Focus on the Family Room: Relaxing Furniture Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Some homes are lucky enough to have a living room and family room. The family room plays a different role in the home than the living room. Where the living room tends to be more formal and geared toward entertaining and visits, the family room in general has more of a lounge feel. Some homes combine the two rooms while others are separated by a wall, archway, or zone.

 

The family room is a space designed for relaxation and comfort. To put focus on the family room, you must focus on comfortable and relaxing furniture. Family rooms are generally more informal than living rooms. They tend to be a bit further from the front door, even in the basement at times, or in a bonus room on a higher floor. Because of the location, family rooms can have a more casual vibe. Here are a few ideas to get started.

 

Incorporating an easily moveable side table or ottoman into the family room design makes the room feel flexible and more relaxed, not to mention distinctly functional. A small-scale, easily moveable piece can also double as an impromptu card or board game table.

 

Sectionals are one of the most efficient family room seating options because they maximize every square inch of seating potential. A sectional sofa works great in the family room to accommodate everyone, whether two people or ten.

 

If you have the floor space, add a recliner or two for those who want to kick back and watch TV. Large, plush chairs with pillow arms and back are perfect for lounging in the family room. Think comfort first when it comes to this section of your home.

 

Leather is great choice of fabric for the family room. When you think about the potential messes of popcorn, soda, and other snacks that will inevitably be consumed during family and/or party times, an easy-to-clean surface like leather is ideal. Micro fiber is also a good option to guard against spills.

 

The comfort and style of the family room helps to set the tone for the time that people spend there. This is perhaps the most important room in the house to incorporate a seating arrangement where all can enter and want to stay awhile.

5 Tips on Decorating Your First Apartment Sunday, January 27, 2019

Striking out on your own is an exciting time. Renting your first apartment is a sign of independence. It’s a time to learn how to make your own decisions, both financial and decorating included. It’s a place where you can truly discover your own style, but don’t forget to keep an eye on the bottom line. Being creative with your new space doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are 5 tips on how to decorate your first apartment.

1. Don’t Neglect the Windows
I bet you’re wondering why this is number one. After all, apartments tend to come with blinds or shades, so you’re done, right? Wrong. Nothing says “I’m new to this whole living on my own thing” quite like a naked window. Take time to get curtains and window dressings. Something simple that adds color or a pattern to the space will go a long way towards making your apartment cozy.

2. Plant Life
Bringing in a few strategic plants is not only inexpensive, but they don’t go out of style. Even if all you have is some furniture and a plant, your space will look more polished. Focus on low maintenance plants, and if you have pets, be sure to check on the toxicity.

3. Invest in Multi-Use Furniture
Pieces that are multi-functional can be your best friend when you’re on a tight budget or living in a small space. A daybed can turn your living room into a guest room while still serving as a sofa. An ottoman can serve as a place for your feet, storage, and extra seating. A bar stool with no back can be a plant stand and seating. Shop around and be creative!

4. Use Neutral Colors
Chances are your first apartment will be tight on space. It’s a great idea to use neutral colors on walls, floors, ceilings and furniture fabric. A palette of off-whites or beiges will expand the space by appearing to push back the walls.  Soft hues reflect light and will add dimension to your space. Add pops of color with throws or rugs, but stick to a neutral color for furniture and paint.

5. Round Dining Room Table
Small round tables aren't just for breakfast nooks or eat-in kitchens. Look past the giant dining table and give yourself some extra space by opting for a small, round dining table instead. That table can also be used for game nights, a prep area for the kitchen, and a work space. You’ll learn to love that small round table.

 

Your first apartment does not to be bland and devoid of style just because of small space and a budget. Keep things simple, multi-functional, and stylish, and your new place will feel like home in no time.

5 Tips on Maintaining a Good Mattress Thursday, January 24, 2019

Your mattress is an investment for your comfort and health. You need to make it last! Depending on the type of mattress that you crawl onto every night, the rules of caring for it may have changed. Maximize your mattress with the following tips.

