Starting a home design project can be a daunting task, but once you find your inspiration, the fun can really begin! Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

• Choose your colors. If you are working with a small space, you may want to incorporate more of your colors in your accessories or use a light wall color to brighten the space.
• It is always nice to have a warm rug underfoot, especially if you have hardwood floors. When placing a rug in a smaller-size space, leave at least 8-10” . Additionally, a growing trend is rugs stacked on top of one another. An area rug can change the entire look of a room so review what you saved and explore your options.
• Consider your room’s focal features and go from there, and remember, even the smallest items can make a space uniquely yours. For example, fireplace tools and screen can make a statement.

From there, you can build out the rest of the room! Starting with the largest item or most used item in the room is an easy place to start. If you need help making your vision come to life, stop in!

Our homes define our personality and say who we are.  What style defines you?  Are you modern, contemporary, glam, traditional or perhaps cottage?

Sometimes it is difficult to capture our personality amid those family pieces that have been handed down and we feel compelled to keep.

Buying one piece of furniture that is truly “you” can transform a space and make it feel more like the look you’re going for.  Even one piece of furniture can give a simple room an completely different vibe.

This could be a patterned chair, unique coffee table, or a large bookshelf to display your family pictures and items.

Additionally, the right accessories in a room can catch your eye, grab your attention and identify who you are. Choose the accent furniture that is right for you such as an accent chair or table and then add those paintings, pillows, lighting, colors and patterns that define you as a person.

May your house in 2019 be the home that is truly you!

White furniture is beautiful, but it can be hard to maintain with children and pets. There are a few strategies to keep your whites white and protect your furniture investments:

1. If you have white fabric furniture, make sure you have a chlorox pen! 
2. Clean up spills promptly so they don’t settle. 
3. Vacuum frequently if having guests since it will show any fur or crumbs.
4. Put a blanket or sheet over them if you don’t have company or they aren’t in use. This will keep them perfect!
5. Additionally, many fabrics today are stain resistant so even your white furniture can hold up against spills!

Wood dining room tables are timeless, stunning, and at times, an investment. Therefore, to keep your table nice for continuous use, especially during the holidays, we accumulated a few tips that will ensure your table stays beautiful and always looks beautiful.

1. Use placemats: There are so many beautiful placemats and chargers these days that they really can help add a statement to your table, not to mention preserving it.
2. Use a wood cleaner: Wood-specific cleaners are going to be safer for the wood and also have a conditioning element. If you use a microfiber towel, it will be extra nourishing for the table.
3. Put felt pads under decor: Sometimes your decor can actually scratch your table, so the little felt tabs can alleviate this problem!

With the holidays quickly approaching, if you’re hosting any festivities, planning is probably underway. We have a few furniture items that will make the holidays easier and more enjoyable!

• Buffet table: Let people serve themselves with this convenient piece that is great for decor when the holidays are over.
• Dining room table with a leaf: No need for a large table year round if you don’t have a large table. This option allows for you to bring out the extra chairs only as needed.
• Island: If your kitchen is small and you need extra space to prepare, a moveable island is a great option! You can store it away once you’re done preparing.
• Coffee table: as people are watching the parades, football games, and movies, a nice coffee table will be essential for snacks and beverages, but don’t forget the coasters!

As the temperature drops (or at least we can pretend it’s dropping) and the season of pumpkin everything begins, it’s time to start thinking about making your home and outdoors cozier for fall. We have a few ideas to keep the outdoors enjoyable and the indoors functional for all the family and friend gatherings to come.

1. An outdoor conversational set with a fire pit. This will allow the outdoors to be an extension of your home no matter what the weather is.
2. A sectional couch will ensure there is enough seating for football Sundays and post Thanksgiving feasting.
3. Lots of blankets make the space feel cozy, but are also necessary for people that think anything under 80 is chilly.
4. Trade out your pillows for warmer hues. This can instantly make a space feel more seasonal.
5. Dining room tables with a leaf make it easy to add seats for the holidays.

Unless you have a large family or extended group of friends, chances are you don’t frequently have overnight guests. If that’s the case, your guest bedroom is untouched space. To better utilize this area of your home, we have a few ideas to maximize the storage.

• Dresser: You can keep the top two drawers empty for your guests, but the rest can be used to store items that you don’t want boxed away. If you have a small closet, the guest dresser could even house your off-season clothes. Another idea is linens not in use, if you don’t have a linen closet that is.
• Under bed storage: You can either get a bed with built-in storage drawers underneath, or you can buy the plastic roller containers for easy access to your items.
• Ottoman: An ottoman will be a great place for your guests to sit as they put on their shoes and also has an aesthetic value. Additionally, some ottomans provide center storage.
• Nightstand: The guest nightstand, if it has drawers, can be a smaller place to house items like candles not currently in use, seasonal decor, and other small items.

Are you not ready to settle down? Does your family move frequently? If you and your family are on the go, here are a few decorating and furniture tips to make any house a home.

• Be flexible- the decor you have in your bedroom in one home may fit better in the living room in another home. Flexibility is the name of the moving game.
• If you can, stick with a similar color scheme so that decor can be easily rearranged, as mentioned above. Another option is purchasing neutral large pieces (i.e. rugs, couches, and chairs).
• Buy what fits your family’s needs, but consider not buying oversized pieces. Your furniture will need to fit in multiple spaces, and some may be smaller.
• Pieces that can have multiple uses, like ottomans and side tables, are great transitional pieces.

Remember, any house can be made a home!

Bonus rooms can have a bad name, but the space can be beautiful with a little assistance and purpose. First, you have to define the purpose: will it be a workspace, movie room, or workout space? We will cover the basics for each space below.

Work space:

1. This might seem obvious, but you will need a desk of some sorts.
2. Considering the dark nature of bonus rooms, you will also need a nice lamp to ensure the space has ample working light.
3. A cozy chair or couch will also make the space have another purpose: a reading room, which brings us to our final addition….
4. No working space is complete without a bookcase to house books, souvenirs, or decorative boxes filled with materials.

Movie room:

1. A large television or projector is the largest must for a room dedicated to entertainment.
2. Movie theatre style seating or merely a sectional couch will be the perfect seating for a movie room, as long as it is comfortable!
3. Additionally, you will beed a coffee table or side tables so there is a space to put down your movie snacks!

Workout space:

1. Aside from the workout  equipment, you will need a fun place to rest.
2. A fan will also keep the room cool during the intense workout sessions.

It is officially summer, which means it is officially time to spend your time outdoors- or at least admiring the outdoors from the comfort (and air conditioning) in your sunroom. Each space has its differences, but one fact remains: the incorporation of the outdoors. Make sure your furnishings reflect this fact.

1. Bar table or small dining table: On beautiful days, you will want to eat outside. Small tables are the perfect space to enjoy those days.
2. Entertaining set: A set like this conversation set is the perfect way to entertain guests and could look good in any space.
3. Outdoor rugs: Regardless if it is indoors or outdoors, an outdoor rug is durable, informal, and the perfect homey addition.
4. Plants: Plants make any space have a warmer feel and provide color. This is especially necessary for sunrooms so the feel of the outdoors is still captured inside.