Blog - Page 9

Filling your bedroom with calming colors will make your time spent before bed incredibly relaxing. Calming colors tend to fall on the cool end of the color spectrum. Cool colors are versions of greens, purples, and blues. They can be combined and blended for the perfect color palette. 

There are many advantages to decorating with these tones. These colors have been known to slow breathing rates, relax muscles, lower blood pressure, and body temperature, and make you feel more relaxed overall.

You Can Start Small

Including calming colors in your bedroom does not mean you have to repaint! Decorating with cool colors can mean just accentuating what you already have. Whites, blacks, grays, and other neutrals can work well in a cool color scheme. Depending upon the undertones of the color, these neutral colors can appear either warm or cool. Play up the calming, cool nature by choosing pieces that bring out the blues, greens, and purple tones of your paint.

Calming Furniture

Cool colors often appear as though they recede in a space and can make a small room appear larger. But they can just as easily make a large room appear cold and unwelcoming. If your bedroom space is on the larger side, make sure you have lots of natural light to tone down the cool colors.

Consider a large bed as the focal point of your design and use your bedding to bring in the cool colors. If you have a seating area in your bedroom, invest in a comfy chair with subtle lines and perhaps a pattern on the cooler end of the color spectrum.

It’s Great to Add Warmth

Before settling on a calming color scheme, understand that adding warmth is OK and expected with these colors. Turn to throw blankets and pillows to add warmth to your cool and calming colors. Playing to red and oranges here and there will keep your space from seeming cold and uninventing. For example, gray looks amazing with yellow! Blues can be perfect for reds and oranges to play off of.

Also consider the warmth of any woods you have in your room. Your bed and dresser can use a wood with red undertones to add warmth. And a TV stand with a fireplace will add warmth both in color and in the literal sense. Don’t force cool colors on your space, but instead, embrace them to enhance your mood.

Your master bedroom needs to be a place where you can retreat from the rest of the world. But it should also be a place where you can express yourself in the tiny details. Nothing makes a room feel complete than the special touches that finish it off. Here are 5 finishing touches for you master bedroom that will complete the look and pull your ideas together.

1. Art
A bedroom with blank walls can feel bleak and incomplete, but before you go out and buy hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of artwork, remember, art can be anything that is special to you. Maybe a handmade blanket made by your great-grandmother to hang over your bed or frame family pictures and make a memory wall. Sprinkle in a few canvasses here and there and break up the bareness of the walls.

2. Knick Knacks
These are the things that reflect you personally. Perhaps you are really into photography, so set out your vintage camera collection or pop down a few big coffee-table style books on your favorite photographer. Maybe you love to travel and have brought some gorgeous textiles or pottery back from distant lands, or it might just be some pretty rocks or shells from your beach holiday. All of these little things can brighten up your bedroom and make it feel like you. Invest in an accent piece or two to help properly display your items.

3. Lighting
A bedroom should have various light sources: table lamps on the nightstand, floor lamps, wall lights, and even candles can add some ambience to your room. If you have a seating area, consider a reading lamp that is dimmable, so you can signal your body to calm down closer to bedtime. The bedroom is the one place you don’t want to solely rely on the overhead light source.

4. Curtains
Textiles over your window will soften hard angles and make the room feel cozy. Curtains should be hung as high as possible and hang all the way to the floor. If you can’t use full-length curtains, consider Roman blinds or window shutters instead.

5. Area Rugs
You don’t want to get out of bed each morning and put your feet on a cold floor. Scattering area rugs throughout your room with help warm things up, literally and decoratively. A rug on either side of the bed protects your toes, a small rug in the seating area helps make a zone, and a runner at the foot of your bed can help protect your floor from a high traffic area. Even if you have low-pile carpet, layering rugs on top will add color and texture to your scheme.

These little touches will go a long way to completing the look in your master bedroom. Even if you are only able to accomplish a few on the list, you’ll notice your bedroom will cozy up instantly!

Making your own curtains, scrapbooking old photos, and crafting your own soaps is a hobby that cries out for organization, but not every home has an entire room that can be dedicated to crafting. Don’t worry! Any unused corner of your home can be transformed into a crafting space.

Find the Space
Maybe you have a spare bedroom that’s only used for guests, a formal dining room that only sees food once or twice a year, or even the back corner of a large family room. Any of these spaces can be used for crafting; all they need is enough room for a table, chair, storage, and lots of light. Once you decide on a dedicated space, you can start organizing.

