Make Your Home Office Professional and Practical So You Can Be Productive

Working from home can be exciting, it gives you an opportunity to design an office that is both comfortable and efficient. However, if your home office is too casual, or not separated effectively from your home environment, you may not be able to achieve peak productivity. While comfort is important, if your office is too relaxed, it can impede your ability to get stuff done.

The space where you set up your home office doesn’t have to be large, but ideally, it should be away from the other areas of your home. Consider converting a guest room that is only used once in a while or another seldom used area. Determine how the space can be converted into your office.

Office Furniture

The desk of your choice will need to support your laptop or desktop computer and other work-related items. This will probably be the place where you will spend most of your time. Explore the many desk options available, such as the Longboat Key Bal Harbour Desk by Sligh, that will help you keep your work organized. An organized desk is essential for keeping pending work in order, preventing the piles of paperwork scattered about, and maintaining productivity.

Privacy

It is impossible to work with constant distractions and interruptions. When setting up your home office, make sure you have the degree of privacy you need. Headphones can help isolate certain sounds, but you don’t want to have to wear headphones all day long. Portable screens can section off your work area from activities taking place nearby. Another option is bookcases that double as divider walls can help give you privacy and additional storage.

Concepts of Home Office Design

To make the space your own, make sure it reflects your personality and that you enjoy working in it. To do this, add a favorite photo or object that inspires you or calms you when you have a break in your work. These are the small touches that will make the space yours and yours alone.

If you are setting up a home office fit for productivity, visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to find stylish and comfortable desks that will help keep you organized. Read about Baer’s Furniture in Furniture Today.

Everything You Need to Know about Hanging a Mirror

How many pieces of furniture have as many uses as a mirror? They can make small rooms seem larger, dark rooms seem lighter, and let you check your appearance as you head out the door. But before any of that happens, you have to get the mirror on the wall. Here's some expert advice on the best way to hang a mirror so that you can get it on the wall quickly and easily.

Before You Hang Your Mirror

It's important to know that not all mirrors are designed to be hung, some are leaners, such as the Crestaire Mid-Century Modern Silver Leaf Finish Palm Canyon Floor Mirror from Stanley Furniture. They are design to do just what the name implies, lean against a wall. They are generally large, full length mirrors and are perfect for bedrooms and living rooms. It should be noted on the back of the mirror, so be careful, because if you do decide the hang it and it breaks, the manufacturers warranty probably won't cover it. A cable wire across the back and a single nail or hook is insufficient when you want to safely hang a mirror. Instead, use the "D" hooks that can be found on the back side of the mirror. Each "D" hook needs its own hook on the wall. A general rule of thumb is to hang the mirror high on the wall tilting downward so that it will reflect more of the room.

How to Hang a Mirror

If you are hanging your mirror above the mantel, place it approximately 4 or 5 inches higher than the top of the mantel. You can go higher if your mirror's frame is especially thick to avoid having a dark shadow thrown over your decor. Bathrooms often have frameless mirrors mounted right on the wall above the sink. To enhance your bathroom decor, you can have a frame installed around the mirror – a much less expensive option than removing the mirror and starting over. If you are hanging your mirror on a surface such as glass, tile, or concrete be sure to use special drill bits and appropriate hardware for those surfaces. If you wish to hang a mirror on a door, a full-length mirror is a good choice. Position it so that it takes up as much space on the door as possible. Check to see if you have a solid core door or a hollow-core door. If your door is solid core, mirror clips can be used to hang the mirror, if it is hollow core, then you must use hollow-core anchors or molly bolts to secure the mirror.

Where to Hang a Mirror

There are many places to hang a mirror, but keep in mind that your mirror will reflect light, so if your living room has Southern exposure, and you want to take advantage of the afternoon light, you should place your mirror opposite the window. If you are hanging or leaning your mirror in the bedroom, where you may want more morning light, hang in next to a window. Mirrors can add drama to any room, but in the dining room they have maximum impact. The Salon Sunburst Oval Mirror by Bernhardt Furniture brings light into any space in your home. You can use a mirror to reflect light from a stunning chandelier, but be mindful of reflecting too much light into the room. Try using an antique mirror to diffuse the light and create a gentler mood. Another great place to hang a mirror is in the entry hall. It can be a beautiful accent to the space and also make it look brighter and larger.

