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.
How to Coordinate Furniture & Paint Colors
Whether you’re moving into a new living space or refreshing a room in your current home, one of the most difficult interior decorating problems you’ll have to solve is how to coordinate your furniture with the paint colors that you’re going to want on the interior of the house. If you’re having trouble figuring out how best to match your interior paint to your furniture, here are a few guidelines to get your creative juices flowing:
Bold colors bring natural and neutral furniture to life. If your furniture is neutrally toned, settling for white or beige walls may be safe for avoiding clashing color combinations, but the result is boring at best. Instead, venture out of your comfort zone and try something different, like lime green or royal blue to liven up the space. Injecting a little bit of color into an accent wall will breathe life into an otherwise bland living space.
Don’t forget the molding. Crown molding is an often underrated aspect of interior decoration. If your furniture is neutral and your walls are bold, keep your molding neutral to keep the visual aesthetics from becoming overpowering. Likewise, if you’d rather have colorful furniture and neutral walls, consider painting your crown molding an exciting color to add an accent to the room and complement your furniture.
You can’t go wrong with classics. If you’re nervous about incorporating bold colors in your home, bring in color through other ways, like throw pillows, vases or other small accessories throughout the room.
Pick a favorite and run with it. You can never go wrong with your favorite color because the more visually appealing a room is to you, the more satisfied you’ll be. After that, it’s a matter of picking accents and balancing the aesthetic with neutral white or off-white tones.
Embrace the unknown. Though a professional interior decorator will tell you that there are a lot of rules to the decorating game, the fact is that rules were made to be broken. You might surprise yourself with a pleasant combination.
With limitless options, decorating can be puzzling. If painting the walls is your biggest concern, contact a reputable contractor like Park City Painters who will get the job done right while helping you decide what fits your vision.
Tips to Consider When Purchasing New Living Room Furniture
Shopping for new living room furniture can be a daunting task for any homeowner. Furniture sets are a big investment, so you need to know exactly what you want and what will look great in your home prior to the purchase.
Follow these tips to make a clear choice in your transition to new living room furniture:
Do your research. Always compare prices online with various stores in the area. Knowledge is power and can help you to save on what you like. It is also important to know that the brand you are choosing is quality. Know what you are doing before you walk into the store.
Consider the shape of the room. One of the most important things you can before furniture shopping is to measure the size of the room and know what size furniture will fit. Measure the width and length of the doorways leading to the room. Use this information to determine the correct sizes for your new furniture.
Determine the type of material. Leather and microfiber are just a few of the different types of material available. In most cases, leather is durable and resistant, but it can show scratching easily. Microfibers have a nice suede look and feel to them and tend to appear stain proof.
Test out your purchase. An obvious but sometimes overlooked step in buying furniture is to make sure you have thoroughly tested out your purchase. Comfort is a major part of what new living room furniture is about. Bring your family along and make sure your new furniture set is one that everyone will enjoy.
Entertain guests this summer while making your new purchase as smooth a process as possible. For more information, contact the experts in living room furniture at Jarons Furniture Outlet today.
Buying Furniture on a Budget
One of the more costly components of owning a home is furnishing it, and if your pocket is already strained from your new mortgage payment or other home repairs, it can seem like a frustrating process. However, the good news is, there are ways to budget shop for furniture. Below are some tips to ensure you get great new pieces for your home while not breaking the bank:
Knowledge: Before you even step foot into a local furniture store, take a moment to gather your thoughts and ideas. Make sure you know exactly what you want, and which furniture pieces you need the most. If you don’t have either a mental list or a written list of what you need most, you will most likely find yourself buying pieces that you don’t necessarily need and therefore spending too much.
Unfinished Furniture: One route you can take is looking into purchasing unfinished furniture. Your local furniture store will most likely offer an array of unfinished pieces, and with a little bit of time and hard work, you could have a completely unique family or dining room, all while saving a little bit of money.
Buy Used or Discount: Primarily buying used or discount furniture instead of new will help you save as well. Your local furniture store may have some assorted used pieces, but you can also look for yard/garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, or public auctions to find unique older pieces. A little restoration work and those pieces can look good as new!
