Monday, October 31st, 2016
Many homeowners take bedroom design to be a serious matter but when it comes to dressing up the guest room, it’s a totally different perspective. All other room projects are tended to but the guest room ends up forgotten or even unused. For some, it easily becomes the home for their not-oft-used bedroom design to be a serious matter but when it comes to dressing up the guest room, it’s a totally different perspective. All other room projects are tended to but the guest room ends up forgotten or even unused. For some, it easily becomes the home for their not-oft-used exercise machines.
Setting Up the Guest Bedroom – Open Your Doors to Friends and Family
It’s high time that you lift the spirits in your home if things have been going rather boring. This is the moment to create the perfect retreat for people that you welcome to your home. Your goal is to make them comfortable, pampered or spoiled even, so that they’d feel at home while they are away from their own households.
So, what to do?
First, of course, pick a theme with a neutral palette or a traditional taste. It is imperative to find soothing tones that would make your guests feel at home. Put some throw pillows, some artwork, blankets and curtains that would help harmonize all the design elements in the room.
Use just the best elements for the guest room. Don’t be tempted to dump all the stuff that you don’t want to use in your bedroom to this room. You may just be welcoming guests but they also deserve to be treated in the best manner.
Be sure to bring in a cozy mattress, a good number of pillows, sheets and bedspreads. Place extra blankets inside the cabinet. Have an extra fan on the ready especially when the guest room does not have a ceiling fan. Try to envision a luxury hotel but at a smaller scale. This is the perfect description wherein your guests would definitely love to stay.
It is also imperative to find the right furniture pieces for this special room in your home. Find a decorative bed, some noteworthy nightstands, a reading lamp or two, and a cabinet. The last furniture mentioned is essential because this will serve as your guests’ clothing storage. This could also be a closet or a chest of drawers.
It would also be nice to include a reading nook. This is an inviting space for your guests where they could read some bestsellers. If there isn’t enough space for a reading chair and a side table, then just set up a body pillow at the foot of the bed. This will become a makeshift couch for your guests. If this is still not possible, then just be sure to place more pillows right on the bed.
If you have ample space to spare, then be sure to add a vanity mirror so that your guests can freshen up before they go out and socialize with the rest of the family.
Guest Room No-No’s
One of the most important things to not do in a guest room is to use it as a storage room. Your guest room should be a room for guests – nothing more. Imagine sleeping in a guest room filled with the owner’s belongings plus some underutilized exercise machines! Remembering this simple concept will make your guests feel more welcome in your home.
Don’t forget to furnish the guest room with toiletries. Always remember to place some towels, a night light, a wastebasket, rolls of tissue, even an alarm clock. You can go further by providing magazines (apart from the books in that reading corner), a vase of fresh flowers, and some potpourri. Some candies and bottled water would also be nice.
Tags: guest amenities, guest room, guest room furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Guest Room Design, Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Monday, October 31st, 2016
The chandelier is a lighting fixture that has two or more branches that bear lights. Gone are those days when it was a mere wooden cross beam complete with metal spikes to hold the lighted candles. Nowadays you won’t see chandeliers hoisted up with a rope or chains. These lovely lighting fixtures have evolved into charming pieces with different designs.
Chandeliers, these days, are not just used for lighting but also for aesthetic purposes.
Adding Ambience with Chandeliers
Needless to say, this lighting fixture that’s designed to float inside a room is a great design element. This can easily serve as a centerpiece in any space.
If you’ve seen the film What A Girl Wants, you would find one of the characters there boasting of his lovely chandelier to his guests. It’s not just a conversation catalyst but also something that he got accustomed to being arrogant about.
Chandeliers can also spell luxury in so many ways. They are unequalled when it comes to lighting elegance.
Picking the Right Chandelier
There are many things that you need to consider when purchasing your first chandelier. Think of materials, different sizes, and light emission when you are out to determine the best chandelier for your room.
There are horizontal and vertical sizes. Know that buying a large fixture could mean an overwhelmed space. Purchasing one that’s too small, though, means it could look insignificant if not unremarkable.
The size and design of the chandelier will also eventually affect the way the fixture will be hung. If you want an elaborate chandelier that would be hung inside a spacious dining room, for instance, then be sure to take the time to do some measurements.
