Dining Room Ideas to Die For Tuesday, October 30, 2018

The heart of your home is often the place you gather for mealtime. For many families, that could be a separate dining room or eat-in kitchen. Often times this space is overlooked and outfitted with a simple table and one or two accent pieces, but a dining room can be so much more if you embrace the special time you spend around the table.

• The Table

  Let’s start with the most important feature of the room, the table. A dining room without a dining room table is, well, just a room. Make sure you choose a table that suits both your space and your needs. Opt for a table that fits comfortably within the room, meaning you’ll still have enough space to move chairs and walk around the table comfortably.

  If space is limited, a smaller, round table lets you fit the largest number of diners in the smallest amount of space. For larger spaces, a long, rectangular table with extending leaves works for both everyday use and for the holidays

• Lighting

  Lighting is a key feature of any room. Think of all the ways you use your dining room. Ample brightness is perfect for helping out with homework, while soft lighting is much better at creating an intimate dining atmosphere. The real key is layering; make sure to use a mix of lighting sources including floor lamps, wall fixtures, and windows.

  The shape of your light fixture is also important. Choose a shape that complements your dining table. For example, hang a rounded fixture above a round table and choose a linear fixture to hang above longer and rectangular tables.

• Display Your Style

  Make a style statement by displaying a favorite collection of dishes. Show off your wedding china or your grandmother’s tea set. Choose a Curio, console cabinet or two that help your displays make a statement. The right collection can add a personal and formal touch to any dining room.

• Eclectic Seating

  Mix and match your seating by using benches combined with chairs. Turn a nook into a cozy, casual dining area with banquette seating and even a wingback chair. Also consider accent chairs for the corners of the room that can be pulled up to the table for larger gatherings.

• Wine Storage

  Whether you have a large built-in storage unit or a small storage option, displaying your wine bottles gives your space a sophisticated flair. Some tables, like the Mystic Cay, offer wine storage within the dining table. Or you can opt for something more traditional like the Scrimshaw Accent Cabinet.

Don’t ignore your dining room; let it serve multiple functions within your home.

5 Things to Keep in Mind When Decorating a Shared Office Space Sunday, October 28, 2018

If you have a dedicated home office, consider yourself fortunate. Most people work the hours away in a spare bedroom with a desk or in a corner of the kitchen. In most cases, home offices must serve a dual purpose as a guest room, a craft room, toy room, or multiple offices for the adults in the home. There are many ways you can make a shared office space work for you. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when decorating.

1 - Dedicate a Space
If you have to claim a small corner of your house as a work space, that’s ok; you can still make it work. If you’re working in the guest bedroom, think about how often guests actually stay over. If you’re using the space as an office most often, embrace that function. Get an actual desk instead of an old card table. Dedicate the space to work and creativity.

Choose a stylish futon rather than a bed, or maybe a day bed that takes up less space. Start thinking about the room as your office that also works as a spare bedroom instead of the other way around.

Add a white board for tasks and visualizing, a shelf for books, and a coffee corner with a place to put snacks and drinks. You can easily fit all of this into your home office with the right furniture.

2 - Think Cozy, Not Small
Even if you are just claiming a corner of your kitchen or a nook under the stairs, there is a way to be comfortable in your home office. Make sure you have ample lighting and outlets. Choose the space for your office based on how you feel in the area, not how much you can cram into a space. Lighting will help you feel more productive!

Make it cozy by adding special touches here and there. Add a rug that denotes your desk area as a work zone and add pillows to your futon or chair. The point is to make this section of the room a place you want to spend time in!

3 - Embrace the Versatility of the Room
A home office should be more than a desk and chair. Use the day bed as a sofa! Or if you and your spouse are sharing an office space invest in a small lounger or glider rocker to provide a change of scenery without actually leaving the room!


