Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Tips for Using End Tables to Accent Your Room Décor

They’re called accent tables for a reason: end tables, console tables, coffee tables all help accent the design of your room. They are an easy way to add style into a room. If you are not sure how to style your end tables, read on. Here are some tips for creating a cohesive look for your space. Although styling end tables and other accent tables may seem tricky, keep in mind that it is all about using accessories to make your tables look like they were added to the space with purpose.



Tip No 1: Add a shallow bowl or basket to end tables or coffee tables. This helps keep TV remotes together while also adding color and texture to your living room. In the earth-toned room above, the shallow bowl on the table repeats the color of the wooden coffee table and end tables. The color added can be subtle, as above, or bold and dramatic, depending on your taste.

Tip No 2: Add flowers or plants. This adds life and softness to your room. Although real is best, it’s fine to use faux plants and flowers – if they are real looking. And these days it is much easier to find faux flowers and plants that took very realistic.

 Tip No 3: Decorate end tables that sit beside a wall with tall objects, such as a tall vase with long-stemmed flowers such as gladiolas. This will soften the corner of the sofa and bring any wall art you have into the grouping, making the room cozy and welcoming. A tall table lamp will also do the trick, the key is to bring some height into the space.



Tip No. 4: Placing table lamps on console tables or end tables add task lighting and help differentiate the space in an open concept home. If your dining and family rooms are an open concept, you can create two separate zones and make them cozy by adding a console table at the back of a sofa. Use matching lamps to add lighting as well as delineate the space by separating the living room from the dining room.

Tip No. 5: Putting a decorated console table next to a stair wall – the wall under or near the stairs – is an ideal way to add some style to what can be an awkward and often ignored space. Make sure the console table is clear of the stairs so that nothing will get knocked over. Then add a basket or two, a vase of flowers in bloom, or prop a piece of art on the wall. If your console table allows, you can add baskets for extra storage.

The right end tables, coffee tables, and console tables can not only accentuate your style, they can have a practical purpose in your home. Decorating can be like math – adding and subtracting just the right elements to your home until it perfectly reflects your taste and style.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Find Baer's Furniture on Pinterest to get more design tips.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Computer Desk and Home Office Design

With an increasing amount of people either working from home or self-employed, setting up a home office is no longer a luxury but a necessity. And even if you only work from home part-time, there will probably be times when you need to see clients or co-workers in your home office. The space in which you work and entertain clients says a lot about your personal brand. Creating a simple, luxurious, and comfortable home office space will impress your clients and give you the room you need to work productively.


Choose Your Style

Just because you are setting up a space to work, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be stylish and reflect your personality. You will probably work more efficiently when you are in a space that is comfortable and stylish. Modern office furniture designed specifically for home use gives you everything you need to be productive and impress clients.
You can create a luxurious ambiance with a functional computer desk for your home office. Molding details and decorative hardware add an air of luxury to the Brookhaven Executive “L” Return Desk by Hooker furniture. Even the name says executive, and that’s what you are when you are in your home office. Why not use a home office design that reflects that? This desk features a utility drawer with a drop front that serves as a computer desk, a file drawer to keep important papers near, and a pullout writing shelf.

Create Your Space

Home offices are no longer consigned to an unused nook in the dining room or kitchen. Let space, style, and personal preference guide you when decorating the space. Wood-paneled walls or classic wood furniture evoke elegance and sophistication without being too formal and intimidating. While you can set up your space adjacent to family areas, remember that when you have clients in, they can see that area, so the styles should complement each other.

Lighting

You will need the proper lighting for your home office. If you have windows, take advantage of the natural light as much as possible. However, there will be times when you need task lighting. When lighting any space, layer it to enhance the various functions of the room. Task lighting – a desk or floor lamp – is essential for your work space. You’ll also want softer ambient lighting for when you see clients, so that they don’t feel like they are under a microscope.


Choose Your Chair

If you plan to spend hours toiling at your work desk at home, be sure to invest in a comfortable office chair. Look for a chair with wheels that allows you to adjust the back angle for comfort and lumbar support. The Brookhaven Desk Chair features pneumatic lift, leather upholstery, and casters.

Storage

In addition to a computer desk and filing system, you may need some storage. You don’t want your home office to be buried in paper, with supplies scattered about willy-nilly. Floating shelves, bookcases, and cubbies are all good options, depending on your style. Large wood bookcases will give your room a more traditional look, while open shelving will give it a more airy feel. You’ll need a lockable filing cabinet for sensitive documents, and a tray organizer for incoming mail and bills.

