It's no surprise that computers have affected all of our daily lives in the way we communicate, handle our finances, do homework, keep up with daily events, and much, much more. While most of us have adapted to the computer age, we haven't been as quick to adapt our furnishings to accommodate this new focal point in our homes.
While most family members have a need or desire to use the computer, our computer stations are not very user-friendly for the entire family. The truth is that not every family has the space in their homes to dedicate an entire room as a home office, but almost everyone needs some kind of space that is a center for a home computer, bills, receipts, mail and other important paperwork. For some, that spot is in the kitchen; for others, it is the bedroom or the dining room.
So how can you create a workstation that is designed to work just as well for Mom as for little Billy? The key is to get organized! No, that doesn't mean you have to change everything about the way you work or use your desk (the vast majority of us let things pile up and hope to have a day when we can sort out the mess). But it does mean having separate areas for each family member's belongings so everyone has equal use of the space. Here are a few ideas of how to make a family workstation work well.
Not every family has the space in their homes to dedicate an entire room as a home office, but almost everyone needs some kind of space that is a center for a home computer, bills, receipts, mail and other important paperwork. Sometimes that space is in the a spare bedroom, the dining room, or even the kitchen. Regardless of where your "home office" space is, keeping it organized is often a challenge because most of us let those things pile up, waiting for that magical moment when we "have time" to clean it up.
It'd be great if we all had color-coded folders neatly aligned and hidden in drawers. But the reality is that most of us just want something that is convenient. Here are a few suggestions to keeping your office space - big or small - organized and easy to maintain.
Today, the home represents more than just a place to crash at the end of the day. For many people, home is their favorite place to relax and unwind, read, meditate, entertain family and friends, exercise, watch TV, play on the computer, and of course, sleep. But because it serves so many functions (and especially if you have a large family), the home can quickly become cluttered and chaotic.
Arguably the most important thing you can do to create a stylish (and functional) space is to buy quality furniture that is not only good-looking and durable, but works with your lifestyle as well. Today's home furnishings offer lots of options to help you clear up clutter and store as much as you can out of sight, which will make your home appear more peaceful and roomy.
Go vertical! When square footage is at a minimum, look up! It may seem counterintuitive to buy bigger furniture in a small space, but one effective piece of furniture can take the place of a lot of small pieces taking up valuable room. Instead of using a small TV stand in your family room, go for a large, wall-unit entertainment center that will beautifully frame your television and smartly stow your DVDs, gaming equipment, books, and various A/V components all in one place.
If you have a projection screen instead of a regular-sized television, consider adding tall bookshelves on either side of the screen or along the side walls to neatly organize all your entertainment components.
Advances in the design of entertainment centers have kept up with the advances in home electronics. Whether you want to hide your electronics away or highlight their sleek design, there is something on the market to suit your needs.
The wide-screen dimensions of new TVs don't often fit in older entertainment centers. Many newer designs are adjustable to accommodate different sized TVs; however, you should still measure your TV before you go shopping for an entertainment center. Measure all three dimensions: height, width and depth. Technology has changed a lot in recent years, so you should not assume that all set dimensions are pretty much the same.
Outdoor living is booming, and no wonder. Whether you have a deck, a porch, a sunroom, a backyard, balcony or patio, creating an outdoor living area increases your space and lets you enjoy nature. It can be as easy as setting up a gazebo or screen tent and adding outdoor furniture.
The deck or patio isn't just for the grill anymore! It is actually an outdoor room.
Patio furniture continues to be the cornerstone of all outdoor living items. Many outdoor living furniture sets now resemble an indoor living room with an umbrella. It is not uncommon to see a cushioned loveseat, two cushioned armchairs and coffee table. Chaise lounges may not be common inside, but outside, they add comfortable and fashionable seating. Optional coordinating add-ons might include an accent table, serving cart, outdoor rug, wooden gazebo, and outdoor lamps.
Look to Fashion, Celebrities, and the Internet for Latest Color Trends
While their parents may have been clueless about color and fashion trends when they were growing up, today's kids are much more sophisticated. Credit the internet, the proliferation of celebrity journalism and home improvement shows for creating a generation that knows what's hot, and how to use it.
While offering a broad choice of styles and pricing, designers and manufacturers of kids apparel, accessories and furnishings are trying to capitalize on this demanding market. When it comes to color trends, the kids market isn't so different from the adult market. Kids are becoming very sophisticated, and they know exactly what they want.
Some trends for youth furniture being in the nursery
Style Trends - Parents are purchasing furniture that grows with their children. The best pieces sellers are the simple, clean designs possessing a level of sophistication in look that stretches the life of the furniture. Timeless designs last well past toddler years. Classic styles such as Shaker, Louis Philippe and Cottage that have been adapted for younger consumers.