Tips and Tricks

To highlight the space, a vertical mirror is the best option for a tall room, and a horizontally oriented mirror is best for a long room. Be wary of hanging a mirror on anything that moves a lot. And be careful if you want to hang a mirror above the bed, you should have a professional tackle that for you in order to ensure that the job is done safely.

For more tips and tricks on how to hang the perfect mirror, contact Baer's Furniture to find out about the FREE design service or check out our Pinterest Board.

Design an Elegant and Comfortable Dining Room

The dining room often feels like the most special room in the house. While many of us don’t use it every day, the dining room is where we gather to celebrate festive occasions and entertain close friends. But there’s no sense in creating a space in your home that rarely gets used. This special room deserves equally special treatment when it comes to design. Designing a space that feels special enough for a celebration and also functional enough for everyday life is not always an easy task.

When planning your ideal space, it is essential to balance two important elements: comfort and elegance. Below are essential elements for creating a room that you can not only both entertain in and live with, but that you and your family will enjoy for years.

Anchor the Space with an Area Rug

The dining room table is the automatic focal point of this space. However, often the table can appear as if it is floating around in the space, so add an area rug for texture and color. Ideally, the rug should be 24 inches wider than the table on each side so that the chairs can slide out easily but not go over the edge.

In addition to anchoring your dining room the rug will help imbue a sense of comfort and warmth, particularly if you have wood floors. The extra softness make guests feel more comfortable. The rug can also protect your flooring from accidental spills.

Choose a Neutral Dinner Table

As mentioned above, the table is the automatic focal point of the room, and therefore probably the most important piece of furniture in the room. You may be tempted to choose a table that makes a statement, but before you do so, consider choosing a more neutral style so that it remains timeless as trends come and go. Choosing natural materials such as wood, glass or stone, let you change up the décor of the rest of the room whenever you wish.

The Beverly Glen Dining Table by Bernhardt does both. The table makes a statement with its bold fluting, figured walnut veneers top, and terrazzo brown finish. Its transitional style gives you a table that will stand the test of time and never appear outdated.

Dining Room Seating

The many styles, colors, and finishes make selecting a dining room chair a challenge. You want to seat your guests in comfort and keep the harmony of your room. It can be hard to match your chairs to your table unless you find a set that has all the pieces you need. The Beverly Glen arm chair presents a look of restrained extravagance with its tapered legs and scrolled back. The chairs classic shape and soft movement bring form and function into your dining room.

Mood Lighting

Lighting sets the stage for all your gatherings in the dining room, so make sure you’ve got enough and the right kind. Use track lighting to spread light throughout the space and recessed lights brighten the corners. Or use matching light fixtures or sconces placed evenly over the length of the table. Dimmer switches can help set the mood whether you are hosting an elegant dinner or just grabbing a snack.

It’s quite a task to create a dining room that is special enough for formal occasions and still functional enough to be used every day. But with the proper care and planning, this can be done. By carefully considering each purpose of the room, you’ll find you’ve got a dining room with the perfect mix of elegance and comfort.

If you’re looking for a comfortable yet elegant dining room, visit a nearby Baer’s Furniture showroom to see more of the Beverly Glen collection from Bernhardt.

How to Decorate an All (or Mostly) White Master Bedroom

Using white in interior design is a trend that doesn’t seem to be fading. If you like the crisp, clean feel of an all or mostly white room, here are some tips to bring this natural, beautiful into your bedroom with ease. The Miramont Collection from Bernhardt is an excellent example of how white can work in a master bedroom.

Spaces with a plethora of natural light are the best for using white effectively. When light streams through the windows and is diffused by sheer curtains, the room is flooded with visual softness that creates a comfy-cozy atmosphere.

If you ask an interior designer or an architect which color they think is the most beautiful in terms of light, and they’ll both probably answer white. And although white does present some challenges in proper cleaning, durability, and practicality, when used correctly, it can be breathtakingly bright and beautiful, and can make a room feel much taller or larger than it actually is.

