Furniture Tipping Injuries & Statistics
How to Make Moving Simple
Moving is a hefty project that can end up costing you a fortune if you don’t go about it the right way. Whether you’ve moved many times in your life or this is your first big move, these tips can help make your move as cost-efficient and simple as possible.
- Get rid of clutter. Moving is a great time to clear out the items you no longer have a need for. As your packing, think about everything that you’re putting into boxes or loading up onto a moving truck. Is it something that you use often, and will continue to use? If so, pack it up. Consider getting rid of items you forgot you had, or rarely ever use. They’ll take up valuable space on the truck and quickly clutter up your new space.
- Pack way in advance. Waiting until the last minute to pack can create a nightmare of a situation for you. Setting goals weeks in advance can help motivate you, and avoid a disaster the day of your move. Once you’ve made settlement on your new place or signed a lease, mark your calendar. Fill in various dates with goals to have certain rooms packed by. This will help keep you focused on your end goal – your new space!
- Skip the expensive packing materials. Use old clothing or pieces that you’re going to get rid of to wrap delicate items your packing. Purchasing bubble wrap can be expensive and greatly increase your costs of moving. Similarly, pack up items in things that you already own, like laundry baskets and luggage. Then, you can more accurately purchase the amount of boxes you’re likely to use. When you’re packing boxes up, fill in all of the empty space. This means you’ll have to use less boxes, thus spending less money on them. You’ll also help protect the items packed in the boxes by preventing shifting from occurring.
- Keep your boxes organized. Number each box that you pack up, and keep a notebook of all of your numbered boxes and their contents. It also helps to categorize your boxes, whether it’s by labeling them with colored tape, or simply writing the name of the room the box belongs to on each of the box sides.
- Make your necessities accessible. Pack other items you know you’ll need right away, like towels, toiletries, and kitchen utensils, in a clear plastic container. Place this box in the moving truck last, or take it with you in your car so you’ll have easy access to the items as you need them. Similarly, pack an overnight back with a few sets of clothes and other necessities. This will make your first night in your new home more bearable.
- Hire a professional. Professional moving and shipping services, like those offered at Good Greek Moving, provide unbeatable service and make moving as easy as possible for you. Hiring a professional means you’ll get the most out of the space on your moving truck, your items will be handled with care, and you won’t risk injuring your back lifting heavy boxes and furniture.
Moving is an exciting time! Make it as easier on yourself and your wallet with these tips.
Home Decorating Do’s and Don’ts
Interior decorating is an art that requires some basic know-how’s in order to create a space that is inviting and well put together. Whether you’re a new homeowner or you’re just looking for a change, these home decorating do’s and don’ts will help you take your home to the next level!
- Don’t decorate large spaces with small items. When it comes to decorating large open wall spaces, try not to hang small pieces of art, as this will make a wall look bigger, like it is ready to engulf the entire picture. Try using multiple works that are on a slightly larger scale, or use one piece, like a large painting, to balance out the space.
- Do buy the couch you want separately, and think outside the box when it comes to additional seating. For instance, pairing a solid colored couch with patterned armchairs can really give your living space a great look. Avoidbuy matching furniture sets, which normally include two or three identical seating options. This can make your space look too dull and uniform.
- Don’t display too many décor pieces, such as picture frames or candles, as these can make your space seem cluttered and stuffy. Instead,incorporate a few decorative pieces into the room for a clean and well put together look.
- Do add to a recessed light source by using table or floor lamps for a warm look. They make a great addition and can be used along with ceiling lights or just on their own. Don’trely solely on recessed lighting, as this can make a room seem uninviting. Although most homes already come with fixtures for recessed lighting, avoid using them as your only source of light.
- Don’t push all of your furniture pieces up against walls. This will give your room a sharp, defined look which can make the space seem smaller and create awkward, open space in the center of a room. Instead,placecouches and chairs on a perimeter that is smaller than the room to give the appearance of a more evenly distributed open space.
- Do use a large area rug. This will enable you to layer furniture on top of certain sections of the rug which creates a more cohesive space. Don’t use a small rug in a large space, as it can end up looking out of place or it can look like an item that has no purpose, especially when placed in between furniture.
- Don’t choose your interior paint color based on the sample in the store. The light and layout of your room can affect the way the paint looks. To avoid any mishaps, ask to take a sample of paint home and test it out before you choose the final color. This will ensure that you are making the best choice!
Following these home decorating do’s and don’ts will help you transform your home, but if you’re not a DIY-er, you can trust Carbondale, IL interior decorators to guide you through the process with their unique expertise.
How To Get The Best Sleep
Have you ever thought about what happens to your sleep cycle as you move through life? You start out alone and peaceful and in the blink of an eye, your bed has turned into a family gathering space rather than a quiet sanctuary where you dream, when you marry and have children. In honor of Better Sleep Month, Jaron’s has put together a guide on how you can get the best sleep, no matter what your situation.