When money is tight, we tend to spend more time at home, so we want it to be a stylish and fun place to be. But how can you give your home a fresh look without breaking the bank? If HGTV and decorating magazines have taught us anything, it's that we can make over a room without spending thousands of dollars!
There are plenty of ways to improve the look of your home without a big investment. Whether you're looking for ways to put the finishing touches on your room or just wanting to refresh your space, here are a few tricks and some well-picked accessories for under $100 that can go a long way to making your home look like a million bucks.
Details make the difference in a home. Crown molding and chair rails add architectural interest to rooms. Custom fabric elevates window treatments. And new hardware can transform tired cabinets or old dressers into stylish components.
Liberty Hardware, a Winston-Salem hardware manufacturer founded in 1942, recently introduced a new line of custom knobs, handles and pulls designed and handcrafted by artists. The HomeGrown Hardware collection includes glass, metal and pottery hardware interpretations and allows consumers to create a personalized look without breaking the bank.
You've heard of the fat-free, or sugar-free diet, how about the clutter-free diet (like Vicente Wolf's room above, ummm). Has your house been fed too much junk food? Do you feel overly stressed in your home? Is It hard to find things? Time to deny denial and get in shape (yes, I'm listening).
With children's bedrooms-arguably more than any other room in the house-it is startlingly simple to fall into traps when it comes to design, furniture selection and motif.
Recently, Residence caught up with a few East End designers-husband-and-wife team Jennifer Mabley and Austin Handler of Mabley Handler Interior Design in Water Mill, and Sag Harbor-based Betsy Nichol of E.N. Interiors-to learn the do's and don'ts behind the definitive children's bedroom.
Why is shopping for a sofa so intimidating? Sometimes customers are more comfortable dropping $30,000 on a car than to pick out a $1,000 sofa (and the latter will probably last longer). Perhaps the biggest hesitation comes from a fear of making a mistake - whether it's about how much to spend, the color, the fabric, the size or shape. Consider these factors before buying to help eliminate some of the buying concerns and make your new sofa truly enhance your living space.
Know your budget. Sofas can run anywhere from $299 to $10,000, so the first thing you need to do is set a realistic budget. Sure, they may look all the same to you, but there's a huge quality difference in that range. Consider stretching a little beyond what you think you can afford - in a few years, you don't want a budget compromise to have become the shabbiest piece in your room because it couldn't stand up to your lifestyle.
Have you ever noticed when people are visiting your home that they tend to stay in or around the kitchen? Perhaps that's because that area is where many of us nurture and connect with our own families, and it's a good place to bond with guests as well.
Casual dining spaces were thus created as part of the kitchen or closely connected with the kitchen, and they are designed to be used as a part of our daily lives (as opposed to formal dining rooms that most people save for special occasions). Not only is it probably the place you sit and eat with your family, but it also might function as your children's homework zone, a bill-paying center, newspaper/coffee break spot, crafts station, and place to catch up with friends. But just because your casual dining space is a great multi-tasker doesn't mean it has to suffer for style. There are lots of great furnishings that are functional and chic.
You only have one chance to make a first impression and your foyer is just the place to do it!
The foyer is where you make that all important first impression, the impression that family and friends will remember every time their thoughts drift to you and your home. We all judge books by their covers, whether we admit it or not, and when we welcome folks into our homes, the foyer is the cover of the book that will be judged. So, let's give them a cover that serves us well.
Beyond making a statement, the foyer is a transition room. It takes guests from the outdoors to the interior of your home. It's a place to take off boots and hang up coats, but it's also the area that sets the tone for the rest of your home. It introduces guests to your style and gives them a taste of what's to come.
First of all, remember who will be arriving and departing from the foyer most often- you! Therefore, more than a great new color for the walls or a glamorous piece of furniture, you'll want a mirror in your foyer.
Start the day off on the right foot, you never know who you might meet. You want to leave the house feeling confident that you look good. A number one must-have is a full-length mirror for that last once-over on your way out the door.
The next element is choosing a fabulous shade of color for the walls; a shade that is warm and friendly. Best bets are in the yellow and orange family: perhaps, a fabulous shade of cantaloupe, squash or pineapple. Not only do members of the orange and yellow color family signify a jovial and friendly personality but they will ensure that we'll be welcomed home by walls with a cheery disposition.
Like millions of Americans, you're bringing your office home. Now that you've mastered the hi-tech world of home computers, it's time to get that monitor off the kitchen table and those files out of the laundry basket. Luckily, you don't have to face the home office dilemma alone. Regardless of the size of your workspace, our member stores have a vast assortment of home office products that are both functional and beautiful. Working from home has its advantages, no dress code and no commute, but the first step is designing and organizing a home office that works for you.
