Practical Reasons to Choose a Leather Sofa

If you’ve ever had slipcovers, children, and/or pets, you are familiar with the battle of keeping them clean. While slipcovers are great for cleaning – you can whip them off and into the wash in no time – sooner or later you’ll start to lose the battle when you add children or pets into the mix. You may find that you washing your slipcovers have become pretty much a full-time job. You may want to consider the next phase for your living room: a leather sofa.

Family Friendly

For the fabric lovers, there are washable fabrics available but a leather sofa is particularly great if you have kids and/or pets, since it easily withstands sticky fingers, muddy paws, and spills of all kinds. You can easily wipe it off, and it becomes better looking over time.

Durable and Ages Well

Leather is super strong and built to last, yet soft and comfortable. Leather doesn’t need to be replaced every few years and gets better and more comfortable with age. As the leather ages it takes on the character you would expect from a life well lived, yet remains strong and durable. Many leather pieces are passed down as family heirlooms.

Makes a Statement

A leather sofa will add a touch of elegance to any room. Every piece of leather is unique, so in a sense, each leather sofa is one of a kind. Leather is always in style and can become the focal point of any room. Leather has a personality and whether you like traditional or urban chic, there is a leather sofa just for you. And you can get it in many colors from reds to blues to whites o the more traditional browns. The white leather furniture from Natuzzi Editions enhances the decor of this all white room.

Hypoallergenic and Easy Maintenance

Leather doesn’t collect pet dander, dust mites, and other allergens as easily as fabric, making it a good option if you or someone in your family has allergies. A quick wipe with mild soap and water when necessary will keep the leather looking good.

The Cool Factor

As in, leather furniture is cool to the touch in the warm Florida weather, making it comfortable all year long. Leather conforms to the environment and adapts the room’s temperature and your body’s temperature when you sit on it. It will stay at a consistent temperature that feels good on your skin.

If you are looking for cool, comfortable leather furniture, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the wide range of Natuzzi and Bernhardt leather sofas available. Like us on Facebook for more design inspiration.

Make It Your Own with the Personal Design Series from Lexington

Your home reflects your personality, your style, and your passions. Ensuring that you have the right pieces of furniture is crucial in such a personal space. A good foundational piece of furniture can last a long time, so in addition to the need to stand up to every day wear and tear, your furniture should also express who you are.

However, sometimes finding that perfect piece can be a chore. You may not be able to find the right size, shape or color for the room you need to furnish. The Lexington Personal Design Series might be the right choice for you. The numerous pieces in this series can be customized to suit any taste and fit with any preexisting décor.

Economical

This collection allows you to create a look that is uniquely yours. By selecting from an array of design options, you can build the piece you want at an affordable price point. You choose the frame—standard or oversized—and go from there. Cushion configurations, boxed edge or knife edge, bed pillows or scatterback pillows are among the many options available. You get the best of both worlds: a piece that is completely your own at a price that is well within your budget.

Aesthetics

Based on your individual taste and style, you most likely have a specific vision of how you what your home to look and feel, even if you have trouble articulating it. Custom upholstery can help you realize this vision in ways a pre-made item can’t—it is a visual representation of your uniqueness. A custom upholstered sofa can be made to complement existing décor or bring a little extra sizzle without throwing color palette off completely. Everyone has a favorite color, or maybe you need something to go with an existing piece that you adore. This is where custom upholstery works its magic. With the Lexington Personal Design Series you can choose from track arms or sock arms, tapered block wooden feet or ater fall skirt, two or three cushion seat, and approximately 897 cover options, the possibilities seem endless.

Saves Time

Whether you are shopping for a picture-perfect sofa for the living room, or the best bench for your entry way, it can take hours of unrelenting searching that zaps your time and energy and still leaves you empty handed. Your furniture is something you see every day, it creates the backdrop of your daily life. By choosing the exact color and type of fabric, you are ensuring that you will be happy with your surroundings every time you enter your home. With the help of a trained interior designer, you can quickly find a custom-made piece that will fit your needs perfectly. An interior designer will know exactly where to look for the piece you have in mind and guide you through the process.

Visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to learn more about the Lexington Personal Design Series and take advantage of the free interior design service. One of Baer’s highly qualified design professionals can help you create a custom piece that is perfect for your home.

More home decor shopping tips from Baer's furniture executive Jerry Baer.

What's Your Style: Cottage Chic from Stanley Furniture

Do you like straw hats? Did you have slipcovers before they became a thing? Do you prefer hydrangea’s over long stem roses? You might like cottage style. Cheerful and laid-back, cottage styles is warm, welcoming, comfortable, cozy, and casual — perfect for the way you really live. The Cypress Grove Collection by Stanley Furniture puts a contemporary spin on cottage chic. A bedroom is the perfect place for the calm, cozy, quiet charm created by this style.