Sleeping Alone: You can do so comfortable in virtually any size mattress, and you have the freedom of making the space work for you. As a child, you work your way up from a crib, to a small twin size bed of your own, and then eventually to a full-size mattress, perfect for a single adult. You may sleep on your side, your stomach, or your back – it’s all about personal preference.
- Con: It can get quite lonely!
- Pro: You can sleep whenever and however you like!
To get the best sleep you can, create an atmosphere that’s set directly for your preferences. A dark, quiet, cool room is the ideal sleep situation and since you are alone, you can choose the perfect temperature and level of darkness without worrying what works for someone else.
Sleeping With Another Person: As you mature, you seek the companionship of another human being. Eventually you start dating, form a relationship, and may even get married. This drastically changes your sleeping situation. Suddenly you have several things to consider about your partner. Do they snore? Are they a blanket hog, or worse, a bed hog? Do they talk in their sleep? Do they sleep walk? You’ll learn a lot about your partner just by sharing a bed with them!
- Con: Your significant other may create a sleep-debilitating problem for you!
- Pro: You’ll have the comfort of having another person to cozy up with at night.
To get the best sleep you can, choose the right mattress. Your actual bed can make all the difference in the type of sleep you are getting, so it’s best to be comfortable. You want enough room so that when you and your partner are done cuddling, you can each roll over and get an undisturbed sleep.
Sleeping With A Pet: If you have chosen to adopt or buy a pet, they may start out in a crate or on the floor, but sooner or later, they’ll probably start sleeping with you in your bed. You’ll learn to accommodate them and allow them the space they need at your feet, or if they’re really lucky, a place cuddled up right next to you.
- Con: You’re sacrificing your space and possibly your maximum comfort level.
- Pro: You’ll further the unconditional love your pet has for you.
To get the best sleep you can, unfortunately you would have to keep the pets out of the bed all together. If you have guilt about putting them in a crate all night, why not create a sanctuary just for them? Buy your pet a luxurious bed and keep it in your bedroom so they’ll still be close by. They may actually enjoy that even more than your bed.
Sleeping With A Person and A Pet: If you’re living with a significant other and you own a pet, you’ll notice that space is becoming limited in your bed. Two bodies means less room for your pet, pushing them to another area of the bed, be it by your headboard, curled up at your side, or lying across your feet. Your significant other may take your sleeping needs into consideration, but your pet will not and you may start sacrificing your own comfort for theirs.
- Con: The lack of space may start to annoy your significant other or pet, causing them to want to sleep elsewhere.
- Pro: You’ll never feel neglected by anyone!
To get the best sleep you can, train your pet to sleep in a certain spot on your bed. If they are trained to stay in one spot, they may be less likely to try and takeover you and your partner’s personal space and get up and roam around the bed in the middle of the night.
Sleeping With The Family: As life goes on, you may choose to have children. As these children grow, with them grows their impending fear of the dark and need to sleep with you. This means everyone piles into bed at night – the spouse, the children, the pets, and you. You may wonder how you don’t end up on the floor every night considering the serious lack of space.
- Con: It may seemed cramped at times
- Pro: Once you adjust and find where you’re most comfortable, you’ll realize that you wouldn’t rather be sleeping any other way.
To get the best sleep you can, create a schedule where everyone has to go to bed at the same time. If everyone is lying down at once, there will be less in and out of the bed. This would also be extremely beneficial if everyone wakes up at the same time. Going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time every day really optimizes the quality of sleep you are getting on a daily basis.
Remember, in order to get the best night’s sleep, you need to learn how you sleep as an individual. Making sacrifices for your pets and loved ones is something that happens every day, but in order to live a full, healthy lifestyle you cannot neglect your sleep. Check out Jaron’s selection of mattresses to find the one that’s right for you and your situation and be on your way to your best sleep yet!
Creating A Functional Library
This month, we’ve already discussed the necessary pieces of furniture a library needs. Now, let’s take a closer look at how to utilize that furniture to make the library a space where students can grow and learn! As School Library Month draws to a close, we have put together a list of the best tips from professionals to help you arrange and decorate a library to create an optimal learning environment for your students.
Create a logical flow. A library needs to be organized in such a way so that finding resources or easy reads is simple. Traditionally, this is done using the Dewey Decimal System. If your library has seen better days and needs a hard reset, the easiest way to tackle this task is to pull all of the books from the shelves and start organizing them into piles. Then, use stickers to label the spines of the books with their Dewey Decimal number and an annotation of the author’s last name. You can further classify books within your school’s data base by publisher, publish date, and other relevant information.