When it comes to creating a home office, commercial-looking pieces aren't your only option. There are plenty of fine furnishings that can provide comfortable workspaces too. If you're a part-timer who's short on space, consider a simple writing or secretary desk. Whether your style preference is clean and contemporary or more fanciful French, a writing desk can easily serve many functions. A delicately scaled piece can tuck neatly into a corner of a room or be placed diagonally in a corner for asymmetric drama.
Redecorating your home, or just one room, can be a daunting task. Many of us are plagued with unanswered questions from the outset: Where do I start? Am I making the right choice? Is this the right color to pick? These questions can leave us full of self-doubt, indecision and fear. These simple guidelines are intended to help you decorate your home without fear and self-doubt, so you can live your life in a setting that improves your attitude, state of mind and over-all well-being.
The right occasional furniture can make or break a room's design. Like a great pair of shoes that completes an outfit, finding just the right combination of style and function is a challenge. Occasional furniture is not optional furniture; occasional furniture is an important functional component of a room that should be chosen with care and consideration of many different factors.
Now, more and more people are turning their ordinary TV rooms into Home Theaters. This process used to involve a projector and a screen and was too expensive for most people to afford. Advances in technology have given people more choices for home theater setups. Some people find that a home theater is quieter and more convenient than a movie theater, and the picture and sound quality are great.
If you're looking for a home theater system, you have a lot of decisions ahead of you. If you're thinking of turning your den into a fully functioning home theater, this article will help you get started.
What Is Home Theater?
Home Theater is difficult to define: it's really just a vague term for a particular approach to home entertainment. Generally speaking, a home theater system is a combination of electronic components designed to recreate the experience of watching a movie in a theater. When you watch a movie on a home theater system, you are more immersed in the experience than when you watch one on an ordinary television. Unique home theater seating can help bring the experience to life. To see how home theaters do this, let's take a look at the original model, the movie theater. When it comes to picture and sound, the theater can offer an amazing experience we just don't get at home. That's usually why people will pay to go to the movies, even though renting a movie is cheaper. There are a few main components that make watching TV and going to the movies very different.
Sleeper sofas are a great way to dual purpose a room for the occasional guest. The most important thing to remember when shopping for a sleeper sofa is to try it out. Open it up on the sales floor and lie down. If you are not comfortable, then your guests won't be either. Many retailers now offer mattress upgrades for their sleeper sofas. If your sleeper will be getting frequent use, an upgrade is worth the extra money. Be sure to open up the sleeper yourself. Chances are if you can't easily get it open in the store, you won't be able to easily get it open when an overnight guest arrives.
The watchwords are choice, individualism, and customization. Life's ultimate luxury is to be able to choose your style and the articles you surround yourself with to fit your personality. The ultimate mélange of textures and materials that is available on the market today reflects the customization possible through the advent of technology and globalization. Whether you style is sophisticated luxury or inspired simplicity, rustic charm or old world comfort, crisp and clean modern, or casual elegance, the breath and depth of products available today can help you create your unique vision for your home.
Now, as never before, you are in charge of the color, size and style of the pieces you select. Not only can you custom order your upholstered pieces with your choice of colors and materials, size and shapes, but also, dining room and bedroom pieces are available allowing you to completely customize as never before. From the color and finish to the arrangement of the inside storage of the case piece, you are in charge of making the item fit your specific requirements. Hardware style and finish is also up to the individual's discretion and unique needs on many of the new items introduced for this year.
Bookshelves are a great way to add some functionality and personality into a relatively small amount of square footage in your home. In addition to displaying your book collection, bookshelves can be a great place to display your favorite collectibles or to store other items you want to keep handy. Regardless of how you use them, arranging your bookshelves to look interesting and organized takes a little know-how. Here are a few ideas to help you use your bookshelves to display and store your favorite items:
1. Mix things up. Have some of your books vertical, and some in a horizontal stack. This simple trick can add a professional and interesting touch to your display. It also allows stacks of books to act as bookends for one another and gives a few flat spots for a few special accessories.
2. Introduce items other than books! Try setting off a stack of books with a decorative box, a porcelain figurine or attractive plate. Any of these things, as well as candles, collectibles, woven baskets, framed photos, or even a plant or two, will give your shelves some nice contrasts in shape and texture. Plus, it will create both balance and visual interest at once.
A neat and beautiful way to store items such as CDs, DVDs, or toys is to fill the bottom shelves with identical square baskets. The baskets will keep your shelves looking clean and organized, but your things are still very easy to access. Woven wicker or rattan baskets will also lend an earthy and natural texture to your room.
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