1 - Rotate It
While manufacturers used to recommend both flipping and rotating your mattress regularly to help it wear more evenly, newer beds have just one “right side up.” For a new set, avoid lumps and bumps by rotating it end to end every two weeks for the first four months, and then every three months after that. Don’t ignore the box spring! That should also be rotated (but not flipped) every six months. 

2 - Sit in New Spots
Most of us do more than just lay down in our bed. Many people sit to put on shoes or get dressed. But sitting on the same spot over and over again may cause your mattress to lose its structure prematurely. Try to vary where you sit on the edge of your bed.

3 - Mattress ProtectorBefore putting on your fitted sheets, invest in a quality, waterproof, and washable mattress cover. This will add a layer of comfort as well as protect against stains.

4 - Clean It
You might not think of taking a vacuum to your mattress, but you should. Regularly giving it a clean sweep helps to keep dust from becoming ground into the mattress. For spills, dab at the spot with warm soapy water, but avoid getting it any more wet than you have to since moisture creates a breeding ground for mold. Then, let it dry completely before making the bed. You can also use baking soda for smells. Sprinkle your mattress with baking soda and wait 20 minutes. Then use a vacuum to suck up the baking soda.

5 - The Foundations
Your mattress is only as good as the foundation or the adjustable bed base that it’s placed on. Ideally it is a good-quality frame, foundation or bed base that you purchased at the same time as your mattress. Keep it up by checking the legs and castors every six months to see if they need to be tightened.

 

Also, don’t be afraid to trade it in when the time comes. Even with the best care, your mattress will eventually wear out, usually after eight to 10 years. It may show wear, like coils poking through or saggy edges. If you find that you’re waking up with an achy back or it’s simply not feeling as comfortable, it may be time to go shopping.

With the Help of a Once Homeless Man, Home Furniture Collects Backpacks for Homeless Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Home Furniture’s Beaumont location was brimming in backpacks. But not just any backpacks; these bags have a special destination: the homeless population in southeast Texas.

 

These bags were collected in conjunction with Eric Ardoin’s Warm Hands, Warms Hearts organization. Ardoin knows what people face out on the streets. He was once homeless himself. He is a recovering addict who now builds homes and looks after his fellow man.

 

Once the folks at the Beaumont location of Home Furniture heard his story, they wanted to pitch in. Their staff collected supplies and backpacks to donate to Warm Hands, Warm Hearts. Paula, Christy, Gay Lynn, and Jordan spearheaded the effort. Together they collected items like tents, sleeping bags and, of course, backpacks filled with supplies.

 

With the help of businesses like Home Furniture, Ardoin is able to visit the numerous homeless camps throughout Beaumont and deliver the items to the people in need.

 

Ardoin is encouraging Southeast Texans to help him on his mission. If you would like to donate items, you can call Ardoin at (409) 499-7791 or just drop tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, coats, gloves or toiletries to Ardoin's house at 2655 Harrison Street in Beaumont's Old Town.

Small Living Room? No Problem! Sunday, January 20, 2019

Whether you’re moving into your first one-bedroom apartment or outfitting your downtown bungalow, knowing how to design around your small living room will come in handy. Understanding proven design strategies will transform your small space into an area that feels cozy and comfortable. It’s all about tricking the eye into seeing more.

 

Use Mirrors

Using mirrors will make your small living room seem larger and less claustrophobic. Hanging a large mirror as a focal point is a great strategy. It will add light and a nice ambiance. You can put the mirror near a light source, like a lamp or even near a window.

 

Look Upward

If your living room has a high ceiling, you’re in luck. Drawing the eye upward will make up for the lack of floor space. Use high book shelves, artwork, and tall floor lamps to capitalize on the vertical real estate.

 

Use Neutral Colors

It’s a great idea to use neutral colors on walls, floors, ceilings and furniture fabric. A palette of off-whites or beiges will expand the space by appearing to push back the walls.  Soft hues reflect light and will add dimensions to your space. Add pops of color with throws or rugs, but stick to a neutral color for furniture and paint.

 

Lightweight Furniture Choices

Pick out pieces that have a lightweight appearance as opposed to heavier ones which will overwhelm a small space. For example, select pieces that have slender legs and sleek lines while avoiding those that are boxy. Glass coffee or end tables will take up less visual space than wooden ones because they are see through. Any furnishings that don’t obstruct views will make an area seem more open.

