From casual breakfast nooks to elegant formal dining spaces, dining rooms come in all shapes, sizes and styles. Everyone knows that one of the most important elements of a dining room are the dining chairs. From traditional dining sets to mix-matched dining sets, the design possibilities are numerous. Before you invest in dining chairs, it’s important to consider these important factors:

• Are they the right height for your dining table?
• Are they fabric durable and easy to clean?
• Are they comfortable enough for the type of entertaining you like to do?

Here’s a guide for choosing the best dining chairs for your dining space.

Design
While it has become trendy to pair contemporary with traditional chairs and vice versa, focus on finding pieces that share a common design element. For example, if you have opted for a square shaped dining table then you’ll want to make sure the chairs feature the same shape. Or if the table has an intricate design on the legs, then you should consider purchasing chairs with a similar design on the legs.

Dimension
The standard size of a dining chair is approximately 18 inches in height while the average dining table sits at 30 inches. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want at least 12 inches between the top of the seat and the bottom of the table. Also, the chairs should match the scale of the table. If you have a grand dining table than you’ll likely want to invest in bigger chairs.

Avoid purchasing chairs that are less than 17 inches wide. Why? Narrow seating won’t provide adequate support for your guests and will likely be uncomfortable. To create the ultimate comfortable experience look into obtaining chairs that are 20-24 inches deep.

Upholster or Not?
Deciding whether to invest in a upholstered chair or select something with a natural, easy to clean surface can be difficult. With upholstered chairs you can expect someone to spill something on it sooner or later. Therefore, the question is how much are you willing to care about it? If you want that upholstered feel but low maintenance, consider leather (or imitation leather) chairs.

Whether you’re working with a small or large layout it’s important for your living room to be a comfortable space. After all, the living room area serves many different functions. It’s where you entertain your guests, spend time with the family and watch all your favorite flicks.

Here are some tips to turn any sized living room and style into a cozy space.

1. Trade your bland coffee tables for stuffed oversized ottomans. Yes, plush ottomans will instantly add a sense of comfort to your living room. In addition, ottomans can serve multiple functions. An ottoman can serve as a coffee table, you can store extra items inside them and let’s not forget they are great for resting your feet on.

2. If you’re working with a large space, then consider filling in the space with a large sectional. Sectionals are super inviting and it creates a sense of warmth. The best part of having a sectional sofa is that you’ll have sufficient seating options which allows the family and your guests to sit comfortably.

3. Lighting is often overlooked when designing a room to be comfortable. Lighting drastically affects the mood of the room. A living room that is dark and doesn’t use sufficient lighting can feel depressing. Therefore, be sure to leave your drapes open so that natural lighting can flow in the room. If necessary, consider increasing the wattage of light bulbs or adding in extra light fixtures.

4. Don’t forget the throw blankets. Who doesn’t like to curl up in a plush blanket on a chilly night? Throw blankets don’t have to be tacky. To stylishly pull off this look use a blanket that is rich in color and texture. A throw blanket will make your living room feel more comfortable while also adding a bit of style to the area.

5. Throwing a soft area rug in the mix is another great way to add some comfort to the living room. An area rug will add some warmth to your contemporary tile or wood floors. FYI, super plush, furry area rugs are on trend this year!

Want to attract love in your life and more money in your bank account? Well, according to Feng Shui principles, your home’s decor can very well affect such principles. Feng Shui is based on an ancient art form that works to balance energies within a space. Try these Feng Shui principles right now in your house to attract money and love.

Feng Shui Tips for Attracting Love:

According to Feng Shui experts you should avoid putting your furniture against the walls. In fact, forget that the walls even exist. You’ll want to arrange your furnishing in a manner that supports good communication. Instead of arranging the furniture around the rug, try allowing the front legs to rest on it. This will allow people to just sit on the sofa and enjoy good conversation.

Tired of being single? Than stop surrounding yourself with single imagery. Try doubling up things within a room. Instead of a single chair in the corner, you can double it up and add another chair in the space. Also, avoid hanging single artwork or photographs on the wall. Add another nightstand to the side of your bed. It’s important to ensure that you create an energy of partnership by avoiding singularity in your design. Be sure to surround yourself in pairs.

If you’re working to improve your marriage you should hang up happy photos of your family. Yes, display couple photos and family photos of everyone smiling and having a good time. Be sure to put them on display in the hallways, living room, kitchen and other high traffic areas. Seeing these images daily will no doubt put a smile on your face.

