Category Archives: Furniture Tips & Tricks

Fireplace Season

Posted on by England Furniture
01 Nov

The cool weather is here and if you are fortunate enough to be able to light a fire, you’ll want to do it right while cozying up in your England Furniture! There is an art to building a fire – and we don’t just mean camping. When setting up the fireplace at your home:

  1. Open the flue.
  2. Clean out any old ashes.
  3. Layer the bottom grate with three or four split logs (depending on the size of your fireplace).
  4. Layer twisted newspaper and kindling wood (twigs or a small firestarter log).
  5. Light kindling.
  6. As the kindling wood starts to catch and burn the logs, place two smaller logs on top. This should give you a nice slow burn with minimal smoke.
  7. Enjoy!

 

Tips and Tricks:

  • Be sure to use very dry wood.
  • Twist a knot at the end of the newspaper for a longer burn.
  • Push the bottom grate to the back of the fireplace wall so it’s directly under the flue.
  • Place the screen in front of the fireplace when it’s lit to avoid flying sparks.
  • Make sure someone is always present whenever a fire is burning or smoldering.
  • Keep all flammable items away from the fireplace.
  • If/when possible, take a nice walk through the woods or park and find twigs for kindling wood – just for the fun of it!

 

7 Fantastic Ways to Use Ottomans!

Posted on by England Furniture
22 Jul

The ottoman has its roots in 18th century Turkey, at a time when the country was part of the Ottoman Empire.  These versatile pieces of furniture eventually made their way into European parlors and eventually to America.  The word “ottoman” can different images depending on the time and place, but it generally conveys a picture of a footstool or padded bench that is often used with a chair.

 

Today’s ottomans can be used for a wide variety of purposes and England Furniture invites you to consider our line of England Furniture ottomans, as well as some creative ways you can use ottomans in your favorite rooms.

 

England Furniture Ottomans - Midtown Parson and Jacob
England Furniture Ottomans – Midtown, Parson, and Jacob

 

Rest Your Weary Feet

Beginning with the obvious, ottomans are a great way to sit back and relax.  You can pair an ottoman with a comfy chair and use it as a place to rest your feet.  Be certain the ottoman your purchase not only matches the style and design of your chair, but is the right dimensions to be used by various people in the house for relaxation.

 

Extra Seating

Ottomans can be used as extra seating when the sofa and loveseats are filled up, and the rest of the chairs are already occupied.  Because ottomans are often quite small, they’re easy to tuck them away when you don’t need extra seats.

 

Extra Storage

Almost every living room or family room needs extra places to store items such as remote controls, toys, reading glasses and books, notepads, movies or games, etc.  Today’s ottomans include beautiful ottomans with a hinged top that provides a handy way to store items while also being able to disguise its storage abilities.

 

Coffee Table or End Table

Many people use ottomans as a primary or secondary table in the living room or family room.  Flat-topped ottomans are best suited for this purpose, but you can utilize most ottomans by placing a serving tray (or even a beautiful piece of wood) on the top of your ottoman.

 

Children’s Area

In relation with the “ottoman as table” idea above, some people use ottomans as a kind of kid’s table or deck.  This allows your child to have their own special area to play or study.  Storage ottomans can allow them to keep their favorite toys nearby.  If you plan to use your ottoman for this purpose, make sure you consider kid-friendly fabrics that can be easily cleaned.

 

Pet Beds

Some individuals, particularly those who may live in a small space, place a blanket on their ottoman and use it as a resting place for their cats or dogs.  Spot and Mrs. Kitty Boo-Boo need a place to rest too!

 

Show off Your Style

Finally, ottomans are increasingly becoming the centerpieces of some living room designs.  They’re a great way to add a clear indicator of the design, style, or colors you’re seeking to use in your living room or family room.  Ottomans can look casual in a rustic room, playful in a modern family room, or extravagant in a formal sitting room. The choice is yours!

 

 

Tips for pets and furniture

Posted on by England Furniture
England Furniture pet beds
10 Apr

People love their pets, but furniture is an investment they want to preserve. Choosing the right furniture takes time, so when it is finally in the home, it must be maintained. Protecting your England Furniture from your pets involves some specific steps.

  1. Decide If the Pets are Allowed

It’s important to define clear boundaries with pets. Either they are consistently allowed on a piece of furniture, or they’re not. If they’re not, provide comfortable alternatives for the pets in the same room. Pets are social animals; they often want to be with their people. A dog bed or a cat tower in the same room will provide the animals a safe place to be with their family. Train the animal using vet-approved methods, such as offering treats to a dog for using the bed, or catnip on the cat tower. Encourage the animal to use their own furniture, and remind them consistently that the couch is for humans.

  1. Sweep and Wipe

Use a small whisk broom or vacuum for furniture, if the animals are allowed to sit with the humans. Simply clean the upholstery once a week to remove pet hair. Additionally, keep a towel by the door to wipe off paws coming back from a romp outside. Many dogs will look forward to the foot rub, and it’s vet recommended to clean a dog’s paws to remove any irritants from their time outside.

