Envious of the stunning interiors you see in magazines? Stylist, author and newly appointed Life Instyle ambassador, Jason Grant, whose work has graced the pages of Inside Out, shares his top styling tips to help you style your home like a pro.
1. Take your time- no need to rush!
Despite what everyone would have you believe, a great interior takes time to evolve. Stop with the time pressures and allow your home to grow and change by adding and subtracting pieces over time. It’s my belief a home is never really finished but constantly in motion.
2. Seek professional advice
You can’t do everything yourself. Know your limitations (we all have them) and identify when it’s the right time to call in a professional. Don’t try to hang tricky wallpaper, tile a bathroom or re-cover a sofa – those tasks that are out of your comfort zone will compromise the look and feel of your home.
3. Less is more
A large component of decorating/styling is really about editing. Know what to put on display – and select pieces with maximum impact and little clutter. This applies to the placement of your coffee table, bookshelves and sideboard, which can change the whole tone of the room. Select a few pieces with dramatic effect that will empower and not overwhelm the space.
4. Eclectic should look effortless
Often people attempt to be eclectic. As easy as this looks and sounds in magazines and books it’s a tricky look to pull off without knowing the fundamentals. The best advice is to select a colour palette and ensure items consistently float throughout the home – otherwise it can easily look more junky than funky.
5. Confidence is Key.The trick to pulling off a great look is finding your own confidence. Be brave and push your creative boundaries, but take the time to develop your style, do your homework and trust your gut so it’s not an expensive exercise.
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Call it a sleeper sofa, or sofa bed, this is one of the most functional pieces of furniture you can own. Having a sleeper in your living room rather than a sofa might be one way to overcome space limitations, if you have them. It lets you turn any room into a guest room, or even a bed room for yourself if you live in a studio apartment.
Here is what you need to know before you buy one for your home.
It Depends On Who is Using it
While its functionality might be a very important aspect, there are several other factors you should consider before you buy a sleeper. As with any piece of furniture consider your needs. The most important thing to consider whether it will be primarily used as a bed or for seating.
If you plan to use it as the primary sleeping surface for yourself, look into the type of mattress that comes with it. As you are no doubt aware, sleepers come with many different types of mattresses, some using specialty materials, some come with inner-springs and others are air beds. Try and find one with a mattress type you are happy using.
Also look for a mechanism that opens and closes easily.
As there are many manufacturers offering sofa beds, you will notice great differences both in quality and pricing. Needless to say, buy the best quality you can afford. Often sleepers in higher price points are also better made.
Choose Wisely When You Have Limited Space
If you have a very small space then Twin size sofa beds might be the perfect answer for you as these are less than 5 feet wide and they are great for sleeping one person.
The mattress for a twin size sleeper sofa is about 39" wide.
Opened up, the length can be around 54 inches wide and 85 inches long. These sleepers are sometimes referred to as chair and a half beds or chair beds also. Don't expect them to be any cheaper because of the size. They should not be considered for affordability, but for their suitability for smaller rooms.
When Space is Not an Issue
When space is not an issue then you are in luck, as a queen size sleeper sofa is the most widely available. You will be easily able to find queen sized sleepers in different styles and fabrics and with your preferred type of mattress.
There is the just a great deal of variety available in this size.
A queen size sleeper sofa can easily seat three, and can provide a comfortable bed for two people. It will measure approximately 84 inches wide and be about 90 inches long when the bed is opened up.
A Little More Room to Stretch Equals Comfort
If the sleeper is going to be used every night for sleeping, a full size sleeper sofa is what you need even if you have a tiny space. An adult might find a twin-sized sleeper too small and restricting for every day use, and in a pinch a full size sleeper can even sleep two. But again if two people are going to use it regularly, the full sized sleeper might not be very comfortable or spacious enough.
For sitting, the size of a full sized sleeper is between a sofa and a love seat, rather like an apartment sofa, so it is still a good option for smaller spaces and apartments. You will find that a full size sleeper is generally about 72 inches wide, and approximately about 90 inches long when fully opened.