Feng Shui Tips for Attracting Money:

Color has a huge impact on our mood and can both motivate and inspire. You can attract more money into your life by decorating with green, red or purple. Both green and purple are hues that attract prosperity. Red is often associated with power. When decorating with these colors you can add them in sparingly or go big by purchasing a statement piece furniture in that hue.

What many homeowners don’t know is that the kitchen is an area that attracts money. So keep the kitchen clean. The refrigerator and pantry should be organized and all clutter should be removed from the table and countertops. You can further create a healthy and vibrant home by riding your entire home of clutter and bring in plants to bring in positive energy.

Whether it’s the living room or the bedroom if you’re interested in giving the space a new look you don’t have to have a big budget to do so. Consider launching small, speedy projects that will allow you to freshen up the look. Simply switching things around a bit and dabbling in a bit of DIY can satisfy that need for change without launching a full out makeover.

1. Put down an area rug in the kitchen
   If you’ve been flirting with the idea of laying an area rug down in the kitchen, consider borrowing one from another room just to take the idea for a test run. If you don’t have one lying around somewhere or it doesn’t match the color scheme in the living room, you can always purchase a cheap one from your nearest outlet.

2. Create An Accent Wall
   Make a statement in a bland powder room or even the hallway by adding a strip of wallpaper featuring a standout pattern or color. A bathroom or a narrow hallway is an ideal place to experiment.

3. Paint the Door
   Add an unexpected pop of color to a door. Start off by rubbing the door down with sandpaper to create a smooth surface and apply a bold pop of color with a coat of paint. Paint and supplies don’t cost much and imagine the surprise such an unexpected color will be to your guests.

4. Create A Headboard with Paint
   Does your bed lack a headboard? Why not create a panel behind your bed to mimic the look of a headboard? Get the perfect square panel by professional grade painter’s tape to outline the area. The tape will prevent the color from bleeding and it helps you paint a sharp edge.

5. Rearrange Furnishing
   It’s easy to get tired of the look of a room especially if you’ve lived in the space for a while. Switch things up by rearranging the furniture in the room. You can swap furniture from different rooms and add in pieces.

6. Display A Collection
   Consider taking your knickknacks and creating a display of it. Install hooks on the wall to show off a collection. Photographs, framed paintings and other items can take a whole new life when you elevate them.

Wood furniture is a prized possession in any home. It instantly adds texture, comfort and style to your home’s decor. As an natural product you can expect wood to have differences in texture, color and grain. Such variations are what make wood furniture pieces beautiful and unique. Have you ever wondered what wood species make for the best furnishing? Check out these five popular wood species that are commonly used in furniture.

1.Beech
Beech is a type of hardwood that is heavy and strong. Beech usually has a tight grain with a smooth and even texture. It has a natural light color. This type of wood is often used to make furniture that requires a bit of flexibility or bending like chairs. Beech wood furniture provides a natural, organic look and it has a solid density. Like most wood furniture, beech wood can age gracefully if it’s properly maintained.

1. Walnut
   It’s beautiful, dark brown hue makes walnut a very popular choice for furniture. With it’s distinctive grain, walnut is known for its hardness, durability and shock resistance. Authentic walnut furniture is generally more expensive than most types of wood furniture because walnut trees don’t grow as often. Walnut is commonly found in furnishing that features dark stained finishes. As walnut furniture ages you’ll find that it gets a lighter and can turn into a rich honey hue.

2. Maple
   Maple is another type of hardwood that is dense yet durable. This wood species is often used in cabinetry and furniture. Maple’s straight grain contributes to it’s uniform texture. Maple wood has different variations in color including; reddish brown, white and lighter brown. Maple’s grain takes paint color well which is why it’s used in painted wood furniture.

3. Cherry
   Natural cherry is pricey and it’s a trendy choice for furniture and cabinetry. It’s ultra durable and it has a distinct yet attractive grain. Cherry has medium brown color with pink undertones and can age into a reddish brown.

4. Mahogany
   Mahogany is a tropical wood species with medium hardness. The great thing about this grain is that it is resistant to moisture which means that it less likely to warp or shrink. Mahogany has special grain patterns that can take on swirls and other types of shapes. It’s used to make finer furniture pieces. This species has a light pinkish hue that quickly transforms into a reddish brown color.

Brown or taupe? Or maybe white and gray? One thing these hues all have in common is that they are neutral based. Do you find yourself feeling confined to neutrals out of fear of experimenting with color? While a neutral palette will always be a design favorite some of us crave a bit of bold color. How can you implement such vibrant hues in your decor without going overboard? We’re going to show you how to effortlessly blend colors.