New Uses for Old Stuff
The key to choosing the right furniture pieces for your crafting space is to reuse and recycle pieces you may already have. Don’t go for plastic tables with flimsy drawers. You need a sturdy work space with quality storage. Just because a chest is “meant” for the bedroom doesn’t mean it can’t store crafts! Truth be told, choosing bedroom furniture is ideal because if the home of your craft room is also the guest room, the furniture will blend perfectly.

Craft Perfect Storage
It’s perfectly fine to head over to the dollar store and buy plastic bins to store your crafts. They are cheap, functional, and will not break the bank. But where will you store those plastic bins? How will you organize the chaos? That’s where high-quality shelving comes in. While the bins themselves can be on the cheaper side, you should splurge on sturdy shelves to manage your storage. An accent cabinet is great for hiding away unsightly plastic bins. It will help keep your craft space neat and tidy while keeping your bins at arm’s reach. You don’t want plastic bins cluttering up your formal dining room, but a beautiful cabinet that doubles as storage will fit right in.

Once you own a pet, you’re never truly alone in a room again. From the living room to the bathroom, your pet will likely follow you everywhere. Your furniture needs to work with them, not make your life harder with constant clean-up and wear and tear. The key is choosing the right materials and accommodating your animals' needs. After all, an animal-friendly house is more comfortable for humans too.

Don’t think you have to sacrifice beauty for clean-up-friendly comfort. Pet friendly furniture can be beautiful. Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing with your pets in mind.

Opt for Rugs Over Carpet

Unlike carpet, rugs can be picked up and cleaned or thrown out. Indoor/outdoor options work well because they're durable enough to withstand pet traffic, and they're cheap enough to toss when they get grungy. If disposable rugs strike you as an expensive way to keep your house chic, consider that it's cheaper to toss that $99 rug than to keep replacing wall to wall carpet.

Animal Entryway

It's important to consider your pet's lifestyle when you establish the layout of your house. If your dog goes outside, make sure he can come back in through an area that's durable and easy to clean. Decorate an entry in ways that make it easy to clean your dogs before they enter the rest of your home. Also, consider shelves where you can keep towels used to wipe the dirt off the dogs when they came inside from the yard.

Upholstery

There are lots of options that will make life with a pet easier. It’s important to choose fabrics that hide stains and won’t attract fur.

• Leather is durable and stain resistant. Wiping away fur is a breeze! One word of caution: if your cats still have their claws, be careful they do not use the leather to sharpen them. Even leather can’t stand up to kitty claws. Also, keep your dog’s nails trimmed as well, because puppy claws can also leave a lasting mark on leather.
•  Microfiber is a synthetic fiber with very thin strands that can be made to look like suede or leather. It doesn't rip or scratch easily, and cleaning up pet hair is not time-consuming. All you need is a lint brush, or sometimes just your hands can do the trick! Most stains come out of microfiber with soap and water. Stubborn stains can be outed with a mild cleaner.
•  Patterns and texture help hide everyday issues like dirt and pet hair. They also help camouflage small stains until they can be properly cleaned by a steamer.

Also consider choosing upholstery that blends with your pet’s hair. If you bring a white chair into the house with a black lab, you are asking for trouble. If you are looking for a simple solution for already existing furniture, consider throws. A few strategically placed and easy-to-wash throw blankets will help preserve your furniture.

Storage is always at a premium in a small space, but nowhere is that more true than in the bathroom. There are so many little odds and ends like makeup, razors, hairbrushes, and toilet paper that need to be put out of the way. If the clutter in your bathroom is getting a little out of control, it’s time to get inventive with storage.

Add Shelves

Add shelves to your small space to make the most of your storage options. Try a waterproof version over the sink, such as metal or glass. There are also over-the-toilet options that won’t take up floor space. If you do have the room, consider a set of sturdy open-face shelves for easy access.

Add a Useful Cabinet

It’s easier than you think to add a cabinet into the cramped space of a bathroom. Swap out your sink counter for a sink that sits on top of an accent cabinet. There are many bowl options that sit on top of the counter instead of inside. You’ll increase countertop space as well as storage below.

Use Hooks

Not every bathroom has place for towel racks, so try using hooks on the bathroom side of the door to hang towels, robes and clothes. You can also use hooks near the sink for wash cloths and hooks inside the shower stall for your loofa.

Side Table

Instead of placing books, magazines or pictures on the back of the commode, consider adding a small table next to the toilet. You can add a lamp and even a phone charger. You can also use the space to store extra rolls of toilet paper!

