Saturday, November 14, 2009

Why Choosing Bedroom Furniture First Can Help Inspire Your Interior Design Ideas


So it's that time of year again when everybody starts to feel the cold and it's all getting rather miserable outside. Well, this is certainly the best time of year to redecorate your home and if you're starting with your bedroom then you'll need to consider bedroom furniture. Selecting bedroom furniture can be hard but there are a few tips you can follow if you want to get the best out of your new bedroom.


Redecorating is always exciting and that's one of the first things that you'll need to overcome. It can be all too easy to simply buy everything you like because it's exciting. Stop the drama and think about things properly. If you want to end up with a stylish bedroom then you'll need to learn a bit about interior design.


Firstly, finding out what colours are in at the moment isn't something you really need to worry about. If you're going for a warm wintery feel then it's a good idea to use darker colours. However, if you have a small bedroom then don't go too dark - perhaps only paint a feature wall rather than everything.


Now, when it comes to choosing the furniture, you want to ensure that you get things right. There's nothing worse than a beautifully designed room with a horrible piece of furniture stuck in the middle. Think about where everything will go and plan in advance - don't buy anything before you're ready.


Your bed is obviously the major part of your bedroom so it's essential to get this right. Perhaps it would be a good idea to pick a bed first and then design the rest of your room around this piece of bedroom furniture? A lot of interior designers do this - they get inspiration from a piece of furniture and then work the room around that rather than starting from scratch.


It can also be hard if you want a specific type of furniture and you've already designed your whole room - if it doesn't match you're screwed! Just make sure that you're aware of everything available on today's market and consider all your options before you choose anything.



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Lighting Tips for Your Home


Bathroom lights
Image by gehat via Flickr


The most magnificent pieces of furniture can look just ordinary if you don't have the right kinds of lighting in your home. You worked hard to make the rooms in your house look the way you wanted them to. Now, show them off.

Here are some tips on properly lighting the rooms in your home:

One of the best tips for getting the most out of your home lighting is to light in layers. Depending on the time of day and weather conditions, the lighting needs in a room can shift dramatically. If you don't layer the lighting, you are only giving yourself an 'all or none' option. Besides regular lights, you can use accenting lights so you can highlight areas in the room that you want to stand out. You can also choose decorative lights that will add a beautiful touch and spread light in the room.

In the kitchen or the bathroom you may want to look into task lighting. These lights are going to brighten up the area where a task is going to be completed. In the kitchen the lights could be used under the cabinets to give you a little extra light when you're reading recipes and preparing the meal. In the bathroom, these lights will be great friends when you put on makeup.

In the bedroom, you don't want lights right over your head. Instead, a table lamp near the bed is better as it will allow you a source of reading light without the glare overhead lights may cause.

Don't forget the bedroom closet. Not all closets come with lights in them. If you want the best view of what's in there, you're going to need some lighting. If you plan on installing a closet light, make sure it's enclosed, so the hot bulb can't come in contact with any of the materials in the closet. If you have the space you may want to add a vanity and chair to your closet and turn it into a dressing room.
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Home Decorating Style Guide

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Greece Living Room Set"]Greece Living Room Set[/caption]

Much like clothes, the trends in home decor and furnishings can change season after season, but that doesn't mean you're expected to totally redo your furnishings with the latest styles. Instead, you need to learn how to create a stylish home that will stand the test of time.

When you are considering furniture purchases for a stylish home, you should go through a two-step checklist.

First Question - Is the furniture going to change with the trends?

Second Question - Are these pieces that you are willing to say goodbye to?

Items under the first column should be the larger items – sofas, dining room tables, coffee tables, beds, and dressers. You want these items to be with you for a long time, as the payments on them likely will be the same. That means you need to either be a psychic, and know what will change in the trends, or choose items that will never go out of style. The safest bet is the latter. For these larger items, pick pieces that are not part of the latest fad. They shouldn't be pieces that stand out as being a part of a trendy home. You may want to stick with something a little simpler and plain, so you know it will always be around to do the job and still fit in.