Design for Productivity

Keep yourself organized and productive with whiteboards, bulletin boards, or a wall covered in chalkboard paint if you are more adventurous. Stationary and office accessories such as pencil cups, magazine holders, and paper trays can add color and pattern. Desk lamps, calendars, family photos, souvenirs, clock, and maps can be added mindfully to reflect your personal style. Above all else, go for a practical, clutter-free space that is easy to work in.

 Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Check out the Baer's Furniture Pinterest board for more interior decor ideas.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Home Décor Service from Baer’s Furniture

People often shy away from using a home décor service because they think they’ll lose control and end up with a home they don’t understand. Or that it will be too expensive. When working with a Baer’s Furniture design professional, nothing could be further from the truth. You are more likely to stay within your budget because a design professional can help you avoid making expensive mistakes. You will be working with an expert who can help you turn your vision into reality.

baers interior design service

Perfectly put together spaces don’t happen by accident. Of course, we all have that friend who seems to be able to effortlessly put together a room that is aesthetically pleasing as well as perfectly functional. However, the majority of us struggle with this. What seems so easy on the surface can quickly turn into a nightmare.

An interior design professional has extensive training and experience. They have learned how to visualize and plan a room based on design principles such as balance, rhythm, harmony, and emphasis as well as proportion and scale. They also understand the importance of the elements of design: space, line, texture, color, light, and pattern as well as shape and mass. As design professionals, they use their knowledge of these principles and elements to create spaces that are emotionally and physically comfortable as well as functional and beautiful.

Benefits of Baer’s Home Décor Service


  • Bring your style to the forefront. An interior design professional will work towards designing a home that shows who you are. They help you decide from among many possibilities to guide you to a style that suits you and your family’s lifestyle.
  • Each project is different and, regardless of size, presents challenges. A home décor service can provide solutions for every issue, and solve problems as they arise.
  • Keep you within budget. There are many choices available for materials, some of which you may never have heard of. An interior design professional can tell which materials are best for each purpose, from cabinet and countertops to flooring, window treatments, and upholstery. They can find the perfect materials to suit any budget and help you determine where to splurge and where to cut back.
  • Make your life easier. An interior designer will help you make the most of what you already have – a special piece furniture, your favorite color, or your preferred style. They do the research and legwork for you, and when your home is completed, it will not only be beautiful, it will be functional for the way you live your life.
  • Keep your project on schedule. A Baer’s Furniture interior design professional has relationships with expert painters, installers, and contractors. They will ensure that your home is completed down to every detail, including staying on schedule.
  • Access to resources. There are many resources available only to interior design professionals. Working with a home décor service can help you get access to these. 
interior design by baers


Maybe you only want to redecorate a room, a whole house, or a vacation home. Baer’s Furniture design professionals take on every project with the same attention to detail. They can help you with furniture choices, window treatments, flooring, molding and cabinetry, painting and wallpaper, bedding, mattresses, and accessories. In fact, as a Baer’s design client, your interior designer will help you accessorize your home. They will bring a selection of accessories to your home, show a variety of arrangements and groupings and let you decide what you want to keep and what you want to send back.

Using a home décor service will only enhance your home and your quality of life in your home. Hiring a design professional enriches your experience and can turn your house into a home that tells your story.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Follow Baer's Furniture on Twitter to get the latest news.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Light Fixtures That Light Up Your Rooms

You know how beautiful photographs of furniture looks in magazines and catalogs? Everyone wants their homes to look just as glowing. There’s a trick designers use to achieve this look: layers of light. When you layer light sources, you create a textured look that shows off the best features of your room. To do this, you’ll need to combine different types of light sources and fixtures. Below is a guide to achieving layered lighting for any room.


Windows

Yes, windows. It seems obvious, but sometimes the obvious is overlooked. However, if your room has great windows that provide lots of natural lighting during the day, you’ll need to take this into consideration. Daylight is what we are usually trying to imitate when we add lighting to a room, so if you have it, use it.

Keep in mind that even on the sunniest South Florida day, a single window may not give your room sufficient light. And it will vary depending on the time of day. Placing light sources near the window will give subtle lighting that creates a balanced, beautiful space no matter what time of day it is.

Pot Lights

Pot lights, also known as recessed downlights, are often used to modernize and brighten a space. They can spread light throughout a large area, especially the center of a large space where wall lights might not reach.

Track Lights

Track lighting can overcome its bad reputation when used in the right way – especially in kitchens. They have the ability to put task lighting right where you need it.


Pendants and Chandeliers

Pendant lights or a chandelier. I’ve put them together here because the line between them is often blurry. A chandelier is often larger and more decorative, but basically still a pendant light that hangs from the ceiling. More important is where the light is aimed: either down or up to provide a general glow.

Turned downward, the light can illuminate a dining room table or console and create an intimate mood. Aimed upward they will project more light to the room’s center and can highlight overhead features in a room.