4 - Calming Colors
When decorating a shared home office space go for blues, greens, and other cool colors. It’s hard to concentrate in a hot pink spare bedroom. Cool colors calm the mind and help you focus. Your home office should be calm and serine, even if it’s part of the toy room. Choose colors that will help you complete your tasks rather than distract you from them.


5 - Small and Functional
It’s a great idea to choose furniture with a minimal footprint and maximum potential. For example, the Bolanburg Bookcase can serve as a place to store documents, and a coffee maker can easily fit on top. The Madison Accent Cabinet could house an entire home office worth of documents while not looking out of place in a kitchen, dining room or even bedroom.

The point is to embrace your office space, even if it’s in a multipurpose room. Dedicate your corner of the house to getting things done!

Home Furniture Manager from Lake Charles Heading Back to Haiti on a Mission Trip Monday, October 22, 2018

Lori Berwick left for Haiti on October 12. Going with a group from the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home from Louisiana, she’s hoping to make a difference in the Port Au Prince region. She is part of a group traveling with Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.

“Last year I was on the Vacation Bible School Team,” explains Lori. “We saw 200 kids a day. We’d color with them and play, tell them Bible stories. It was really something to see. It was a lot of fun.”

Lori works at the Home Furniture office in Lake Charles, where she manages the accounting department. She has been with the company for 24 years and says her coworkers have been incredibly supportive of her mission work.

“It’s a great place to work,” she says. “Next week is actually Boss’s Day, but I’ll be in Haiti so they gave me a gift early. They gave me a bunch of snacks to take on my trip.”

Lori says her work family and her family at home have been supportive of her since she first made a trip to Haiti last year. As a mother and grandmother, it is the Haitian children that made the most impression on her as she recalls her trip from 2017.

“We went to an orphanage, and every child just wants to have someone to hold. I was the last one to get off the van and I remember one little girl standing there waiting. She was so happy to see me. She was so excited that there was one person left on the van - that she would have someone - she grabbed my hand right away.”

Lori says she’s really looking forward to one event in particular this year.

“There’s one group, Louisiana Reach Haiti, and last year they bought the land for an orphanage. They’ve been fundraising for a while. Last year there was only a wall around the property and a well. This year we’ll get to see part of the complex set up, they are ready to start housing children.”

Lori explained that donations can be made at the Louisiana Reach Haiti website and when the page opens, her little friend from last year is featured.

“The boy smiling in the pink and white shirt, with the thumbs up, I met him last year, that Dusty! It would be wonderful to see him again.”

She’s not sure which team she’ll be on this year, but she is looking forward to the trip with the same anticipation and excitement from a year ago. It’s a week-long trip that will undoubtably make a difference in so many lives.

Furniture Sales: Keep an Eye Out for Deals Wednesday, October 17, 2018

When to Shop

The furniture industry tends to operate on a biannual schedule. New styles of furniture hit retail floors every spring and fall, so if you’re looking to get a deal, you’ll want to start shopping in the months immediately before the new styles reach stores.

That means you’ll want to shop toward the end of winter (January and February) or the end of summer (August and September). Retailers will be discounting their old stock during these months to make room for the new styles. Presidents Day and Labor Day weekends are especially good times for sales. This is by no means set in stone. Your local furniture store may have additional sales at different times throughout the year. But for general purposes, the sales outlined above are a good rule of thumb.

What to Buy

If what you are looking to buy is not on sale at the moment, there’s a good chance it may have a price cut in a few months. The trick is to be patient and wait for what you want.

Mattress and Beds

Buying a bed and a mattress often go hand in hand. You can easily drop thousands of dollars to complete a bedroom with a comfortable mattress. While it may be worth every penny, it’s still a big purchase. Waiting for bedroom sets and mattresses to go on sale is a great way to stay within budget. Many furniture store websites have a sale section on the menu. A quick glance could save you hundreds.