Don’t Be Afraid of the White

Many homeowner shy away from white due to its propensity for showing every stain, blemish, spill, nick or smudge. If you want to use white practically and effectively, you must take into consideration how and where it is applied. It’s best to stick to lower-traffic areas, particularly if soft goods such as rugs and other textiles are the main element in your design. Master bedroom suites, guest rooms, sunrooms, libraries, or home offices are all great places to use all or mostly white designs.

If you love white rooms and want to use it in your great room, living rooms, entries or hallways or dining rooms—high-traffic, high-spill areas—you can do so by choosing easy to clean leather furniture. It may seem counterintuitive, but leather chairs and sofas are good choices for easy cleaning, spills wipe right off, and the wear and tear that comes with age adds character. If you find a white upholstered sofa that you love, be sure to invest in a protection plan that will protect it from spills.

A great example of an all-white designer space that is livable is the master bedroom featured above. With the Miramont Queen Bed from Bernhardt as the focal point, the room is layered with several shades of white that play with the abundant natural light in the space. Beginning with the mix of textures on the bed itself and moving to the use of white-on-white walls, carpet, and flooring, the room includes an equal measures of practical and pretty.

White rooms can feel stark, cold, impersonal, and even one-dimensional. To avoid this effect, layer various shades of white in numerous ways and use an assortment of materials and textures. In addition, combine different finishes such as eggshell paint or walls and ceilings, reflective or high-gloss on furniture, satin on flooring, as well as smooth finishes on accents or accessories.

100 Shades of White

Simply choosing the proper white seems simple, right? However, white comes in more than 100 different shades. Ultra-white induces a modern, purist effect, and is best for minimalist spaces. Beige-whites and yellow-whites work well for traditional rooms and purple-whites are feminine and can create a more formal feeling in the space. Also, blue-white is a popular choice for a calm, cool, and glamorous look.

Baer's Furniture is proud to offer complimentary interior design services. Check out our latest projects on the Baer's Furniture Houzz profile!

What's Your Style: Cool Coastal Home Office from Sligh Furniture

Do you love Jimmy Buffet? Strolling barefoot in the sand? Shell motif on almost anything? Bright, breezy coastal style that transports you straight to the beach could be the perfect style for your home office. Think light palettes with colors drawn from shells, sand, sea and sky. Even better, if this is the look you love, you can pull it off in your home office, even if you are miles away from the seashore, with the Bal Harbour collection from Sligh.

Weathered Woods

Traditionally, coastal style dictates light, weathered wood with a sun and salt kissed patina. Blond maple and ash, whitewashed or pickled woods, and bamboo all fit within the dictates of the style. Beadboard and painted planks are also classic renditions of coastal style. A more modern take is the combination of bamboo, rosewood, and leather found in the Isle of Palms Credenza and Desk from Sligh. This coastal-style piece includes Caribbean influences that provide an authentic, beachy atmosphere.

Clean, Crisp Fabrics

Keep the fabric effortless and unpretentious, such as cotton rugs, linen slipcovers, and sheers or linen panels that catch the breeze as window dressing. Pure white is commonly used, but washed-out pastels and tailored stripes also work with the look. Feel free to use shell or nautical themed fabrics, but beware of straying into kitsch.

Natural Fibers

Natural fibers such as sea grass, straw, and jute in rugs, furnishings, and accessories create natural warmth and add texture to a coastal-themed office. Touches of woven panels and crushed bamboo door fronts as found in the Malibu Writing Desk by Sligh are true to the theme and make your office work anything but boring.

Abundant Light

Light is probably the most important, but most overlooked element of coastal style. Give it some thought: have you ever walked into a beach house that felt dark, cramped, and cluttered? There’s a reason why white is the signature color of coastal interiors: it reflects and amplifies light instead of soaking it up. A coastal interior will blur or remove the line between indoors and outdoors. Picture windows, skylights and glass doors all letting sunlight to stream in.

If your home doesn’t have these features, you can use lamps and sconce to create the proper atmosphere. Simple window treatments won’t subdue the glow and adding a few carefully chosen accents that reflect the light—a mirror on a wall opposite the window or a glass topped table—will keep the room light and bright.

If you want to turn your home office into a beachside getaway with furniture from Sligh, visit a Baer’s Furniture Showroom near you. Take advantage of the free design service and speak with a design specialist about creating your style.