Baskets

Baskets can also add a decorative touch to your bathroom. Use a basket on the counter to creatively display hand towels. A basket on the back of the toilet can be used for extra rolls of toilet paper and even bath towels.

Your game room is now quiet, your seven-seater dining room table is being used a bit less, and you no longer have to fight for a spot on the sectional sofa. Your kids have grown up and flown the coup, so now it’s time to update your empty nest.

Downsize Dining Room Table

Small round tables aren't just for breakfast nooks or eat-in kitchens. Look past the giant dining table and give yourself some extra space by opting for a small, round dining table instead. A table with folding leaves is also a great option for when the kids drop by for dinner.

Upgrade to a Multi-Use Room

Unsure of what to do with the old game room? Try turning it into a multi-use room. This room could now serve as an office, craft room, guestroom and more. The key is to invest in pieces that serve a few purposes while all working together. First, decide what the main purpose of the multi-use room will be. If the answer is guestroom that will sometimes serve as a craft area, keep its main function in mind when choosing furniture. Consider incorporating soft furniture that’s functional but feels like it belongs in a bedroom.

Trade in the Sectional

Sectional sofas are wonderful for large families, but when your children leave, you may be left with a lot of unused seating space. It may be time for a more traditional arrangement. Consider a sofa, love seat, and recliner combination. It will take up less space and every seat in the living room will now be the best seat in the house!

Add Accent Pieces

Parents sometimes have to trade in eccentric style for function, but now is the time to let your style shine. Shop accent pieces you never dreamed of before: new buffets, side tables, interesting chairs and more. Find the statement piece you’ve always dreamed of!

When decorating a home, most people don’t truly start from scratch. There’s probably a family piece here and there that will be passed down to help complete your look. It can be a challenge to pair family heirlooms with new furniture pieces, but with a little ingenuity, older pieces will help complete your décor.

An eclectic dining room with mis-matched chairs may not be the dining set you’ve always dreamed of, but it can become the star of your home. Pair your hand-me-down with a vintage style farmhouse table for a unique look! You can even paint the chairs in various colors for a truly stunning dining experience.

Lucky enough to land a chaise lounge? Then you will be the envy of the neighborhood! Whether it’s a stand-alone chaise lounge or one that’s part of a sectional sofa, these beauties pair function and fashion. They are also timeless, versatile, and can easily go into a living room, office, or bedroom. Sometimes the fabric may need to be updated, but the style of the Chaise lasts forever. It can even be a winner in the bedroom. Place it in a corner, add a floor lamp and side table and it will make a perfect reading nook.

What to do with that old bar? Adding a bar or wine fridge to the kitchen is all the rage right now. But back in the 50’s and 60’s you were likely to find a small, mobile bar in the corner or a long Credenza bar up against a wall. Even if you have a new modern bar in your kitchen, don’t put your vintage bar by the curb! If you love entertaining and celebrating with cocktails then the credenza is for you even more so in a modern home. Make it the highlight of your living or dining room.

Make that vintage coffee table stand out! Even if your new furniture is traditional or farmhouse style, you can always do a mid-century coffee table. So, don’t put your great-uncle’s retro table to the roadside just yet. Contemporary tables are typically low-profile and relatively simple, and they complement almost any design scheme.

One week it’s robots, the next it’s dinosaurs, then along comes a new movie that’s the new must have for their bedroom. Keeping up with the ever-changing tastes of your child can make decorating his bedroom challenging. There’s a way to decorate kids’ rooms without changing everything every month. The key is to invest in a look that grows with your child.

Timeless Furniture:

Look for furniture that you could keep in your home for years to come. For example, rather than buying a child-sized bureau, choose one that their clothes will grow into. If you have the space, invest in a double bed over a single to accommodate more sleeping arrangements and visiting guests.

Multifunctional Furniture:

Double-duty furniture is ideal, especially when looking to transition a room from a space that is fit for an infant into one that is ready for a child. Think outside the idea of a standard changing table and purchase a desk or dresser that can be fitted with a padded changing mat. This way, you can use the changing table while you need it, but your child has a ready-made space to do her homework once she starts school.

The same hold true when you are purchasing beds. Look for one that has built-in storage underneath. The storage will help the room stay looking crisp and clean while also giving you extra options to put away a never-ending supply of toys.

Keep the Design Neutral:

When your child is a baby, it’s tempting to cover the walls in pastel paints and the floors with an adorable plush rug. But these design elements will not age well. Pick paint colors that are warm and inviting, classic finishes for your furniture, and floor coverings that are universal. Leave incorporating trendy décor to items that you won’t mind replacing when they go out of style.