Living Room Sets

There are many advantages to buying the furniture set and at the top of the list is sale prices. The sofa, loveseat, and matching chair, when sold as a set, will save big bucks. Look at the Traemore Set; it’s your whole living room for hundreds less than it would take to buy each individual piece. Most of the time, it’s easier for furniture stores to sell the set together, so they are willing to offer a discount when sold as a whole. Plus, all pieces will be on discount at the same time.

Clearance

Even if the furniture store of your choice isn’t offering a blowout sale, they will still have items on clearance. Most of the time, stores have an entire section of their website dedicated to clearance items. You can find deep discounts on everything from individual recliners to entire dining room sets. The clearance section is especially great if you are looking for that one piece to complete your room!

6 Tips to Keep in Mind as You Makeover Your Boy’s Bedroom Sunday, October 7, 2018

But before we go any further, it’s essential to style this new bedroom with your child. Make him a part of the process. Let him know the do’s and don’ts for the new space and set a budget. Remember, this room could be with him for a while. Be sure both of you are considering his needs in the future and not just his interests at the moment.

1. Storage Space

   This is important to any pre-teen or teenager’s room. Try to find storage solutions as you buy new furniture. A bed that also has drawers, a nightstand with storage underneath, and even an ottoman to house bedding are all great options. Think about multi-use furniture that will help maximize the space of your son’s bedroom.

2. Beds That Age Well

   One of the best places to add storage and find a focal point for the room is the bed. Your child probably has sports gear, clothes, school supplies and other items to stow. This Duncan Full Bed has room for two rows of drawers and is big enough to grow with a teenager’s body. It doesn’t overwhelm the room and will still look appropriate during the teen years.

3. Study Space

   Although your elementary schooler may claim they don’t need a study space, a time will come when they have to spread out. Create a creative space that can serve as an area for puzzles now and a study space in the years to come. This Flynnter Desk has a large surface area to accommodate drone building now and a laptop in the future. It will also add a bit of grown-up flair to the space.

4. Beds for Buddies

   Sleepovers are coming! Round-the-clock Fortnite sessions take up time and space! Consider a gaming space with a futon if you have the room. This adds two beds to a small area and eliminates the need for sleeping bags or blow up mattresses.

5. The Walls

   It may be tempting to cover the walls in bright blue and have a mural of dinosaurs, but those decisions may not age well as your son starts to mature. Consider a neutral beige or grey and showcase his favorite colors or characters in the bedding or easy-to-change curtains. There are also decals that leave your walls no-worse-for-wear if he has his heart set on certain elements.

6. Entertainment

   Likely, his TV, gaming center, and study notes are all on the same machine: a laptop computer. Make sure your child is able to keep their computer at arm’s length. Go for nightstands that have a large surface area, like the Dark Pine nightstand. It also has the added bonus of storage drawers. A nightstand or console cabinet can serve as a TV stand and gaming console as your child’s interests develop.

Just remember to make choices that age well and won’t need to be changed in a few years. Your son’s room should be a place he can be himself away from the stresses of the day. Make his needs the focus of the space.

Ways to Style Your Bedroom for Any Stage in Life Saturday, October 6, 2018

First Grown Up Bedroom

No more roommates! No more studio or dorm room! This bedroom is for your first apartment or starter home. Chances are space is not on your side here, and that’s OK. A full or queen-sized bed is going to be perfect here, and you’ll want to find a bed with built-in storage. Maximize your space! The Emily Queen Bed offers so much drawer space you may be able to skip a chest.

If you need more storage, look for sleek dressers to hold your necessities. A contemporary style lends itself to furniture with a minimal footprint. Bedroom sets can really save you some time and effort in a small room like the Hunter Bedroom set. It offers tons of storage and will accommodate a smaller space.

Couple’s Space

Out of the small apartment and into a larger space for two! You have a bit more room, but now it has to accommodate two people. That means more drawers, storage, and a bigger bed! Chances are your new digs come with an actual master bedroom, but you want to keep a budget on your radar.

