Monday, July 31, 2017

Furniture-Buying Tips for Apartment Dwellers - HGTV


House Counselor Laurie March tells you where to splurge and where to save when you're buying furniture for your first apartment.

Friday, July 28, 2017

How To Choose the Right Size Rug For Under Your Dining Room Table


In this video you will learn two sure fire ways to select the right size rug to go under your dining room table.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Saturday, July 22, 2017

How to Choose the Right Sofa for Your Space



A sofa is one of the most important purchases you make for your living area, so how do you make sure you're buying the best one? Brian Gluckstein shares his tips.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Editor's Advice: How To Style Your Living Room Like A Designer



H&H‘s Joel Bray and Jennifer Koper share expert living room styling tips. Discover their secrets to creating a standout space.

Joel and Jennifer start by decorating the non-functioning fireplace. By adding three mod vases and dressing up the mantel with brass candlesticks and a teal bowl for a pop of color, they’re able to create a gorgeous focal point in the middle of the room. Next, the design editors style the coffee table with contemporary pieces to play off its red lacquered insert. Watch how they experiment with art on walls that have moulding, and see how they bring life to the room with indoor plants. Plus, get their tips on how to brighten your space with layers of lighting.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Tips on Purchasing a New Dining Table for a Growing Family


A dining table that is too small makes meal times cluttered, disorderly, and uncomfortable. A dining table that is too large may strain conversations and make people feel awkward or alienated. If the table is way too large for the floor space, everyone might end up with their chairs against the wall, which makes going to and from their seats a struggle every meal time.

For sure, you want mealtimes to be a relaxed and comfortable time where everyone on the table enjoys great food and good company. For this to happen, you have to invest time and effort in finding a dining table that's just the right size and form.
What are your needs now and in the near future?
The key to a successful purchase lies in the accurate estimation of your needs. Before you shop for a new dining table, evaluate the current situation at home. How many people dine there regularly? Do you receive guests often? Do you entertain frequently so that guests figure importantly in the estimation? To determine the number of places, include every person who eats at the house regularly and then add two more places. These are for guests who arrive unbidden and accept your impromptu invitation to dine. To avoid overcrowding, it is advisable to allot extra space for other people.
What are the important measurements to take?
To avoid bumping elbows with the next person, everyone must have a comfortable "personal space" on the table, which is at least 24 inches in width. This space allows you to add a place or two when company arrives and stays in for dinner and you can be confident there won't be overcrowding. If you don't want chairs to bump against the wall every time somebody stands up and sits back down, there ought to be a 32-inch space between the walls of the room and the dining table.
What is the ideal table shape for a small dining area?
While you may have a certain preference in terms of the shape of the table, you must base the final decision on other considerations, such as the number of seats, and the dimensions of the room. For instance, if the space is rather limited, it is best to avoid shapes with sharp corners. That rules out square and rectangular tables. Round tables allow for more people to sit down to dinner if the floor space is already confining. To promote the illusion of space and airiness, choose a table with a light color and fine lines. The chairs must not be bulky as well. Curves are also more inviting, so much so that round tables give the dining area a sense of informality that immediately puts people at ease.
You can always go for the classic rectangular table, especially if the room you have is narrow and long. This is the preferred choice for large families that require more than five seats. The most important thing to remember is to choose based on your needs instead of trends and styles that other people are choosing for their own families.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9102788

Monday, July 10, 2017

Foyer Lighting - Don't Make This Mistake!


A well-placed chandelier in a two-story foyer doesn't just light up the entryway, but also adds character and ambiance.

One of the biggest mistakes that I see in client homes is that they have not thought about how the chandelier is going to look from the second story.

Let me give you an example. From below this chandelier looks fine. However when you head up the stairs and are on the second story looking down – now what do you see… raw bulbs and harsh lighting. It’s not a good look.

Here’s the tip: When selecting a chandelier for a two story foyer think about how it is going to look from below and from above when you are on the second story.

Take a look at this new foyer light. From below it looks good and now when I head up the stairs to the second floor it looks just as good. I am not looking into a bunch of bulbs and harsh lighting.

Keep this in mind if you have a two story dining room or family room that you can look down into.

These little details can make a big difference. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to a Smart Interior.

Friday, July 7, 2017

Planning Your Bedroom Style and Layout


Our bedrooms are not the places in our house that we show off to guests - we don't use them for hosting fine dinners or lively get togethers - but they deserve as much design attention as the other rooms. After all, more than just a place of relaxation and solace away from the bustle of the world outside, it's "the" space in the house that is just for you. If you are like most people, your bedroom is a place where you can shut the door, sit down or lie in bed and just generally enjoy a space that's calm, comfortable and private. We wrote this short guide to help you create your comfortable space where you can enjoy the personal luxury that everybody needs.

Furniture styles

We are starting of with furniture design styles, because once you know what look you are going for it becomes that much easier to visualise the look, and ultimately the feel, you want to create.

There are such a huge variety of furniture decor styles, that it's unlikely that you will run out of options, but it can be daunting to decipher which style will work best for you. A great starting point is to familiarise yourself with furniture design jargon and learn a little about each style in order to help you define and narrow down your search for the type of furniture you want. Modern, classic, rustic and contemporary are just some of the defined styles in furniture decor. You may even prefer to combine elements of several styles to create your own unique look. The ability to identify different interior design styles will provide a framework to personalise your bedroom to your individual taste.

