Area Rug Dos and Don’ts for Every Room

When finalizing your home’s interior décor, don’t ignore the impact an area rug can make. Whether simple or jazzy, an area rug can take a room from good to great. Let’s review what a rug does for a space. It can say “These furniture pieces belong together.” Or in a large, multi-functional room, it can say “this space is the living room” and “this space is the dining room.” It can also enhance your décor by bringing in colors and patterns that highlight your furniture. It adds a finishing touch to your design.

Area Rug DOs and DON’Ts

DO pick the right-sized area rug for your space. Keep in mind that the bigger the rug, the bigger your room will feel. That being said, a general rule for living rooms is to have a rug large enough that the front legs or your couch and chairs sit on top of the rug. Above, the rug by Nourisan defines space and makes it feel larger. For bedrooms, the rug should run under the bed completely or at least under the bottom two-thirds, so that you can step down on it when you get out of bed.

DON’T use a small, postage stamp, rug. The purpose of your area rug is not to anchor the coffee table, but to bring the entire space together. When you have a tiny rug in a room-sized seating group, it will look out of place. And in the bedroom, it will look like a bath mat next to the bed.

DO consider furniture placement if you are using a patterned rug. An all-over pattern that repeats is pretty safe, but if you have larger, more asymmetrical pattern on your area rug, use it with furniture that is more delicate or has an open or airy frame.

DON’T place bulky furniture over special parts of your rug. If you have a big coffee table a large patterned rug might not be the best choice for that space.

DO mix patterns with different proportions. You may think you shouldn’t use a patterned area rug if you have a chair or curtains that feature a print, but you can. Just be sure to choose a pattern different in scale than the pattern on the curtains or furniture. Or choose a striped pattern in the same or complementary colors.

DO choose your living room furniture before your rug. You’ll probably keep the sofa and chairs for longer than the rug.

DON’T keep wood or tile floors bare. A rug will make your rooms look finished, warm up the space, and create buffering from noises. They also highlight your wood or tile flooring. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpet, an area rug can fulfill its purpose of defining the space.

DO choose a flat rug for the dining room. Dining rooms are areas where spills tend to happen, and a flat rug will be easier to keep clean.

Area Rug Protection

Following these general guidelines will help ensure that your rooms look polished. But remember that while choosing the right area rug will enhance your room’s décor, they placed on the floor, often in high traffic areas. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them. Baer’s offers the UnitersPure protection plan to help you keep your rugs looking spotless.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture and Jerry Baer's new role as president and CEO.

Make Your Broyhill Leather Sofa the Centerpiece of Your Room

While furniture styles may come and go, one of the most enduring is leather. Almost anything leather has a timeless appeal. You know it is meant to last. Sure, there are style updates, but you can find a leather couch in almost any style, from traditional to mid-century modern, to contemporary. A leather couch is a statement piece for the ages.

There’s something about leather furniture that exudes comfort and warmth. It adds an element of calm and elegance to any room and is easy to clean and maintain. In fact, the look of leather gets better as it ages. However, many find decorating a living room with a leather sofa a challenge. It doesn’t have to be. By letting the leather’s natural qualities shine through, your leather sofa can be the centerpiece of your living room décor.

Highlight the Leather Color

Leather is available in a variety of shades, including rich brown, red, cream, yellow or black. Darker shades can make a room seem masculine, so soften it with soft colors on the curtains, walls, and other furniture pieces. A black leather sofa will create interest in the space if paired with rich, deep colored throw pillows or an area rug. Blue-gray, burgundy, and rust are all good choices. These accessories will make your living room feel warm, welcoming, and luxurious. Soft greens, blues, and buttery yellows go well with light colored leather sofas.

Additional Accent Colors

We've discussed color for the walls and accessories, now consider additional accent colors. If you have a dark leather sofa, add some light decor to the room to keep the sofa from becoming overbearing. If your sofa is a lighter shade, try some patterned accents in the same color as your sofa. Select draperies, rugs, and other design elements in neutral shades to balance your living room. This may seem contradictory, but remember that you want to create a cohesive space. So try adding and taking away these elements until you achieve the look you like. Keep it simple so that your leather sofa can take center stage.