Go for a queen or king-sized bed. Put a little thought into the mattress and find something comfortable for co-sleeping. You can go a little more ornate on the bedframe and focus less on storage. The Raquel Queen bed features a very grown-up style!

You’ll need two nightstands with emphasis on storage, like the Champagne Nightstand. It will have to hold your phone, eReader, actual books, a laptop and more. Also, you can and should splurge a bit on a dresser and chest, like the one from Brashland. It can hold enough for two people without overwhelming a room.

A True Master Suite

It’s a big moment in everyone’s life when they finally settle into a master suite. You now may have a couple of kids or fur-babies crawling into bed with you every night. Your bedroom is a place to read, watch TV, and unwind.

Go with a king-size bed that has ample room for stretching out. The headboard by Westerly would look magnificent in a room with high ceilings. You may want to invest a bedroom set, like the Cheyenne set, that offers storage and style.

One of the great things about a true master suite is the sitting space you can create. Select cozy accent chairs like the Bellamy chair and TV stands with an added fireplace! You can make this room an oasis for the whole family! Choose what makes you happy and focus on the calm and uncluttered.

Top Furniture Choices to Create a Comfortable Space for Your Pets Sunday, September 30, 2018 Your pets are a big part of your family! Chances are they snuggle up next to you on movie nights, hang out under your desk in your home office, and find the perfect spot for sleeping in your bed. Your furniture needs to work with them, not make your life harder with constant clean-up and wear and tear.

Luckily there are more than a few furniture options out there to help create comfortable spaces for your pets!

Living Room

This may be the area of your house where your pet spends most of their time. If you are in the market for new furniture, there are lots of options that will make life with a pet easier. However, if you are looking for a simple solution for already existing furniture, consider throws. A few strategically placed and easy-to-wash throw blankets will help preserve your furniture. However, not all pets follow the rules and will sometimes wander away from designated spots. In that case, it’s important to choose fabrics that hide stains and won’t attract fur.

• Leather is durable and stain resistant making wiping away fur a breeze! The O’Kean Loveseat is perfect for pets. It’s easy to maintain and looks great! One word of caution: if your cats still have their claws, be careful they do not use the leather to sharpen them. Even leather can’t stand up to kitty claws. Also, keep your dog’s nails trimmed; puppy claws can also leave a lasting mark on leather.

• Microfiber is a synthetic fiber with very thin strands that can be made to look like suede or leather. The Shiloh Reclining Sofa is actually microfiber! It doesn't rip or scratch easily, and cleaning up pet hair is not time-consuming. All you need is a lint brush, or sometimes even your hands will do the trick! Most stains come out of microfiber with soap and water. Stubborn stains can be outed with a mild cleaner.

• Patterns and texture help hide everyday issues like dirt and pet hair. They also help camouflage small stains until they can be properly cleaned by a steamer. The texture on the Reed Loveseat makes pet hair impossible to spot.

Office Space

If you work from home, your pet is likely your most interesting co-worker. Try to make your home office a welcoming place for your furry friend. Invest in a rug where they can keep you company comfortably under your desk. Also, you may want to have a plush accent chair for older pets who don’t like the hard floor. Just try to spot the fur on the cool Blume Swivel chair!

Bedroom

Maybe when you brought home your pet, you swore they’d never take over the bed, but somehow they always find a way in! If you have a large pet, or multiple pets, it may be time to get a bigger mattress so everyone can get a good night’s sleep. Also, a mattress protector is never a bad idea.

If you have space, you can add a loveseat or chair to your bedroom that can serve as a reading space and a place to entice your pet to sleep other than the bed. If you are OK with your dog or cat on the bed, consider some pet stairs or a low-profile bedframe to make it easier on their backs and hips when climbing.

You’ll also want to choose some bedding that won’t show off the hair your cutest family members leave behind.

4 Ways the Right Mattress Can Change Your Life Sunday, September 30, 2018

The right mattress can be life changing!

