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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!

Tips to Prevent Furniture Tipping Injuries

At Jarons, our customer’s safety and satisfaction is always a priority. Furniture tipping has become a growing epidemic in the United States. On average 40 children are taken to emergency rooms daily with injuries caused by furniture tipping. A majority of these injuries are caused by heavy furniture items, including desks, bookcases, and dressers.[i] Jarons, along with a number of businesses are recognizing the dangers that furniture tipping poses to children. Some retailers are recalling products that are known to be a tipping hazard.

Furniture tipping is preventable. When purchasing new furniture, keep your child safe by following these tips:

Secure cabinet doors and drawers with child-proof bumpers that prevent children from opening them. This will inhibit their ability to climb onto open drawers or doors, which can cause the furniture to tip.
Affix heavy furniture, including bookshelves and televisions, to walls with L-brackets to prevent them from tipping. These anchoring devices are inexpensive, and can withstand the weight of the furniture should your child decide to climb it.
Store televisions on a low stand with a wide base, and ensure the television does not exceed the weight limit of the stand. If necessary, mount the television to the wall.
Avoid top shelf teasing – don’t punish your child by taking away a toy and storing it on a high shelf. In this way, you are challenging the child to try to find a way to access their toy, which can bring them to climb up furniture.
Ensure that electronic cords are tucked away so that children cannot trip or pull on them and cause the electronic to fall.[v]

If your child is injured in a furniture tipping accident, contact the personal injury lawyers at Naftulin & Shick. Often there are financial and emotional damages caused by a furniture tipping injury, and Naftulin & Shick are experienced in dealing with these types of cases.

Protect your child from a furniture tipping injury with these furniture safety tips.

Jarons Supports Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton provides essential services such as food, clothing, and shelter to more than 100,000 New Jersey residents each year. Their programs are in place to help people and families to learn to be self-sufficient. The “On My Own” Supportive Housing was developed by the Catholic Charities’ staff to create safe and comfortable home environments for those diagnosed with persistent and serious emotional disorders.

For more than 12 years, Jarons Furniture has been assisting in the furninshing of consumers’ homes. They are proud to partner with Catholic Charities “On My Own” Supportive Housing program. In the Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton Spring 2014 newsletter,The Spirit, Jarons furniture owner, Greg was quoted saying, “I hope in the evening when you and your staff put your heads down on your pillows you take a moment to grasp the true beauty of the holy work you do. To hear you describe how the furniture makes a house a home and brings beauty and light to someone who may not have had the beauty of light in their life is remarkable. It really caused me to stop and reflect on the purpose of our work at Jarons Furniture. At times, we all go about our day with urgency but seldom stop to realize the great impact something as insignificant as furniture can make in a home. Keep up the good and holy work you do and Jarons will continue to do our small part in the process.”

To learn more about Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, click here.

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!

How to Protect Your Furniture

Furnishing your home is an investment which you hope will last for years to come. Furniture can suffer damage from everyday wear and tear from general use by our family and friends. It can seem like a fight to protect your wood tables and comfortable lounges from pets, children, food, and drinks. Even the sun can take a toll on furniture, causing certain fabrics and leather to fade.

Keep your furniture looking its best without forbidding it from the rest of the family. Read the following tips to protect your furniture from everyday life messes:

Use doilies and table runners. Your wood furniture needs to be cared for. Tablecloths, table runners, and doilies serve more purpose than just decoration; they protect against water rings, scratches, and burn marks left from hot plates. Make these items part of daily usage on tables.

Apply protective finishing. Some furniture comes with a stain-resistant coating, but if yours does not, buy some yourself. Stain-resistant finishes work wonders, are fast-drying, and protect wood surfaces that get a lot of use.

Utilize slipcovers. Slipcovers are an affordable way to protect your furniture from wear and tear, and can also transform the look of a room. The best thing about slipcovers is that they can be removed for washing.

Use throw blankets for your pets. Cats, dogs, and other pets can destroy your furniture by chewing, scratching, and leaving their hair behind. If your cat or dog loves to lay on your couch, use a throw blanket to avoid getting animal hair all over your couches. Buy or build a scratching post for your cats so they scratch it instead of your furniture. To keep them off of the couch altogether, buy a bed for your pet.

Keep your furniture looking good as new by following these protective tips. If your wood furniture has already suffered damage from water rings and scratches, it may be time for a new purchase. Click here to browse for cocktail tables and more discount furniture today.

Tips for Finishing Your Basement

Finishing your basement is one of the most worthwhile investments when upgrading your home. Whether you want to use your basement space for another bedroom, a man cave, or just a comfortable area to host guests, ensure the renovation goes smoothly by following these tips:

Check the code. Before you pound one nail, check with your local ordinance to find out whether or not you need a permit for your proposed renovation.

Make sure it’s dry. Prior to starting any project, make sure there are no moisture problems that could cause damage. Inspect the exterior walls and downspouts. Clogged downspouts can bring moisture into the basement. Also, check to see if you need replacement windows, as basement windows are more likely to leak from at or below ground level.

Protect your walls. Install furring strips on the wall to create space between the wall and any potential moisture that may collect on your walls over time.

Keep vapor out and warmth in. Consider using insulation that is completely enclosed in a vapor barrier. Polyurethane sheeting is great for keeping moisture out and convenient to work with, so you don’t have to deal with itchy insulation fibers.

Suspend your ceilings. If you need access to the electrical and plumbing systems in your ceiling, then suspended ceilings are your best bet. A drywall ceiling would require creating access panels.

Recess your lighting. Basement ceilings are typically low, so having recessed lighting will eliminate the need to hang fixtures from already low ceilings, making the room feel even shorter. Remember, brightening up the basement is essential if you plan on making this usable space. Basements without sufficient lighting can feel like dungeons.

Whether you need more space in your home or want to add to the value of it for the future, a finished basement is an attractive addition to any home. Remember to seek advice from professionals for projects that fall outside of your area of expertise, and start shopping for new furniture at Jaron’s Furniture Outlet!