How to Be a Smart Shopper For Upholstered Furniture!

We’re all there at some point ~ it’s time for out with the old, and in with the new! Buying furniture is an investment, and it’s so unfortunate if we’re disappointed with our decision once we’ve got it home. Whether it’s a sofa, club chair or dining chairs, there are several things to consider when narrowing down your options.

Test Drive ~ You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it first, and I don’t recommend buying a piece of furniture that you’ll be sitting on without actually sitting on it first! Though style, color and fabric are all very important, you want the piece to be comfortable as well, and people have different ideas of what’s comfortable to them. When thinking about dining chairs, consider how you entertain. Do you tend to linger at the table for 3 hours over several courses? A chair that’s comfortable for 2 minutes in the showroom, may not be for longer lengths of time.

Quality Check ~ There are a few ways to recognize quality vs. poorly constructed upholstered pieces. As with all things, you usually get what you pay for, and I recommend buying the best you can afford for the core pieces in your home.

Check for quality construction by looking under cushions and in the crevices (for example, where the arm meets the back of a sofa). Look for full coverage with the fabric and a tightly sewn construction.

Look for pattern matching on the fabrics as one clue to a better quality construction. When fabrics are a print (vs. solid), it takes more yardage of fabric to get the pattern to match up, so a company that’s less concerned about quality and details won’t invest in that extra fabric, or the time to carefully cut pieces so they’ll align correctly. For example, if you chose a vertically striped fabric on a chair, the pattern should be lined up from the top, down and across the seat, and down to the floor. The chairs shown here are from Ballard Designs, and they obviously care about pattern matching.

These are just a few things to consider when looking for upholstered furniture, but there are more! Check back weekly for more home improvement and decorating tips. If I can give you any assistance with your design and decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Seasonal Room Refreshers!

Is it a girl thing? No matter how much we love our home decor, we can become a bit bored from time to time. I love to swap around my accessories, often moving them to different rooms, or tapping into my hidden stash in the closet to bring out favorites that I haven’t see in a while. It’s like seeing old friends! There’s no better time than the change of seasons to bring a change of scene to your rooms!

Relieve Bedroom Boredom ~ One of my favorite seasonal swaps is with bedding. Duvet covers and shams can be very affordable, and since the bed is the focal point of most bedrooms, this will have major impact in your room. Try changing out your light summer cover for a fall inspired print. Or how about a richly colored velvet? That sounds cozy for winter! Or, if you have all white bedding, like I do, you can simply add a fall-inspired throw or coverlet, as shown here.

The Pop of Pillows ~ Another easy seasonal swap is with throw pillows. Your sofa can go from summer to fall in an instant! Though there are several sources to choose from, my favorite store is Pier 1. They have a vast selection of seasonal options, and the merchandise is constantly changing. Make an impact, and go for something bold for the fall, then bring in some glitz in December!

Accessorize, Accessorize ~ There are so many simple little changes you can make that will bring in the colors of the season. I love orchids, and normally buy white or brightly colored varieties in the warmer months. Those have recently been replaced by varieties in rich, fall colors, and it instantly gave a different feeling to my rooms. The same goes for changing out white candles with the colors and scents of fall, and take it one step further by changing the candle holders too. My clear glass votives and pillar holders have moved aside for pewter, bronze, and colored glasses in fall colors.

Check out last week’s blog for more ideas about bringing seasonal decorating into your home, on a dime! If I can give you any assistance with your design or decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your ideas together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Seasonal Decorating ~ On a Dime!

I’m so happy fall is here! It’s the beginning of my favorite seasons, and I love the cool weather, fires in the fireplace, cooking soups and stews, and of course, decorating for the holidays. What other time of year gives us so many holidays to decorate for, in a span of just 3 months?! That said, I don’t want to spend a lot of money for each individual holiday, but I DO want to see changes in my decor. Here’s a few tips to get you on your way to decorating for every season, on a dime!

Reuse & Repurpose ~ Save money AND be green by using what you already have. For example, I love to display pillar candles in clear glass vases. For everyday use, I might have colored sand in the bottom, or some decorative stones. How about swapping that out with this fun little mix of glass gems and acorns from Pier 1? That will get you through November, then you can swap out again for Christmas with fresh cranberries, small ornaments, or baby pine cones for a country look.

These little rattan trees from Pier 1 can be used for multiple seasons as well. For fall you might cluster a few of them with some tiny pumpkins and colorful berry sprigs arranged at the bottom, and maybe tuck in a few votive holders. When Christmas comes along, change out the berry sprigs with some holly, the pumpkins with pine cones or colored ball ornaments, and you’re set!

Think Outside the Box ~ Is an apple just for eating? No, it’s a tealight holder! How about a pear placed on its side? It’s so simple to carve out a little pocket in a variety of fruits or vegetables and place a little tealight in the top. Mixed in among your other accessories, it can make a stunning display on your dining table.

Scour Your Landscape ~ I love doing displays on the fireplace mantle, down the center of a dining table, and on my front porch. Sometimes I don’t need to go much farther than my yard (or my neighbors!) for inspiration. My old neighbor had a fabulous magnolia tree in his front yard, and every Christmas I would (with his permission, of course), cut several stems to use in my displays. Magnolia branches are wonderful because they can look very casual with pine cones, or very elegant with sparkly beads and ornaments.

Check back weekly for more home improvement and decorating tips! If I can give you any assistance with your design and decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!