1. Allergies

   If you find that your allergies seem worse at night or first thing in the morning, keep reading. Dust mites are a huge cause of most allergies. Those little mites love an old mattress, but there are ways to combat the problem.

   Memory foam and waterbeds are good options to keep dust mites at bay. Waterbeds aren’t as popular as they used to be, but foam mattresses are becoming much more popular. Serta iComfort is perfect for allergy sufferers. The memory foam cuts down on allergens while offering a good night’s rest

2. Back Pain

   This is one of the most common reasons for replacing an old mattress. Old mattresses will gradually lose the ability to provide proper support. As the layers lose their compression and shape your body will no longer feel supported in the mattress. This typically manifests in the form of back aches and pains

   You need to look for a high-quality innerspring mattress. The more quality mattresses have stronger springs and will be individually wrapped. If the springs are individually wrapped, they contour better to your body and have less transfer of motion.

   Many innerspring mattresses also offer the added luxury of a pillow top, which can help relieve pressure points. The Englander King Size Laurel Pillow Top offers plush quilted layers with the support of an innerspring.

3. Supporting Your Sleep Style

   Figure out what kind of sleeper you are to find the perfect mattress. Stomach sleepers, for example, need more support than back or side sleepers so their lower back doesn’t arch, which can cause pain. An innerspring mattress would work best.

   Side sleepers should avoid extra-firm mattresses since their bodies will unconsciously start rotating into a prone position in order to get sufficient support. A side sleeper may be more comfortable with a memory foam mattress.

   Back sleepers can get away with just about any mattress as long as it is high-quality and does not cause the back to lose its natural curves.

4. Staying Cool

   Do you notice that you are sweating a lot at night? It may be your mattress. If you are prone to being hot, the old rule of thumb was to avoid memory foam. But times have changed. Many of the top-rated mattresses offer a mix of both springs, foam, and cooling gel. This Beautyrest features an advanced pocketed coil technology combined with multiple layers of advanced memory gel foams. It offers support, cooling action, and pressure relief. It is perfect for keeping your body cool and supported.

The right mattress will help you get a good night’s rest. Sleeping well means you can face the day and tackle new challenges head-on. Listen to your body, and choose the mattress that is right for you.

5 Ways to Makeover Your Girl’s Bedroom Sunday, September 30, 2018

1. A Bed That Grows

   Adding storage to the bedroom is never a bad idea. Your girl probably has sports gear, clothes, and school supplies to stow. The Duncan Full bed will grow with her as well as add drawers to help keep her room uncluttered. A full bed is perfect for a growing child! It doesn’t overwhelm the room and will still look appropriate during the teen years.

2. Study Space

   Although your 10-year-old may not be hitting the books nightly, those years are coming. Cultivate a creative space that can serve as an area for crafts now and a study space in the years to come. The Bolanburg desk has a large surface area to accommodate construction paper crafts now and a laptop in the future. It will also add a bit of grown-up flair to the space.

3. Room for Guests

   No doubt there will be overnight guests in your future. Slumber parties are a rite of passage! The Trina Daybed can help ensure guests get a good night’s rest. It also cuts down on the amount of floor space a double bed requires. If you have limited space, this daybed is a must.

4. Colors

   It may be tempting to cover the walls in pink or purple, but those colors may not age well as your girl starts to mature. Consider a neutral beige or white and showcase her favorite color in the bedding or easy-to-change curtains. You can also use an accent rug to add a pop of whimsy and color to the space. Just make sure these elements are easy to update as the years go by.

5. Entertainment

   You may not want to put an entire entertainment center in your child’s room, and that’s OK. Nowadays their TV, gaming center, and study notes are usually on the same machine—a laptop. Make sure your girl’s computer is at arm’s length. Go for nightstands or accent pieces that have a large surface area, like the Hanna Nightstand or the Ecko Accent Cabinet. These also have the added bonus of storage drawers. This nightstand and accent cabinet can serve as a TV stand and gaming console as your child’s interests develop.