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Couples (Design) Therapy with Tommy Bahama

Combining households can be both exciting and frustrating. You may be in love, you think your compatible, but do your design preferences play well together? You may be imagining a house full of vintage-inspired pieces while your significant other is getting to move in his green leather sofa. Sadly, couples aren’t always on the same page when it comes to home décor. The Ocean Club Collection by Tommy Bahama Home combines feminine and masculine elements into one cohesive style.

It is important to remember that the home you share should reflect both of you. A happy balance can be achieved—one that results in a space that isn’t too feminine or too masculine—if you take the time to decide on a look that you both agree on. Once you’ve done this, you’ll know what you are keeping, what you are getting rid of, and what you are replacing.

Find Inspiration

Create an inspiration board, or at least a file with images of rooms that you like and hope your significant other will also like. Include furniture styles and color schemes that you are drawn to. Get together and go over the images. Discuss what you both like or dislike about each, this is a useful exercise—it will help you develop a mutually agreed upon aesthetic that can become the foundation of your couple’s style.

Buy a Bed

This is an important piece, it is the foundation of the bedroom you will share. Keep in mind that a woman may like a romantic, four poster bed with a canopy while a man might prefer a bed that reflects his desire to come home and put his feet up in comfort. Be practical and considerate, that always pays off. Find some common ground, and choose a style that embodies feminine and masculine elements. The Ocean Club Paradise Point Bed by Tommy Bahama Home features clean, geometric pattern that balances the feminine and masculine in a way that pleases both. The warm wood and rich walnut finish creates visual appeal.

Shop Together

This may seem like a no-brainer to some and torture to others, but in the end it will save you time and heartache if you just bite the bullet and make the rounds for furniture stores together. Keeping your aesthetic in min, you can pick out pieces that fit your needs. When you are both present, you’ll avoid arguments later and find pieces that you both will love.

Personalize It

Make the space your own by adding personal touches. Keep in mind the things that are special to you as a couple as well as those things that are special to each of individually and devise a plan to include those elements in your new space. The bottom line is that this is a space you share, so it should reflect both of you.

To view more pieces in the Tommy Bahama Ocean Club collection and speak to a design professional — it’s free — about how to create your “couple” style, visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you.

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Make the Most of Your Master Bedroom with Bernhardt Furniture

Your master bedroom should be an oasis of calm, a relaxing space where you can escape from life’s seemingly never-ending stresses. So, how do you create this space in such a way that it provides equal parts indulgence and functionality? Don’t fret — here are some ideas you can use to turn your master bedroom into your favorite room in your house with Bernhardt Furniture.

Make a Sanctuary

Your bed is the centerpiece of your bedroom oasis. It is the most important piece of furniture in the room so be sure to get the bed you love. Take into consideration the size of your room so that the furniture doesn’t crowd the space and make it seem awkward. The Montebella Sleigh Bed from Bernhardt gives you the look of a Mediterranean country villa in your bedroom. The gently rolling headboard and footboard evoke sprawling hillsides and sculpted moldings add dimension and texture.

Create a Multi-Functional Room

Ideally, your bedroom should be more than just where you sleep—it should be a place where you want to spend all your free time. An easy way to achieve this is to create a seating area where you can hang out when you don’t want to lounge in bed. Do you want to curl up with a good book? You can place a comfortable armchair next to a small table of bookcase. Would rather have a place to binge watch your favorite shows? A loveseat, chaise, or daybed will give you the room you need to stretch out.

Layer on the Texture

Texture plays an important role in how a space feels. You’ll want your master bedroom to feel warm, cozy, and inviting. Using plenty of the right textiles will help you bring a homey feel to your space. Begin with the obvious—the bedding. Layer on multiple materials such as down, silk, or woven textures. Then continue to warm up the room with a throw rug or pillow and blankets in your seating area.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

If you struggle with storage, consider bringing the issue to the forefront of you bedroom design. By incorporating your storage solutions into your décor, you can give your master bedroom a lasting design that wills withstand the test of time. With twelve drawers, the Montebella Dressing Chest and Mirror gives you ample space to store your possessions in style.

While everyone wants their bedroom to feel like an escape from the stresses of life, sometimes it is difficult to balance function and indulgence. Visit Baer’s Furniture to find more pieces in the Montebella Collection by Bernhardt to help make your bedroom as indulgent as it is functional.

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