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1. Check the Frame
A sturdy frame means a long-lasting sofa. Soft wood, such as pine, is low-cost, but it may warp or wobble after five years. Pricier hardwood (kiln-dried oak, ash, or beech, for example) is more durable. Avoid frames made of particleboard, plastic, or metal; they may warp and crack. Legs should be part of the frame or held on with screws or dowels (pegs) — not with glue alone.
Tip: To test frame strength, lift one front corner or leg of the sofa off the floor. By the time you've raised it six inches, the other front leg should have risen too. If it's still touching the floor, the frame has too much give; it's weak.
2. Ask About Joinery
A frame with joints connected by any of the following means is solidly constructed: wooden dowels, double wooden dowels, wooden corner blocks (the tag might readcorner blocks glued and screwed), or metal screws and brackets. Staples or nails may be used for extra reinforcement, but never buy a sofa that's held together solely by staples, nails, or glue.
Tip: Ask your salesperson for written manufacturer information on frame joinery.
3. Test the Springs
Most sofas have sinuous, also called serpentine, springs — preassembled units of snaking wire. They're nicely supportive, but they can press on the frame or sag over time if the metal isn't heavy. High-end sofas often come with "eight-way hand-tied springs." They're comfy but expensive; some experts feel they're no better than serpentines. Feel the springs through the upholstery — they should be close together and firm. Sofas with no springs, just webbing or mesh, are uncomfortable and flimsy.
Tip: Sit down firmly on a corner or outside edge of a sofa you're considering. Squeaks and creaks suggest that springs are incorrectly placed or hitting the frame.
4. Feel Your Fillings
Polyurethane foam is a low-cost, easy-care cushion filling. But the more durable, high-density type can feel hard, and softer, low-density foam deteriorates more rapidly with constant use. High-resilient (HR) foam is slightly more expensive but more comfortable and long-lasting. Polyester fiber is also inexpensive, but it flattens quickly. Goose- and duck-feather fillings are comfy, but they can clump. Top of the line: goose down (the bird's soft undercoat) mixed with feathers. The combo is yummily plump, expensive (about double the price of foam), and high maintenance; cushions need frequent fluffing. A down-polyfiber blend is cheaper, but it flattens fast.
Tip: Two good options that are comfortable and reasonably priced: HR foam in a layer of down and conventional foam wrapped in polyester batting.
5. Find Tough Textiles
Sofas for everyday use need durable fabric. Cotton and linen are winners (but watch out for loose weaves — they can snag). Also terrific: synthetic microfiber, which can mimic most fabrics and is stain resistant. Cotton and linen can be treated for stain resistance, but even then they aren't as easy to clean, or as durable, says Kathleen Huddy, the GH Research Institute's textiles, paper, and plastics director. Blends of natural and synthetic fibers tend to pill within a year. Wool and leather are handsome and strong but expensive. Silk is sleek but fragile. Fabrics with patterns woven in tend to wear better than those with printed patterns.
Tip: Ask the store for a piece of fabric larger than the usual swatch. Place it where the sofa will go. View it in natural and artificial light — and see how much you still like it after a few days.
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10 tips about caring for wood furniture
1. To clean the finish on your wood furniture just use warm water and mild dish soap. Cleaning furniture with water won't hurt it -- just be careful not to soak it. Use an old toothbrush for hard-to-get areas. Wipe the dirt off the surface with soft cloths or paper towels until they come up fairly clean. Then dry off any residual moisture with a soft cloth.
2. After a good cleaning, the best way to protect the finish is to use a good-quality soft paste wax. Apply a thin coat as directed on the label. Wait five minutes and buff lightly with a soft (shoe) brush or cloth. Wait another 30 to 60 minutes and buff/brush again with a bit more vigor. You'll see a beautiful shine return to the finish that will last for many months.
3. Keep your furniture out of the sun. The temperature of the summer sun coming through a window can go above 140 degrees. It will cook fine finishes, fading and destroying them over time, and dry out and shrink the wood, which will cause cracks.
4. Don't place wood furniture near heating units or vents. Dry heat will cause the wood to dry and shrink, leaving cracks. Use a humidifier in the drier months to bring the moisture up to the 40 to 45 percent level.
5. For a quick-fix touch up, use the appropriate color shoe polish on scratches and chips, especially to make them less visible on the feet of furniture. Carefully using a matching-color felt-tip marker first will hide it even better.