As long as you take the coming years into account, there really are no wrong choices. Your girl’s room should be her sanctuary. Keep things peaceful and calm and you’ll be on track.

Mix and Match Furniture Styles to Create A Comfy Home Sunday, September 30, 2018

Can’t commit to just one style? Maybe traditional is a bit too formal, or farmhouse is too casual. Does contemporary style use too many “new” elements for your taste? Well, the great thing about finding your own style is that you don’t have to follow any hard and fast rules. You can mix and match certain elements in your home to create a comfy style that is all your own.

Typically, it’s easier to combine traditional and farmhouse than it is to mix in contemporary. The lines of contemporary and traditional are usually at odds with each other. That doesn’t mean they can’t work together; it’s just a bit harder to find a compromise.

Finding a Compromise

Traditional furniture really refers to any piece that resembles the styles of the 19th century or earlier. Furniture from this time period tends to be made of dark, heavy wood, and is often large. Traditional style is still used often, especially in homes and offices in historic buildings. Traditional rooms feel somewhat formal and furniture pieces are often reproductions or “new takes” on furniture from an earlier time.

Contemporary furniture refers to furniture styles that came about after the 19th century. These pieces tend to utilize lighter wood tones, brighter fabrics, and newer materials like plastic or metal. A contemporary styled home features a focus on clean, light, and functional furniture.

It's easy to see how the two styles could be at odds with each other. However, you can find a balance in your living room. The Mila Accent chair is a traditional wingback, but would look stunning alongside the Dante Living Room set, which is quite contemporary. The trick is finding a blend with the fabrics. The plain fabric on the living room set means that the accent chair will add a bit of color. The Breville Sleeper Sofa boasts traditional curves and would look great paired with the Augusta Blue Accent chair with its contemporary straight lines. It’s all about playing with color when it comes to mixing the two styles.

The Flexibility of Farmhouse

Farmhouse is a theme that actually plays well with others. This style describes a casual “lived in” home that mixes old and new. It’s usually created with a blend of new store-bought furniture and old pieces that have been repurposed or passed down. It pairs naturally with traditional style, as long as the traditional furniture is not too ornate. The Jasper queen bed actually mixes the curves of traditional furniture with the rustic wood of a farmhouse style. The clearly traditional Titian King Bed can easily be paired with the farmhouse style Chateau Door Bedroom Chest. When creating your own style, don’t be afraid to mix woods and textures.

Farmhouse style can also be mixed with contemporary furnishings. Take a look at this great example in the dining room: the Bolanburg Dining set makes use of contemporary lines that also find their way to the farmhouse style buffet from Madison County. The two pieces would complement each other in any dining room.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Just keep an eye on the contrasting colors and look for similar furniture lines to make the pairings easy. It’s OK to throw out the rule book when discovering a style all your own.

4 Ways to Create a Relaxing Oasis with Your Furniture Choices Sunday, September 30, 2018

Home is the place you desperately want to return to after a long day at work. It’s a place you can feel calm, relaxed, and put the worries of the day behind you. But it’s hard to feel serene in your oasis if you are living with clutter and returning to a space that does not reflect who you are.

Creating a relaxing oasis in your own home is as simple as making mindful choices at the furniture store. With a little know-how and a few tips, your home will be everything you need at the end of the day.

1. Live Clutter-Free

   To put it simply, clutter is the enemy of calm. You need to take measures to declutter your space. Instead of trying to tackle the entire house at once, initially focus on a single room. Whether it’s your living room, bedroom, office or another space you spend time in, declutter to get rid of anything that doesn’t need to be there.

   A great way to manage clutter is to purchase furniture that will help store your knick-knacks. The Bolton Brown Storage Ottoman will help keep your living room tidy. In the bedroom, the Chateau Nightstand has 4 drawers for keeping the counter clear.

