Buying the sofa was easy. Truth be told, it was love at first sight. The matching wingback chairs? They just worked. All in all, it’s becoming the room you dreamed it could be, but wait…something’s missing…

What’s that at the center of your vision? That barren space is more like a small dance floor than the lovely oasis you envisioned.  You’ve left buying a coffee table for last – afraid of making the wrong choice. Like an ostrich you’ve got your head buried in the sand. (That is, the sand colored shag area rug you bought the last time you were supposed to be coffee table shopping.)

Choosing a coffee table doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Follow these easy guidelines for buying the perfect coffee table:

A picture is worth avoiding a thousand mistakes. When shopping for a coffee table, take a photo of the room with you. It’s a helpful way to see how a table will fit into the space.

Add some sense to your sensibility. Most coffee tables range from about 16 to 18 inches high. If you are going to be doing a lot of entertaining, you’ll want the height of your coffee table to be slightly lower than the seat height of your sofa or at the same level.

First class always has leg room. When buying a coffee table, don’t use your words… know your numbers! Keep room and furniture measurements handy. Bring along a tape measure and remember to leave at least 18 inches between a sofa and coffee table. More space will leave the table too far out of reach.

To thine own self be true. You want something that both complements your lifestyle and unifies your décor. Want to put your feet up at the end of the day? Choose a practical bi-cast leather ottoman with storage and top it with a tray for food and drinks.

Shape things up. Do you have a sofa with rolled arms? An oval or round coffee table will harmonize the look. Square tables balance a sectional sofa. Is your space long and narrow? Break up the space and provide usable, reachable surfaces with two smaller square tables. Be sure rectangular coffee tables are long enough to be reached by everyone sitting on the sofa.

Coffee tables come in a dazzling assortment of styles and materials. Go ahead and break the rules for something that looks great and serves you well. Above all, don’t let the fear of making a decorating faux pas keep you from buying the perfect coffee table.

“There is no blue without yellow and without orange.”
~Vincent van Gogh, Dutch Painter 1853-1890

With Halloween behind us, it’s good to know that orange doesn’t have to scream Jack o’ Lantern or Trick or Treat. In its truest form orange can be challenging to live with, but if you’ve been shying away from orange, just look out the window. T’is the season when reds and oranges transform the landscape. Maybe it’s the time to rethink this vibrant carroty color, let your guard down… and have an orange crush.

You might not consider terra-cotta an orange, but it is a popular expression of the same hue. So are salmon, peach, shrimp and coral. In fact, this season’s hot color is coral orange. Looking for ways to warm and energize a tired room? Here’s a guide for squeezing some orange into your life.

Orange in the bedroom
Peach may be safe and quiet for a bedroom, but orange doesn’t have to be loud. Adding warm woods and pairing it with hushed hues like lavender or pale blue (yes, really!) will offset the boisterousness.
If you have a lot of wood in your bedroom, like a wooden bed frame and side tables, for example, painting your walls a deep orange will energize it by day and give a warm, cozy glow at night. Finish the look with sable colored bedding for a rich, earthy feel.

For an energetic punch to white walls and black furniture, try tangerine bedding. Toss in other juicy accents in matching tangerine tones, like a vase or a bold colored lamp for each nightstand.

Orange flavored living spaces
Blazing orange walls always look great surrounding a fireplace and make the fire burn brighter. Add a tall, dark and handsome wooden mirror to cool things down.

Warm up a great room or family room by combining golden yellow walls with burnt orange tie-back curtains. Keep things balmy with matching burnt orange throw pillows.

Use orange accents to brighten a predominantly brown room. An orange throw paired with a gold and orange patterned pillow can be stunning against a solid brown chair or ottoman.

Don’t rule out colorful furniture as a way to pop open some color. A neutral office space can always use a walk on the less serious side, with a brightly colored file cabinet. Does your loft need a pick me up? Add a touch of contemporary with a cozy orange sherbet colored lounge chair.

If you have a secret crush on orange but aren’t sure just how much citrus you should pour into a room, use this foolproof formula: 60-30-10. Main colors should cover about 60 percent of the room (painted walls). A secondary color covers approximately 30 percent (window covers, upholstery and rugs). The last 10 percent is for accent colors (artwork, tiles and cushions). When you know the formula, orange becomes a lot less spooky.

The carrot has been dangled…time for an orange crush.

When it comes to decorating kid’s rooms and buying beds for kids, it’s easy to get caught up in the enchantment of it all. What parent doesn’t want their children to have a room that they’ll love to live and grow in? Sticking to a decorating budget can be tricky especially when kids have to share a room with a sibling.

Before you go and blow your entire decorating budget on that novelty golden carriage loft bed, remember how quickly children grow. The key to keeping up with your child’s growth and changing interests is to choose children’s beds that are practical and multi-functional.

Enter the trundle bed. History tells us that the trundle bed was first used by servants who had to be near the mistress to fan her with a feather on hot summer nights. In the morning, the handy bed on wheels would slide neatly under the main bed.

