6 Tips For Decorating Your First Home

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After all of the hours of paperwork for buying or leasing your new home, and all of your current furniture is moved in, what do you do next? Moving into your first home or apartment can be scary. It’s one of the biggest and most expensive transitions you will make in your life. The move will allow you to embrace your own style, or force you to get one. To help combat these fears, or just spark some ideas, we’ve put together a list of things you should and shouldn’t be doing upon getting your own new space.

1. Set a Budget - This can be one of the hardest things to do when you buy a home.. Because it feels empty you instantly want to fill it with anything and everything. It may seem empty now, but rest assured that there will come a day when you have too many things. Start with the essentials you’ll need like couches, chairs and tables. Skip out on the things you’ll only use seasonally, or not that often, like high-end mixing bowls and blenders.
2. Get the Basics First - To get started, try making a list of all the things you find essential. Like we said when discussing the budget, you’ll want to get the things you’ll be using daily, like couches and tables. You’ll also need to remember the smaller things like utensils and dishware. Because these things can sometimes be costly, it’s better to get them out of the way early so you’re not forced to eat with plastic silverware while you watch your 55” 3D television on the floor.
   
3. Don’t Invest in Expensive Things - Sure, your couch will cost a lot more than your toaster, but it doesn’t make sense to buy high end pieces before you’ve truly found your style. Like the weather, your style and taste in things will change rapidly, so wait until you’ve gotten all the essentials before buying that new art piece.
   
4. Sketch Floor Plans - Because your space is limited, you must use it wisely. You may want that large table with six chairs, but in reality your space probably works best with a table with four chairs. Sketching your floor plans will also expedite the moving process, allowing you to know exactly where to put things.
   
5. Measure Everything - This tip will last you from your first home to your last. Everything must be measured, and then measured again. When you try and eye things up, chances are it’s either going to be too big or too small. This will also help you sketch the floor plan, and know how large or small of furniture you should be looking for. For areas that tend to be smaller, like the bathroom, this is most essential. You don’t want a sink that is so big it is touching your toilet.   
   
6. Don’t Forget About the Walls - This can be one of the hardest parts of decorating a new space. Because you spend so much time thinking about the most essential things like beds and couches, you tend to forget about the blank space that covers your wall. If you’ve been a poster fan all your life, try framing them to add an adult flair. Also try investing in mirrors, for their traditional use and as a piece of art.   

Hopefully you have found these tips helpful in your journey to creating a place of your own. To find some of the essentials, like beds, couches and mirrors, visit our website or find a showroom near you!

How to Decorate with a Folding Screen

The folding screen’s origin dates back many years in Asian history, and can be first seen in China and Japan. The original uses of the screens were to block drafts coming from windows, a place to change behind, and even a background for dancers. Original screens were not designed to be as mobile as the ones we see today, and were made out of heavy wood and linen with hand painted designs. Now folding screens have many different styles and uses, some of them even being very transparent and not intended for their original purpose.

In the Bedroom

There are many uses for screens, but one of the most popular popping up now is the use of a screen as a headboard. If you have a bed that uses steel frames, sliding the screen behind the bed instantly transforms the bed. The best part about this, though, is how much it can be reused. Because your bed lasts much longer than your sheets and blanket, you can repaint your wooden screen to match your room’s style.

In the Living Room

One of the most popular uses is still separating rooms or spaces. If you have empty corners, screens can instantly fill that void and add to the room’s style. You can also match the screen’s look to the decor of the rest of the room, with metal or painted styles. Another use in the living is separating a smaller area for a particular use, such as for reading or a space to talk one on one with others.

For the Art  

You may have seen this tactic when walking through a city, but try using a screen to show off your favorite or personal pieces. You can stack photos vertically, or just hang one or two. Because screens are so movable now, you can even move your art from room to room throughout your house. As the seasons change, you can also update your art and stay in style.

For a selection of folding screens to style your own living space, visit a showroom in your area or shop online now.  

7 Decorating Tips to Transform a Room In a Day

For most of us, decorating our houses, rooms, and apartments is not our full-time job. After a long work week it can be hard to find the time and effort needed to keep up with the decorating trends and latest styles. To combat that, we put together a list of easy changes you can make to various rooms in as little as a couple minutes, to at most a couple hours. The tips will not change the whole room, but bring in a little spunk and flair for a fresh feel.

1. Hang an Interior Curtain - Curtains are great for keeping out light, but they can also be used as fashionable way to hide a space or separate a room. Try hanging a curtain over a glass door, or to separate rooms like the kitchen and dining area.
   
2. Mix and Match Bedding - Bring out your inner kindergarten self make some bold choices with your bedding. We’re not suggesting mixing stripes and polka dots together, but a small investment in throw pillows that change the color scheme will do wonders.
   
3. Antique a Room - For the class clowns, we don’t mean covering it in water and flour - sorry. Hit up an antique shop and find some cool things that all work well together to instantly change a room. Keep it to one room though, like the bathroom, to really give it its own unique feel compared to rest of your space.  
   