Airy Palettes

Once upon a time, cottage style was synonymous with shabby chic, but no longer. With colors as soft and clean as cotton sheets fresh from the clothesline, cottage style is clean, crisp, and personal. No bright pink or emerald green, but a gentle mix of white, ivory, and cream. Hints and layers of pale pinks, greens, blues, and lavenders are acceptable, but don't combine too many pastels. For a cleaner look, stick to one or two shades.

Fabrics

Fabrics are a defining element in cottage style, natural materials and textures such as cotton, burlap, and linen bring the look down to earth. Vintage fabrics add visual interest to pillows and quilts, but go easy on the floral prints, they can make the room feel fussy and overdone.

Wood Details

Wooden details are an important element in cottage style and headboard is a perpetual favorite. It’s easy to install and can add instant warmth and character to a room. However, it can make a bold statement and a little goes a long way. Another option is a paneled headboard with a subtle honeycomb-style inlays. The glazed white parchment finish of the Cypress Grove Cottage Style headboard by Stanley Furniture give the room the light feel that is a hallmark of cottage chic.

Rustic Flooring

Rustic flooring is common in classic cottages, no wall-to-wall carpeting or shiny vinyl. Stained, painted, stenciled or pickled wood is the standard, but brick and stone are also acceptable. Rug materials should be kept simple — sisal or braided cotton that complement the neutral palette.

Collections Rule

All those collections you’ve been saving over the years will have their heyday in cottage style. The collections that tend to populate cottage rooms work because of their sheer numbers — this is not the time for a less is more approach.

Visit a Baer's Furniture showroom near you to see the entire collection. Read about the new Baer's Furniture store opening in Central Florida.

Bachelor Chests Add an Antique Flair to the Bedroom

Whether you prefer mid-century modern, shabby chic, eclectic, traditional, industrial, or just about any other style – with perhaps the exception of minimalism – adding a piece of antique furniture will give any space an extra dash of style. For instance, when styled right bachelor chests can add a little antique flair to your bedroom.

You might be wondering what a bachelor chest is, and isn’t it the same thing as a nightstand or night table. Bachelor chests are defined as relatively low, small, and shallow chests with three or four drawers. Dating from the late 17th century, early models also included a hinged top that could fold out and make the chest a small writing desk. Although the term has come to mean any small chest, and they are often used as nightstands, the bachelor’s chest was originally a multi-use piece of furniture with just the right dimensions and functionality for a gentleman living in tiny bachelor quarters.

Traditional Lines with Modern Style

You can find many pieces that will help you add some vintage or antique flair to your bedroom, but the bachelor chest’s size and functionality make it an ideal accent piece. It won’t overwhelm your overarching style and with so many to choose from, you are sure to find one that goes well with your existing design. The eclectic accents and traditional shape of the Salon Drawer Nightstand from Bernhardt make this chest the perfect addition to your bedroom décor. The traditional lines set off by the chic silver leaf finish give you a pleasing combination of traditional and modern. Minimal accessories such as a framed picture and metal reading lamp let the piece shine.

Completely Traditional and Functional

If you really want something more traditional, look for a chest that has dovetail drawers, a white-washed finish, and classic motifs. The aptly named True Vintage Bachelors Chest by Hooker gives you the best of both worlds with vintage appeal and modern convenience. Antique silver drawer pulls, a clip for your phone cord, and three plug outlets make it both functional and stylish. Vintage accessories such as white porcelain vases and silver trinket boxes really bring the style home.

Light and Tropical Blend

If you favor a casual, tropical style, you can still add a little antique flair to your bedroom. With its woven raffia drawer fronts and crisp white frame, the Tuckers Point Bachelors Chest by Tommy Bahama gives you a taste of the lush landscape and pastel homes found in Bermuda. Drawing on elements from Moroccan, British, and European design, this chest will easily blend in with your current décor. Brightly colored accessories and natural materials help create a harmonious design.

Stylish Storage

Traditional dressers and armoires are often considered essential for the bedroom, but bachelors chests can be a welcome twist on a familiar theme. If you already have a complete bedroom set, you can increase your bedroom’s style potential by mixing it up with a chest that draws on industrial influences, mixes metal and wood, includes vintage touches, or metallic finishes. It’s up to you, just keep in mind the wood stains and colors that are already prominent in your room to avoid clashing. You want your style to stand out – in a good way.

If you are looking for bachelors chests to add antique flair to your bedroom, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you. You’re sure to find a piece that will add a little extra style and storage to your bedroom.

Congratulations to the new Baer's Furniture CEO Jerry Baer.

Tips for Choosing Patio Furniture

Choosing the right patio furniture will bring functionality and comfort to your outdoor space. A spacious table and comfortable chairs transforms your basic patio into a lush dining destination. Add a wicker sofa and rocking chair to a cozy porch and it will quickly become a second family room.

Check out the tips below for choosing the perfect patio furniture for your space. Careful planning will reward you with an enticing outdoor living space for years to come.

Make a List

Determine how you will use your outdoor space and how you want it to function. Will you use it as a dining room when the weather is nice enough? Will you host dinner parties and birthday parties in this space? Or are you looking for a peaceful reading or journaling spot?