Bedroom Furniture

Once you have the look nailed down, it's time to look at the functional elements, such as the furniture, that makes a bedroom your bedroom. When choosing furniture according to your taste, it's important to look at the quality and craftsmanship, as it is likely to stay part of the room when the paint colour and choice of curtains are long forgotten.

Begin with the bed. The bed is the focal point of any bedroom and is arguably the most important piece of furniture you will buy for the room.

Choose storage for your clothing and personal effects. Dressers, wardrobes or chests of drawers all provide excellent clothing storage.

Buy bedside tables. You will need something to hold your alarm clock, lamp, books, glasses and other items near your bed. Any small table will do. The important thing is that you like the look of it.

Think about what else you will do in your room. If you like to watch TV in your bedroom, you will need to furnish the bedroom with some kind of TV stand. You may also consider a workstation if you often work late at night or often need quick access to your equipment. Other furnishings can include a vanity, lounge chairs, floor lamps, plants or bookshelves.

Tip: Writing down everything you plan to do in your bedroom will help you to decide which pieces of furniture you need.

Layout

Space planning is most probably the trickiest part of decorating any room. If you want to really feel comfortable in your room, make sure that you have enough space to move around and that everything is accessible. Make sure that wardrobe doors and drawers can be easily opened without hitting the bed or other furniture. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, consider open shelving and beds with integrated storage. Leave a minimum of 100 cm in front of every door opening, 30 cm in front of windows and 45 cm walking space between furniture or furniture and walls. RoomSketcher is a nifty online sketching tool to that makes it easy to visualise the layout of your room.

Custom Made Furniture

What if you can't find the type of furniture that fits into your fantasy of a dream bedroom? More and more people are opting to have furniture made especially for them according to their own specifications. Custom furniture is a bit more expensive than store-bought pieces, but an individually made piece of furniture requires the kind of craftsmanship that ensures that it lasts longer than mass factory produced furniture. Custom furniture can also be considered when you want furniture that complements unique features of your house or if you need a special piece to compliment or complete an existing bedroom suite

As most modern living areas serve as through passage rooms that offers little opportunities for rest and quiet activities, the bedroom fulfills an important role as a private sanctuary. With that in mind, it's arguably the room in the house where the look, feel and layout will have the biggest impact on your well being. Proper planning will also help you to avoid underutilised space and unnecessary furniture while creating a bedroom that truly fits your needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karina_Palmer/2414916

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Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Happy 4th of July!


"I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true." 
Wendell Willkie

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Are You Planning to Buy Some New Furniture?


The task of purchasing new furniture for an individual's home is oftentimes a difficult process that takes lots of time, effort, and organizing. Before you go out and begin to drop money on any furniture that happens to catch your eye, there are a few tips and rules that you must always follow in order to make your furniture transactions as smooth and simple as possible. Read on to find out what they are, and how to use them as effectively as you can.

Always make sure that the measurements that you have taken of the spot where you will be placing the new furniture are as exact as possible. Carefully and neatly write these measurements down on a piece of paper, in order for you to have them to refer to. Buying a piece of furniture that is the wrong size is incredibly annoying and inconvenient. On top of that, you have to deal with hassle of trying to return/exchange the furniture for something that fits. Aside from having the correct dimension and lengths of the space, it is also pivotal that you have which style and color in mind that will go best inside of your home. If you're not sure of what to pick, always ask a sales assistant for their opinion.

Making yourself a budget and price range is also very critical. Also, once you have set your personal budget, make sure not to go outside of it. If you do go past your spending limits, you may then end up with unwanted financial burdens. Sit down with a pen and paper, and develop a check list as well as price range for each furniture item you intend on buying. While doing this, always take into consideration how much your financial situation currently allows you to afford. Doing this task will allow you to make a proper plan for buying your furniture that will lead you to saving money.

Setup a day where your schedule is completely free, and dedicate all of it to furniture shopping. For example, deciding to go shopping at a Las Vegas furniture store before or after your work day is not a successful plan. Not only will you be incredibly tired and wishing to go home and relax, you will also have to hurry and rush because the stores will all be about to close. A better plan would be to go shopping at a Las Vegas furniture store when you have the day off work, such as a weekend or holiday. When you have the whole day to shop, you'll be able to spend more time looking at furniture, and thus be able to make better decisions.

Before you make the final decision to purchase any piece of furniture, always make sure that you have thoroughly looked at it and confirmed that there is nothing wrong with. Make sure that there are no major bumps or dents, and that it is in the condition that you are paying for. Also, if you are buying furniture that you are aware has defects, make sure that you are paying a proper price for it, and not being overcharged. Request a salesperson to order a new stock of a product if you do not wish for it to have been worn.

Always make sure that you give the piece of paper stating the measurements of your home to the salesperson. Pay careful attention in order to make sure that they select furniture that will fit properly in your house. Whenever it is convenient and possible, bring along a relative or friend in order to have some extra help. When you do this, you reap the benefits of having a trusted second opinion. Additionally, he or she may help you make the tough decision between two pieces of furniture that you cannot make a decision on.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mitch_T_Gavens/783269

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