Moving Furniture Safely
Are you ready to move? If you answered that question with a grumble or a groan then you’ve most likely had to move before and loathe the idea of doing it again. Moving is time consuming and draining, but when managed properly you can lessen the strain. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you have to pack up.
Safety Materials – Drop cloths, furniture sliders, back braces, furniture straps or ropes, and dollies (hand trucks) should be used whenever possible to prevent injury and damage to items. You can never have too much when it comes to padding for your furniture and boxed items.
Teamwork – If you plan on moving lots of furniture, make sure you have lots of help. Don’t try to move all of it alone and know the limits of what you can carry. Moving heavy furniture and items can wear you down quickly, so be sure to take a break when you need it. If you’re moving anywhere in Bucks County, the experts at Mooney’s Moving are prepared to help you move safely and efficiently!
Remove Drawers/Shelves – Don’t try to move furniture with drawers still inside or shelving still intact. Always take out items from furniture to be moved and place them in sturdy boxes. Remove shelves that aren’t bolted into shelving units and drawers from dressers and bureaus. Basically, if you put it together, you should take it apart when you move. Disassembling furniture reduces the chances of damaging it and saves space in the moving van. If your furniture came pre-assembled, then wrap it up as much as possible. Use bubble wrap for legs and plastic sheeting for fabrics.
Lift, Don’t Drag – Always use your legs when lifting furniture or heavy boxes. Also, don’t drag any furniture or you might damage it and the flooring. Use furniture sliders or have someone help you lift the item.
Wrap Items – Use bubble wrap for moving delicate and fragile items and wrap fabric furniture such as sofas and armchairs in plastic sheeting to protect it from being damaged. Large, heavy items such as mirrors should be wrapped in a moving blanket and moved vertically, not horizontally, to protect the frame.
Stack Items By Weight – Pack the moving truck or van from back to front and heavy to light. Place heavy items on the floor of the moving truck and lighter items on top. By the same token, keep awkward furniture and décor on the sides of the truck and have them strapped down if necessary.
There’s no easy button to push that can magically have all of your precious possessions moved in the blink of an eye. However, by planning out your move and giving yourself the time needed to pack properly with the right tools will surely help make your moving day less stressful than you anticipated.
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
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!