Dropped Ceilings

In some instances, pendant lighting will not work, for example in a condo with a concrete ceiling. In this case, a dropped ceiling panel can supply the space to put in lighting fixtures such as pendants or pot lights.

Sconces

Sconces can be artistic and ornate or simple and sleek and they come in many sizes. Evenly spaced single-bulb sconces add light at eye level and provide even brightness. Or, if you wish to eliminate shadows, place your light fixtures close together.

Standing Lamps

Standing lamps – table lamps and floor lamps both fall into this category – are useful for adding task lighting for reading. They also throw off a gentle glow wherever they are placed and can be used to target the center of a space or the corners. When placed near a window a floor lamp, they can substitute natural light that would stream in during the day.

Wall Washers

As the name implies, wall washers are installed on the wall, or sometimes on the ceiling. They are used to highlight decorative features in a room, such as a statement wall or piece of art. In addition, they will make the entire room seem much brighter.

Uplights

If you have a decorative ceiling, you can show it off with uplights. Combined with a wall washer they can put your architectural features on full display. Uplights are often installed in the floors of contemporary homes, and combined with wall washers and pot lights can seem modernist and cold to some. So unless you like a minimalist, gallery-type look, you may not want to use them excessively.

Very few people are going to walk into your home and complement you on your lighting scheme. But that’s not the point. If you have layers of light implemented correctly, what they will do is complement you on your home.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Find a Baer's Furniture near you to see the entire collection.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Area Rugs, Pillows, Throws, and Accessories: Layers of Texture Every Home Should Have

All rooms need texture to create depth and interest in the décor. But, what does that mean, exactly? What designers usually mean when they talk about texture is that it has both visual and tactile appeal. Texture adds dimension and is a really great way to add visual interest to a room that might otherwise seem one-dimensional. For example, an all-white or all-beige room can easily become boring, but making careful choices about how you use textiles can make it dramatic – even if they are in the same color palette.

Architectural features such as a stone fireplace, columns or paneling on the walls can add texture. And you can also choose furniture for the texture it brings to your space. A wicker chair or leather chair or tufted velvet sofa can add a layer of visual interest. However, you may not want to replace furniture, add a fireplace or panel your walls. If you want to quickly refresh the look of any room, add some texture with area rugs, pillows, throws, and accessories.

surya area rug gemini collection

Area Rugs

Wall-to-wall carpeting is cushy under foot, but isn’t always visually interesting. And although wood flooring or tile is beautiful, it can often seem uninviting and cold. In these instances, adding an area rug can add texture and interest. Adding area rugs to bedrooms and family rooms may seem obvious, but have you considered adding an area rug to the kitchen? Or a runner in a hallway? Cowhide, sisal, flat weaves, rag rugs, kilim rugs – just about any rug you can think of will add texture and warmth in these unexpected spaces. A rug from the Gemini collection by Surya will add elegance and charm to a room with any type of décor. Hand tufted from banana silk, the muted colors add extra dimension and softness.

surya rugs mammoth pillow

Pillows

Pillows are another easy way to add texture they're called throw pillows for ao reason. Just choose from the thousands of different styles available and toss a few on your sofa, chair, or bed. When creating texture with pillows, look for different fabrics such as velvet, chenille, or linen. The pattern and texture on the Mammoth pillow from Surya will add visual interest to any room.

surys rugs woven throws

Throws

Throws add an extra layer of texture as well as extra warmth. They can by casually draped on couches, footstools, or chairs, or across the foot of the bed. They come in a variety of textiles such as high-end silk of cashmere, soft flannel, chunky cable knit, lightweight cotton, or even fur. You can use a textured weave or pattern to create more interest. The Throw Blankets collection by Surya Rugs gives you seemingly endless option in color, weave, texture, and pattern that will add depth and warmth to a bedroom, living room, guest room or den.

tommy bahama decorative mirror palm leaf motif

Decorative Accessories

Once you’ve built your foundation with area rugs, pillows, and throws it’s time to accessorize. There are many decorative accessories can add texture, here are just a few to give you inspiration.
  • Baskets
  • Crystal or wooden candlesticks
  • Ceramics vases
  • Natural elements such as shells, coral, driftwood, or stacked firewood
  • Wood or silver picture frames
  • Embroidered, ruffled or antique lampshades
  • Interesting mirrors
  • Rustic or hammered metal finishes on bookends or lamp bases
  • Stacks of books with decorative covers
  • Furniture with nailhead trim
  • Cut-glass furniture pulls
  • Trees or plants
  • Lamp bases with geometric finishes, interesting shapes or textures
Just keep in mind that your accessory groupings should vary in height, weight, size, and shape. Use the rule of three and add a little greenery.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture and follow us on Twitter to find design tips.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Bedroom Furniture and Design Basics