Have Fun with Accessories:

This is where you can let your child’s personality really come out to play. Get them that astronaut bedspread or Old MacDonald’s sheets. Highlight their artwork in easy to change out frames. Let them get that hot pink fuzzy throw blanket or sequined pillow. These items can easily be replaced when a new trend comes around.

When people enter your home, they need to know they are in for a welcoming experience. Every room they encounter can be tweaked to feel cozy and beckon them to go a bit further into your space. Scatter unexpected seating areas and arrange your furniture to spark conversation. Here are a few tips to get started.

Begin at the Beginning: Entryway

Many entryways can accommodate a quaint place to sit, take off your shoes, rest after a quick run up the stairs, or find some privacy to read a book. A small accent chair with a chic round table looks warm and functional. Add a lamp and a small picture frame or two for a more personal touch.

You can create an interesting impression of the décor throughout your home with a mix of textures in your entryway. Consider a dramatic faux fur rug paired with an understated table. If your rug makes enough of a statement consider a smaller table and maybe add an interesting lamp.

Remember to make your entryway functional. A welcoming entryway isn’t just a place to hurry past, it can be a place to store items in creative pieces of furniture and even a place to sit down and rest. Keep your design pieces clear of the actual walking path and let people decide whether they intend to stop and stay a while.

First Stop: Living Room

Think about how your living room is structured. Is your standard 3-cushion sofa facing the TV or is it facing the other seating? Is your sectional sofa playing off of other furniture or is it the only seating in the room? Put some thought into the arrangement. Try to make your furniture inspire conversation first, and a good view of the TV second. Have your furniture face each other so conversation can flow. Try to choose an ottoman or coffee table for the center that will allow for board game nights or a quick game of charades.

Next Stop: The Kitchen

It’s inevitable: guests will always end up in the kitchen at some point during their visit to your home. Be sure you have seating at the counter or kitchen island to make guests feel welcome. Stools are a great idea and so is a small breakfast nook style table and chairs.

Final Destination: Dining Room

A dinner party is the perfect way to get friends and family in to your home. If you love large gatherings, choose a table that expands to accommodate 7 or 8 guests, but can downsize for your typical family meals.  Bench seating is also a great option because you can squeeze a few extra people here and there for a truly cozy dining experience.

A mattress matters to your overall health and well-being, but it can be a pricey investment up front. Consumer reports recommends a new mattress every 7 to 10 years, so think of the cost of a quality mattress as one that can be spread out every night over the course of a decade. That should help put the purchase into perspective.

You should expect to spend anywhere from $350-$600 on a nice king size mattress. One in the $900-$1500 range is more common for a quality night sleep. One with all of the bells and whistles of memory foam, individually wrapped coils, and gel could run over $2000.

Let’s look at the options, one by one.

Innerspring Mattresses

The most common and least expensive mattress is the innerspring. It has metal coils inside of the mattress with foams and fibers on the top. The lower priced mattresses tend to use the older style coil in which they’re all tied together.

The more quality mattresses have stronger springs and will be individually wrapped. If the springs are individually wrapped, they contour better to your body and have less transfer of motion. So, if one person bounces around or changes positions, the partner will not feel it as much. Many innerspring mattresses also offer the added luxury of pillow top.

Specialty Foam

Foam mattresses are becoming much more popular, and they tend to get higher customer satisfaction ratings than innerspring mattresses. There are two major types of specialty foam, latex and memory, and a foam bed will usually have at least one of them, if not both.

Memory foam is probably the most recognized type of foam in bedding. It is a slower-response foam that takes time to return to its normal position. This has the benefit of not causing pressure to the body. Memory foam is often mixed with a type of gel to add additional support and cooling. Some foam mattresses are a bit stuffy.

Latex foam is the other type of common specialty foam. It tends to be more supportive than memory foam, more durable, and feels a bit cooler to the touch. It is not as good at relieving pressure as memory foam.

Most of the time, these types of foam will be put on a base of what’s called “poly foam,” which is just a high density, resilient support foam. Many times, memory foam and latex are mixed.

Foam Plus Springs

Many of the top-rated mattresses offer a mix of both springs and foam. Most feature an advanced pocketed coil technology combined with multiple layers of advanced memory gel foams. They offer support, cooling action, and pressure relief.

Depending on your needs and your budget, a quality mattress in any of these categories can be found. This investment in your overall well being doesn’t have to break the bank. Remember to shop sales and clearance mattresses before making your decision.

