design
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
People need to relax. More importantly YOU need to relax. It is very important to your survival that the amount of stress you put on yourself be lowered and the amount of time you spend relaxing be increased.
One of the single best pieces of furniture to relax in is the almighty recliner. A recliner is a piece of furniture, such as a large armchair or sofa, that can be adjusted into a reclining position by lowering the back of the piece and raising the footrest. A reclining chair can adjust to different levels from a slight incline, to lying almost flat.
But what type of recliner is right for you?
Stressless Recliners
Stressless recliners are perfect for a family with a fashionable home who want to maintain the home’s sleek style while still having a piece of furniture they can relax in and enjoy the day. Stressless Recliners come in two separate pieces: the reclining chair and a matching footstool to elevate your feet. The chair typically reclines to about 45 degrees and can come in either a high or low back. These recliners come in a whole range of fabrics and colors, allowing you to find the perfect match for your stylish home.
Massage Recliners
What they lack in style, they gain in extreme comfort. Massage recliners are the ideal item for treatment of tired legs and backs. They come with a variety of massage types and many different reclining positions. Your legs are cared for too as they include mechanisms to massage your feet, calves, and upper leg. Typically, they are operated manually but sometimes offer pre-programmed massages for specific parts of your body.
Swivel Recliners
Swivel recliners are probably the most prevalent recliners today since they provide maximum comfort. The swivel base of the recliner allows it to turn in a 360-degree motion, allowing you to see all sides of the room without having to stand up. It reclines using a small lever, and has both a chair and an ottoman with a base that contains the swivel mechanism. Pull the lever, lean back, kick your feet up and give yourself the much needed relaxation to recharge your batteries for the next day’s activities.
Sofa Recliners
Not to be left out, sofas can be made to recline as well. Many sofas are manufactured with reclining mechanisms of their own, giving your family or guests ultimate comfort in any occasion. Reclining sofas have backs that recline in at least two places and have a footrest which comes up as the back reclines. These can come in a variety of sizes and styles, giving them the ability to fit any kind of décor.
Whether it’s enjoying a good movie or after a long day’s work , visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of reclining furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give yourself the ultimate in relaxation!
Tags: design, furniture, Leather Furniture, living room, massage recliner, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Recliner, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofa recliner, sofas, swivel recliner
Posted in Contemporary, Home Office, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Recliner, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, living room | No Comments
Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Whether it was a family trip up north to the country, or a holiday spent at grandma’s house, many of us have stayed at a country or cottage-styled home at one time in our very busy lives. Country and cottage-styled homes are a staple of American design and can be a peaceful place to live or visit, and are a place where your problems seem to fade away.
But what exactly is a country or cottage-styled home?
Continuing with our design style theme, we will explore the different types of country and cottage designs, and how these styles are represented in homes across the U.S.
Emphasized by natural woods with deep finishes, Americana style homes are very simple when it comes to ornamentation but tend to have a very patriotic feel. Fabrics are muted colors and are adorned with starts and stripes. This style of home can be a perfect place to spend a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday.
On the other hand, a Cottage-styled home typically has lots of wicker or iron pieces of furniture and gets its style from the natural surroundings that encompasses it. Cotton and linen fabrics found in the home will have a floral or checkered pattern giving the home an almost country like feel.
If you have ever visited a home on the Great Lakes, then you probably know what a Classic Costal design is. Designed to look like a beach house, homes that are designed with a Costal look will embrace a relaxed approach and display nautical themes.
However, there are different variations to a Costal theme. Gulf Coast styles bring together Art Deco and vibrant colors, with wicker and rattan, sending you back in time to the ‘50s. Done correctly, Gulf Coast styled homes can be a very cool place to live or visit. Pacific Coast designed homes tend to be influenced heavily by Asian influence, and will be decorated in deep finishes with very comfortable fabrics. Similar to the Classic Costal look, Atlantic Seaboard designed homes have louvers and shutters with a color palette similar to that of lighthouses.
Finally, Rustic and Lodge styled homes are designed with a rugged approach but still offer the bonus of relaxation. Earth tones are prevalent here, while exposed wood in very light finishes are adorned with Native American artwork, wood carvings and natured inspired accessories. Fabrics that line the beds and couches will usually have a hand-woven feel.
Whether its Rustic, Classic Coastal, or Country styled homes, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of cottage styled furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the vacation style feel you have been looking for!
Tags: art deco, chairs, costal, cottage, country, Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, gulf coast design, living room, lodge, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, rustic, sofas, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, Kitchen, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
Are you “in style”? Does your home have a look that would be considered cool by today’s standards? If so, then your home probably has been designed and decorated with a contemporary look. But what does “contemporary” really mean?
Many times contemporary style is classified as a distinct style and doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, people think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.
If you are looking for a more straight line look and want to stay within the contemporary design, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.
The most common label for contemporary furniture is “Artsy” and is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.
Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.