Today’s twin beds for kids can include a “hidden” trundle bed treasure- a perfect solution if space is at a premium and loads of fun for slumber parties. What’s more, you don’t have to buy your trundle unit right away. Start with a handsome Mate’s bed and add a second bed as your family grows.

When designing your child’s bedroom ample storage is important. Still, having too many dressers and storage units in a room can take up valuable activity space. To answer that need, clever children’s furniture manufacturers have designed kids storage beds that come with both a trundle bed and extra drawer space.

While shopping for beds, don’t forget the classic bunk bed. In fact, a favorite space saving trick in smart children’s bedroom design is to go up. Complete with guard rails and finished with non-toxic eco-friendly hardwoods, the contemporary bunk bed looks better than ever and is a safe bet. Remember when getting the top bunk made you feel special? With a trundle bed ready for overnight guests, sleeping on the bottom bunk just became a lot more fun.

Trundle beds may have been invented to indulge the rich but when it comes to kids trundle beds…three cheers for the inventor. Thanks for solving that long-standing “there’s a monster under my bed!” problem.

Backless bar stools are perfect for diners or bars where more seating is required.  These stools can be placed out of the way by simply sliding them under the bar.  Artists, designers and hobbyists opt for the swivel barstool as it affords them free movement necessary for working.  The bar stool is also available with adjustable height controls, which offer an even higher range of choices.  Convenience and function are the central appeal for adjustable bar stools.

With so many kitchens now designed with islands or bars, counter height bar stools are a common household component.  Many open floor plans feature great rooms that demand separate seating areas.  Many of these spaces are used for casual dining with pub tables and bar stools.  Homes with recreation rooms often have pool tables and wet bars.  This offers another key place for counter bar stools.  As outdoor rooms are becoming increasingly popular, the bar stool offers the ideal seating for impromptu barbecues and entertaining.  The bar stool has entered the home, surpassing its status as novel seating alternative to become a necessary part of home furnishings.

When looking for bar stools for the home, the styles are endless.  You can choose leather, wood, upholstered or metal bar stools.  The varieties of traditional, retro or modern bar stools are endless.  Do you choose an adjustable stool, or perhaps one that swivels with a footrest?  The choices can be overwhelming.  Think about the surroundings and consider the barstool’s use.  If it will be used primarily at the kitchen bar where the kids eat a quick bowl of cereal in the morning, consider the easily cleaned vinyl and chrome swivel counter stool.  Or will the bar stools be the alternate seating area in the great room, where comfort is most important?  Then maybe the fully upholstered leather or suede barstool would be a good fit.  Are you searching for the perfect barstools for the patio?  You may want to look into an outdoor weave that can withstand the elements such as certain varieties of rattan or bamboo.  When looking to give your rec room a fresh, new look, contemporary bar stools could be just the answer.

When considering the purchase of bar stools, height is a major factor to consider.  The standard bar stool height is 30”.  Counter height stools are usually 26” and fit nicely at the kitchen counter or island.  You can also find 36” stools that are made to fit bar or pub tables, used more in more in modern living spaces. 

The selection of bar stools is anything but limited.  With so many fun choices of color, texture and style, these delightfully functional paragons of style are making a scene-stealing entrance into today’s home.

One of the most notable advantages to a platform bed is that it does not require box springs.  This pays off in ergonomics and economics.  The platform bed is structured with a slat system of support.  The mattress is placed directly on the slats, providing a firmer surface than box springs.  Further, the slats provide a solid base for more evenly distributed weight.  This is beneficial especially for those who suffer with chronic back pain.  If a less firm mattress is desired, today’s selection of pillow-tops can be used with the platform bed to give you extra cushion.  And since you don’t need box springs, you can invest more in a quality mattress.  You also save by not having to purchase a frame and rails as you customarily would when using box springs.

The platform storage bed affords an abundance of storage options that set it apart from traditional beds.  A storage bed allows you the option to add drawers that come in various styles.  This is a great option for a child’s room or a college dorm, where space is limited.  Some platform storage beds are designed specifically to allow for storage directly under the bed simply by lifting the entire slat platform for access.  This is beneficial when you have large items you’d like to store out of view.  This array of storage options gives the platform bed the ultimate in space-saving functionality. 

Storage is not the only element of the platform bed that offers choices.  The actual look of the bed can be changed as well.  The headboard free option is a great choice for a more minimalist look or for placing the bed in the center of a room, perhaps on a raised platform area.  Or for extra comfort and variety, many of these storage beds come with padded headboards that look great in bedrooms of any design style, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.  Matching footboards are yet another option.  The majority of platform beds feature contemporary lines, however, if a more traditional look is desired; there are platform beds available in wood or leather. 

Aesthetically, a platform bed can make a room appear larger because it sits closer to the floor, making the ceiling appear higher.  Platform beds can also take up a bit less space than the traditional bed frame, thus opening up more space surrounding the bed.  With its sleek, clean lines and multitude of options, the platform bed is a smart and savvy choice.