PMD Furniture Direct
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
With styles changing almost daily, it’s hard to keep up with current furniture lingo thrown at you while shopping for furniture. Whether it’s traditional, contemporary, modern, cottage, or chic, these terms can encompass a broad range of styles that might leave you scratching your head. In the next few weeks I will review the most commonly used terms to discuss styles, and what exactly they mean. This week we will look at traditional styles, and what it truly means to be a traditional looking piece of furniture.
Time honored, European, Colonial…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a look dating hundreds of years back. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.
If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonly will be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely constructed with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed with deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.
When looking to give your room a traditional look and feel, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!
Tags: british fashion, colonial, design, Dining Room, European, fashion, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, setting up, time-honored, traditional, traditional furniture, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | 1 Comment
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
It’s inevitable! Your kids are going to change their minds. Whether it’s within seconds, minutes, hours, or days, it’s a guaranteed fact that your child will at one point or another will change their mind about their likes and interests. Seventeen years of these interest changes can take its toll on any room and most importantly your budget. So how do you prepare for your child’s ever-changing tastes when designing their room?
Stay with the conventional
With the amount of TV and movies your children will watch, it’s hard to say what characters or themes they will like from one day to the next. So when your child decides it’s time for a new style in their room, simply change the wall hangings or the painting scheme. This is something that can be inexpensive and easy to change. Kids outgrow themes on a daily basis, so if you purchase a new bed with every theme, plan for a lot of spending.
Plan for the long haul
Your focus when planning for longevity needs to be solely on the furniture pieces. Kids are very hard on furniture. That’s a fact. Buying quality, well-built pieces is vital. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank and buy the absolute best. But look at the manufacturer’s warranty and take it into consideration the quality of the pieces when deciding what to buy. Also, heavier woods are sturdier and will last longer, but can be more expensive. Woods like pine are not as high quality, but will save you money.
The sooner, the better
When designing for a nursery, stay away from gender specific colors like pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Thinking long term means using neutral shades for paints, and then adding bolder colors to the accent pieces. Accent pieces can be changed down the road and are fairly inexpensive. A very easy and inexpensive way to decorate a room are wall stickers. They peel off easily and can be replaced with the next fad.
Finally, multi-stage pieces will also help when planning for the longevity of the room. For instance, cribs that convert into toddler beds will last for years and serve a multi-purpose. As will a six-drawer dresser with a changer on top instead of just a changing table.
When designing your child’s room with the future in mind, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your child’s furniture will last a lifetime!
Tags: Decorations, design, furniture, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, Sealy, setting up, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
Do you love the environment? Do you love spending time in the great outdoors? If yes, you should consider giving your décor an eco-friendly boost. In today’s society, we are constantly made aware of mother earth’s deteriorating condition. Taking care of the environment is essential for all industries and products. For those of you looking to create an environmentally friendly home, here’s a list of home-beautifying trends and products in accordance with the bourgeoning ‘green’ movement.
Wabi-Sabi
Reclaimed wood is one of the most popular trends in green design. The reshaping of recycled wood falls under the Japanese art form, Wabi-Sabi, an art devoted to finding beauty in imperfection. This new spin on an old design philosophy presents both contemporary and traditional items that are sure to brighten any space.
Paint it “Green”
The green movement no longer only applies to the construction of furniture. Now, the green movement extends from your floor to the ceiling, literally. New chemical-free paints – which contain no volatile organic compounds – make spicing up your interior an eco-friendly exercise. Today, chemical-free interior paint has expanded from only a few shades to the entire spectrum of the rainbow and beyond. You can paint your rooms and feel good about your effort to reduce the damage inflicted on mother nature.
LED is a Y-E-S
While compact fluorescent lighting is a better choice for the environment than the old incandescent bulb, it gives off a drab, bluish glow. Fluorescent bulbs used to be the only environmentally sound choice, but now a brighter option is in the making. New LED bulbs, made in the same shape and size as incandescent bulbs, will soon hit the market. They give off a brighter, more natural light than incandescent lights while offering much more durability than the older models.
When giving your room an eco-friendly boost, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those eco-friendly furniture pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can enjoy the environment all the time.
Tags: Dining Room, eco-friendly, environment, environmental, environmentaly friendly, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings
Posted in Accessories, Decorating, Dining Room, Home Office, Kitchen, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room | No Comments
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
When it comes to designing the look of your home, we focus too much on what we SHOULD do with the design scheme of the interior. Instead, we NEED to pay more attention to what should NOT be done when decorating. These are the most frequent mistakes that are made when designing, and the ways to avoid them before they destroy your decor.
Avoiding Color
Don’t be afraid to experiment when painting your walls. Use colors that thoroughly express your tastes and personality instead of slapping on a coat of beige to “make the room look bigger.”
If you are reluctant to paint your rooms in bright colors, just try the accent effect where you only make one or two of the walls stand out while keeping the others more conservative.
Weak Windows
Window treatments are an easy, cost-efficient way to really put a good touch on a room, but many times, the curtain frame is hung too low or the curtains do not fit the window. This either makes the ceiling look low or the curtains appear cheap.