  1. Cover It Up

Many homes include attractive covers for the furniture, especially if pets are allowed on it. These covers come in a variety of designs and sizes. It is surprisingly common to cover furniture to protect its longevity, so these covers are easy to find. Simply clean the cover in the washing machine every week to keep the home sparkling clean and free of pet hair.

  1. Redirect and Offer Alternatives

Cat lovers know the cons of cat scratching which can destroy furniture. Keep a scratching post or pad near the furniture to deter the cat, and offer treats to kitty when she uses the post for scratching. Add catnip to the post or pad to attract the cat to the item, and away from the furniture. Additionally, offer a soft kitty bed near any furniture the cat may favor, and give the cat treats for using the kitty bed instead of the furniture for afternoon naps.

How to pick the right color for your furniture

Posted on by England Furniture

Furniture is central to every room. They are first thing guests notice and often the topic of conversation. Having furniture that harmonizes with the color scheme of your room is key. This is why it can be difficult for furniture shoppers to find the perfect pieces for the home. However, it doesn’t have to be hard.

  1. Consider Color

It helps to know the colors of the existing furniture in the room, and the color of the walls or flooring. People have been known to bring paint swatches to a furniture store to make sure the furniture will look good in the room. Throw rugs have also been used to pull furniture together, and help the colors harmonize with each other. Pictures of existing furniture, floors, walls, or whole rooms also help when trying to buy new furniture that matches in color and style.  Also, be sure to explore the wide range of colored fabrics options available from England Furniture.

England Furniture Fabrics

  1. Accent

Consider accenting the room with chairs, cushions, pillows and blankets. People find that these options are inexpensive and easy to change as tastes or needs change. These items also add a personal touch to more permanent furniture, such as beds, couches, or dressers. Toss a blanket or throw pillow across the furniture, and the style changes to suit current needs. Remember to match the patterns of these items to the whole room.

  1. Consider Material

A leather couch matches better with darker colors, where micro-suede may work better with patterned prints. Consider the material of the furniture when purchasing accent pieces or new permanent furniture for the room. Remember to avoid too many loud pieces on the same piece of furniture, because this overwhelms the brain, and may make guests uncomfortable.

  1. Look Up, Look Down

Bring the room together by considering the floor and the walls when color-matching furniture. Use rugs to centralize the color scheme, and use wall hangings to enhance it. Adding a picture gives the room a pop of color, and adding a rug pulls the room together, creating a warmer, more comforting environment.

  1. Express Yourself

Remember to express your style when choosing a color scheme. Consider the family’s personality overall, and choose colors that show it off. The available color schemes are vast, giving individual families the opportunity to make a home their own, so it’s important to consider wants as well as needs. Bring beauty and personality to a room with a properly matched color scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

England Furniture Reviews Living Room Accessories

Posted on by England Furniture

There are often a lot of items that can go into a living room and it’s important that they are arranged in a well-proportioned way. After you’ve arranged your living room furniture, you’ll need to begin the process of adding accessories in a balanced fashion. Here are a few tips to consider as you accessorize your living room.

england-furniture-reviews-living-room-accessories

Television

  • If possible, multiply the diagonal width of the screen by three to determine the optimal viewing distance.
  • When trying to decide where to put your television remember that the bottom of the screen should be at chest level when you’re seated. While hanging a television above a mantel or on a wall is a bit popular, it’s not the best place and can cause you to strain your neck.

Window Treatments

  • When hanging a drapery rod it should be installed at least 2″ above the window frame and anywhere between 6″ and 16″ beyond each side.
  • Drapes and curtains should always kiss the floor. A very common decorating mistake is to hang curtains that are too short and don’t reach the floor.

Artwork

  • The most common places to hang artwork is above your sofa. If you’re going this route make sure to get a piece that isn’t too large or too small. The piece of art should be about two-thirds the width of the sofa.
  • To prevent the art from being too low, hang the bottom of the frame about 8″ to 10″ from the top of the sofa back.
  • If you want to use a few smaller pieces in a group the same rule more or less applies. Just be sure that the space between each frame is the same (around 2″ to 3″ is preferable).
  • Whenever you’re hanging art remember that it should be at eye-level. Many people make the mistake of hanging art too high.

Sconces

  • If you’re hanging sconces on either side of a mirror or artwork be sure to leave enough space for the piece in the center to breathe. The amount will depend on the size of the space, but be sure not to overcrowd.
  • The rules for hanging sconces are fairly similar to those for hanging art. The placement will always depend on the size of the wall, but you want to be careful not to hang them too high. Just above eye-level is ideal.

Why Big Families NEED Sectional Sofas

Posted on by England Furniture

Have you ever tried to watch a movie in your living room with your entire family?  Are some of your loved ones sitting on the floor? Many people struggle with the right amount of seating for their living rooms, especially if they have a larger family gathering at once. That’s why sectionals are the perfect sofas!  A sectional sofa can give you more space in your living room and make family nights a lot more comfortable. They even great for sleepovers!