Tone on Tone
One way you can experiment with color is to use tone on tone hues. What does that mean? It involves using the same color but variations of the hue throughout the space. A tone on tone scheme will make you feel like you’re using a lot of color although you’re sticking with the same hue. A great tone on tone color you can play with is blue. Consider combining soft baby blue, chilly blue and dark navy for a tone on tone look. You can accent with violet or red.

What are some other colors to use in a tone on tone scheme? Warm colors work best. Some warm colors include, red, purple and orange.

Break Up Color with Neutrals
Use neutral elements to break up color on color when you feel it’s becoming a bit much. For example, a room with yellow walls and other variations of this hue throughout the space, leaving the trim on the walls white can add a sense of balance while emphasizing this neutral element. Introduce as many neutrals as you want to tame the look to your liking.

Wood
Another great way to diffuse a colorful design scheme that is getting out of hand is to incorporate some wood elements. Just imagine adding a wood coffee table, chairs or even exposing your wood floors can add loads of natural warmth while creating a balance.

Don’t Forget Texture
When working with different colors you can’t forget to enhance the design by using texture. Rough or rich textured such as lacquered furniture, a brick wall or even unfinished flooring can add interest.

Using Multiple Different Colors
When using various colors within a single space you’ll want to use something that can tie in all the different hues. For instance, a colorful piece of artwork or accessory can help harmonize all the colors being used.

When designing a kid’s room, you may be tempted to drench the walls in a bold and vibrant color to give the room some personality. After all, a kid’s room is supposed to be fun and energetic. Before you begin obnoxiously adding color to the walls according to the experts you can still create a vibrant look and keep the walls a neutral based color.

Accent colors are one of the many ways you can add a sense of playfulness to your child’s room. When picking out accent colors to implement in the design scheme use your kid’s favorite color as inspiration. Here are a few ways you can add bold and vibrant colors without changing the wall colors:

Removable Wallpaper
Stick and peel wallpaper are available in a variety of colors and designs. They’re even manufactured in designs such as camouflage, animal prints and other types of patterns. Removable wallpaper easily adds some whimsy to the space but it also looks mature enough to stay on the walls as your child gets older.

Furniture and Accessories
Make a big statement with the furnishing and accessories you pick out for your child’s room. For instance, a floral bed set, or a bright red headboard will add lots of style to the room. You can use colorful picture frames on the walls. Try doing some creative like painting the dresser they’re favorite color or let the child put their own personal touch on it by putting their handprint on it. Bold colored accessories will stand out against the gray or white walls.

Wall Decals
Create a custom design on the wall with wall stickers or decals that can be easily removed. Wall decals can feature your kid’s favorite cartoon character, confetti inspired designs are also trendy. You can let your child decorate the walls as they desire with the wall stickers and you don’t have to worry about fixing it later.

Accent Rug
Add a hint of color with an accent area rug. Whether it’s pink or a bold pattern an accent rug can add some vibrancy to the room and pulls in the whole design scheme together.

Whether you homeschool your children or they attend school outside the home, creating an organized and inspirational place for them to do homework has benefits for all! The space needs to be a place in the home that promotes creativity, critical thinking and makes it fun to learn! We have listed some easy tips below for creating the ultimate school workroom at home:

1. If you are like most of us, your space may be limited, so organization and using the proper furniture is critical in the overall design of the room. If your home has a basement or upstairs play area then you have the perfect spot!
2. First, we recommend painting the room white or a light gray with white trim. We are going to add pops of bold color in floor pillows, area rugs/pads, artwork and furniture. For an outside natural feeling, paint the ceiling a light sky blue. This will make you smile every time you look up by invoking nature outside!
3. For flooring, we recommend a solid surface like hardwood, luxury vinyl tile or laminate.
   You can add color with floor pillows in red, blue, green or yellow. Also, depending on your children’s age you can use colorful graphic area rugs, or tiled puzzled mats made out of rubber/silicone. Keep in mind standing on a hard surface can be hard on your back and legs. Rubber padded mats and rugs are a great option for eliminating aches and pains – and of course carpet with the right pad can also soften the space.
4. In most cases you will need to maximize space for storage by installing vertical shelving. Purchase inexpensive shelving in big box stores, online, yard/garage sales and second hand/nonprofit charity stores. If purchasing used shelving, you can easily paint with spray paint or rolling on with a small roller. If the surface is a laminate, we recommend taking a fine to medium sandpaper and hitting the surface to ensure the paint adheres to the surface. Priming before painting is recommended.
5. Create a space for a reading nook and quiet time depending on the children’s age. Also, purchase an inexpensive water feature for relaxing an enhancing their creativity!

We hope you enjoy and have fun creating this special place for your children and by all means please let us know your creative ideas for the project!