The best range to hang your curtains is six inches to one foot above the window molding. This allows more light into the room and it makes ceilings look taller. Also, curtains should hang from the curtain rod to the floor.
Floating Rugs
A rug should either be large enough to provide a surface for all of the furniture to rest on or the right size for the furniture to perfectly frame it. Rugs that are too small for a room end up creating an island that really breaks up the design and the scheme of the furniture.
Accessory Overload
Accessories should be nothing more than small additions. They are not meant to control their settings. Crowding your tables with frames, candles, and vases is overkill.
Instead display your accessories so that your favorite pieces receive the most attention from visitors. You can even keep these items in a rotation so that you can always add something new to the room.
Poor-Fitting Furniture
There should be three feet, if not more, separating larger pieces like sofas from the rest of the furniture so that people can easily pass through the room. On top of that, try not to fill big spaces with little pieces since it really disturbs the flow of your décor.
When defending yourself against design follies, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can have the ultimate decor for your home!
Tags: Decorating, Decorations, design, design follies, Dining Room, furniture, living room, painting, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, rugs, window treatments, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Kitchen, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, bedroom, living room | No Comments
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
Everyone wants a great bedroom. We dream of owning a spacious bedroom so much that the thought of it becoming cluttered is a mere afterthought. But what happens if unlimited space is not at luxury you have? Having a small bedroom is not something you should fear. These guidelines are suggestions for working with what you have to give your bedroom the gift of space!
- Maximize the sense of space by painting the room in a pale color. White, beige and cream are just a few examples.
- Use ceramic or wood flooring that runs in a diagonal pattern. Diagonal lines appear longer than lines running perpendicular or parallel.
- Get rid of the headboard and footboard. Headboards and footboards push the bed off the wall and take up space.
- Use a metal mattress frame and keep the bed close to the floor. Large frames give the sense of a large mass and appear bulky.
- Sleep sofas or a nice futon can be great for utilizing space. Couch during the day … bed at night.
- Don’t use too much furniture. Excess furniture can choke a room and its traffic pattern. A bed, nightstand and a dresser is all your room needs.
- Storage pieces that rise vertically, like a highboy, are better than pieces that jet out horizontally.
- Minimize the use of patterns in things such as rugs, curtains and wallpaper. Patterns such as polka dots, flowers, stripes and plaids can really fill up a room and take away the sense of space.
- Refrain from placing a large amount of pictures on the wall. Many designers state that one wall should be left bare to give the psyche a chance to relax.
Designing for a smaller bedroom can be very easy, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those ideal bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection that will give your bedroom infinite space!
Tags: bedroom, bedroom decorations, bedroom design, design bedroom, furniture, limited bedroom space, limited space, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
Friday, June 18th, 2010
Your children’s room is very important to them. It is one of the few places in the home they call their own and many times they will find refuge there. The different pieces of furniture you furnish their room with will make or break their bedroom and can create a very un-enjoyable environment.
Selecting the correct pieces of furniture is absolutely a must. The following steps will help in the process of assembling a perfect youth bedroom.
- Find out what he or she wants in their room. They are the ones that are going to be spending all their time there. So make sure it is filled with things they want.
- Based on how much space you have to work with, the bed is the essential piece of furniture you will buy. Make sure it is as convenient as it is comfortable. Your choices will consist of day beds, bunk bed, lofts, day beds, and storage beds.
- Color schemes. This is vital when buying furniture. Lots of kids’ bedroom sets come in assorted color schemes so discuss with your child the color scheme he or she likes best.
- Your child most likely will have homework and thus needs a place to do it. Find a desk that he or she can easily fit into, preferably with a book shelf. Homework is not fun, so make sure their desk is comfortable. Find a matching, comfortable chair for the desk also.
- A night stand is next on the list. You child will need a place to put an alarm clock or their glasses once it is time for bed.
- Finally, for extra storage, a dresser, armoire, or trunk will work well and keep the room clutter free.
When designing a bedroom your children will adore, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those perfect kid bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your children will have a place they can call their own.
Tags: childrens bedroom, Decorations, designing youth bedroom, kid's bedroom, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, setting up, setting up youth bedroom, youth bedroom, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
How many times have you awaken from a great night’s sleep only to have your morning ruined by the painful feeling of banging one of your toes or shins against a dresser or another piece of furniture?
It has happened to all of us at one time or another, but the great thing is it doesn’t have to anymore! Arranging the furniture in your bedroom can be tricky, especially when you are working with limited space. The following steps will help you not only add more comfort and style to your bedroom, but it will save you from mornings filled will toe throbbing pain:
1. Sketch the layout of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Include measurements and placement of all radiators, doors, and windows.
2. Get the measurements of all your furniture. You can either write it down or if you are creative enough, make cutouts of each furniture piece.
3. Place the cutouts on the paper and move them around until you get the desired layout you want. Make sure the spacing between furniture pieces is big enough, giving you the peace of mind knowing that you won’t be bumping into anything when you wake up.