 

Small-Scale Furniture

Choose furniture that won’t overpower the room or appear to dominate the space. A sofa with thin arms and a tufted back will work better than one with strong arms and bulky cushions. Maybe skip the sofa altogether and go for a loveseat or simple accent chairs.

Multi-Tips for Multipurpose Rooms Thursday, January 17, 2019

Transforming a home into one that is more functional is as easy as turning living areas like the dining room, living room and spare room into multipurpose spaces. A home is more than just a place to eat and sleep. It’s also a place to entertain, work, exercise and play as well. With the right multi-purpose furniture, your home can provide a variety of functions even without much space. Creating a room that serves more than one purpose may sound challenging, however, armed with a few tips, it can be quick, easy, and useful.

Create a Unifying Style

Add a unifying theme to turn your multi-functional rooms from awkward and clunky to pleasing and sleek. For example, if your bedroom also acts as your workspace, your bedroom/office doesn’t have to resemble a cubicle. Consider incorporating soft furniture that’s functional for work but feels like it belongs in a bedroom. An accent chair can serve as a work space and a relaxation area of your room. Look for bedroom furniture with appealing colors and soft lines. The bedroom/office will still be your workspace, but this will keep it comfortable, and the look and feel homey.

 

Creative Crafting Space

Your dining room probably houses your largest table/working surface. It makes a great location for a sewing machine, scrapbooking area, and general crafting surface. Just make sure you protect your dining room table with a proper heavy-duty cloth. Add a chest with multiple drawers and doors, and you can store your crafting items and work table cloth all within steps of your crafting space. The beautiful look of a chest will blend nicely with your dining area.

Double Duty Pieces

Is it an office, bedroom, living room or multi-purpose dining room? It can be everything! For multi-use rooms, find furniture that can serve several purposes such as:

With multi-purpose room ideas, it’s not about splitting one room in half where one area serves as a guest room and the other as an office. A multi-use room means choosing the right accessories and furniture that allow you to easily turn a guest room into an office, gym, dining area or nursery when needed, and vice versa. Be smart with your choices, and it will be the most-used room in your house.

Mixing New and Old Furniture Pieces for a Look that’s All YOU! Tuesday, January 15, 2019

If you are lucky this season, you may get a few new furniture pieces to add to your home. But how will your new end tables pair with your grandmother’s sofa? Or maybe you’re buying yourself a new bedroom set and just aren’t ready to get rid of your old set just yet. Don’t worry, you can do something to help them find new life. You can repurpose your old pieces and make them feel new again.

Credenza Bar

Adding a bar or wine fridge to the kitchen is all the rage right now, but back in the 50s and 60s you were likely to find a small, mobile bar in the corner or a long Credenza bar up against a wall. Even if you have a new modern bar in your kitchen, don’t put your vintage bar by the curb! Sometimes all you need with American-made furniture is cleaner: brass polish along with furniture polish will spiff it up.  If you love entertaining and celebrating with cocktails, then the credenza is for you. Make it the highlight of your living or dining room.

Coffee Table

Even if your new furniture is traditional or farmhouse style, you can always do a mid-century coffee table. So don’t put your great-uncle’s retro table to the roadside just yet. Contemporary tables are typically low-profile and relatively simple, and they complement almost any design scheme.

Chaise Lounger

Whether it’s a stand-alone chaise lounge or one that’s part of a sectional sofa, these beauties pair together function and fashion. They are also timeless, versatile, and can easily go into a living room, office, or bedroom. Sometimes the fabric may need to be updated, but the style of the Chaise lasts forever.

Consider moving your chaise from the living room to the bed room. Placing it in a corner and adding a floor lamp and side table will make a perfect reading nook.

Low-Profile Accent Chairs

Accent chairs are an American staple. Often patterned and sleek, an accent chair can add a pop of color to any room. If you have a pair of low-profile chairs, relocate them to the foot of your bed in the master bedroom. Add a small, narrow table between them and you’ve created a seating area with the unobtrusive feel of a bench.

