Rugs

Top 10 Tips for Decorating With Rugs

Decorating with rugs can add some extra pizazz to a room. You might say a rug completes a room by tying all the different pieces together visually. Rugs can also add warmth and help layer a room's design.
So how do you make the best use of rugs in a room?

Use a rug to define or separate areas, such as seating or dining areas, and foyers.

If you use more than one rug in a room, make sure they are not the same size. Same sized rugs can cut your room in half visually.

When using more than one rug, it's better when the rugs complement each other in style. If not, you could end up with a jarring or unpleasant effect.

Use a favorite rug as the basis of the color scheme in a room. On the other hand, if you add it after you have your furniture in place, you can use the rug to accent or tie in your existing colors.

Use a rug to visually quieten a room or turn up the volume as needed. If your upholstery or wallpaper have an ornate pattern, choose a rug that is more subtle. When walls and upholstery are fairly subdued, you can try a busier pattern to add more interest to the room. Hand tufted or Hand Knotted?

Use a rug as the focal point of your room, as rugs can make a huge impact. To do that you can create contrast by painting your walls a hue that echoes one of your rug’s accent colors.

Use a rug as a wall hanging as another way to create a focal point. Selecting Rug Fibers

Don't assume that a rug has to be a rectangle. Let the way you group your furniture dictate the shape of your rug. Try figuring out what shape would look best, and then go with a square, round or oval shape if that seems like the better option than a rectangular one.

When you buy a room size rug, subtract 3 feet from the length and width of the room. Leaving the floor bare at the edges makes it look a little larger. Also, when laying a rug under your dining table, leave at least 24" of rug from the edge of the table out on all sides. This enables the back legs of the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pulled out to let someone sit.

Runners should be 4 inches narrower than your hallway and 18 to 24 inches shorter. Make sure they are wide enough to accommodate both feet on the rug when you walk.

Bonus Tip:

Always use a liner to keep your rug from slipping or “creeping.”The rug liner should be appropriate for your floor type.

Choosing the Right Recliner

Recliners Are About Comfort...and Looks

By Abe Abbas,

Need help choosing the right recliner? It seems like they have been around forever, but recliners were introduced only in the late 1920s. Once introduced, the recliner's popularity took off at once as people discovered a new level of comfort. Today, with so many different recliners to choose from, you can have all the comfort you need in any look you want.
Recliners are popular for many reasons:

A recliner is good for relaxing and lounging.
It doesn’t take much effort to operate a recliner. With the touch of a button or lever, you can recline the back or bring up the foot rest.
A recliner provide good neck and lumbar support.
All of the above features also help people with medical conditions who find recliners useful in addition to being comfortable.

The brands La-Z-Boy and Barcalounger have become synonymous with recliners. You constantly hear people referring to their reclining chairs as such even though there are many others who manufacture recliners, such as Lane, Bassett, and Thomasville.
When choosing a recliner, you no longer have to choose from a limited number of styles. Today, you can find a recliner in any style to go with your existing décor. You can also find recliners that are useful if for medical conditions such as limited mobility or back problems.
Recliner can rock, recline, swivel, massage, and lift, or simply look fabulous while also providing the most comfortable seat in the whole house. When it comes to recliners one size does not fit all, but you can easily find one that fits your individual needs.

Rocker Recliners

A rocker recliner does exactly what the name says. It rocks and reclines. It’s handy to have if you’re suffering from insomnia. The rocking motion can help you fall asleep. You would be surprised to know how many people use their recliners to sleep in. A rocker recliner is also a favorite with nursing mothers, as it provides comfort for the mother while the rocking motion relaxes the baby. Most rocker recliners can have the swivel feature added as well for an additional cost.
Rocker recliners start at around $299, but can go much higher depending on fabric. One of the best known recliners in this category is the Athena Easy Glide from Lane.

Wall Hugger Recliners

Wall hugger recliners take up less space, and are a good choice when you have a smaller room. Most recliners are available as both wall huggers and rocker recliners. In wall huggers you tend to sit up straight and that makes it easier to get up from the seat. There is less movement involved. Some wall hugger recliners can be adjusted to sit higher so people with bad knees find it easier to get up from them.
Wall huggers also start in the $299 range. Some examples are Lane’s Sherman recliner and Harbor Town from La-Z-Boy.