Recliner shopping used to be fairly straightforward, but now the options are endless. What type of material? Oversized or sleek? Power? Glider? Swivel? There are many options to consider.

All have the end result of relaxation and putting your feet up, but which recliner is right for your space?

The Right Price

Expect to pay around $275 to $350 for a basic recliner and up to almost $1200 for one with all the bells and whistles. However, there are many amazing options in between those price points.

Know Your Space

Choosing the right recliner is a matter of understanding your space. Do you have a large enough living room to accommodate two oversized recliners? Is the rest of your furniture sleek or pillowy? Is your living room contemporary or traditional? The answers to these questions all have a bearing on which recliner option is best for you.

There are multiple size options available when you’re choosing a recliner. The majority of people are looking for a single-person recliner, but sofa and love seat recliners are available. Some love the look of a smaller, sleek model, while others want the feel of an oversized recliner with pillow-like cushions. It’s a good idea to test a few out in the store before committing to a size.

Keep in mind that the standard recliner needs approximately six inches of space from chair back to wall to fully recline. Even if you purchase a smaller recliner, plan on giving it a bit of space.

Upholstery

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when choosing a recliner is whether to go with leather, microfiber, or fabric. It will likely have much to do with what type of furniture is already found in your living room. A casual contemporary oversized recliner might look a little out of place in a more traditional or formal living room. Match the style of the recliner to the style of furniture currently in the living space.

If you are starting from scratch, you’ll have to consider your lifestyle. The most popular choice is leather. Leather is durable, easy to clean, but also a bit pricey. It’s also easy to scratch, so if you have pets, you may want to take special care. Microfiber is also very popular. It can mimic the look of leather or suede, is easy to care for, and is less expensive than real leather. It’s a great choice for homes with pets and children. Fabric is also another option. It cleans up well and offers endless pattern and color options.

Other Options

Traditional:
The traditional recliner is a two-position chair, either sitting straight up or reclined. The person sitting is required to pull a lever or press a button to create the motion.

Rocking:
A rocking recliner combines the rocking motions of a rocking chair with the functionality of recliner. It also comes in glider and swivel options.

Push Back:
A push-back chair reclines without a switch or button. The person simply uses their own weight to push the back of the seat into a reclining position.

The Extras:
Many recliners are available with extras including built-in cup holders, power lift, storage, and much more.

Understanding your space and other design elements in your home will help you make the right decision. You want your recliner to blend naturally with the rest of your furniture pieces.

If your idea of home is relaxing on cozy pieces that never seem to go out of style, then you are already familiar with old-world charm. The two styles that encompass this charm the most are traditional and farmhouse. Nothing wild or outlandish, just an elegant space meant to be an escape from the world. Traditional and farmhouse rooms are not ostentatious, and furniture pieces are often reproductions or “new takes” on furniture from an earlier time.

What to Look for:

To bring a bit of old-world charm to any room of your house, look for upholstered furniture with classic lines and quiet details. Edges are soft, smooth, and blend together. When looking for fabric designs, think florals, plain colors, muted plaids, understated stripes, and small all-over patterns. Multi-color florals are often a great starting point of a traditional color scheme while solids help solidify a farmhouse look.

To incorporate a bit of farmhouse flair, look to wood that’s rustic but not rough! Simple, unpainted (or rustically painted) wood that can be mixed with newer pieces will help fill any room will glimpses from a bygone era. Wood furniture should follow classic lines and if “too simple” is not what you are after, feel free to go a bit more ornate with light carving details.

When arranging your seating, stick to the typical pieces of sofa, loveseat and two chairs. The space can then be complimented with a coffee table, side tables, ottomans, rugs and more. Consider a recliner that doesn’t look intruding and is not oversized. At least one accent chair will help center the room and help it look like a place for conversation as opposed to watching TV.

In the bedroom, a simple bed with understated dressers and drawers will do the trick. And if your bedroom has the space, try to create a sitting or reading area. Old-world bedrooms should be a place to unwind and settle down.

What to Steer Clear of

Creating a charming and cozy space encompassing a traditional or farmhouse theme means making some sacrifices. This space is not the place for sharp edges or modern art. Steer clear of glass counters, garish ornamentations, and futuristic pieces.

The little kids that once scattered toys all over your house are now teenagers and you are stuck with a bonus room that used to be the center of their world. What can you do with an outgrown toy room? Anything you want! Here are 3 great ideas for the space.

