Monthly Archives

February 2015

Seasonal, Spring

5 ways to invite spring into your home

Hey there, happy homemakers! Happy almost spring!

Spring means its time to ditch the scarves, hats, jackets and mittens, replace hot cocoa with lemonade and, yes, clean up a bit. It’s also a great time to refresh your home décor for the new season. Here are some ways to perk up your home in a few easy steps.

1. Go green
The color of spring, growth, lushness, freshness and rebirth, green makes everything feel new again. And that’s what spring is all about. Start fresh with a green that lifts your sprits: moss, jade, mint, even forest, and create your spring refresh from there.

2. Go greener
One way to bring the outdoors in is to literally bring it inside! Plants and flowers wake up your home in a way nothing else can. Every room can have a houseplant, a tree or a vase full of blooms. Even a small bud in the powder room can make a major impact. That little bit of green changes everything!

3. Pucker up
Sun-kissed citrus brights are definitely in for spring. Lemony yellow, orange and ruby red grapefruit are all perfect colors to add pops of fun to your home.

4. Swap some layers
Pillows, rugs, lampshades, throws, even peel-and-stick wall decals are versatile examples of colorful items you can use to shake up your decor. Florals are always an appropriate choice for spring as are crosshatch textures, which remind us of woven Easter baskets!

5. Lighten up
I’m not just talking about finding humor in the every day, though I am a huge believer in that philosophy. I’m talking about color! Save the dark colors for fall and opt for pastels instead. Anything that makes you happy and feels like spring. Grassy greens, lovely lilacs, sunny yellows, cheerful sky blues and milky whites brighten up your home in a way you’ll appreciate all season long.

Remember, small modifications can make a big impact, but if you’re looking to transform your home with furnishings, come visit us at Home Zone. And who knows, after all these changes you may want spring to stay around all year!

Bree

P.S. Checkout my Pinterest account for more Spring ideas!

Spring Inspiration

 

 

Seasonal

Why balance when you can juggle?

Hello, my favorite homemakers! Bree here. Thinking about balance. Doesn’t that word, that concept, make you think of Zen gardens, yoga poses and trickling fountains?

Okay, back to reality.

In real life, balance is unattainable. But that’s okay! It’s not a bad thing. If you’re balancing, you’re standing still. So take note, because here are my tips for balancing juggling life and style, comfort, value and function—in the real world.

Step 1: Get comfortable.
Whether it’s your personal style (my go-to “mom uniform” is a pair of soft leggings, a tunic or dress and boots or flats) or your taste in home furnishings, comfort rules. Soft textures, pillows, blankets and cotton soften the room and your mood.

Step 2: Make sure it’s washable.
Fabric is important. Kids are messy, and if you’re constantly worried about cleaning up, you’re guaranteed to miss out on all the fun. So fabric choice is key. Washable fabrics you can wear and spot-washable fabrics for your furniture make life easier.

Step 3: Add color.
Neutrals make sense. They’re practical. They’re also kind of boring. Have a little fun and play with color every once in a while. Especially when you fall in love with a piece and when the price is right (Home Zone, anyone?). Color inspires. So bring a little bit more whimsey into your life with colorful accents, art, linens and more. Don’t be afraid!

Step 4: Add value.
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does grow inside a family’s home. The good news? You don’t have to have a lot of money to make memories that will last a lifetime. Save where you can, spend where it counts and always splurge when it comes to quality time. Start at Home Zone, where savings can be found around every corner.

Step 5: Insert your style.
Just because you have a family and a busy schedule doesn’t mean you have to abandon your style. Take time for yourself! Carve out an area in your home that’s just for you, and make sure there are things there that are special to you, whether it’s a favorite book, a meaningful painting, a hot bath or a killer view.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a household to run, kids to chase after, bills to pay, laundry to do and meals to cook. And that’s all before breakfast! So I challenge you: Add a bit of humor to your life. Make your day-to-day duties fun, and try juggling instead of balancing sometime. That little change in perspective will steer you toward success!

 

Decor, Interior Design Ideas

Starting points: What’s your decorating style?

Hello, happy homemakers!