6. When polishing metal hardware, take it off the furniture first. Take your time and make a note to remember what piece goes back where. Use a quality metal polish to get it shining again. Once it's buffed, put it back on, being careful not to scratch the wood surfaces. I recommend that you don't try to do this all at one time. It can be a lot of work, so take a few days, doing a few pieces at a time, instead of getting tired and frustrated with trying to do too much.
7. Wood isn't hungry! You cannot feed furniture. No matter what the advertising says, wood cannot be fed or nourished or enriched with polishes or oils. Once it has a protective finish over it for beauty and protection, the wood is sealed. Polishes and oils will not penetrate it.
8. There are several ways to remove the white hazy ring or spot that the hot coffee mug or hot pizza box made on your table. The least invasive way is to rub it with a mild abrasive, such as non-gel toothpaste mixed with baking soda or cooking oil mixed with ashes. You can rub it in a small spot with your finger or use a soft cloth on larger areas.
Another method that has excellent results is to place a soft cloth or towel over the spot and iron it carefully for 10 to 20 seconds at a time with the iron at a medium setting. You can turn the iron up a bit if needed. Always keep the iron moving and check your progress frequently.
9. When shopping for new or antique furniture, look at the back, inside and undersides of furniture and drawers. Many times it tells you more about quality than looking at the "show" side. The so-called "secondary" woods can speak volumes about the age of the item and the quality of construction.
10. Restoring or refinishing an older or antique piece of furniture to its original glory might seem like a good idea, and many times it is. But it's important to get advice from someone who is knowledgeable about the item you are considering. You may find that your piece is valuable and just needs a proper cleaning. Any more extensive work should be left to a professional.
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Anyone who has spent a restless night on a friend’s fold-out couch will appreciate the importance of a good sleep sofa. Yes, there are comfortable models on the market — you just need to know what to look for when you shop. Here’s a rundown of some of the most important things to consider.
Do you need a sleep sofa? If you’ve never needed a sleep sofa before but are thinking about buying one “just in case,” you might want to think again. A sofa bed is more expensive than a conventional sofa, so unless you’re going to use it for sleeping, you’re better off buying a conventional sofa and stashing an air mattress in the closet. Due to their construction, sleep sofas have firmer seats than conventional sofas. While seniors often like the extra support (it’s easier to get up), others may find sleepers less comfortable.
What size? Measure the spot where you want to place the sofa bed, and figure out the ideal sofa width for that space. Sleepers come in four standard widths:
Chair: 51 to 58 inches Twin: 56 to 65 inches Full: 68 to 92 inches Queen: 79 to 101 inches
Will it fit through the door? Measure the height of the room’s ceiling and the width of the doorway (and any preceding doorways, stairs or elevators). Bring those figures to the store, so you’ll know whether you can get the piece into the room. Legs can usually be unscrewed.
Most bed frames are the same. Most sleep sofa mechanisms are made the same way (and by the same manufacturer), so there’s little difference from one brand to another: You’ll find a metal frame with coils around the edges holding canvas decking. (Although sofa beds still have that bar underneath the mattress, it now curves away from the body, preventing painful surprises in the morning.)
One notable exception is the line of sleep sofas made by American Leather/American Upholstery. These feature a solid wood base underneath the entire mattress. This system allows the company to use conventional-size mattresses (most sofa bed mattresses are shorter), yet its sleepers take up less floor space when they’re open.
Choose your mattress. The mattress is what distinguishes one sleep sofa from another. Because it folds, it won’t be as solid as a conventional mattress. There are three basic types:
Innerspring mattresses have coils inside; the more coils, the better. The average is 345 coils; 644 is very good.
Memory foam mattresses are better. They have no coils inside; the foam conforms to the user’s body.
Air-coil mattresses are on a par with memory foam and feature an innerspring mattress with an air mattress built on top.
Test it out. Shoppers are often shy about testing out a sofa bed in the store, but considering the size of the investment you’re making, it’s well worth a few minutes of embarrassment.
Lie down on the mattress and mimic various sleeping positions (within the realm of good taste, of course).