Reset your collection. A library should have the most up-to-date information, as well as the classics that will always remain staples in education. Each year, it’s important to comb through the collection your library has and to get rid of books with outdated information. It’s also important to look out for books that may be worn or damaged in any way. Certain dated items that aren’t useful anymore should be taken off of shelves to preserve valuable space, and either recycled or kept in an archive.
Provide adequate lighting. Of course, a library needs proper lighting. If your library has individual desks, each setting might require a small desk lamp that provides horizontal lighting. Overhead lighting should provide enough vertical lighting so that students and teachers can properly see books, computer screens, and each other! If your library setting has windows, blinds are necessary to prevent too much glare from the sun throughout the day. When it comes to window treatments in a school setting, you want something stylish and functional that can withstand damage small children might cause to them.
Install safe and efficient shelving. When it comes to displaying your library’s collection, the shelving units used should be constructed and installed with safety in mind. Shelving units that line walls should be anchored to prevent them from tipping over. Heavy items should not be placed on the tops of lower shelving units, as they can easily be pulled down by young children and cause damage to the child or the book. If the shelving units your library utilizes have sharp corners, cover them with protective rubber or foam to prevent small children from injury.
Spark imaginations and inspire with decor. The library should be bright and inviting to all students who enter, making the decorations one of the most important aspects of a library’s setup. According to the experts at CertaPro Painters of Lower Makefield, a library should be painted in a bright color that evokes the excitement that learning provides. Many librarians choose to decorate a bulletin board each month with upcoming school events, famous author’s birthdays, or fun facts about literature. This space can also be used to honor students who have performed exceptionally or celebrate outstanding teachers for their achievements.
Celebrate School Library Month with these library optimizing tips!
Creative Toy Storage Ideas
If you’re a parent, you know how many toys your child pulls out to play with on a daily basis. The trouble with all of those toys is finding a place to keep them when the day ends, or when you have company over. Believe it or not, you probably own a number of toy-storing solutions already! Jarons has put together a list of ideas that you can utilize in your home to keep your children’s toys organized.
Trundle Beds: These beds have the capability of storing an extra mattress underneath the main structure of the bed. Instead of stowing an extra mattress, you can convert this space into toy storage. Simply remove the mattress from the trundle base and insert dividers or flat bins to keep your child’s toys organized.
Shoe Racks: Your young child probably doesn’t have 24 pairs of shoes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from an over-the-door shoe rack! From small trinkets to bulkier action figures and dolls, a clear shoe rack can be an organizing miracle for your child’s bedroom.
Food Jars: When it comes to storing your child’s toys, utilizing clear storage is the best option. Recycle mason jars (or any kind of empty container from your kitchen) to store your child’s trinkets in. Paint the tops with fun colors and use puffy paint to label the fronts of the jars. Be sure to leave a majority of the jar uncovered so your child can easily find what they are looking for.
Hampers: If a traditional looking toy box clashes with your interior decor, there are other options for storing bulky toys! Use a decorative hamper to hide large toys like play swords, princess wands, or stuffed animals.
Desk Space: If your child’s room is large enough for a play table or a small desk, make sure it has ample space for drawer storage. You can also find seating that doubles as a storage unit to place around the table. Certain toys, like coloring books, can be displayed on the table for consistent easy access, but avoid cluttering the table with too many toys.
Shelving: Never underestimate the power of wall storage. Bonus – when it comes to wall storage, the options are endless! You can choose traditional shelving for a contemporary look, or go for something more modern and hang baskets from the wall to stow toys in. It all comes down to your creativity. If you see something that you can convert into storage, use it!
Maintain organization of your child’s toys with these storage tips from Jarons Furniture.
Smart Furniture for Small Spaces
Living in a small home or apartment can be challenging when it comes to furniture. Space is limited, making it vital to choose only functional furniture pieces that you need. Jarons has put together a guide to choosing furniture for small living spaces. Read on to figure out which furniture pieces will best suit you and your living quarters!
Create hidden storage in everyday furniture pieces. That ottoman that you use to rest your feet on and convert into a table when you entertain can serve another purpose! Utilize it for storage, to stow extra linens or pillows inside of. Use a bench in your dining room or kitchen to sit on, and store extra place settings inside of it. Find ways to utilize all of the space in your home, including the void spaces in your furniture pieces!
Utilize multipurpose pieces. Opt for furniture that serves more than one purpose. For example, an ottoman can serve as a table when you entertain, or a bunk bed could have a mattress on top and a desk underneath. When you’re cramped for space, these pieces of furniture will help you remain functional while also saving space.
Arrange furniture away from the walls. Placing tables and couches flush against a wall can make a space feel smaller than it truly is. If you’re arranging furniture in a small home or apartment, create a unique space in the center of the room by arranging the furniture away from the walls to give the room volume.