It’s true: Home Zone has hundreds of pieces of high-quality furniture for your home, in styles that suit all tastes. But what if you’re not quite sure of your style? Fear not! I’m here to help. Consider me your couch coach, your style swami—your guide to making everyday look great. Let’s figure it out together…

Open your closet
Popular interior designer and lifestyle blogger Emily Henderson was really onto something when she came up with the idea of coordinating your decorating style with your wardrobe. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out the types of fashion choices we make are closely related to the type of interior design and furnishings we adore. Start in your closet. Think about the jewelry you wear; the colors and textures you’re drawn to; whether you prefer solids or patterns, classic styles or modern ones; and let those ideas guide you.

Turn the page
Next time you find yourself standing near a magazine rack, make a point to flip through a few home design magazines. Which photos are you most drawn to? For example, if you love classic pieces with turned legs, tailored details and heavier, old-world fabrics, you might have more traditional taste. If you prefer clean lines, sophisticated fabrics and fashion-forward touches, you’re probably feeling pretty modern. And if you love the concept of giving traditional styles an unexpected, modern twist, you are likely transitional. And at Home Zone, we have pieces to fit all these styles at fabulous prices—no dreaming necessary.

Click around
There are quite a few sites that can help you hone in on your style, if not with a quiz, then by helping you select inspirational images that resonate with you. My favorite is Pinterest, because you can create boards for each style, each room in your home or anything else you’d like! Other sites that aim to inspire include HouzzBHG.comHGTV.comRealSimple.comApartmentTherapy.com and decorpad.com. It’s so easy to create a virtual scrapbook of styles you like, and the more you click around, the more certain types will naturally float to the top.

Phone a friend
Sometimes we see ourselves differently than others do. You might see your style as a jumble of likes and dislikes, while your best friend or sister might know exactly how to define your style. Give it a shot—call your BFF and ask, “If you had to describe my style, what would you say?” You might be surprised!

Take a vacation
When you step outside of the real world, you may find yourself free to discover more about yourself. Imagine you could live anywhere in the world, in any type of home. Where would you live? What would your home look like? Get inspired. Sure, you can’t actually live anywhere in the world in any home you want, but you can certainly draw inspiration from those daydreams to create spaces in your own home that make you happier each day.

I’m thinking by now you’ve got a pretty good idea of what you like and don’t like when it comes to home décor. But if you’re still unsure, no worries—head to Home Zone and let our pros take care of you. We’ll show you how to incorporate our high-value, high-quality pieces into your home for a style that suits you just right.

Decor, Interior Design Ideas

Welcome, happy homemakers!

Hello all you happy homemakers! I’m Bree, and this my blog.

I’m a mother of four, and just like many of you, I’m always trying to find ways to balance real life with making my house look beautiful—feeling comfortable at home and like my house is “put together,” and taking care of a household while not being held back. I’m about having fun, finding humor and saving money, and I’m here to help you do the same.

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One way I can help you save is by recommending you shop at Home Zone Furniture (I’m guessing that’s why you’re here in the first place). I’m the founder, and I’m happy to say that value is a big deal around here. We value our time and yours. We have quality furniture at great prices without a middleman. We’re local, and the majority of what we sell is in stock, so we don’t waste your time. If we don’t have what you want in the store, we’ll get it for you in days, not months. Most of all, we’re family friendly. So bring the whole gang. I’ll bet you’ll find what you’re looking for.

Here’s what I’ve got in store for you on this blog:

  • Ways to balance life, family, activities and homemaking—while making it all look good in the process!
  • Fun family activities (tested and approved by Yours Truly).
  • Education and tips about home décor, as well as anything and everything furniture-related.
  • Lots of VALUE, and tips for finding it in places you might not expect!

And now, since it’s nearing the end of February, I can say that spring is really on it’s way! There are so many fun activities to try (check out these painted strawberry stones) and recipes to make (don’t miss these tangy blueberry cheesecake bitesgooey raspberry sticky buns and refreshing strawberry lemonade) to get you in the mood for the season.

DIY : Strawberry stones forever

Remember, no matter what you do to welcome the dawn of spring, it’s all about the newness and rebirth, y’all. So give your family a squeeze and don’t forget to tell them those three little words.

Meanwhile, have a great week and a lovely weekend, from my family to yours. I’ll see all you happy homemakers next time!

Bree