Monthly Archives

March 2016

5 new accent chairs we love

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Now that you’ve finished spring cleaning, it’s time to reward yourself with a beautiful new addition to your home. We’ve added a variety of new accent chairs to our collection just in time for spring. From the family room to the den and everywhere in between, each room of the house can be enhanced with the perfect seating. Choosing the ideal accent piece can be a little daunting, but we’ll help you narrow it down with these five standout chairs.

To dress up your family room, choose the Harper Accent Chair. This piece is one of our most durable chairs, made from a sturdy hardwood frame that’s sure to stand the test of time — and kids. Due to the extra padding and the placement of the springs, the Harper Chair is an enviable place to relax in style. Its bold pattern and reversible seat cushions also make it a safe choice for kid-friendly environments. If the majority of your room has a neutral color palette, add in the Harper Accent Chair for a pretty pop!

For a formal living room, the Grant Accent Chair is an excellent choice. The timeless shape and finish of this chair ensures you’ll have it in your home for years to come. We love the spacious seat cushion, luxurious linen texture and beautiful hand-tufted detail. For a traditional look, place two Grant Chairs on either side of a complementary couch. For a more eclectic look, try pairing one Grant chair with another chair that has a similar proportion, style or color.

Everyone has that awkward corner in their home that’s too big to ignore and too small to actually do anything with. If possible, I’d suggest turning the space into a seating area or reading nook. These chameleon spaces can be found on second floor landings, in hallways — you name it! The Truman Accent Chair is particularly well-suited to these kinds of small spaces. The neutral material, charming tufting and small proportions allow the Truman to anchor a space without overpowering it.

Up the coziness factor of your bedroom with an accent chair! Add the Wilson Accent Chair to your bedroom and you’ll be surprised at how much you can get out of a previously unused corner. The Wilson is linear and compact, yet loaded with eye-catching silver studs. I like this chair for a bedroom setting because it’s comfy enough to spend time in during the evening, yet sharp enough for a composed daytime look.

Lastly, if you’re looking to make a statement — as accent chairs tend to do — consider the Regency Wildrose Accent Chair. With its dramatic winged back, rolled armrests and vibrant pattern, it’s hard not to notice the Regency. I’d suggest placing this chair alone, perhaps in a spacious entryway or library, to call attention to the chair’s design and surroundings.

To see more accent chairs from the Home Zone Furniture collection, click here. Regardless of the chair you pick, you’re sure to find something eye-catching that will give your family comfort for years to come!

Bree

Seasonal, Spring

Why now is the time to start spring cleaning

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Why is it that we wait until the most beautiful time of year to stay inside and clean house? Beats me! This year, instead of putting off major spring cleaning for that perfect, sunny day in April, tackle the project now! If you’re not convinced, here are a few reasons to start your spring cleaning today, plus some helpful hints on cleaning strategically.

Everyone is sick

With changing weather comes allergies and all kinds of viruses. If your family has recently been sick, now is the perfect time to completely disinfect your home and make sure no one else catches the bug. Disinfecting everything from countertops to doorknobs will help raise the quality of the air and ward off sickness. Even if your family has been well up to this point, a good home cleaning will help ensure they stay healthy.

The weather

It’s safe to say that there are beautiful spring days ahead. If you’d like to be gardening on these days rather than organizing closets, plan ahead and get all of the dirty work done while the weather is less than desirable. Especially on rainy days where you’re stuck inside, take advantage and check some things off your spring cleaning list!

Spring fashions

From bed linens to footwear, a change in season means a change in fashions. Spring cleaning means more than scrubbing and polishing — it means digging through all of that stuff in the back of closets and drawers, too. Pull out all of your spring items — warm-weather clothing, Easter decor, lightweight blankets — to make sure you don’t go out and accidentally buy duplicates.

Okay, so we’ve convinced you to get your spring cleaning done now. But where to start? Here are some tips for tackling your spring cleaning with a strategy.

Make lists

Another reason many of us are guilty of putting off spring cleaning is because there’s just so much to do. As in any stressful situation, begin by making a master list. Break down your list by room, and then list each task for each room. While it’s tempting to just write “vacuuming” once at the top of your list, be sure to write down the task under each room’s list so you stay focused.

Start with the closets

But where on the room’s list to start? In each room, begin by organizing the closet. This is likely where the majority of your items have been left and forgotten. By eliminating items from the closet and putting what’s left in order, you’ll be more mindful about the other things you end up putting in the closet as you continue cleaning.

Set a timer

Spring cleaning is a big project, but it doesn’t need to consume you! I suggest you don’t try to tackle spring cleaning in one day. Instead, break it up into sections. Give yourself an hour to complete each room. Especially when you’re working on eliminating and organizing, sometimes it feels like there’s no end in sight. However, if you give yourself a set amount of time to complete the task, you’re more likely to get it done quickly and move on rather than linger and doubt what you’re getting rid of.

With these strategies up your sleeve, spring cleaning this year will be easier than ever.

Bree

Seasonal, Spring

Questions to ask yourself when you’re decluttering

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Spring cleaning can be daunting, to say the least. From the kitchen to the bedroom, there isn’t one room of your the house that’s safe from this annual recalibration. In order to get your home feeling a little lighter and more streamlined, it’s important to look at all of your household items critically and eliminate what you can. If you’re like me, it can be extremely difficult to part with sentimental items or things you’ve been holding onto for years.

