The Pros and Cons of Bunk Beds

Having a room for each person is nice, but when it comes to families with more than 3 children that reality is far too often not an option. Housing and rent prices rise and fluctuate with the nation’s economy, so having less rooms than people is a common occurrence. If you’re looking to maximize space, then bunk beds are the perfect solution. Unfortunately though, bunk beds can be dangerous if not properly used. Here are some pros and cons to help you choose whether bunk beds are a good investment for your family.

Space Saving

A twin bed is just over six feet long and three and a quarter feet wide. This means that by using bunk beds you will save around 20 square feet of space. And as anyone knows, the more room growing children have, the better. The extra space can be used for activities, toy storage, and dressers as well. Some bunk beds also come with a trundle option that will allow you to store even more things than a traditional bed frame.

Enjoyment

For whatever reason, bunk beds are fun for all ages. When young children are finally old enough to have the top bunk (recommended 6 years+), it can be an experience they’ll treasure forever. They are suddenly elevated to a point they’ve never been before, but feel safe knowing they have a rail to protect them from falling. The beds also make it easy to make forts that children can entertain in themselves for hours. For college kids who suddenly realize they’d like a little more space in their freshmen dorms, bunk beds can save the day.

Safety

According to a Nationwide Children’s survey, nearly three-quarters of injuries from bunk beds occur to children younger than 10 years old. Surprisingly though, there was also a spike in injuries of those aged 18-21, as they are commonly used in college dorms and military facilities. One of the major ways to prevent injuries is to install railings. The suggested height for railings is at least five inches above the mattress as this will prevent any small child from falling.

No matter what age, bunk beds can be a fun and practical experience if properly assembled and used. To purchase the bunk beds pictured in this article and more, visit our showroom.

5 Things to Make Your Dining Room Complete

Dining rooms have different uses from house to house, but one thing is for sure - it’s a place to come together. Whether you eat there every night, or only with guests during the holidays, your dining room should feel complete. By complete, we mean not just a table and some chairs. Breathe some life into your dining room with furnishings that show off your style.

To get you started putting together the perfect dining room, here are some things you’ll need:

1. Console Table - Yes, you need at least two tables in your dining room. When you have enough guests to fill the table, you’re most likely going to need more space for food, condiments, or extra beverages. Also, when you’re not using it for extra food space, they make a great place to store all that expensive china that you only use twice a year.   
   
   
2. Plants - You don’t have to go all out and have your dining room more green than your garden, but you’d be surprised how one plant can brighten up a whole room. If you’re tight on space or don’t trust yourself to take care of a plant, then you can always get a fake ficus tree that everyone will enjoy. (Just don’t forget to dust it off before guests come over.)
   
   
   
3. Vase - Whether you’re a flower lover or not, there’s a chance someone will buy you flowers at some point. You can also use the vase for things besides flowers too, like potpourri or decorative branches. The vase will create a centerpiece for the table and can also be used as a conversation starter.
   
   
4. Stemware - Extra glasses in the dining room will save you a trip to the kitchen when you’re enjoying a meal. They may also come in handy if you come back to the dining room for dessert and want more to drink. The glasses will also save your guests some time not having to look through each of your cabinets to find one.  
   
5. Table Linens - A table cloth might not be an everyday dining room accessory, but when you have guests over it will certainly make the dinner feel fancier. To make it even classier, grab some place mats and linen napkins while you’re at it.

If you’re looking to stock your dining room with the items mentioned above, check out our showroom, and turn your dining room into a place for you and your guests to enjoy.

5 Tips For Decorating Your New Home

Moving into a new home is one of the biggest steps in life you will take. Sure, renting can seem like it’s the same thing, but with a new home, you are now responsible for every leak, peeling paint chip and broken appliance. If home is really where your heart is, then the decor of your house should reflect your soul and lifestyle in the best ways possible. To start off your journey let us help you with these 5 tips:

1. Set a budget -  Unless you’re a millionaire, there’s a good chance that you currently live  on a budget already. Overspending on your furniture can lead you to having the nicest rooms on the block, with the least amount of food in the fridge. On the other hand, if you have enough money consulting with an interior designer is a sure-fire way to know you’re staying within a planned budget while receiving design help.
   
2. Figure out your style - Don’t buy the first piece of furniture you see; look around to see if there are other options that fit your lifestyle even better. If you’re moving without any furniture, it’s best to get the big stuff, like couches and chairs, first. Even if you don’t get to decorating the walls, having the larger items will help your empty house feel more put together.
   
3. Start in the bedroom - This is the first thing you see when you get up in and the last thing you see before you fall asleep. You’re most likely to spend more time in your bedroom than any other room, so making sure it is properly furnished is important. You don’t have to go all out and get an 8-piece bed set, but matching a nightstand color to the dresser can go a long way toward defining your style.
   
4. Paint carefully - Your room may have been your favorite color growing up, but more than likely it’s not one you would want in a house now. Bold colors will certainly bring any room to life, but they  may quickly become something that you regret seeing everyday. Consult a local hardware or paint store for the best home colors and take some samples home to see what they will look like dried on your wall.
   
5. Buy in stages - Unless you have no budget constraints,  you most likely won’t be able to furnish your whole home the first week after you move in. Buy furniture and appliances at different times so that you’ll still be able to pay all of your bills (especially for first time owners now owing property taxes.) If you can’t afford to furnish every room at once, buy things for the rooms you’ll spend the most time in- the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.
   

Hopefully these tips will help you during your transition and furnishing of your new home. You can find most of the items mentioned above such as beds, couches and chairs in our showroom now.

Three Types Of Lighting For Each Room

Lighting fixtures come in many shapes and sizes. Some look good, and some look downright crazy. But, lighting is crucial - it sets the mood of the room and can even help you concentrate better. The right light can keep you awake, or make you want to fall asleep. Because of this, we have three types of lighting: Ambient, task, and accent. Each have their own purpose or function in our everyday lives, but do you know how to properly utilize each?

Ambient

This lighting is also called general lighting, and is the overhead lighting of the room. Whether it is a chandelier or a recessed lighting fixture, this light generally provides the overall illumination of the room. Ambient lighting is the most fundamental and functional lighting of the three. Although ambient lighting is typically used as the primary source of light for a room, installing a dimmer switch can help to instantly change the room’s mood from focused to relaxed and romantic.  

Task

The name of this lighting type speaks for itself. Task lighting is specifically used to help you perform tasks. Unlike ambient lighting, task lighting is much smaller and designed to only illuminate certain things. By having a smaller light, task lighting eliminates the glares that can be produced by ambient overhead fixtures. Task lighting fixtures are smaller and are mounted on desks, dressers or under cabinets. Task lighting is commonly used for reading, working on hobbies, and studying.

Accent

Although this lighting is not the most useful for us, it helps to spotlight things, and bring new life to an object or piece. Accent lighting helps to guide your eyes to a specific area or object. They are commonly used to spotlight paintings, plants or sculptures that would otherwise get lost in your vision of the room. These lights provide much less lighting in terms of area, but the intensity of the lights needs to be greater than any others to showcase what is being lit.

Now that you know the different styles of lighting, let us know in the comments section below which is your favorite! You can also find multiple styles of accent and task lighting fixtures in our showroom as well, including the two pictured above.