You can add accents to the second column of your checklist. They could be smaller accent tables, lamps, area rugs, even tablecloths and chair covers. As the new styles come into play, you can purchase some of these accent pieces to dress up your large items. The ending result is that you have a home that looks stylish, while letting you keep the larger furniture pieces you love.

You can even have style in your home office in this respect, by choosing base furniture pieces that are stable and simple, and dressing them up with the more current themed decor accents.

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Tips on How to Protect Leather Furniture



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="125" caption=" "]Leather texture[/caption]


If you are thinking about bringing a piece of furniture made of leather into your home, make sure you are brining that piece into an environment where it will thrive and remain as beautiful as the first time you saw the furniture.

Keep it Out of the Sun – Leather furniture is not a fan of sitting in direct sunlight. While you may want to make sure it's well-lit so everyone can see it, make sure it's artificial lighting that's shining onto your leather or else you may soon find you have a piece of furniture you don't like. Sunlight can lighten the color of your leather or make it dry out and start to crack.

Is Your Leather a Little Chilly? – Remember, leather is skin, even if it is on a piece of furniture, and may well act accordingly. If the temperature in a room is too hot or cold for your skin, it's also too hot or cold for the leather and may adversely affect it. You should also keep leather away from places where the temperatures may shift quickly, such as in front of the heater or air conditioner.

Maintaining Proper Oil Levels – Leather has oil in it. The trick is maintaining the oil level in leather. When it comes to leather furniture, the best way to do that is to not mess with it. If you alter the oils in leather, you won’t fix it. Leather can’t regenerate natural oils. You should not use oil based soaps and cleaners that may leave too much oil in the piece. You should also not use soap or detergent cleaners, as they could take the oils out of the leather. Losing the oils it needs can speed up the drying and cracking process.

Protect Instead of Trying to Clean – When you first get your leather furniture it's advisable to use a leather protector that will keep spills from seeping into the piece and causing stains. It's much easier to prevent the stains upfront, than to try and clean them up afterwards.
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Best Places to Find Budget Furniture

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Cuba Living Room Set"]Cuba Living Room Set[/caption]

It's not just first-time homeowners who have to find budget furniture. In fact almost everyone, at one time or another, had to furnish a home or apartment on a budget. I know that I borrowed furniture from my parents, gratefully took grandparents' offerings, and shopped at garage sales.
But eventually I wanted something to trade out the hand-me-downs from family and strangers for things that would actually help me create a more mature and coordinated home.

I had to find ways to stretch my mini-budget without sacrificing my taste for nice things. I was surprised to find out how many places there were to find bargains.

Don't expect to find exactly what you want or need. You might have to be creative and adapt what you can find to what you need.

Learn to see pieces for the details and lines they have, not just for what you can put in them. If you see a beautiful teak table instead of the mahogany desk you need, thing about refinishing it and adding filing drawers. A period side table can be painted and moved into the bedroom.

Don't buy a piece if you'll need to do too much work on it. Think about your skills and the time you have and the space you have to work in.

See if your neighborhood has some of these sources for budget furniture:

Garage Sales
You might be able to walk next door on a Saturday morning and find just the piece you need. What your neighbor is getting rid of may be just the piece you need. When shopping at a garage sale, always bring cash, look for defects, and be ready to negotiate on the price. It's usually expected and you can often get a great bargain.
Flea Markets
Many communities and colleges stage flea markets on weekends at large parking lots. Vendors set up their wares and you can wander around looking for what you need. Beware: you might not find what you need but you probably won't get away without buying something.
Your Neighborhood Dumpsters or Curbside
As you take a walk around your neighborhood, keep your eyes open for furniture pieces left on the curb. The end of the month is a good time, since that's when people are clearing out their homes to get ready to move. "One man's trash is another man's treasure," as the saying goes. I found a great wrought iron table and bench on the curb once--both at the same house. I sanded off the rust and painted the pieces with rust-proof finishing paint. The table is on my patio and the bench at the end of my bed.
Thrift Stores and Junk Stores
Local charities, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army often provide thrift stores where people can bring their household discards and unneeded furniture to donate for tax deduction. The money raised from making sales goes into your local community to help those in need. It might take a few trips and perseverance, but if you're successful you'll really get a bargain. Enlist friends to be on the lookout, too.
Consignment Stores
A great strategy for consignment store shopping is to introduce yourself to the owner and ask them to call when your needed item comes in. People bring their things to be sold and they get only a portion of the sale. A hospital in my community has a consignment store that receives beautiful estate pieces. I've sold and bought things there.
Model Home Furnishings
Home builders contract with designers to decorate and furnish their model homes. If you see a model you like, ask the sales office when they'll remove the furnishings. Ask where they sell their pieces. You might even be able to buy a roomful of furniture, coordinated by a designer. And you'll get the pieces well below market price. Beware of fading, spots, or wear-and-tear.
Design Center Showroom Samples
Most large cities have Design Centers and Merchandise Marts that have "sample sales" monthly or quarterly where discontinued furnishings that have been used as showroom samples are sold. The sales are often advertised in local newspapers.
Furniture Store Scratch and Dent Rooms
Almost every furniture store or department has a back corner where damaged pieces are sold at deep discount. Visit often to keep an eye on what goes back there.
Furniture Store Clearance Outlets and Sales
Many major department and furniture stores have outlet center with ongoing or periodic furniture sales. Often the tags are marked with dates and prices are reduced every 30 or 60 days. Furniture in these outlets may be either scratched, a second, and overrun, repossessed, or otherwise imperfect. However, prices will generally reflect any imperfections and may also be negotiable.
Auction Houses and Online Auctions
These are a great place to find unique furniture and decor items. If you actually go to an auction, visit on preview days to check out each piece for damage. If you're buying large furniture, you need to find out where your item is located. It wouldn't make any sense to pay more for shipping than the actual cost of the item. You'll pay dearly for real antiques but can get a great bargain, especially if there aren't any other bidders.
Trade with Family or Friends
I gave my brother a large cabinet for his living room and he gave me my grandparents' living room table. When they moved out of state, we traded back. Great deal!
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Decorating Your Home with Leather Furniture


leather sofa


What does that mean for the rest of your furniture? Well they may get a little jealous, but the leather furniture is going to get all the attention and turning heads. It may even push the other furniture out of the way. When you are considering bringing a piece of leather furniture into your home, think about how it will fit in with the other pieces of furniture you have.

Will they blend into the room with it, or will they stand out as the cheap furniture pieces that are by the beautiful leather furniture? If the latter is the case, you may need to get rid of some of the old when bringing in the new. You want the focus to be on the good in the room, not the pieces that no longer fit in.

What about the rest of the room? If you are thinking of putting leather furniture in a room that is a mixed with of all sorts of things that have collected over the time, it's time to rethink the room design. Decide on the purpose of this room, and how you want it to look when it's done. You're not putting an expensive piece of leather furniture in for it to get lost among years of pack-ratting.

Another thing you need to consider is what else needs to be redone in the room. If you really want your leather furniture to be in the spotlight, the rest of the room should accent the furniture. That includes the walls. Depending on the colors of furniture you are going to purchase, you may want to repaint the walls to a shade from a complementary color palette.

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Creating the Perfect Dining Room

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="209" caption="Juno Dining Room Set"]dining room sets[/caption]

Very few modern day homes keep their dining room as a space only to enjoy meals. Most dining rooms actually could be called a number of things including the homework room, the bill-paying room, the game room, or the social room. Dining room tables have taken on a number of roles in recent years. Much like any other open space in the house, when there was a need for a new space to get something done, the dining room ended up being that place.

Pub Dining Table Set
So, how do you make sure your dining room is going to be able to serve all the roles you ask of it?

When creating your dining room, consider the size of the dining room table compared to the space in the rest of the room. A good fit makes for a good social atmosphere. If the table is too big for the room, people may feel uncomfortable in the space. The same is true about a dining table that is too small for the dining room it's in.