To avoid this yearly decluttering struggle, ask yourself these five questions when you’re undecided about what to keep and what to purge.

Is it in good condition?

The first thing I ask myself if I’m unsure about whether to toss or keep an item is whether or not it’s in good condition. If it’s seen better days, toss it. Sometimes even the most tattered items hold sentimental value, and it can be hard to let go of old things that hold special memories. My advice is to be very selective when it comes to sentimental items, or else you’ll face the same predicament year after year. If you choose to hold onto something in bad condition, like your great-grandmother’s broken vase, either repurpose it or take it to a specialist to get it back in working order.

When was the last time I used it?

Once you’ve weeded out items in bad condition, ask yourself when you last used the item at hand. Whether it’s a sweater or a waffle maker, if you don’t use it regularly, put it aside! It’s better to make some extra room in closets, drawers and cabinets for items you actively use. For items that are in good condition but just don’t get any use, take the opportunity to sell them and make some money. Getting a little something in return will hopefully encourage you to let go!

Do I like it?

We all have those items that we hold onto but don’t actually like. Maybe it’s a garish tea set from an aunt you feel bad giving away, or a trendy jacket you paid a hefty price for but which is now out of style. Spring cleaning is the time to put the backstory aside and think critically about how these things function in your life today. If your goal is to clear clutter and streamline your living space, you should only allow the things you really like to make the cut.

Do I have more than one?

If you have several of the same item, you know what to do — simplify! There’s no use in having more than one of a certain appliance, book or clothing item. Pull the duplicates together, pick the one in the best condition and toss out or donate the other. Yet another way to cut down is to prioritize multi-purpose items. For instance, if you have a jewelry box sitting on your vanity that you don’t use, remove it and use an easily accessible dish for your daily jewelry instead.

Would I take it in a fire?

So you’ve asked yourself all of the above questions and still can’t make a decision on whether or not to eliminate something? Go with the most dramatic of home clean-out questions: would you take it with you in a fire? If your gut answer is no, get rid of it! As for precious mementos and family photos that aren’t being used or on display, I always give these items the benefit of the doubt and hold onto them. That being said, make sure they are as neat, organized and condensed as possible! The more excess you purge from your home, the better you’ll feel about hanging onto a few key items.

With these five questions in your arsenal, unnecessary clutter won’t stand a chance in your home!

Bree

Seasonal

Things you shouldn’t forget to clean

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Cleaning your home is a big task. From the daily touch-ups to the monthly clean-outs, you have a lot of rooms, appliances and pieces of furniture to get to. That being said, even the most dutiful housekeeper is bound to miss a spot or two. To go the extra mile when cleaning your house, don’t forget these oft-overlooked items!

Mattress

Cleaning your bedding every week is easy, but cleaning the mattress is a production! Like your sheets, your mattress collects dust, sweat, dead skin and a host of other microbes. To clean it, simply sprinkle baking soda on the mattress surface and then vacuum it after 30 minutes to an hour. Once a year, flip the mattress to extend its life.

Bed skirt

There are multiple reasons to have a bed skirt, and one of them is to catch dust before it gets under your bed. If your bed skirt is doing its job, it’s most likely getting very dirty! Once a month, throw the bed skirt in the wash. Iron it before putting it back on the bed for a clean, crisp look.

Pillows and comforter

Pillows and comforters don’t need to be cleaned as often as their covers, but washing them at least once a month will keep your bedding feeling fresh. Check the care label on your pillows and comforters before you put them in the washing machine to make sure you don’t damage the filling. When you put the comforter in the dryer, put a tennis ball or two in with it. This little trick ensures that the comforter filling doesn’t clump up while drying!

Garbage disposal

Eliminate odor in your kitchen by cleaning the garbage disposal. Once a week, combine one cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda and pour it down the disposal with the water running. This will clear the connected waterways and cut that lingering dingy smell. The vinegar will have a strong aroma at first, but it will fade.

Dishwasher

For clean dishes, you need a clean dishwasher. Once a week, run the dishwasher while empty with a half cup of vinegar and hot water. This will help remove any hidden food bits, eliminate odor and flush out the plumbing.

Washing machine

To extend the life of your appliance and have cleaner clothes, don’t forget to tend to the washing machine. After you finish a load, wipe the rubber gusset to clear out dirt and moisture. Always clean out the detergent compartment before putting more in, too. When the load is finished, I suggest leaving the door to the washing machine ajar so it can air out. No one likes clothes that smell like mildew!

Window screens

If you apply glass cleaner religiously and your windows still look dirty, it’s time to wash your window screens. At the beginning of each season, slide your window screens out and clean them by spraying them with a hose. Use a towel to wipe off excess dirt. When the screens are dry, slide them back into place for an improved view.

Buttons on electronics

Electronics you use regularly are bound to be dirty. During your weekly home cleaning, wipe down your remote controls, keyboards and home phone. Clean your cell phone surfaces even more often to cut down on potential germs and viruses.

Did I miss anything?

Bree