Jaron’s Furniture Outlet has a selection of clearance furniture called “The Heap,” where everything is discounted 20%-80% off of our everyday low prices. Click here to learn more about our clearance center: http://www.jarons.com/clearance-center
Selecting the Right Furniture Style
Decorating your living quarters is no easy task. With so many various styles and finishes to choose from, diving into the variety of options at hand may seem overwhelming for any newcomer.
Fortunately, the unique factor about this entire process is that the creativity lies entirely in YOUR hands. What style fits you the best? Which style expresses you the most? What colors do you find most aesthetically pleasing? The following furniture styles will help guide you through this rather seemingly tedious process with ease:
Traditional: Stemming from early 16th century European ideals, traditional furniture was intended to mimic many of the royal elegancies from that time period. Known for its hand-carved and stained wood features, carpenters would deeply-carve pieces that radiate the utmost sophistication- after all, many royal families throughout Europe were noted for utilizing this style, and despite its early roots, many people are still found using this style today.
Modern: Offered as a refreshing break from the previous traditional styles, modern furniture marked the start of a new era of design. Heavily influenced by the concept of modernism post World War II, modern furniture originally brought abstract and distinctive styles into homes and apartments throughout the globe, contrary to the classical elements of its traditional predecessor. Instead of wood, a variety of steels and plastics were blended together, ultimately reflecting the breakthrough in technology around that time.
Contemporary: Popular in many urban areas, contemporary style contains many similar features to modern styles, with a twist. Virtually the same materials are highly regarded in both styles, but the idea of minimalism is what sets contemporary style apart. Contemporary design is meant to be simple yet sharp, which means the fewer pieces in a room, the better. Many furniture trends lie in contemporary design, so if you like to keep up to date with style, this may be the look for you.
While there are hundreds of more in-depth and specific styles of furniture originating from each culture in the world, the three described seem to be the most popular among professional decorators and homeowners alike. So, feel free to be creative and use any of these styles in the manner you desire, and take a look at our online store for some possible ideas. Happy decorating!
Choosing Carpet: Critical Considerations
There’s a lot of things to consider when choosing carpeting for your home. You don’t want to select a carpet that clashes with your color scheme, or introduces the wrong textures. After all, it’s a big investment that you want to last (and look good!) for a long time. Below are some things to keep top of mind as you’re selecting your new carpet:
Be Careful With Trends: Trends come and go, so selecting a carpet based on what designers deem to be currently “in” or popular could turn out to be a bad choice. Eight trends later, you’ll be left with the same carpet that’s now dated and obscure. Stick with the true classic looks that will never go out of style.
Choose Neutral Tones: Brightly colored carpets may work for certain rooms, but if you have plans to redecorate down the road, be careful, as your options will be limited. Choosing neutral tones doesn’t have to be boring, especially when everything else around it is much more disposable than your carpeting. When it comes time to buy a new living room set, you’ll be glad you went with the tan carpet over the maroon.
Go Green: We’re all familiar with that “new carpet smell.” Did you know it’s actually volatile compounds (such as formaldehyde) that can degrade your indoor air quality? To be environmentally friendly and ensure the health of your family, select carpeting consisting of natural fibers and non-toxic dyes.
Padding is Important: Padding prevents your carpet from rubbing against your floors, and reduces the pressure caused by everyday foot traffic. Buying cheap padding for your carpet (or even worse, skipping it all together) will cause premature wear and tear. And as an added plus, it helps to sound-proof your home and keep it insulated.
If you heed the above considerations when buying carpeting, you’ll select a quality carpet that should last for years to come! For more information about Cincinnati Flooring options, contact Floor Coverings International at (513) 729-7499 today.
Dining Room Do-Over
With major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas still a ways off, now may be a good time to begin renovate your dining room before you welcome extended family into your home for the holidays. Below are some things to consider as you begin the do-over process:
Theme: The first step when renovating your dining room is to decide on a theme, and appropriate colors for that theme. Do you want something rustic, or do you prefer contemporary décor? Your style and theme affects everything from the color of your walls, floors, furniture, etc.