4. Paint Wooden Furniture - For wood furniture that’s on it’s last leg, figuratively not literally, spruce it up by painting it. Turning a set of wood chairs white will change a room’s feel instantly.  
5. Wallpaper Shades - Those white shades have been needing some color for years, and now you have a reason to change them. This can instantly change a room with the right choice in wallpaper. You can add spunk with a statement color, or class with a classic print.
   
6. Give a Room an Accent Color - If you have a room that has a duller vibe, simply update it with a few simple colored pieces. Pick a brighter or contrasting color that is sure to stand out from the rest of the room. This can be as simple as a few throw pillows and a bed runner that brighten up the room.
   
7. Mix and Match Chairs -  So much of our lives has order, so break the decorating laws and mix and match chairs at a table. You can get sets of chairs, or just simply have every chair different. This will for sure make for a conversation every time a new guest comes over.
   

How to Pick the Right Mattress

Finding the right mattress for you should not be easy. The days of going to the store, sitting on all of them and picking which feels best are behind us, and for many reasons. We know the effects of sleeping on the wrong type, and how it can ruin your day to day life. So why do we still not take this purchase as serious as buying a car? For what it’s worth, the average mattress lasts anywhere between 5-10 years, and the average car lasts around 11.  You will spend more time sleeping on your mattress than you will in your car, unless your daily commute lasts between 6-9 hours that is.

Plan a Budget

Whether you’ve been saving for months, or have just suddenly come to deciding that it’s time to upgrade you need to set an amount that you feel comfortable spending. Purchasing a new mattress will not be cheap, and unless you have an unlimited budget, the amount of money designated will limit your selection. Once you have you budget set, you can now eliminate any mattresses above that range, and totally block them out of consideration. You also don’t want to immediately go searching for the mattress that just fits in your budget, as like cars, sometimes the cheaper one is a better selection for your needs.

Research

The research process will not be easy, but that once your mattress has arrived to your home it will all be worth it. There are a few factors you must consider when picking the type of mattress that works best for you.

The first factor being memory foam versus traditional box spring. Memory foam distributes pressure evenly across the body, forming to every inch of your body. Although this may be great for some, it causes others to become warmer throughout the night as compared to traditional beds.

If you’re having trouble deciding between you and your partner, then a Sleep Number bed might be right for you. From your smartphone you will be able to adjust inflatable compartments in the bed that will make it softer or firmer based on your wants.

The last factor for those searching for traditional mattresses is the firm vs plush factor. A firmer mattress will provide the support that those with back pains will appreciate. A softer mattress provides more comfort and and pressure point relief. The softer mattress will not be good for those with back pain as well. To get the best perspective on how firm or soft you would like a bed, it’s recommended you at least lay how you would sleeping on a mattress for 20 minutes.

To find a mattress that will fit your needs, visit our showroom online or find a store located near you today.

5 Alternate Uses for a Coat Rack

Coat racks are great for hanging all of your jackets if closet space is limited, but what happens to them when you have enough room in the closet? Whether you have a stand up rack (pictured above), or one that is attached directly to the wall, we have come up with alternate uses that will hopefully help you become better organized.

1. Scarves - Instead of trying to hang multiple of them up on hangers in the closet, or take up space with them stuffed in your dresser, simply tie them around the coat rack hooks. This will make them much more accessible and easier to find the one you’re looking for. Also hanging them up on the coat rack will keep them in better shape and bring more color into the room.
   
2. Belts - Like scarves, belts seem to get lost in the mix a lot. They aren’t easy to store most places, so simply hang up the buckle directly on the hook. Making a habit of this will eliminate you losing them in the laundry basket when you forget to take them out of your pants. Also, because they are so thin and don’t take up much room you can throw other things on top of the belts for even more use out of the coat rack.
   
3. Jewelry - Jewelry boxes are nice, but it seems that long necklaces always get tangled with each other. Simply hang them on the hooks to eliminate time looking for each one. It also makes a great way to organize them by specific metals or colors so they’re even more accessible. Using the wall coat racks works is best for jewelry, but a stand up will still hold them.
   
4. Purses - It seems like we always misplace our most important items, keys, wallets, TV remotes, and of course, purses. Whether you have one, or ten, hanging them on a coat rack will make sure you never have to search to find it again. This will also free up more storage space wherever you were previously storing them.
   
5. Hats - Space is definitely an issue when it comes to hats, and the more you get the more space they take up. While they are good for sunny days, bad hair, or just simply as an accessory to your style, it’s hard to find spot to properly store them. This is probably the most simple alternative use for the coat rack as you are essentially turning it into a hat rack. Because they also hang very well, you could hang them overtop of your scarves or jewelry as well and double the usefulness of the rack.

Did we miss any alternative uses for coat racks that you currently doing? Leave us a comment below and tell us your favorite use of a coat rack. To find a coat rack that will do all of the things mentioned above, and hold your coats, visit our showroom.