Dining Room Chairs

Once you’ve updated your dining room, you may be at a loss for what to do with your old chairs. Place one or two in the corners of a large room as accent chairs. This is especially popular with bentwood chairs. Bentwood chairs are strong, lightweight, and have been used in homes since the 1850s. They complement any decor from classic to contemporary.

Small Dining Room Table

If you are upgrading from a smaller dining room table to a larger one, don’t give your old table away just yet. Some rectangular shaped tables could make a nice buffet if you have the space. Others can find a new home in your home office as a work space. If you do crafts, consider using the old table as a craft area.

Focus on how the new and old pieces feel together. Don’t worry so much about design rules as how you want your space to look and feel.

Home Furniture Supports March of Dimes and Donates Thousands to Help Premature Babies Sunday, January 13, 2019

“It was five weeks before delivery, and they were like, ‘We have to deliver now.’ When she came out, of course she was little, she was 4lb, 6oz.”

 

Tammy Louis, a cashier at the Baton Rouge Home Furniture Plus Bedding location, has firsthand experience with March of Dimes. When her daughter was born prematurely, she wanted to give back to the organization that supported her during those first scary moments.

 

“As they started to assess her and tried to feed her, she wouldn’t take the bottle. They had to rush her to the NICU.”

 

Louis says March of Dimes was there for her family. The organization advocates for policies to protect mothers and premature babies. They have pioneered research to find solutions and empower families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies.

 

“March of Dimes is willing to help and donate to the NICU,” explains Louis. “Being a part of Home Furniture, I think it is very important that we donate to March of Dimes.”

 

In March of 2016, employees, customers and the company itself donated over $5,000 to support premature babies and their families. For 80 years, March of Dimes has helped millions of babies survive and thrive. The organization works to level the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background or demographics.

 

“It helps out parents such as myself who have gone through a lot more than I have. It helps them with the process of their babies being in the NICU,” says Louis.

How to Choose An Accent Chair That Will Elevate Your Living Room Thursday, January 10, 2019

Nothing brings function, color, and style to a space better than an accent chair. Whether you choose a transitional, modern, or traditional piece, your family and guests will benefit from the comfort and coziness it brings. Accent chairs offer extra seating, a pop of color, added texture, and dimension to a space.

 

Before making your accent chair purchase, you’ll need to determine the style of your living room. The answer may not seem clear cut, but typically people will gravitate to a particular look. Also consider how you will use your accent chair. Think about the area you want to place the chair. If you want to snuggle up by a fire to drink your morning coffee, you may want a more durable accent chair. Leather chairs are always a great choice. If you decide to get a chair that will rock, swivel or recline, you will need more room and space than a standard chair.

 

Here are a few more tips to consider before choosing your accent chair.

 

Add Texture

An easy way to add interest to a room with a neutral palette is with a chic, standout armchair. Feel free to stick to the same color of your other furniture, but use the chair to add an interesting texture. If the rest of your room is leather, use cloth on the chair. Or if your living room furniture is microfiber, choose a linen chair.

 

Play with Patterns

The best thing about accent chairs is that they are there to stand out, so you can have fun with stripes or patterns. Don't worry about mismatching. Just place it in the spotlight as the signature piece.

 

Mix and Match

Create stylish, yet comfortable living room décor by placing a few accent chairs in the mix. Sure, you can match the chairs, or you can choose separate chairs that complement each other: select a high back chair and a swivel chair in the same color family.

 

Go Elegant

The wingback chair is an elegant choice for any living room. It’s a dapper piece of furniture with its signature high back and contoured wings. It can go from sleek and modern to traditional and utilitarian in an instant.

 

Swivel into Style

Swivel chairs can be used in more ways than just a workspace. Choose a chair that swivels or a useful chair that pulls double duty as an accent piece. It can even be pulled into the dining room for an extra seat!

Selecting an accent chair can really change up a living space. Look through magazines and Pinterest so you can have an idea of what you may like. Remember, constructing the exact look isn’t nearly as important as capturing the style.