Place Your Leather Furniture Carefully

This goes for any living room design. Avoid a look that appears cluttered by spacing out your furniture. If you have a leather sofa set or sectional, add some pieces such as accent tables in lighter materials and colors. This will give the room some texture as well as contributing to a lighter feel.

Accessorize in Harmony

Highlight the texture of your leather sofa by including a small piece of leather furniture in your décor. A chair or ottoman will accentuate the look without drawing attention away from the sofa. Place a piece of artwork on the wall that highlights your sofa or use a small, simple dining or side chair to add an element of interest. Accessories made from natural materials will amplify the look of your leather sofa. Bamboo blinds, cotton throws, and terracotta pots are all good choice for accessories.

Make It Fresh

Remember that your leather sofa is likely to be with you for a long time. But it doesn’t have to become outdated. Try different colors and fabric to create a fresh look. Use the leather sofa as a backdrop, and soften it with diaphanous sheers, or add throw pillows with bright pops of color such as tangerine, turquoise, and yellow. Or update your look with throw pillows in modern prints – changing out the throw pillows can quickly update any look for any season.

Making your leather sofa shine doesn’t have to be complicated. Just put your creativity to work and use it to create a fresh, new look that is entirely your own.

Outdoor Decorating Ideas for Florida Entertaining

Making your back porch into the perfect spot for get-togethers will let you enjoy an intimate Florida night with family or a large event with friends. Backyard living is quickly evolving into more than a trend and “outdoor rooms” continue to gain popularity. As these trends continue, you may find yourself bringing almost everything outside with you. Outdoor decorating ideas include comfortable furniture and all the amenities you need in an outdoor kitchen or barbeque area.

Below are a few outdoor decorating ideas you might want to adapt for your back porch this summer.

Go Neutral

Keep your outdoor space cool and refreshing with neutral shades. The outdoors are often blooming with color, so a calm neutral shade can create a restful space that allows the landscaping to take center stage. You can pull off this polished look by choosing essential pieces such as the Coco Ilse 7 Piece Outdoor Dining set. The faux-rattan printed table top gives you a tropical feel while the metal construction gives you durability and easy maintenance.

Vertical Gardens

People usually head outdoors to take advantage of the greenery and fresh air. However, not everyone has the space for planting a garden. If this describes you, consider taking advantage of your walls. You can create a vertical garden on any wall, just hang flowerpots, old crates, or plastic containers filled with easy-to-care-for succulents. You can even use this idea on a patio, front porch, or fence.

Add Some Art

Art makes a space come alive and also shows off your personal style. Art can also be a great conversation starter. So, go ahead and hang some art on your patio, or display a collection of your favorite pieces of pottery or other collectibles to add some personality to your outdoor space.

Hammocks and Swings

Alternative seating is always fun if your outdoor space is big enough. And a hammock is great for relaxing on a pleasant summer evening or read a book in the afternoon. If a hammock is not your style, consider adding a swing to your outdoor decorating. A swing makes a great spot for intimate conversations.

Fire Pits

Outdoor entertaining is fun, but it’s even better add some fire. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is a great way to extend your outdoor entertaining space. They provide comfortable, natural lighting that lets you see the person next to or across from you. And even in South Florida, we have the occasional cool night suitable for making s’mores by the fire.

Mood Lighting

And the last of our outdoor decorating ideas: lighting. When considering lighting for your outdoor room, approach the space as a blank canvas. Hang string lights in the trees, place romantic tapers on the table, and use tea lights in seating areas. This subtle lighting will enhance the ambiance of your outdoor entertaining area.

If you are looking for that perfect piece to make your outdoor entertaining space shine, go to the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the entire collection. Check out our Pinterest board for more inspiration.

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.