The bedroom serves a very specific function in your home – a space for sleep and relaxation. It is a place to retreat and regroup after a hectic day. It is for this reason that you often see bedrooms designed with soothing colors and furniture that minimizes distractions. Below are some guidelines for turning your bedroom into a true comfort zone.

tommy bahama bedroom furniture at Baers

Bedroom Furniture

Make the most of your space with your bedroom furniture placement. The size of your bedroom will be the guiding force behind how much bedroom furniture you will need. There are some musts: bed, dresser, bedside tables, and lamps are the bare minimum.

It’s unavoidable, the bed is both the focal point and the most important piece of bedroom furniture. It is also the most important design element in the space. Since the bed is the largest piece of furniture in the bedroom, begin by placing it first. The most common places for the bed are across from the door or along the longest wall. If you have a great view, be sure to take advantage of it by placing your bed in such a way that you can see the view as you wake up each morning. In fact, the view or windows can be considered an important design element.

Then, decide where you want to place the dresser, generally across from the bed, but this will depend on the amount of space you have. Now that the larger pieces of bedroom furniture have been placed, you can decide if you want to add a chair or bench at the foot of the bed or a sitting area if you have the space. If you have the space, a comfortable chair, vanity, or a small sofa are nice additions.



kingsdown mattress

Choose the Right Mattress

But beyond the looks of the headboard and bedframe, you’ll want to choose a mattress that gives you a comfortable night’s sleep. Speak to a sales professional and take advantage of the Kingsdown bedMATCH™ technology to help you find the best fit for you. After lying on the test bed for 3 minutes, the technology uses your personal profile information and more than 1,000 calculations to determine which mattress will give you the best support. Bedding makes your room complete, so choose those that complement your design theme and color palette.

Bedroom Lighting

Lighting can set the mood, and the mood you want here is relaxation. Keep the lighting soft, subtle, and easy to turn on and off. Add lamps to the bedside tables if you like to read at night. If you tend to fall asleep with the lights on, use a light with a timer. Not only does this save energy, it also conducive to getting a better night’s sleep. Pendant lamps, chandeliers, sconces, and table lamps are all good choices for bedroom lighting.

Accessorize

Always the finishing touch, add accessories. This is also where you can play. Add an area rug, throw pillows, and a grouping of pieces from collections you own. Put these items in your line of site so that you can see them first thing in the morning. That will get your day off to a great start.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture. Read about the Spirit of Life Award given to Baer's Furniture

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dining Room Sets for Casual Entertaining

If you have a both a formal and casual dining room, the ability to dine and entertain in separate spaces is a wonderful thing. However, if you have only one dining space, you’ll probably find yourself juggling to make the casual space look formal enough to host a dinner party, or to make the formal space suitable for a casual gathering. Dining room sets that provide versatile seating options might be the perfect solution to this challenge.

Assess Your Style

Begin by assessing your style – your dining style, that is. If you frequently have large Sunday dinners, you may need a dining room set with a center leaf that can be used and then removed. However, if your family tends to grab quick meals and you don’t do a lot of entertaining, a smaller table may be better for you.
lexington casual dining room set from Baers

Check Your Seating

Dining room sets with casual chairs are a good option if your style is more casual. The difference between types of chairs can make a big difference in how formal or casual your dining room feels. Chairs with straight high backs tend to be more formal, while chairs with shorter backs made of metal or plastic will seem more casual. However, you can make your formal chairs seem more casual by adding seat cushions with playful fabrics.

Change Your Dining Room Décor

Changing out your dining room décor can create a more casual feel and you don’t need to worry about whether your dining room set is formal or casual. Your place settings, table linens, and candle holders can help change the atmosphere of the room. If you are hosting a casual get together, choose playful place settings and if you’re hosting a more formal affair, throw on a linen tablecloth and bring out the good china.

Paint the Walls

Of course, you won’t want to change the paint color on your walls every time you entertain. However, you can choose colors that fit into your style. Just as this dining room group can be casual or formal, paint colors can evoke a particular feel. Consider using tones such as deep burgundy, burnt orange or rust to make the room more formal. Use neutral tones such as beige, gray, coffee brown, or white to keep the room more versatile. These colors make it easy for you to dress the room up or down as needed by changing out a few elements of the décor. A dining room that easily goes from casual to formal is ideal. And dining room sets that give you options for extra seating will make it easier for you to go from formal to casual and back again as needed.

Find your furniture at a Baer's showroom near you and take advantage of the complimentary design service. Find out more about Baer's Furniture.