Retract the bed so you can sense the weight and ease of the mechanism, then sit on the sofa with the bed folded up so you can judge how it feels to sit on it (which is, after all, the way you’ll be using it most of the time).
Don’t wait until the last minute. If you start shopping for a sofa bed the week before Aunt Minerva’s visit, your selection of colors and fabrics will be limited to whatever’s available on the sales floor. For best results do your shopping at least two months in advance, so the store has time to custom order the piece in exactly the color and fabric you want with Ashley Furniture Clearance Sales 70% OFF
Determine in which direction you want the floor lamp to shine. The type of lamp you buy will depend on where you want to send the light. Torchiere lamps send light directly upwards. Shade lighting directs the light out from the shade and down towards the floor. There are also floor lamps that do both, and adjustable lamps that can send the light in different directions.
2
Consider how bright you want the light to shine. There are floor lamps that come with adjustable settings. You can find a lamp that requires 3-way bulbs so you can change the brightness of your lamp. If you only require 1 setting, select a lamp that will hold a bulb with the acceptable amount of watts for the space you are planning to keep the floor lamp.
3
Decide on the purpose of your floor lamp before you choose. Determine whether you want functional or aesthetic light, and whether you want it to illuminate the entire room or just a small part of it.
Calculate a budget. Floor lamps range in price from less than $50 to over $1,000. Determine how much you are able to spend on your floor lamp before you go shopping.
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Choose a lamp style. Lamps come in practical and classic designs. Decide on the look that will match your décor best.
Buy a torchiere to provide ambient light. This style often has a shade in the shape of a bowl, and the rays bounce off the ceiling.
Think about a console lamp for a classic appearance. These are straight lamp poles with a cloth shade or round globe on top. Most have a single bulb, but some provide adjustable switches.
Get a tree floor lamp for versatility. Several light sockets branch off from a single pole, allowing for light to be focused in many different directions.
Buy an arch lamp for reading. These often have a modern look, and the curved pole will allow you to focus light right over a chair or couch.
Look for an adjustable style if you need to use your floor lamp for dual purposes. Some reading lamps will have a central light source, and then 1 or 2 arms that can be directed in a specific location. Other floor lamps can have their height and brightness adjusted.
5
Shop around. Visit lighting showrooms and department stores to look at and try out different floor lamp models. Make sure they are plugged in so you can turn them on and off. Research floor lamps on the Internet and read customer reviews of brands and models that you like.
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Every room in your home is enhanced with beautiful light and illumination from natural means like sunlight to artificial means such as lamps and lighting fixtures. When choosing the perfect lamps for your interiors do you ever consider what type of lampshade will look best with the setting? From pendant lampshade fixtures that hang above your dining room table to floor lamps that grace your favorite reading chair, here are quick tips to help you choose the perfect lampshade for your home.
1. Choose a lampshade that compliments the colors in your room
Your living room, bedroom and any space that requires illumination should be looked at as a whole when it comes to choosing lampshade colors. Whether you want your lights to be the focal point of the room – then choose bold colors that will stand out amongst other decor. For a more subtle approach use neutral tones in lampshade colors.
2. Pick a lampshade that is the right combination for its base
When looking for the perfect lampshade, look at the base and lampshade as a pair. Depending on if you have a tall and slender or a wide and broad shade will help you choose the right shade. The lamp shade should be low enough to cover the switch just slightly, but not too low that you have to reach up under it to operate the lamp switch.
3. Decide how your lampshade will fit in your interiors
Before you get too concentrated on how the lampshade looks, don’t forget to look at the space it will go in. A bedside table lampshade could need a smaller profile if a bedside table is small or if there isn’t a lot of space to get in and out of the bed freely. While a floor lamp next to a wingback chair may afford a wider profile for its placement in your living room.
Wall sconce lampshades that match floor lampshades are perfect!
4. Determine if your lampshade is for ambiance, function or both
Every lampshade that you put in your home doesn’t have to be just for function. While it’s obviously nice for your lampshades to diffuse the light from the light bulb to create a relaxing ambiance, the color of your shade can make a difference as well. Using all-white decor in your home, especially in lampshades will give you maximum illumination. Consider using light toned shades for more light diffusion into the room and use darker shades to create a mood or ambiance in your space.