1. Multi-Use Room

What exactly is a multi-use room? Well, just what it sounds like: a room that serves multiple purposes in your home. It could serve as an office, craft room, guestroom and more. The key is to invest in pieces that serve a few purposes while all working together.

First, decide what the main purpose of the multi-use room will be. If the answer is guestroom that will sometime serve as an office, keep its main function in mind when choosing furniture.

For example, if your bedroom also acts as your workspace, your bedroom/office doesn’t have to resemble a cubicle. Consider incorporating soft furniture that’s functional for work but feels like it belongs in a bedroom. An accent chair can serve as a work space and a relaxation area of your room. Look for bedroom furniture with appealing colors and soft lines. The bedroom office will still be your workspace, but this will keep its comfortable, homey look and feel.

2. A Game Room

Turn that old toy room into a teenage haven with a game room. Invest in seating that inspires conversation and collaboration.

Sectional sofas are the perfect pieces of furniture to ensure a good look at the game board or the screen for video gaming. And you’ll need to consider a table and chairs as part of the design. Look to pub dining room sets to keep the atmosphere casual. Also, don’t forget about storage for those games! Accent pieces with cabinets and open shelves are perfect for game night.

3. Home Theater

The right home theater furniture makes movie night and watching the big game a one-of-a-kind experience. When you have a room that is primality used for watching a large screen, seating is paramount. Every seat in the home theater has to be “the best seat in the house.” You have to take into account comfort and view.

Just like with a game room, sectional sofas are great for this space, but so are recliners and a more conventional sofa and love seat.

Of course, a home theater is nothing without the main feature. The entertainment center. Depending on your needs, you may want to hang your TV on the wall and use a smaller TV stand underneath. Or you can opt for a more traditional entertainment center that has room for every entertainment device in your house. It can be a home for multiple consoles, streaming devices, smart home devices and more.

It can be tempting to just grab a few pieces of discarded furniture, haul them to your man cave, and call it a day. But your man-cave could be so much more! It can be a place to display trophies, play video games, relax and have a drink: a man-cave can be so many things. Let’s tackle a few issues that will help create the ultimate masculine spot.

1.  Mix Used with New

Used furniture for your man-cave is perfectly fine, but spend a little time on a few new pieces. If you use an old sofa, add a few new side tables. Or if your old lounger finds its way to the cave, buy new lamps. Mix a bit of the “well loved” with “will be loved” furniture.

2. Trophies and Mountings

It’s easy to put mounted game up on the wall at your man-cave. It’s a great way to show off your trophies, but be sure that’s not all you have adorning your walls. Add family pictures, shelving, travel photos and more! Consider grouping any hunting or fishing trophies together for a more updated look.

3.   Limited Space

If space is limited, ditch the overly masculine and bulky furniture. Find slimmer pieces and opt for seating that has a dual purpose. Consider footstools that double as storage or a sofa that pulls out into a bed.

4.  Seating with a View

A popular function of many man-caves is gaming or watching a large screen. That means every seat in your cave has to be “the best seat in the house.” You have to take into account comfort and view. Sectional sofas are the perfect pieces of furniture to ensure a good look at the screen and a comfy place to settle in.

5. Entertainment Center

While video gaming may not be the primary focus of your man-cave, having a quality entertainment center helps to have a quality viewing experience. Depending on your needs, you may want to hang your TV on the wall and use a TV Stand underneath. This type of entertainment center can serve as a place to set a large TV on top or just hold the essentials like a gaming console and cable box. Some also have the added bonus of being a fire place.

You can also opt for an entertainment center with more storage, one with room for every entertainment device in your house. It can be a home for multiple consoles, streaming devices, smart home devices, and more.

Take a little bit of time to discover the uses of your man-cave. Don’t just throw a few pieces in a room and put your feet up. Spend a little extra time adding touches that will make your time there relaxing.

Getting ready to redesign a bedroom, or throw some new paint up on your living room walls? You may be wondering about a neutral canvas that won’t have you swimming in beige. Enter the versatile gray canvas. Gray as a neutral can be the perfect choice because of its quality to make colors pop.

Neutral Colors
In the context of interior design, neutral means without color. Neutrals such as beige, ivory, taupe, black, gray and shades of white appear to be without color, but in many applications these hues often have undertones. Be aware of these underlying tones as you match colors or choose paint. For example, beige might have an undertone of pink, tan or gold. White might be slightly ivory, yellow, bluish or peachy. Gray, on the other hand, ranges from various warm shades to cool colors, with minimal undertones. Gray works perfectly with the bold, more colorful lighting and home décor that’s on trend. For warmer gray hues, brass and antique gold are great pairings options.