Whether its curvy lines or straight lined, urban or minimalistic, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the fresh style you are looking for!
Tags: Contemporary, Decorations, design, Dining Room, Leather Furniture, living room, loft, minimalist, modern, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, sofas, style, stylish, urban
Posted in Accessories, Bedroom Furniture, Contemporary, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Protecting Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | 1 Comment
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
“What color do I need?…..should I go with fabric?…..what style do I need?……will this even fit?….do I have enough money?!!”………
We have all been there before. Picking out a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hasty decision, this will save you from hating your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have compiled a list of factors you need to think about before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.
- Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it! The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.
- Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture. This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.
- What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.
- Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.
When following these steps for buying a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!
Tags: Decorations, design, Dining Room, furniture, living room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection
Posted in Accessories, Contemporary, Decorating, Dining Room, Dining Room Furniture, End Tables, Entertaining, Home Office, Kitchen, Leather Furniture, Living Room Furniture, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom, living room | No Comments
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Preparing a nursery for your soon-to-be-newborn is a very special time for parents. You want the room to be completely safe; a beautiful living space for your new special treasure but free from any hazards. But how do you protect them from the hazards you can’t see? Here are some safe and healthy ways to create a living space for your little one.
Avoid hazards you can’t see
Keeping the room safe doesn’t just mean ensuring the edges of furniture pieces are rounded and protectors are in the plugs. You have to protect your little one from things that cannot be seen. This means staying away from synthetic materials that give off formaldehyde gas. Items like press board and plastics are the culprits in this case. Instead, choose furniture made out of natural wood that is not finished. It’s pretty much guaranteed that during your baby’s gumming stage, s/he will come in contact with the crib or other pieces of furniture. Be sure to stay away from painted or stained materials for their safety as well.
Keep it simple and clean
Today’s current fashion is a contemporary style. The modern-and-chic look is one of simplicity, where only a few items are used to bring life to the room. Use colors sparingly is the key here, and stay away from over-using pastels. Go with a calm color for the walls. This will allow for wall murals or cozy rugs to stand out more, adding style to the room.
Safe walls for little hands
On the theme of non-toxic products, it’s important that the walls of the room are safe from any artificial materials. If you’re choosing wallpaper for the room, look to have it professionally installed with non-toxic wallpaper paste. If you choose to paint, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is your best bet here and can be customized to match almost any color you need.
Natural Baby Bedding
Toxins can also be found in bedding. Your baby’s skin will be in contact with nursery bedding for many hours each day. A baby’s skin is very sensitive in the early years, so it’s important to keep their skin safe from substances that cause irritation. Choose natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics. This also goes for crib bumpers, pillow inserts, covers and changing pads.
When designing a safe and hazard free nursery for your new baby, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of children furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your baby’s nursery is a safe place to be!
Tags: baby, baby bedding, baby room, crib, Decorations, design, furniture, hazards, infant room, Mattresses, Nursery, pillow protector, play room, PMD Franchise, PMD Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, royal heritage home furnishings bedding collection, royal heritage mattress protectors, royal heritage pillow protectors, setting up, toxins, Youth Bedroom Furniture
Posted in Accessories, Bedding, Bedroom Furniture, Decorating, Mattresses, Nursery, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings, Youth Bedroom Furniture, bedroom | No Comments
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, 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
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
It’s a problem we’ve all faced at one point in our life. You’ve just finished purchasing some beautiful living room furniture from Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® but now have no idea how to lay out the room. Most of the time we spend countless hours moving furniture pieces around, like an endless puzzle, trying to figure out the layout we want. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Follow these steps to find the living room layout you want while also saving your back.
- Get a piece of paper and draw a layout of your living room. Include all doors, windows, outlets, radiators, and air vents.
- Design and cut out miniatures of your items. Make sure all the pieces are named with the dimensions of each.
- Locate a focal point in the room. All your furniture pieces will revolve around this point. It can sometimes be a entertainment center, coffee table, artwork, fireplace, or even a mantle. Draw this focal point on the paper where it exists in the room.
- Move your cut out furniture pieces around on the paper to experiment with different layouts. Make sure your seating areas face each other and not the focal point. You want to encourage socializing. Place sofas and chairs at right angles around the focal point.
- Find a coffee table or trunk to place in the center of your seating arrangement for drinks or board games. This can also be used as a display area to place reading materials or pictures.
- Leave spaces in the corners between the seating for end tables or lamps. If you have an extra chair that fits this seating group, you can widen the arrangement and place the chair diagonally into the corner and skip the table.
- Finally, fill in any open places with any additional pieces of decor you still have. But remember, less is more. You don’t want to over crowd an area. So place accordingly.
Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful living room furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection, and start designing your living room today!
Tags: arrange, design, Entertaining, furniture, layout, Leather Furniture, living room, living room layout design, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Furniture, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings
Posted in Decorating, Entertaining, Living Room Furniture, PMD Furniture Direct, Royal Heritage Home Furnishings | No Comments
