Home Interior Design Tips

Great Gift Ideas For New Homeowners

With the holiday season in full swing, you may be struggling to think of a gift idea for that one friend who just bought a home. This major investment is very expensive and often leaves the new owners struggling to furnish their new bedrooms, dining room and other living spaces.

Although it’s not up to you to act as interior decorator, there are some choice pieces you can purchase for a friend that will help him or her adjust to the new home more easily.

Recliner Chairs

Coming home to a new place can be hard at first, especially when most of your furniture is “the basics.” Surprise your friend this holiday season with a comfort lounger or plush recliner that can make the transition into a new home a little easier. You can find great lounge chairs from top brands including Bernhardt, Baker and Century Furniture.

Bedroom Accessories

Another room that will be partially furnished when your friend moves in is the bedroom. Sure, the bed and dresser will be in place, but there are plenty of accessories you can add that will make the room come to life. From landscape mirrors and floor mirrors to mahogany and walnut bed steps, there are plenty of pieces that can make a new bedroom more comfortable and accessible.

This holiday season, make new homeowners feel special by offering fine furniture gifts they will remember and cherish forever.

Tips for Creating a Productive Home Office

These days, more people are working from home, both part- and full-time. As the shift from the corporate to the home office becomes more popular, it is important to create home offices that are comfortable, efficient and separate from your everyday living spaces.

Here are a few tips to help you transform a room in your home into a functional home office.

desk in home office

Baker Furniture for the Home Workplace

Find the Right Space

When you plan to work from home, seriously consider the best space for your work. Depending on what your business entails, you will need a space and set-up that appropriately suits your needs. Some choose to furnish extra space in a basement, while others will devote an entire room to their office. If there is one bit of advice we strongly suggest, make sure your home office is removed from your everyday living spaces. The living room or bedroom will likely be prone to distractions, so it is essential to find a dedicated space for work.

Furnish it Properly

Consider the offices you have worked in during your career and furnish your home office accordingly. You will most likely need a spacious desk or drafting table, which allows you to either sit or stand when working. A chair that offers the same flexibility is also a good choice, since many people are buying into the new slogan that ‘sitting is the new smoking’. Find ergonomic desks and chairs that are functional and comfortable, so you can be productive throughout the day! You may also want to include chairs for clients if your business will involve meetings at your home. This may not be typical, but many entrepreneurs are bending and breaking the rules of standard office protocol.

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Furnishing Tips for New Construction

Unfortunately, most homeowners buy an existing home and have to work with the space they have when it comes to furnishing. However, if you have the chance to build a brand new home from the ground up, you have the opportunity to fulfill all your design dreams. Knowing the amount of space you will have for kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms gives you an advantage and allows you to furnish exactly how you want. Of course, this doesn’t mean it will be an easy task.

These three helpful tips will get you started.

sketched floorplan Measurements

When you embark on building a new home, you will be sitting down with architects and contractors to plan the structure’s layout. During this time, it’s a good idea to jot down all the measurements that pertain to room sizes including width, height from floor to ceiling and square footage. Knowing these numbers in advance will prove beneficial later when you are shopping for sofas, dressers and lighting. Consider how you want certain rooms to look, specifically kitchens and master bedrooms, so you can let the architects know what size space you want.

Natural Lighting

You don’t have much say when decorating an existing home, but with a brand-new design, you have the benefit of dictating the terms when it comes to space. One area every homeowner wishes they had more of is natural light. During the design phase of the home, you have the chance to see where rooms will be facing and how to take advantage of natural sunlight. Deciding where the living room and kitchen will go allows you to get the most natural light possible to make each room more welcome and comfortable.

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Matching Moods with Room Decor

In almost every home, you can find living spaces that reflect the mood of the homeowner. However, most people have changing moods that combine to form their personality. It makes sense to design your home decor based on the moods that make you feel comfortable. From the living room and dining room, to the bedroom and bathroom, selecting furnishings, paint and lighting that creates the mood you want is essential.

Different moods don’t make you temperamental; it just means you like to express yourself! From introspection and happiness to contemplative and reflective, many of us have traits that we fall back on when the moment suits us. And, when you have a home of your own, wouldn’t it be great to have specific rooms that match those moods so you can sit and read or have guests over to enjoy cocktails and conversation?

Here are a few tips for matching room decor with your moods to create living spaces you will feel comfortable in.

reclinerConsider Your Favorite Moods

Chances are, you have a few moods that regularly surface and help get you through the day. Then, think about living spaces in your home that would be an ideal match for those moods. For instance, if there are times when you like to be calm and reflective, consider decorating a study or den in soft blue hues with comfortable chairs that will give you space to read, listen to music or meditate. A chaise lounge or recliner would be a perfect furnishing fit in a room like this.

Social and Energetic

Look to furnish a living or entertainment room with lively colors, leather sofas and cocktail tables. This is a living space that will benefit from rich green and even soft purple hues that make guests feel welcome. Adding comfortable chairs and sofas along with functional and stylish tables create an atmosphere that is ideal for gathering with family and friends and enjoying an evening of conversation.

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How to Maximize Heat in Your Living Spaces

When it comes to home decor, everyone has an opinion about how a room should look. However, certain exceptions are made in the winter when heat sources are factored into the placement of furniture. If you block the vents and fireplace screens with large armoires and sofas, you could be reducing the amount of heat in the room. This can also lead to higher energy bills, since your first inclination will likely be to turn up the thermostat.

Before you turn the dial any higher, consider these three simple tips.

fire burning in the living room fireplaceLocate All Vents

First, identify where all of the vents are in every room. If your home or apartment has vents on the floor, placing a recliner or bookcase over them cuts off the heat source. Don’t place anything over these vents – especially rugs – to avoid a potential fire hazard. You can position couches and chairs near vents, but never block the heat that is escaping to warm the room.

Keep Furniture Away from Fireplaces

Homeowners want their fireplace to do two things: add to the room’s ambiance and produce heat. Similar to the above point, blocking it with a couch or other large piece of furniture defeats the purpose and may lead to an accidental fire. Allow plenty of open space in front of the fireplace and ensure no flammable fabrics are near so sparks and embers don’t cause a fire.

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