5. Choose a pendant lampshade that compliments the room
Pendant lampshades have come a long way over the years in interior design. There has been a return of large print, dynamic colors and broad profile lampshades reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s when large graphics and color was huge in design! Bring these elements into your dining room pendant lampshade. Ensure your dining table mimics the similar style to compliment the fixture.
Ah, bookcases . We ask so much from this one element. We want it to be comfortable, easy-to-clean, and beautiful—after all, it will set the tone for the entire room. CheckAshley Furniture Clearance Sales 70% OFFfor your room
Bookcases aren’t just for Jane Austen novels or history hardbacks. They offer shelving for anything you want to store, whether it’s books, family photos, or decorative pieces. If you’re looking for a bookcase for your living space, check out these tips to help you make an informed decision.
1. Consider what you need to store on the bookcase.
Do you have stacks of paperbacks to store or a few prized collectibles to show off? Determine what you need to store to help you find the ideal bookshelf for your space. A traditional bookcase with fixed or adjustable shelves can serve well for books, DVDs, picture frames, and other items, while a bookshelf with cabinets or doors can keep your precious memorabilia protected.
2. Measure the space where you plan to put the bookcase.
Before buying a bookcase, it’s important to ensure you have the room for it. Use masking tape to map out the space where you plan to put the bookshelf and then measure this space. When shopping for bookcases, pay attention to the dimensions, including the width, height, and depth, to ensure the one you choose will fit into your space.
3. Match the shelving unit to your room’s décor.
Bookshelves come in a variety of styles to suit different décor. Contemporary bookcases can bring flair to your living space with open, geometrical shelves, ladder designs, and other modern looks, while simple, traditional bookshelves will fit nicely into most spaces. Choose a bookcase style and colour that complements the other furniture in the room for a cohesive look.
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For a typical office worker, the majority of time spent in the workplace is spent sitting in a chair behind a desk. Because office workers will spend a substantial amount of their working and waking hours in the office, comfort and design play a huge role in how an office worker's day plays out.
For a typical office worker, the majority of time spent in the workplace is spent sitting in a chair behind a desk. Because office workers will spend a substantial amount of their working and waking hours in the office, comfort and design play a huge role in how an office worker's day plays out.
For this reason, careful selection and consideration is key when it comes time to choosing the perfect office furniture. Here are 4 general tips to consider that should help you choose the perfect office furniture for you and your office space.
Decide What Your Needs Are First and foremost, start by determining the function, or how your office space will be used and what furniture and major accessories you will need to accommodate that function. For some industries, wide computer monitors are a thing of the past and executive-sized desks are no longer practical. For offices that need plenty of storage space, filing cabinets are a must. If clients spend time in your office, accommodations such as seating and side tables are a good idea. Once you've determined the basics, you can move on to the smaller accessories.
Comfort is Key Considering the many hours spent sitting in an office chair, when shopping for comfortable office chairs, it is important to test the chairs so that you know you've found one that you'll be able to sit on for hours without discomfort. Not all office furniture is one-size-fits-all, so being able to test a chair along with a desk is a great way to determine if the setup is ideal for you.
Office designers understand how many hours are spent in the office, so ergonomic designs in the office are easy to find for both furnishings and smaller office supplies and desk accessories.
Determine the Layout and Location Know the dimensions of the office space you are furnishing so that the furniture you choose fits perfectly the first time. This sounds basic, however, be aware of dimensions surrounding windows and the locations of electrical outlets in the office. These details could play a big role in determining exactly which desk you choose and if a chair will move freely within the space.
Design your ideal environment Since you'll be spending a large part of your day in your office, choose your furniture to reflect your design tastes. Office furniture is available in different styles such as contemporary or traditional so you'll have no problem finding pieces that suit your taste. And you don't have to rely solely on overhead office lighting as lamps are a functional way to add effect to your office environment.
Rely on GOS At GOS our team is ready to assist you with the selection and installation of your high quality office furniture as well as office supplies and accessories. GOS is proud to offer a wide range of services and products for your office needs that include professional print services, toner and inkjet cartridges, cleaning, janitorial and sanitation products and coffee, snacks and break room products. Contact us today for a free quote on any of your office supply needs.