The All-Gray Room Palette
If you are going for an all-neutral look, layer different hues of the same color for a classy and sophisticated look. Gray can be used in every room of the house and all values from light to dark. It is a very sophisticated color than can change the mood from romance for the bedroom to classic for the dining room.

Gray as Background
Gray is such a versatile color. It serves as the perfect backdrop for you to showcase your personality. Choose the gray based on what other colors you wish to use, how much natural light the room receives, and your personal preference for lighter or darker walls. Be mindful that a darker gray for the walls may seem to close the room up while a lighter gray will open things up a bit. You’ll also have to decide whether you prefer a warm or cool shade.

For example, if you go with taupe, try pairing that shade of gray with navy-blue sofa and chairs. Add an area rug or carpeting in the same shade of taupe as the walls or a bit lighter. In this color scheme, you have taupe walls and floor accents or carpeting for a neutral canvas.

Gray is really the unsung hero of the neutral color world. Dress it up or down, keep it warm or cool, it’s up to you! Remember, there is more to a neutral canvass than just beige or white. Turn to gray to really set your colors apart.

It’s easy to think the heart of the home is the living room or kitchen, but the dining room is where mealtime actually happens. It’s where you gather to talk about school, work, and enjoy delicious food with friends. Many times this space is overlooked and just outfitted with a simple table and one or two accent pieces. But a dining room can be so much more if you embrace the special time you spend around the table.

Pub-Style Table

The table is clearly the most important feature of any dining room, but not every home has a separate dining room or space for a table that seats 8. Enter the pub style table. It’s tall, comes in a variety of styles, and feature stools that bring a casual atmosphere to any space.

The defining feature of a pub dining room table is the height. They are higher than the average dining room table at around 34 to 36 inches high, and some go as high as 42 inches. Since they are relatively taller, pub tables create an illusion of extra room. Plus, they prove to be real space savers because many include fold down leaves. They are the ideal solution for small spaces.

Pub tables are the perfect match for eat-in kitchens where they can easily serve as an extension of the kitchen countertop to provide some additional preparation space. What's more, the height of the chairs makes it easier for people sitting on them to have a conversation with the people standing in the kitchen. They can serve as the perfect homework space, conversation space, and even double as a kitchen island.

Pub tables can be square, round, or oval. Some sets offer stools with back rests, while others are backless and can be easily tucked under the table when not in use. Some pub table sets even offer bench seating for larger family gatherings. The options are endless and practical for your space.

There are lots of ways to make your kitchen uniquely yours. One way is to use a bright color that sets the room apart. You can also embrace your collections by choosing the perfect displays. Make a style statement by displaying a favorite collection of dishes. Show off your wedding china or your grandmother’s tea set. The right collection can add a personal or formal touch to any kitchen.

Curio or China Cabinet

A china cabinet is designed to display chinaware. That means the sides are typically enclosed. If your collection only needs a to be viewed from the front, this is the way to go. However, if you have a collection of salt and pepper shakers or antique kitchen appliances you may want the collection viewed from all sides. That’s where curios come in. Curio cabinets have glass sides and a mirrored back so that the decorative detail of each item in the cabinet can be seen from all sides. A curio cabinet can be used to showcase pretty much anything from vintage tea sets to collectable figurines. They also come in a variety of styles, sizes, and types.

Buffet and Accent Tables

China cabinets and curios are not the only way to make your display stand out. A buffet in the kitchen or a nice accent table with open shelving can serve the same purpose on a less formal scale. These are especially good options if your collection has items that you want to display and actually use from time to time, such as your grandfather’s old meat grinder or your aunts standing mixer.

Keep Your Space in Mind

If you have an open floor plan with lots of space, make sure your display choice doesn’t close in the area. You don’t want to be overwhelmed by your collection: you want to show it off as naturally as possible. For an open plan, lean more towards buffets and accent tables. If you have a separate kitchen, with more wall space curios and china cabinets work nicely.

So many of us are programmed to keep décor harmonious and safe. It’s scary to get out of our comfort zone and mix things up a bit. However, mixing patterns, textures, and tones makes for exciting design.

First, let’s tackle woods.

Match Undertones, not Finish

Wood finishes don’t need to match, but they should complement each other. If you have an antique, dark, wood dresser that doesn’t quite match your ash hardwood floors, don’t fret.  Look at the color of each wood to see if it is warm or cool, then make sure their undertones match. For example, the darker dresser will look great with the ash floors as long as it’s not pulling out too much red.