Hold a tape measure to a height that you think would work for your chosen chandelier. Here are some general guidelines –
The length by which a chandelier must hang is dependent on the height of the ceiling. The bottom part of the fixture must not hang more than seven inches from off the floor. If there are windows, then be sure to put the chandelier at the center where it can be seen from the outside.
The Correct Chandelier Materials
Since chandeliers easily become the focal points in room, then you must know what sort of materials would enhance the room. Candle and crystal combinations make the most nostalgic visions. Glass and crystal, on the other hand, are quite popular in the creation of romantic settings. They are also indicative of wealth and luxury.
The use of antler chandeliers brings to mind those days past when life was simple and lighting was as basic. The rustic design that these offer are perfect for log cabins and those rural lodges; they are also great for a more antiqued look.
You can also invest in metal chandeliers. These come in wrought iron, brass, steel and silver. Add some stones, shells, beads and Capiz and you’d have achieved a fancy lighting piece. Metal chandeliers often look great in modern and contemporary homes. The less ornaments used, the more fitting the lighting fixture is for a modern setting.
Be careful in choosing the colors of your chandeliers. The most famous finishes now are black, gold, silver and brushed bronze. There are also neutral-colored pieces that would easily suit your design scheme.
Tags: accent light, accent lighting, ambient light, ambient lighting, chandelier, chandeliers, designing with chandeliers, home lighting, lighting fixture, lighting interiors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, use of chandeliers
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Friday, October 28th, 2016
Being able to tell which wood furniture is real or fake takes skills. Of course, wanting to make an heirloom of a furniture piece means you have to recognize solid wood from laminated or veneer pieces. Here are some of the determining factors –
Solid Wood Is Heavy
Really heavy, actually. Solid wood furniture is heavy because it is, well, made of solid wood. A fairly lightweight piece means it is something else.
Quality Construction
One of the most obvious indicators of solid wood furniture is its dovetail construction. The tongue and groove that you see right where the drawer is linked to the drawer, spell quality; coming from the drawer construction, it’s time to check the sides and bottom part of the furniture.
You will be able to see veneer if you check on the side. It would be easy to see the veneer sheet that is attached to the front of the furniture. Unfinished wood at the bottom is an indicator that you are looking at solid wood furniture. Laminate pieces tend to cover every part of the furniture, from top to bottom.
Check also the wood grain. Horizontal grains right on the edges indicate veneers. Solid wood has zero grains on the edges.
If you are able to feel the grain or even see a pattern, then you probably have solid wood furniture. It might be difficult to feel using your fingertips at times especially when sealing was done. To inspect, check if you see any repetitive patterns. This isn’t possible with solid wood as is the lack of texture. A very smooth surface is probably veneer, too.
Quality Carving
Shoddily constructed furniture cannot bear carvings, meaning, you won’t see them on veneers and laminates. Carved details on furniture have the power to transform an ordinary piece of wood to an ornamental wonder.
Wood carving is far from easy, more so for beginners. This means that only master craftsmen are able to come up with carved pieces that are being sold in the market. And since only the experts are able to create these designs on furniture, such pieces automatically cost more.
The cost is worth it, though. You don’t just invest in an heirloom piece but a piece that will be highly-sought in terms of visual pleasure.
Natural Look
Solid wood has naturally beautiful lines and patterns. These are difficult to achieve in other materials. Throughout the years, solid wood pieces would show their age yet they can be kept at that state or refinished.
Sturdiness
Apart from natural beauty, wood is also naturally sturdy. It is durability that you can rely on for many, many years. This means you won’t be buying furniture replacement soon.
With proper care, you won’t even have to worry about mold or termite. Small scratches and nicks can be easily touched up.
Solid Wood Is Green
There are now sustainable ways of harvesting wood. So if you’re obsessing over owning solid wood furniture but are worried about your responsibility to planet Earth, there’s no need to fret anymore. You can now make savvy choices with your solid wood piece selections.
Modern sustainability means cutting down trees from tree farms. This could also mean keeping the same piece of furniture in your family for a very long time. Several generations could end up enjoying this one piece so what could be greener than that?
Bamboo may not be considered wood since it is a type of grass. It is fast-growing and resilient and this has become the poster material for all things sustainable and environment-friendly.
Bamboo can be used as a material for quality solid wood furniture, too.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for wood furniture, solid wood furniture
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 26th, 2016
When you’re about to move in to your new home, cleaning up is the primary task that you need to focus on. But this mostly means that it’s time to clear up stored items that have been accumulated over a long time – if not your entire lifetime. So you’re thinking of becoming more organized this time? It’s not impossible, but it’s not easy either.
