of your money as possible. Don't be afraid to haggle a little, and don't be afraid to ask more questions!

July Deals: Contemporary Products at Retro Prices