Unusual and Forgotten Spring Cleaning Tips

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With houses no longer primarily being heated by wood and coal, spring cleaning has more become a tradition than necessity. Because smoke would build up soot on everything from the furniture to the curtains, there was a necessity to thoroughly clean everything once the cold season passed. This tradition has been passed down and we still today like to create a fresh start as the warmer months roll in. For all those who are ready to move past the snowy months, we have put together a list of spring cleaning tips for often forgotten places.   

1. Dishwasher - The dishwasher isn’t just a place that you can be cleaning all your glass and plasticware. You can wash a lot of items in there, like plastic pet toys and even your toothbrush. You can also clean cleaning supplies in them, such as sponges or mop heads. Plus cleaning these items in the dishwasher will save you scrubbing time that you can use for other projects.
   
2. Dust Forgotten Places - There are obvious places to dust, like the tops of fans and coffee tables, but what about the unconventional? Even though there isn’t smoke blowing through your house from fire keeping it warm every night, dust still collects on items like your curtains. What about the inside of the lampshade? Don’t forget to turn off the light or remove it first though!
   
3. Degrease Cabinets - You touch them everyday, especially when you’re looking for something while cooking. Grease is also hard to see unless the light hits it just right, so remember to thoroughly clean where there’s points of contacts with hands. Also, don’t forget to get the lower spots where children may have touched.
   
4. Dressers and Chests - We’re talking about the inside of drawers here, because we know you’ve probably already got the outside covered. Just because you put clean clothes in, doesn’t mean dust won’t build up, especially the drawer with your shorts and t-shirts. A quick dust should do the trick with this one, so there’s no major worries.
   
5. Delint the Dryer - We’re not talking about the lint trap, and we hope you clean that every load as it is a major fire hazard. Remove the trap and stick the crevice tool attachment from your sweeper down in there . This will suck up all the lint that falls off of the trap and gets stuck in your dryer.
   
6. Hidden Crumbs - Let’s be honest, have you ever cleaned your knife holder? Like the inside of dressers, this seems like a place that would never get dirty. But, when you cut bread, crumbs going everywhere is nearly inevitable sometimes. You could use your sweepers attachment or simply rinse and dry it so that you know the knives are staying clean and sanitary.
   
7. Destain Cutting Boards - This may sound unusual, but you can get rid of those pesky stains on your cutting board with two simple items - a lemon and salt. First, put some salt down on the board and, with a half of lemon, scrub the board like you would with a sponge. This will also help freshen up the kitchen odor!
   

Have any tips for forgotten and unusual places we missed? Drop us a comment below and tell us your favorite place to make sparkle.  

7 Traditional Decor Rules You Should Break

When someone says they are going to break the rules, you probably don’t think they are talking about decorating their house. In general, we try to stick to tried and true methods - no one wants to be stuck looking at garish decor! But breaking away from tradition is good sometimes, plus some things are just outdated and it takes a new generation to realize the past’s mistakes or misconceptions. To help you break out of that turtle shell of boring and plain decor, we have put together a list of rules that we think are out of date:

1. Don’t Paint Walls Dark Colors - They say light colors make a room look larger, but the truth is they really don’t. Even if you don’t agree with the studies, the room won’t change it’s size based on any color you paint it. If you want to paint your room black you should, it adds a mood that most people won’t experience in their own homes.
2. Don’t Mix Metals - Throw those matching rules out the window. Take some advice from a six-year-old dressing themselves and mix and match. This may take some time to perfect, so pick one piece of metal furniture you really like and build off of that. With metals, a dark and light mix looks great - like black and gold or black and silver.
   
3. Don’t Decorate With One Color - There’s nothing wrong with being a minimalist. All white in particular is a style that is considered “in.” If you don’t like colors that pop then stick to white.
   
4. Don’t Follow Trends - Most our tips up until now have been about going against the grain, but you don’t always have to! Trends are fun and for the most part they’re actually based off of some pretty good ideas. If not, why would it be a trend in the first place? The best part about following trends is you can always change if you want to. With that in mind, avoid buying larger trend pieces as they could set your wallet back if you’re trying to keep up with the latest home decor styles.
   
5. Don’t Make Big Changes To A Rental Space - We’re not suggesting knocking down that wall to open up the space between the kitchen and the dining room, but adding some shelving to the walls will most likely not make you lose your deposit. If you need to fill in screw marks later, some simple putty or even painting over the hole will fix it quickly.

Pictured above - Canopy Wall Unit 2PC Set

6. Frame Your Prints - Traditional frames are nice, but just like the art it’s okay to be creative. If you can’t think of any other ways to showcase your favorite pieces, there are plenty of helpful articles out there for inspiration. One of our favorite on-trend methods of displaying photos is to use binder clips as it adds a photography dark room vibe to your space.
   
7. Don’t Invest In Big Things - If you really like something, the size of the investment shouldn’t be a deciding factor in your purchase. Ultimately we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, so it is better to live in the present on that couch you love than try to prepare for the future on a small chair. Plus, with the evolving economy, selling a used furniture item is easier than ever before.