Home Furniture Distribution Center Employee Finds a New Hobby Running Marathons Tuesday, January 8, 2019

“My son is a runner, and he said ‘Dad you should do this too’ and I did. I’ve run two so far. It’s a lot of training, but I enjoy it.”

 

Al Ryder’s most recent marathon was in Mount Airy, North Carolina in the Mayberry Half-Marathon. Running is a hobby the distribution center employee recently picked up. It’s allowed him to travel to North Carolina, but the former Marine has worked his way around the world.

 

“I joined the Marines Corp in 1969,” says Al, “I guess I was stationed in about 10 places.”

 

He added that Japan and Norway were two of his favorite stops, “The Northern lights are real pretty, but it’s a lot of snow.”

 

He was eventually sent to New Orleans, as a helicopter crew chief, and from there he moved to Lafayette. The Monroe native, who achieved a Sergeant Major rank, was happy to be back in his home state.

 

“I lived all over the world, did all kinds of neat stuff, and I retired in1994,” says Al.

 

Al has been with Home Furniture for 12 years and jokes he actually came with the warehouse that is now the Distribution Center.

 

“Well I was working at the Auto Zone Distribution Center when it was sold to Home Furniture. I was helping close things up and they asked if I wanted to stay on. They joke a lot of times that I came with the building. I mean that was the greatest thing that could have happened to me.”

 

He says working for the company is wonderful. He likes how involved they are in the community, and loves what he gets to tackle day to day.

 

“Every day is something different. It’s really busy, and I do a variety of things. I take care of all the power industrial equipment, whatever it takes to keep us going,” explains Al.

 

Together he and his wife of 49 years, Phyllis, have 3 children, 2 sons and a daughter that is now deceased and 6 grandchildren. 

Warmer Colors Will Make You Feel at Home Sunday, January 6, 2019

If you are drawn to reds, yellows, oranges and various other combinations of these colors, you are drawn to warm colors. These colors have been known to increase adrenaline, breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. The impact these colors have on your body actually make you feel warmer.

They are a great choice for rooms that need to inspire work, like a kitchen or office, or inspire conversation, like a living room. Since warm colors tend to be energizing, you may not want to use a bold warm color as your dominant color in a bedroom.

Warm colors often work well with a more traditional decorating style. If this is your style, try using muted, warm tones as your dominant colors. Contemporary and farmhouse styles usually lend themselves to a cooler palette, but you can use a pop of warm color to add flair.

Living Room

Red raises a room’s energy level, so it is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement. In the living room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. A red recliner would be a great starter piece to help play to the reds in your living room. Bring in red throws and maybe pops of red in your area rug.

Yellow brings joy and happiness making it an excellent choice for living rooms. It’s energizing and uplifting. The shade of yellow does not have to be intense; it just needs to pick up the hue. An accent chair demonstrates a great way to introduce yellow into your space. The yellow in the pattern is clearly noticeable but not overwhelming.

Play with the browns and beige in your furniture and draw the warm colors out of them with accent pieces and curtains. Neutral colors will look warm and cozy when surrounded by warm colors.

Home Office

You can play up red in your home office by choosing red-stained wood grains or a red accent chair.  A glider rocker is great for the moments when you need to brainstorm away from the office chair. There are many options perfect for warming up an office space. A two-tone brown color will let you add warmer colored pillows that will naturally blend with the chair. You can also use red throw pillows and curtains to warm up your space.

Kitchen

Yellow is a wonderful color to add to any kitchen. Available accent cabinets would help bring out the yellow tones while adding storage along a kitchen wall. Dark brown curios or china cabinets can also pick up the warm colors of a kitchen and reflect them back. Playing to the reds and cherries of a wooden piece is an excellent way to add warmth to an open space.

Don’t be afraid of browns, beiges, and other neutral colors. Many of these colors have warm undertones that will add coziness to your space. Just remember that too many warm colors can make a room feel small and too much of any one color can be overwhelming. Find the right balance for your space.

Starting from Scratch: How to Decorate Every Room of a New Home Thursday, January 3, 2019

Decorating a home can seem like an overwhelming task. Your new place is a blank canvas just waiting for inspiration. It’s hard to envision the final picture, but the journey and creativity are part of the fun. Here are a few tips for getting started on every room of your new house.