Here are several organization methods that should help you with your cleanup goals –
Practice One In and Another Out
You may begin with this rule. As soon as you have decided on which things to bring with you to your new place, then you need to make enough room for it. There may be situations when this rule would not apply, though, such as when you’re starting with your first apartment and you still don’t have that many furniture and accessories.
This rule may not apply also when you’re about to move all across the country or the globe. It simply wouldn’t be practical to bring your prized furniture on the airplane or to have them sea freighted. Other than these scenarios, you can make use of this basic rule.
Consider which objects you would need to purchase and what furniture pieces you’d be keeping.
If you’re beginning to think that you’d miss a shirt, a pair of shoes or even a mug, then think if it is a part of a collection. If it’s not, then let go. Even collections need to be evaluated now and then.
Begin with Storage Spaces
Organization is equal to having ample storage space. With this in mind, then you should begin your organization goals with storage spaces. Consider whether your attic, basement, garage or closets would be able to hold some of your not-oft used pieces.
Purge items that have long been stored (a month or longer) and no longer have any use. Unclutter or free up storage areas – not just rooms. This means letting go of stuff that has long cluttered your cabinets, drawers, bins and other such useful storage units.
Organize, Don’t Just Store
What most homeowners think about when organizing their home is simply decluttering. An organized home is a home with ample shelving units, boxes, and cabinetry. Know how to align, stack and heap stuff in a neat manner. Even the greatest storage solutions are useless if you only dump your stuff in them.
Make Use of Labels
Once you have decided on how to store items, it’s time to have them labeled. It would be pointless to stack storage boxes one on top of the other if you’re not able to recognize what’s in each. You would end up opening every single box looking for an off-season curtain or bedding.
Take the time to attach those labels on every box if you don’t want this scenario to happen to you. Check some label templates online. Print them out and start labeling your storage bins. There are small, medium and large labels, choose which ones you need according to the size of your boxes.
Store Digitally
When you’re thinking of storing stuff, don’t just think of tangible pieces. There are now things in this world that you can’t store in boxes or cabinets. These are things like digital files – from photos to videos, your favorite music and documents.
Declutter
Of course, home organization also means decluttering. So say goodbye to these items (yes, you have to!) –
Broken sunglasses
Wrong prescription eyeglasses
Inkless pens
Unused food containers
Old clothes
Mustard, catsup and soy sauce packets
Salt packets
Scarves that haven’t been used for a long time.
Tags: decluttering, home organization, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, storage, storage advice, storage systems, storage techniques, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 25th, 2016
It’s October and the temperature is getting ever cooler. If you’ve gone out and checked shops lately, then you definitely would notice the increasing number of Halloween and fall décor being sold. But is this the time to decorate for Halloween?
Red, blue, orange, golds and yellows are splashed in many gorgeous spaces this season. These are inspirational colors that are difficult to miss. Fall redesigning or redecorating does not necessarily mean that you have to do gargantuan changes. It does not equate to repainting and such.
It simply means that as the outdoors turn golden yellow or orange, you also make sure that some of the decorative pieces in your home are aligned to the warmer colors of the season. The change that you create may just be a small pop but it’s something that’s worth looking at.
You can also create a twist on your accents by putting an accent wall or flooring. More importantly, your cabinetry must also reflect the mood of the season. See what you have for your storage needs. Just add a splash of autumnal colors to your furniture. You could go Bohemian this season or you could simply hang artworks that also show the subdued colors of the season.
Don’t be limited to oranges, yellows and gold, though. Black and white is a classic combo that you shouldn’t snob and so is cobalt blue and white.
Mother Nature is your ally this Halloween. Go outdoors and harvest those pumpkins with pride! Use them to decorate your outdoor space as well as your living room, kitchen and dining areas. Don’t forget the traditional décor like cutouts and creations like skulls, black cats, witches, broomsticks, cauldrons, graveyards, ghouls, ghosts, goblins, and everything else in between.
Why not try online shopping when you’ve finally decided to shop for decorative pieces for your Halloween home?
Fall Online Shopping
Almost everything is available online these days. And who wouldn’t be enticed with online shopping? It offers convenience, variety, better prices, better comparisons, and zero crowds. Even furniture shopping has now become a thing.