Furniture: Picking dining room furniture is the next step, as you shouldn’t paint or wallpaper your walls until you’ve got your furniture selected to make sure everything jives. You can choose to renovate or reupholster existing dining room furniture, or wipe the slate clean and buy a brand new set. You’ll need to consider how large of a table you’ll want and how many chairs can fit comfortably, whether or not the table has the option to expand, if you want a buffet and hutch, etc.
Flooring: If your dining room is currently carpet, you may want to consider making the switch to hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors give your home a sleek and luxurious feel, and you can always buy an area rug for under the table so the bottom of the chairs and table don’t scratch up the floor.
Painting: Now that you’ve got your furniture and flooring selected, it’s time to select a paint color that compliments both. You can chose to paint all of the walls, paint just an accent wall, or do a combination of paint/wallpaper. The possibilities are truly endless!
Light Fixtures: As you’re renovating everything else in the room, don’t forget about the light fixture. Elegant chandeliers can bring life to the room, and you might even be able to find a great fixture at a thrift store so you don’t have to break the bank.
If you begin the process now, come November, your dining room will be ready to be shown off, and your guests can truly dine in style!
Interior Decorator Advice: Functional Furniture Arrangements
When you buy a new home, each empty room can seem overwhelming. Jaron’s Furniture Outlet can help you find furniture within your budget, but what happens when you get home?
Here are some furniture arranging tips from interior decorators Decorating Den Interiors:
The Vision
Establish a feel for the room. Maybe you want your bedroom to feel cozy, and your living room to feel open and airy. Knowing how you want the room to feel will help you place your furniture.
Determine function. If you’ll be using the living room for entertaining, you’ll need flexibility with your space and furniture choices.
The Steps
Find or create a focal point. The easiest way to arrange furniture in any room is to start with a focal point. In your living room, it may be your television or the fireplace. In your bedroom, it may be your headboard or a work of art hanging above your bed.
Assess the walkways. For your home to have an easy flow, your furniture shouldn’t create obstacles. Keep walkways between rooms clear.
Designer Do’s and Don’ts
Do allow about 20 inches in front of furniture for traffic.
Don’t forget about lighting. There should be a table or floor lamp by every seating area.
Do mix patterns and textures in your furniture.
Don’t make everything match. Colors should complement each other.
Decorating Den’s designers come right to your door, and create beautiful spaces that suit both your style and your budget.
Upgrade Your Dining Room
The dining room is one of the most important rooms in the home, especially around the holidays. If Christmas, New Years, and other important holidays take place at your house, you may want to consider upgrading your dining room set.
Jaron’s Discount Furniture has a variety of dining room furniture in natural wood and contemporary colors, sure to match your taste, be it traditional or more modern. If you’re planning to mark the holidays quietly with a few people, small but elegant sets are available from as low as $227.99. If you welcome grandma, grandpa, nieces ,nephews, and other extended family into your home for special occasions, than one of the below options may be more appropriate:
Brussels: This traditional style set is characterized by dark wood and beautiful accents. The seven piece package includes the table, four chairs, and two arm chairs for $1,399.99. The buffet table is available for an additional $499.99, and extra chairs can be purchased individually.
Franklin Park: This nine piece package for $1,799.99 features a table, six chairs, buffet, and china cabinet in a natural medium black walnut stained finish. The contemporary design is accented by banded detailing on the table and case pieces.
Savona: Constructed of hard wood solids and veneers, this nine piece set includes a table, four side chairs, two arm chairs, a china buffet, and a china deck for $2,199.99. The medium brown cherry finish with gold undertones perfectly complements a more traditional dining room, and the set includes a 20” leaf , perfect for expanding the table when extra space is needed.
Those who enjoy fine dining know that half of the dining experience is presentation. Why not showcase your homemade meals on something as presentable as your cooking? Contact Jaron’s Discount Furniture to find the option that’s right for you and your family.