Write down everything you would like to do the outdoor space and let that guide you in determining the type of furniture you will need. For example, if the main use for your patio will be hosting casual evening cocktails, you probably won’t need a dining table. In this case, choose plenty of comfortable seating and a fire pit, such as the Island Estate Lanai Outdoor Gas Fire Pit from Tommy Bahama.

Take a Seat

When choosing chairs, be sure to sit in them before you buy them. Comfy outdoor furniture, just like the furniture in your living room, will be used often, unlike uninviting patio furniture, which may look good, but be lacking in comfort.

Go for Easy Care

An outdoor room shouldn’t add to your housework load, but give you a space to relax, so look for low-maintenance and durable outdoor furniture. Most metal, cedar, teak, and wicker furniture can take whatever nature throws at them. Furniture made of these materials will look good for years.

Color

You are not limited to the natural tone of the wood or the white, black or beige of wicker when purchasing outdoor furniture when purchasing furniture made of these materials. Color finishes are everywhere in the world of outdoor furniture. To stay in style longer, use bold splashes of color on the cushions and accent pieces so that your look won’t become quickly dated.

Invest in Quality

The saying “you get what you pay for” is just as true for patio furniture as it is for anything else. Poor quality plastic resin chairs or side tables look good on the shelf and may stay looking good for a year or two, but sooner or later the sun will take its toll and they will become dull and brittle. The same is true for some wicker and wood pieces. Choose durable materials such as high quality wicker and rattan or the all-weather synthetic wicker used in the Island Estate Lanai Outdoor Wicker Lounger by Tommy Bahama. Shop carefully and check product reviews before making a purchase.

Look Underfoot

Ground your outdoor furniture by placing it on a weather proof rug. Advances in textiles have made many quick-drying outdoor rugs available. Soft, plush, and rich in texture, an outdoor rug will bring indoor comfort to your outdoor space.

Choose for Dual-Purpose Pieces

Make your furniture work harder. An ottoman can double as additional seating for your backyard bash and a simple bench can create seating for intimate conversations or used as additional seating at the dining table.

If you are creating an outdoor room for year-round entertaining, check out the entire Island Estate Lanai collection by Tommy Bahama at a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you. Find out more about the Women of Excellence meeting at Baer's Furniture in Melbourne, FL.

Checklist of Must-Have Home Accessories That Complete Your Look

Imagine this scenario: you’ve decorated a room that, once completed, seems to be missing something. You can’t put your finger on what it needs, but the room seems dull and impersonal despite your best attempts to make it a warm and inviting showcase for your personal style. Use this checklist as you finalize your room’s décor so that your space will have the polished, finished look you are trying to achieve. 

Texture

Done right an all-beige or all-white palette can feel fresh and new, however, it often seems lifeless and sterile. Bringing in texture with baskets, throw, pillows, and rugs adds interest and polish to a room’s design. If you have great pillows on your sofa, but you still think it looks uninviting, try adding a throw. The sleek lines of the Fontana Sofa by Lexington are complemented by the black and white geometric print on the throw pillows. The textured area rug adds another layer of interest and the smaller, botanical inspired print on the wing chair complete the look.

You can use the same technique in the bedroom by casually layering a throw at the end of the bed to tie the look together. Woven baskets that contain firewood, toys, books, or extra pillows can also add texture to a room while doing double duty as additional storage.

Books

Whether you add coffee tables books in the living room, fill the kitchen shelves with cookbooks, or store children’s books in the family room, using books as a design element will add a personal touch to your space. And not to worry if you don’t have built-in bookcases, there are plenty of unique and fanciful ways to display and store books. This doesn’t mean you need to be an avid reader or display a library full of books. Just consider them as beautiful objects to display that can help highlight items you want to showcase.

Something Black

Try adding something black to your room if it feels like it’s missing something. You can add piece of accent furniture, a chalkboard-painted sign, or a set of black picture frames. Adding black seems to bring cohesion and ground the space. The Carrera Topaz Hexagonal Accent Table is the perfect home accessory to bringing black into your living room. It adds modern appeal and interest to any room.

Personality

Your home should reflect you and your family’s personality, to highlight your family’s interests, hobbies, and travels by displaying accessories that tell those stories. Home accessories that tell your story make great conversation starters and add life to your room. Photographs are one way to do this, collections and souvenirs are another.

Something Living

Houseplants can liven up any space. For a low maintenance option, try some hardy, easy-to-grow succulents. Small trees can add life and height to a room. Fresh cut flowers are another option, and may last up to two weeks if properly cared for. A small flower arrangement on the coffee table or kitchen counter, or a houseplant near a sunny window makes a space feel like home.

For tips on how to make your house feel like home, make an appointment with a design professional today and take advantage of Baer’s Furniture’s free design service. Visit Baer’s Furniture on Houzz and browse through more the 38 projects for inspiration.

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.