4. Make sure your room is clutter free! Clearing out clutter from the corners of the room will give you better energy flow. Exposed electrical equipment emits electromagnetic waves, which can hinder a peaceful night of sleep. Instead, hide wires from electrical equipment in units with doors.
When designing the layout of your bedroom, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those perfect bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can start your mornings off pain free!
Tags: arranging bedroom furniture, Bedroom Furniture, decorating bedroom, Decorations, furniture, Mattresses, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, stubbing toe
Posted in Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, PMD Furniture Direct, Protecting Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Your dining room does not have to match!
The days of matching dining rooms are finished! Today’s furniture buyers want their dining rooms to reflect their families’ personalities by mixing and matching different pieces to create a only one of a kind dining experience. All the dining room furniture you buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee should be something you love that is a reflection of your home and personality.
The table, the centerpiece of any eating experience, is the first thing you need to consider when combining different styles of furniture for your dining room. Because of this, the rest of the design will play off of this focal point. Tables with lighter finishes and glass or stone tops lend a casual feel while darker finishes tend to be used for formal settings. If you plan on using the dining room for every meal, a glass top table is also easy to clean and maintain.
Next, consider the chairs. Even in a formal dining room setting the chairs don’t have to be the same. Wood, upholstered, leather, and even metal are just a few of the different styles of chairs you can choose from. And even when mixed and matched, these varying choices can add a style all of their own to any dining room. Mix and match back styles, use different styles for the side and arm chairs, apply coordinating fabrics to add some excitement to your seating. Side chairs can also be placed throughout the dining room for a unique look.
Finally, the serving pieces can be constructed from different materials than your table and chairs. Painted sideboards, china cabinets, and buffet tables will give them an eccentric one-of-a-kind look and add an interesting style to your dining room. Finish the table off with a centerpiece that matches the color or style of your curtains and there you have it–a dining room that is a reflection of you.
When matching your dining room with your families personality, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those just right dining room pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and start enjoying your dining experiences today!
Tags: arm chairs, Buffet, chairs, Decorations, Dining Room, Entertaining, furniture, hutch, non matching dining room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, side chairs
Posted in Accessories, Dining Room Furniture, Entertaining, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings | No Comments
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Spending the night in an unfamiliar room can be such a drag sometimes, especially when the sleeping conditions are reminiscent of sleeping in the great outdoors. So why would you want to put your guest through that same experience?
Take into consideration the things that make you feel at peace when staying in an unfamiliar place. This is the most important factor to make your guests feel right at home in a guest room. It will also give them a warm and cozy feeling knowing their comfort was thought of when you invited them into your home.
Follow these suggestions when shopping at your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to create a comfortable, relaxing experience for your guests:
- Keep it clutter free. Remove any furniture that might give the room a cluttered feel. Guests will feel more at home if they have enough room to accommodate themselves.
- Don’t furnish with all your unwanted furniture. This too can make a room feel cluttered and hodge-podge.
- Give the bed all the comfort you would want if you were sleeping on it. Provide extra pillows and don’t skimp on the linens. A thick duvet isn’t a bad idea either.
- Provide a nightstand next to the bed. This could be a great place for a lamp for reading purposes.
- Place a bowl of candy, magazines, books or flowers in the room to make your guests feel welcomed.
- Hang a mirror on the wall so they have a place to freshen up.
- A clock radio, wastebasket, iron and ironing board, tissues and a bottle of water are nice personal touches.
When creating a comfortable guest room for your dearest friends, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to find the perfect pieces of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection that will give your guest a home away from home experience.
Tags: Decorations, Entertaining, furniture, guest room, Mattresses, nightstand, peaceful nights sleep, pillow protector, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, proctect mattress, room, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, royal heritage mattress protectors, royal heritage pillow protectors, setting up
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Mattresses, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | 1 Comment
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Having beautiful furniture doesn’t have to be an illusion when it comes to families with young children. With your kids running around, jumping on furniture and spilling their food, keeping your furniture looking new can sometimes seem like a unattainable dream. However, if you shop correctly when looking for furniture, that dream can quickly become reality.
The type of cover you choose for your furniture is very important. Many fabrics come with anti-stain features or treatments to protect against spills and stains. Microfiber repels moisture remarkably and comes in a dazzling array of colors and suede like finishes. Genuine leather can also be an excellent choice because of its durability and strength. Many leather finishes have a naturally distressed look that won’t show wear and tear over a period of time. A sofa with a washable slipcover sofa also protects your investment during the messy years.
It’s almost guaranteed that at one time or another your kids will jump on your living room pieces, so make sure durability is high on your list of things to consider. The construction of the pieces play a huge role in the longevity of your furniture. Living room pieces should have a strong frame and high density cushions. Multiple furniture pieces like sofas, loveseats, and recliners can also be very beneficial. It gives you the luxury of rearranging your room as your beautiful family changes.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to see how beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection meets your family’s needs.
Tags: couch covers, Dining Room, durability, fabrics, furniture, furniture durability, Leather Furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, spills
Posted in Bedroom Furniture, Dining Room Furniture, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Protecting Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture | No Comments