Carpets Will Help

Placing a wood dining room table directly on top of a different wood floor will likely draw attention to the things they don’t have in common. Don’t worry, there is a stylish solution! Add a buffer such as a rug or carpet that compliments both wood types.

Now, on to patterns.

Balance is Key

If you’re starting with a very bold pattern, consider bringing in one or two smaller scale, tone-on-tone, or solid patterns for balance. So, if your accent chair is a bold stripe, balance that with a solid sofa and throw pillow with a smaller scale pattern.

Color Harmony

Believe it or not, you can coordinate a floral, a geometric, a stripe, and a solid all in one room. The key is to make sure they are all of the same color palette.  As long as each of these fabrics are drawing on the same color, you can create a beautifully mixed and matched combination of patterns.

Stripes Are Great

Stripes are an excellent starting place for decorating with patterns. Their secret? They go with almost any other pattern! An even better selling point for stripes? They are perfect for balancing out solid pieces as well.

An interesting design scheme comes from playing outside of the lines a bit. If you want décor that’s daring, don’t be afraid to mix things up!

Don’t be afraid of that purple sofa, bright red ottoman, or velvet blue chair. Embrace them and make a statement in your home. There are a few ways to make even the most eye-catching pieces work with your overall design scheme.

1. If it’s Supposed to Stand Out, Let it: If you're trying to let one piece be a statement, keep other things smaller or less ornate. You can't fill a room with statement pieces of furniture or it will feel overwhelming. Balance your oversized canvas on the wall with smaller, sleeker tables, or let your bright blue carpet stand out against a white floor.

2. Play with Opposites: Let’s say you have a weathered, antique, dark, wood dresser in your bedroom passed down from your grandmother. How do you help it make a statement? By playing with opposites in the rest of the room. Use newer pieces around the antique to let it shine. Pair that dresser with a more modern bedroom set or stay in the same design period, but use lighter wood in other ways to let the dark, distressed dresser stand out.

3. Use the Color Wheel: You may not have seen a color wheel since grade school, but there is a reason you learned the basics. If you have a piece of furniture that is bold and bright, use complementing colors on the wheel to augment the piece.

4. Don’t Get Match-Happy: You don’t have to match accent pieces to the statement piece. In fact, it’s better if you don’t even try. When adding color to a room, it's good to pick it up in three different accent areas. You don't have to use that much color to make it feel like there is color in the room. When you start using a lot of different colors, it can be hard to make it all work without looking too busy.

5. Patterns Can Play Together: If your statement piece has a pattern on it, don't be afraid to combine it with other patterned accents. Patterns do not have to match to complement each other. Just remember to play with the scale of the pattern. For example, if your chair is a bold stripe, pair it with a smaller print on another piece or even on an accent pillow.

Ever walk into a home and immediately notice a velvet sofa, or how the leather ottoman draws your eye? That’s the power of choosing the right upholstery or fabric. Making the correct texture choices can change the entire feel and focal point of a room. Let’s explore some options and how they are best used.

Cotton fabrics are one of the most common upholstery fabrics. The choice is durable and can vary greatly on weave, pattern, and finish. Cotton is an outstanding choice for families with children and pets. It can be easily cleaned and comes in endless colors. Consider cotton for your living room, family room, or even game room.

Microfibers are a relatively new addition to home furnishings. Offering a soft and a vast color range, they also resist most stains and can easily be cleaned with soap and water. The looks range from leather to plush and soft velvet. This fabric is a good choice for households with children. Since the color options are almost endless, a microfiber living room can be interesting and a bit intriguing. You can go bold and add fun and whimsy to any room of your home.

Linen is a more noticeable fabric. It is best suited for formal living rooms or adult areas because soiled pieces must be professionally cleaned. It’s also not a good idea to keep linen in direct sunlight since the fabric can fade over time. The upscale nature of this upholstery means that a single accent piece in linen can change the nature of any room. It instantly adds sophistication and texture to every space.

Leather furniture is a tried and true upholstery for a reason. It’s easy to maintain, lasts for decades, even generations, and instantly creates a focal point for any spot in your home. Worn leather has its own character and needs little adornments to make it stand out. It’s perfect for offices, dens, or even sitting areas in your master bedroom.

You can also mix and match any of these fabrics to create outstanding texture schemes throughout your home. The impact of a single leather chair among linen is jaw-dropping. A solid, bright microfiber love seat pairs wonderfully with a patterned cotton fabric. Upholstery will make any piece an accent piece when chosen thoughtfully.