Dining Table Pad
Comfort is very important. If you are going to have a bunch of friends over for dinner, it will likely linger into dessert, coffee, and a lot of conversation at the table. You don't want to cut the conversation short, just when it's getting really good, because your guests are uncomfortable. Make sure you get chairs with adequate padding, so your guests enjoy their time. This padding shouldn't just be on the seat, but also the back of the chair, so it's a comfortable place to lean back and really get into the conversation.

The tabletop surface needs to be strong. You will be asking this space to put up with everything from game pieces to sliding dinner plates and kids scribbling on a homework page. If you choose a tabletop that has a softer wood, you need to make sure to invest in a protective dining table pad to keep your table surface from being damaged.
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Style Your Home With Best Furniture

France Sectional Sofa

Are you planning to renovate your house? You can choose from a huge variety to add comfort and style to your living room, bedroom, study room or any place you wish! Nowadays there is so much in the store that you can't stop shopping once you lay your eyes over them! If you are looking for something that has modern influence but is unique from the rest then you can try the modern furniture. Basically it is produced from the late 19th century. It uses materials like such as steel in various forms like molded plywood and plastics. Made up of gilded and dark carved good it offers a classy and rich look.

The polished metal as well the fabrics used add to its beauty. If you are searching for something trendy and fashionable then you must go for contemporary furniture. Contemporary furniture uses bold colors which can be regarded as its trademark. If you wish to use colours like red, white, black, pink, blue, green etc then you won't face much problem looking for such kind of furniture. It uses metal, glass and wood in a stylish manner. Italian furniture style is different from the others as it provides a natural look to your room. Among the Italian furniture Tuscan happens to be the best selling.

The natural look is due to the use of materials like leather, chestnut wood, Cyprus, pelt etc. It offers a pleasant and intimate touch to your home. To add an alluring and comfortable touch your bedroom, you need to carefully choose your bedroom furniture. Nowadays designer beds are available in the markets. Furniture with attractive and innovative patterns as well as in rich colors would really provide an impressive look to your room. You can even choose wooden bed, iron bed depending on your choice and taste. You can even use modern Italian furniture for this purpose because it will provide elegance to your bedroom.

Adding wardrobes created in Italian design will add to its appeal. In fact the chest of drawers in the room can be used to store a lot of items for your daily use. Depending on the look you want to give to your house you can choose from a wide range of furniture available in classy and elegant designs. They adorn your house and also give you comfort and pleasure. You can use wood furniture or even those carved out of natural products like oak or and even leather. You can also use vibrant and rich colors to reflect style and confidence. You also needn't worry about the price because you can get your furniture at reasonable prices along with the best deals. So redecorate and design your home with the best possible resources.

Planning to renovate your home? Do not worry at all as you don't need to spend heaps of money for that. On a few clicks away, you can be the sole owner of classy modern furniture from here
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Decorating Your Home with Leather Furniture


leather sofa


What does that mean for the rest of your furniture? Well they may get a little jealous, but the leather furniture is going to get all the attention and turning heads. It may even push the other furniture out of the way. When you are considering bringing a piece of leather furniture into your home, think about how it will fit in with the other pieces of furniture you have.

Will they blend into the room with it, or will they stand out as the cheap furniture pieces that are by the beautiful leather furniture? If the latter is the case, you may need to get rid of some of the old when bringing in the new. You want the focus to be on the good in the room, not the pieces that no longer fit in.

What about the rest of the room? If you are thinking of putting leather furniture in a room that is a mixed with of all sorts of things that have collected over the time, it's time to rethink the room design. Decide on the purpose of this room, and how you want it to look when it's done. You're not putting an expensive piece of leather furniture in for it to get lost among years of pack-ratting.

Another thing you need to consider is what else needs to be redone in the room. If you really want your leather furniture to be in the spotlight, the rest of the room should accent the furniture. That includes the walls. Depending on the colors of furniture you are going to purchase, you may want to repaint the walls to a shade from a complementary color palette

furniture stores

contemporary furniture , sofa , love seat , dining room set , leather sofa, living room set , love seat , recliner , coffee table , sectional sofa

ashley furniture , discount furniture , modern , furniture , recliner