A big sectional couch may scare parents because it can be a large space to clean. This is a huge misconception.  Sectional sofas are actually quite easy to clean. Instead of moving from sofa to sofa, you can do a huge sweep around clean and get it done all in one stop.

england-furniture-landry-sectional-sofa
England Furniture Landry Sectional

A sectional can also give your living room a warm feeling. Now you have extra space and beauty all in one. Explore our England Furniture sectionals and visit your local England Furniture dealer to try out our beautiful and comfortable sectionals for yourself….and let the family fun begin!

England Furniture Reviews Some Furniture Arrangement Tips

Posted on by England Furniture

england-furniture-arrangement-02
Decorating your home is an art and one that requires careful calculation of both the space’s needs and your individual tastes. When it comes to arranging your furniture there are, however, a few rules to keep in mind. Here are some tricks of their trade.

1. Newsflash: TVs Are Not the Main Attraction
Don’t ignore the fireplace – or some other item – that is naturally should be the main element in the room. It’s best to hang your TV on the wall to save space. If you do not have that option, use the focal point of your room as a reference point for choosing a spot.

2. Beds Are the Main Focus
The placement of the bed should acknowledge the focal point of your bedroom. If you have a small bedroom, place the side of the bed against the wall.

3. Dressers Are Not Stand-Alone Pieces
Dressers look best when they are placed up against a wall. Angling a dresser in the corner looks bad, and just as importantly, it wastes space. Center a dresser on a wall, or if placing it off-center, put another piece of furniture next to it to achieve a sense of balance..

4. Couches Should Be Surrounded with a Little Space
Place your couch a few inches away from the wall. This makes the space seem larger. If you’re working with a big living room, place the couch in the center facing a set of window, fireplace, etc. This makes the big room feel like two separate spaces.

5. Overhead Lights Go Over the Dining Room Table
The best placement for your dining room table is in the center of the room and under a light fixture. If your dining room lighting is slightly off-center get creative. For example, consider creating bench seating against the wall.

Sleeper Sofas and Multipurpose Rooms

Posted on by England Furniture

Many renters and homeowners have that one room that serves multiple purposes and, when guests stay overnight, it often becomes the guest bedroom.  Many forward-thinking people purchase a sleeper for their multipurpose room and we have a great selections of England Furniture sleepers.  Here are some suggestions that you can use to choose the right sleeper that creates a comfortable sleeping space and still be an important part of your multi-functional room.

First, choose a monochromatic colored sleeper and overall theme.  These colors are soothing for both work and play.  Try to stay with solid, tone-on-tone, small scale patterns.   Large tossed floral patterns look great in the bedroom but they aren’t always conducive to a multipurpose room.  Select a sleeper sofa you believe will work equally well in both contexts, work and sleep.

england-furniture-factory-tour-smyrna-sleeper-sofa

Add the right chair in your room.  Most guests don’t immediately fall asleep and they will appreciate a comfy chair to sit on.  Choose something that could act as a comfortable place to rest, read or watch TV.  Check out the expansive catalog of England Furniture chairs that could work great in a multipurpose room.

Finally, those little things can make a big difference.   Bedding, for example, is something that makes a sleeper sofa look fit for a king or queen.  Place sheets and blankets on top to create a lush, inviting, comfortable bed.  If the weather is on the colder side add a nice comforter and extra blanket.  Then place several pillows and throw pillows on top of you’ve created a luxurious sleeping environment that all of your guests will love.

 

Create Some Holiday Cheer with England Furniture

Posted on by England Furniture

England Furniture Company
The holidays are upon us and you may already be asking yourself how you can create rooms to reflect these special occasions.  Here are some tips from England Furniture to help you get started.

 

  • Use a Consistent Color Scheme – First consider all the holiday elements in a given room.  If, for example, you have a room with a Christmas tree consider the color scheme on the tree and how other elements in the room can complement those colors.
  • Consider the Room’s Natural Décor – Also consider how the room’s natural décor and color scheme works with your chosen color palette.  If you’re using a lot of blue on a holiday item, and your sofa is a green, consider items that can match well with those two colors.
  • Use Pretty Pillows and Rugs – Pillows and rugs are a quick, easy and creative ways to add some holiday cheer in almost every room.  Consider the wide selection of England Furniture rugs available to you as you add those holiday touches.
  • Encourage Conversations – The holidays are often a time for visiting with friends, family and loved ones.  You can, for example, place a round table in any square-shaped room for easier holiday entertaining. This circular shape encourages conversation flow between all guests and doesn’t restrict you in only talking to the people on either side of you.
  • Create Holiday Focal Points – The holidays are a great time to create new, festive focal points in many of your rooms.  Place a holiday themed item in the center of your dining room table and on your living room coffee table.

6 Secrets of Furniture Placement

Posted on by England Furniture

England Furniture Hampton Super Wedge Sectional Sofa

IVillage shares some tips on decorating your living room.

One of the 6 secrets to furniture placement is to consider your seating arrangements. If you have a long wall, you may want to put your seating along the wall.

For more information: http://www.ivillage.com/living-room-decorating-ideas-6-secrets-furniture-placement/7-a-220671