Use your walls for storage. Make the most of your floor space with plenty of shelving. Whether you like to organization of a floor-to-ceiling bookcase or prefer the clean lines of simple shelving, line your walls with storage space. Avoid cluttering your shelves, as this can make a small room feel cramped.
Take advantage of color. The experts at CertaPro Painters of Akron suggest a simple way to make a small space appear larger – match the color of your furniture to the color your walls. The furniture will seemingly disappear into the walls, making the space appear more open!
Invest in nesting tables. If you’re tight on space but want the extra table room, nesting tables are the perfect solution. Another option is to utilize an end table that is equipped with a drawer and small shelving underneath. This end table has a pull-out tray and lower shelf storage, perfect for small spaces.
Make the most of your small living space with these furniture tips from Jarons! Check out our selection of functional furniture today.
How to Keep Your Home Extra Cozy This Winter
The winter months are quickly approaching, which means colder days, freezing nights and the potential for snowfall. When there is a significant amount of snow, many schools and workplaces have to declare a snow-day to keep everyone safe. There is nothing better than spending a winter day at home, especially when you have a cozy house to get snowed in to! Here are a few tips of how to make sure your home is snow-day ready.
Add an over-sized ottoman to the mix. Gone are the days where every house has a traditional coffee table. Over-sized ottomans are a great replacement! Many ottomans have built in storage and can also be used as a foot rest, additional seating, and a table when adding a drink tray. There are many ways to dress up or dress down an over-sized ottoman in your living space, but on snowy days it’s a nice addition to have where you can curl up and rest your feet while watching a movie with your loved ones.
Warm up with blankets and throws. Wishing you could add pops of color to your living space this winter? The perfect temporary fix is to add additional blankets and throws into your living area. Drape a throw across the back of your couch as an accessory. Place a pile of blankets in a basket next to the couch at an arm’s reach to keep yourself warm on the coldest days. Also, extra blankets around means you can build a fort with the kids when they have a snow-day from school!
Soften the space with pillows. Another way to add color and texture to a room is to add a mix of pillows. They come in all different shapes, sizes, materials and colors and are an easy accessory to add to a living space. This winter, change up the look of your living space by adding extra pillows to your couch, making it an inviting and comfy place to relax. Try to find pillows in warm tones like red or maroon to keep the room festive well after the holiday season.
Cozy up with a good read. Do you have trouble finding the time to read a book or catch up on your magazine subscription? Snow-days are a great excuse to sit and read all day. Place a stack of magazines and books on your ottoman for added décor and for something to read when the snow starts to fall.
Play games! Snow-days can be tough when people feel they are stuck inside with no activities planned. A great way to combat boredom is to decorate with some board games and puzzles. Start a puzzle on your ottoman for people to add pieces to. Place a chess board on a side table for easy access. Having these little activities around will not only be great for those snowy days off, but also to entertain all of your holiday guests.
Try these tips this winter to keep your living spaces cozy, warm and inviting.
Black Friday Furniture Shopping Tips
Black Friday is next week – are you ready? Many people will venture out in the early hours of the morning to get the best deals on big ticket items, from electronics, to cars, and even furniture. If you’re planning on making a big furniture purchase this Black Friday, review these tips before you head out in the cold!
- In the weeks before, make a list. If you haven’t already, spend some time combing through the furniture ads and circulars. Combine items that interest you into one list. Include pertinent information like product, color and price. Then, organize the furniture pieces by store. Try to put the stores in an order that makes the most sense for you to shop in. For example, start with the store furthest from your home, then work your way back towards your neighborhood.
- Test the furniture before you make a decision. Sit or lay down, depending on what you’re looking at. Move around and try different positions. As you do so, take mental note of things you like and don’t like about the furniture. Is it comfortable? Will it be easy to clean? Do the measurements fit the space you have available?
- Bring a family member or friend along. If you’re bringing big furniture pieces home that day, you might require help moving things to your car. Check with the retailer to see if they offer free in-home delivery for added convenience. More importantly, a shopping buddy can also help keep you sane should you have to fight traffic or wait in long lines.
- Set a budget and don’t go over! Limit yourself on how much you want to spend in total. If you can, take the cash out in advance so that you don’t overspend. If you are using credit cards, keep track of what you spend throughout the day and know how much room you have to spend on your card.
- Don’t forget to check clearance. Black Friday sale prices are great, but you may be able to find furniture marked down with even steeper discounts in the clearance section.
- If you can’t make it out on Black Friday, look online. There are plenty of retailers that offer online sales on Black Friday or Cyber Monday.
Black Friday is fast approaching. If you have your heart set on a new piece of furniture, be prepared for the early morning rush with these Black Friday shopping tips!