2. Surround Yourself with Memories

   Think about what makes you feel at home. Is it a picture of your kids, your grandmother’s handmade afghan, or your father’s long used gumbo pot? Surround yourself with the things that matter most.

   Choose pieces that will help display your beloved items without appearing cluttered in a decorative cabinet, hutch or curio. The Broadway China Cabinet would look great in any kitchen to display wonderful memories. The Ecko Accent Cabinet will house items inside as well as serve for a neat place to display items on top.

3. The Right Colors

   Filling your home with cool colors promotes relaxation. Cool colors are versions of greens, purples, and blues. They can be combined and blended for the perfect color palette. These colors have been known to slow breathing rates, relax muscles, lower blood pressure and body temperature, and make you feel more relaxed overall. Basically, they encompass everything your home should be: a relaxing oasis.

   This doesn’t mean you have to run out and repaint your house. Accentuate what you already have and add pops of cool colors here and there. Add green or blue pillows to your sofa, buy cool blue bedding for your bedroom, and look for finishing touches that highlight cool colors.

4. Plant Life

   Plants add such a calming feel to a room. Aloe, snake plant (also called mother-in-law’s tongue), jade plant, and ivy are all relatively easy to take care for. If you have pets, be sure to choose plants that are non-toxic. You can also find realistic faux plants to add green to your space.

   Think about how beautiful and calming an ivy would look tumbling down the Grove Bookcase or down the sides of the Vincente Entertainment Center.

Once you liven up and cool down your space a bit, you can focus on aromas and sounds to create the perfect oasis at the end of the day. Just use a mindful approach while choosing your furniture pieces, and everything else will fall into place.

Your Teenagers Will Actually Thank You for This Bedroom Furniture Sunday, September 30, 2018

Before we get started, it’s essential to style this new bedroom with your teenager as opposed to for your teenager. Make them a part of the process. Let them know the dos and don’ts for the new space, and set a budget. Remember, they may only be in this room for another few years, so you’ll want to re-think the hot pink paint or the murals of Fortnite.

Multiple-Use Furniture

This is a must for a teenager’s bedroom. Your big pieces of furniture should serve at least two functions. This Emily Bed provides a place for sleep and storage with multiple drawers. If your teen is sharing a room with a younger sibling, give them a space to stretch out with this twin over full Duncan Staircase bed. It also provides drawers for storage.

If your teen will have a room all their own, add a seating area for study groups or gaming. Consider a futon for sitting instead of a chair or loveseat. Maybe opt for the Trina Daybed with Trundle that can serve as a place to sit during the day, a bed at night, and a guest bed. That way, slumber party guests have a space of their own.

Study Area

Your teenager is likely to have a heavy workload at school, so give them a place that inspires creativity and concentration. This Baylen desk won’t take up a lot of space but still has room for a laptop. The open sides make plugging in electronics easy.

They will also need a place to store books and other personal items. This Grove bookcase offers a small drawer for keys and jewelry.

Zone Out

Even though it may be a tight squeeze, try and separate your teenager’s space into useful zones for studying, sleeping, and visiting. Consider creating a social nook with comfy pillows that can serve as chairs. Keep the desk area for work only and encourage them to get some actual sleep in their bed. You may even want to separate the areas with small rugs. Not only will the rugs add warmth, but they can also help set up zones.

Dressers and Nightstands

Teenagers need counter space. They are likely juggling books, smart pads, phones, and laptops. These items need to be within arm’s reach and have a place to charge. Choose a nightstand with a good surface area and place for storage underneath, like this Duncan Nightstand. The dresser should also provide ample storage and a place for them to get ready for all of the social activities that come with being a teenager. This Duncan Dresser with a mirror is perfect for a room housing lots of clothes.

Your teen’s room has to function as a library, hangout, and bedroom all in one. Don’t neglect this space. You’ll notice they will be spending more and more time in there as the teen years roll by. Take the time to find pieces that will make them feel at home but don’t add to the clutter of their room.