Lift Chairs

A lift chair is usually recommended by physicians for people having limited capacity to use their legs. It is especially useful for someone with weak knees. Lift Chairs come in different shapes and sizes, so it is easy to find one to fit every body type.
Lift chairs start around $899. A good example is Raven from La-Z-Boy.

Massage Recliners

Massage recliners sometimes come with a heating function as well. They can massage your back and some also massage the backs of your legs. They can help lift you or recline. Sitting down in one can be comforting at the end of a long day.
Massage recliners start at around $700. Relax-The-Back carries some excellent massage recliners. Human Touch iJoy-300™ - Power Recline is an example.

Classic and Contemporary Collections

In addition to these, there are recliners that don’t even look like recliners. They are available in styles such as wingback chairs. These start around $299 but can go up substantially depending on fabric. Hampton from Lane is one such classic.
If you prefer a more contemporary and modern style, then you might want to look at Spectra from Barcalounger.
This variety of styles is a comparatively recent development as more women started buying recliners. They demanded better aesthetics in addition to the existing features, and manufactures obliged by offering more choices.
There is an impressive array of fabrics to choose from in addition to leather, suede and microfiber with a wide range of colors and textures. Considering all this it is no wonder that recliners continue to be so popular.
Full Disclosure: I work for La-Z-Boy.

Copyright: http://furniture.about.com/od/buyingfurniture/a/Recliners.htm

Buying A Sofa

Before You Buy a Sofa

By Lauren Flanagan,

When you're thinking about a new sofa, you'll want to check our sofa buying tips. While it is important to get a sofa in just the right color, it is just as important to get one that will last. Inexpensive furniture can break, pop springs, and look out of shape within a year of constant use. Quality construction will offer years of enjoyment and has enough good "bones" to allow you to recover it periodically.

Choose the Style of Cushions for Your New Sofa

First decide if you prefer the look of loose back cushions or attached. Loose cushions give you the option of turning the pillows as needed, while attached backs won't need fluffing or rearranging. Be sure to sit in the sofa you are considering. Is it comfortable? Are the arms the right height for taking a nap or reading a book?

How Many Cushions Do You Like on a Sofa?

How many seat cushions would you like? One cushion offers a clean modern look while two or three are traditional. When you sit on the cushions, do they stay in place or do the corners flare up? Are they attached to the frame with a clip to hold them down?

What Style of Sofa Arm Do You Like?

Choose an arm style for your new sofa. You can choose from armless, traditional rolled arm, curved English arm, or a straight Parsons style. The rolled arm has a flat front panel and is often outlined in cording. English style is rounded at the front, with fabric formed into sunburst-type pleats. Straight arm sofas are most often seen in contemporary settings.

A Skirted Sofa or One With Bare Legs?

Do you want a skirted sofa or one with the visible legs? Choose from leg styles that vary from heavy square chunks and wide bun feet to more delicate tapered legs or carved and curved formal versions. Legs are usually available in a number of finishes as well.

Understand Frame Construction for Upholstered Furniture

Ask about the construction of a sofa under consideration. The best are made from kiln-dried hardwoods (oak, maple, poplar, etc.), while inexpensive furniture is made from softer pine lumber. Interior construction is important as well. Cheap furniture is stapled together and has haphazardly constructed corner bracing. Better frames are securely screwed together.

Understand Sofa Seat Construction

Find out how the seat support system is made. Often a furniture store will have a cutaway model of the interior of upholstered pieces. Does it have quality 8-way tied springs or cheaper wire coils?

Choosing the Cushion and Pillow Filling for Your Sofa

The cushion and pillow filling are important to the feel of a sofa. Upholstery foam is inexpensive and comes in several thicknesses and weights, however the best cushions have down fillings. All-down cushions must be fluffed daily, though another option uses down pads wrapped around a core of foam. Understand these options for the sofa you want and which might be best for you. Are the cushions standard or special order, foam or down?

Choose the Fabric for You New Sofa's Final Cover

Choose a fabric for your sofa. Chenille is soft and durable while Leather is long-lasting and attractive. Velvets and other fabrics look lovely but may wear out with heavy use over the years. Finally consider options for trimmings. Dress up a sofa with fringed pillows or double welted seams. While these options add to the cost, they also give your piece a one-of-a-kind look. Many furniture manufacturers also offer the option of custom-made slipcovers to give you a seasonal change.