Kitchen

This room is arguably the most central space of your home providing a place for everyone to gather together. Your kitchen should be accessible, have room to move about, and be a perfect space for making wonderful meals. Whatever theme you choose for your kitchen, be sure to stick with it. If you go for farmhouse style, make sure the appliances work with that theme. Do the same with traditional or contemporary styles.

If your new kitchen does not have all of the features you wanted, it’s OK. An island can be fashioned out of a pub table or a breakfast nook out of a small dining set. Some sets are small, fold open or closed for more or less space, and are easy to maintain.

Dining Room

Dining rooms are meant to be a separate place from your kitchen, and therefore can have a different scheme or theme for your decor without it being too jarring of a change. You can go casual or formal or somewhere in between! 

Your dining space shouldn’t be too cluttered, but accent pieces are usually necessary to complete the look. This some cabinets make a beautiful buffet and are perfect for showing off special pieces. Be careful not to overwhelm the space, and remember you’ll be carrying dishes in and out from the kitchen, so make sure you have lots of room to maneuver.

Master Bedroom

Choose a style for your master bedroom that lives in harmony with the rest of your home. A quick word on colors: choose a cooler color palette for the bedroom. For example, if you are playing to the warmer red tones in your living room, go for blues or grays in your bedroom. The cooler colors will let your body know it’s time to calm down once you enter the space of your bedroom.

For a minimal design scheme, go with a bed that makes a statement all on its own.  However, for a master bedroom with a more personal flair consider a bedroom set. Coordinating furniture can really complete a room.

The Kids’ Room

The kids’ rooms need to be their own oasis, so make sure you involve them with planning their space. A full bed is great for a tween or teen and some have added drawers help fight clutter. Also consider bunkbeds for a shared space. Don’t forget to set aside room for hitting the books! A desk with a large surface area to accommodate projects and homework is always a good bet.

Bonus Room

If you are lucky enough to have a bonus room, congrats! You can turn it into a game room for the kids or maybe a home theater for the entire family. Either way, consider a sectional sofa for comfy seating. The arrangement naturally sparks conversation and is perfect for games or movies!

Hopefully these tips will get you started. Don’t get overwhelmed and enjoy the process of making your new house a home!

Home Furniture Hosts Hydration Campaign to Help Sickle Cell Anemia Patients Tuesday, January 1, 2019

“Growing up I couldn’t do a lot of what other kids could, like play sports. I wanted to play basketball, but I couldn’t because my mom was afraid of what would happen in the process.”

Jacorion Anderson is the son of Tessa Anderson, who works in the accounting office for Home Furniture. He is also a Sickle Cell Anemia patient. Sickle Cell Anemia is a blood cell disorder and is incurable. His brother, Zhaire, also suffers from Sickle Cell Anemia - two teenagers in one family fighting every day to stay healthy.

“Every now and then I get a little weak,and I get upset because I feel like we are battling it by ourselves,” says Tessa. “It’s exciting to work for a company that does a lot for so many different causes, but to be a part of and be experiencing this particular cause and to have my Home Furniture family support me in that feels really good. It makes the battle a little bit easier.”

Tessa reached out to her Home Furniture family about the struggles all Sickle Cell patients face, especially with hydration. She mentioned her support group hosts water and Powerade drives because “it is imperative that those with the disease stay hydrated and their electrolytes be replenished.”

“If you’re outside and can’t get to water, you could pass out and probably not wake up,” says Jacorion.

After receiving the letter from Tessa, Home Furniture sprang into action. The company decided to do a hydration campaign to offer support.

“We try to do campaigns that have a personal connection to our employees.  We want them to know that HFC cares about them personally and professionally,” says Jill Mills, Home Furniture’s Community Project Organizer.

The Anderson family certainly felt the support. They had already been through so much including a stroke, surgery, and multiple blood transfusions, all in order to stay ahead of the disease.

“I would like to say thank you for all of your support in helping us fight this battle,” said Jacorion.