Say hello to freedom from commute. Just order the furniture that you choose while you are lounging in the pool area in your home. Let mobile buying become your favorite activity. Seek the best styles from our catalogs and see which ones tickle your fancy.
Furniture may be bigger, size wise, but its availability online plus the fact that you even get to have discounts for shopping for them online is definitely a great deal.
At McCreery’s Home Furnishings, you find a wide variety of furniture pieces. On sale this fall were selected furniture pieces that you could buy for your beautiful home. Our online shop had ample products and styles for your dining room, living room, and bedroom needs.
Find out which pieces are being sold at a discounted rate in the next seasons.
So what other advantages does online furniture shopping offer?
You get the latest and best options, to begin with. There is a wide range of prices that you won’t be able to enjoy when visiting brick and mortar shops.
Place your order from our catalog and you would soon have quality furniture delivered to your home. There is a variety of styles – even designers – to choose from. You would surely get the best offers for the trendiest, most chic and most fashionable pieces.
As for customer service, we also offer the best services from answering your furniture inquiries. We also have the correct solutions to your furniture needs. Our online site offers quality furniture brands that are unmatched by many.
When you’re done with your online shopping, don’t forget to prop up that cauldron full of candies so that your trick-or-treaters would be delighted.
Tags: fall, fall color palette, fall color scheme, fall colors, fall decor, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Fall Season, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Monday, October 24th, 2016
Your home – not just your office space – needs to be comfortable if you ever want it to be a place of productivity as well as relaxation. Yet, more often than not, homes don’t spend a lot of time planning for ergonomics and the homeowners’ well-being. For those who set up home offices, they’d blended home and work lives and ended up sitting down more than ever.
Furniture is often the kind that is suitable for every need. This one-size-fits-all concept is no longer applicable if you take into consideration such factors as height and weight. Most standard chairs and tables have been found to be too high for a lot of men and women. Also, computer monitors have been seen to sit too low for anyone’s comfort.
When these issues are not addressed, they could lead to back injuries and strains, and could even affect moods and productivity.
Ergonomics: A Simple Solution
One obvious solution is to make furniture that would take the shape of your body so that comfort is provided. This furniture piece must be able to provide support for your lower back during prolonged sitting. The chair must also be able to relieve pressure on the knees.
In essence, ergonomics means the furniture adjusts to your body’s natural, motor movements.
Ergonomic Chair – Saying Goodbye to Stress
Sitting is one position that can add stress to the human spine. If you don’t want to develop back problems, then it’s high time that you find an ergonomic sofa or chair that will be able to support your lower back.
Ergonomic chairs evoke good posture which decreases stress on your lumbar area. While sitting may be effortless compared to walking or standing, it still puts stress on your spinal region and when combined with a sedentary lifestyle, you could end up with a lot of health issues.
Picking the correct chair is a crucial step in the prevention of health problems. This becomes more important if your work involves sitting rather than moving about.
Ergonomic sofas and chairs also allow the users to sit in a well-balanced position.
In a nutshell, remember these features when buying ergonomic seats – seat height, width and depth, backrest, lumbar support, arm rests, swivel, seat material, and stability.
Ergonomic Computer Workstation – Station That Fits Workers
Any ergonomic computer workstation has furniture, tools and equipment that all work to fit the worker. This means furniture that was designed to maximize comfort without forgetting productivity. Ergonomics, after all, is all about the prevention of repetitive strain and injuries.
To set up an ergonomic workstation, you need to buy an ergonomic desk. This has to be a sturdy work surface that would never wobble. It must have ample room for the computer monitor (or laptop), keyboard, mouse, and some office supplies. Remember that the monitor must be placed at arm’s length from the body.
Remember also that your legs must be able to slide comfortably under the desk.
An ergonomic computer chair is one that allows your knees to be at a 90-degree angle when you are seated. For people with shorter height, you need to have an adjustable chair or at least a foot rest.
Ergonomic adjustable chairs are useful in ensuring the best viewing distance for computer monitor use. They also provide back support while relieving back strain.
Another wonder that you should add to your computer workstation is a typing stand. This can be positioned at the side of your computer so it can assist you when you type documents. Putting the document at eye level prevents you from looking up and down and straining your neck in the process.
Invest also on wrist rests and computer monitor filter.
Tags: ergonomic chair, ergonomic couch, ergonomic design, ergonomic furniture design, ergonomic sofa, ergonomics, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
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