(Contemporary) Dining that Dazzles

Want to have a dazzling dining room? Then start with a striking set of chairs and a stunning table. With all of the chrome, brass, brushedsteel, polished lacquer, and aluminum creations, you can certainly achieve a setting that shines.

Pairing these contemporary materials with glass, any of these contemporary materials will result in a dining table that is a standout. Chairs can match the table perfectly or you can search for ones that complement it beautifully. Whether your tastes lean toward the streamlined or the sculptural, there are plenty of up-to-date dining designs to choose from.

By adding a coordinating curio, buffet, tea cart, or china cabinet you will have created a dining room that is certain to dazzle both family and friends.

Get Creative with Casual Dining

Does your home, apartment, or condo leave you challenged for dining space? Well, there’s no need to compromise on style because you’re short on space. Casual or “junior” dining room groups are a fast growing furniture trend offering the same smart styling as their larger counterparts. If you can’t accommodate a junior dining room, consider a casual dinette set, a perfect choice for your kitchen or dining area. Whatever your space limitations, your home furnishings retailer will show you multiple options for your lifestyle needs.

Casual / Country Dining Room

Country dining “opens its arms” to you and your visitors. You are the first visitor you have to please, so choose furniture and materials that invite use. If they look well loved, they will add the informal element you crave. In general, country dining tends to offer rustic textures.

Wicker, rattan, pine and cast iron are all less formal than glossy wood or sleek glass. Weathered and distressed objects will be right at home in a country atmosphere.

Furniture is meant to be used and touched. Consider easy-care fabrics and stay away from shiny textiles or dry-clean only. Coarse weaves embody the casual style. You will feel right at home with denim, canvas and homespun cottons.

Mix It Up

A mixture of furnishings will relax your room. Uniformity is a trait of a formal style. Consider six vintage one-of-a-kind chairs with a similar shape and size. Or your chairs can all match, but the table could be different. Even one oddball chair at the end of the table as a focal point will make a casual decorating statement.

Fabrics soften the edges. Dress down formal chairs and tables with slipcovers in textured fabrics and floor-length cotton tablecloths. Vintage table linens are still relatively easy to find in antique stores or even at your local flea market or yard sale.

What Goes Where in the Dining Room?

Choose your dining room table to fit your space. If your room is a long rectangle, a long table is a natural use of the space and won’t leave unnatural gaps on either end of the room. Tiny dining rooms will require a small table. A square table with a bench on one side might allow an extra guest to squeeze in.

Sometimes a round table will allow for more place settings without bumping too many elbows. If you’re looking at a round table because of lack of space, look for one with a single pedestal in the center rather than legs.

Keep in mind that the shape of furniture can affect the look of the room. A round table will soften a room with harsh corners. A corner cabinet is both space saving and softening.

The Furniture should Fit the Space

If you must have a large dining table in a small room, use decorating tricks to lighten the visual space. Try a glass-topped table and furniture with legs. Don’t forget the height of the room. If your dining room ceiling is too high, your guests may feel dwarfed and uncomfortable. Fill a tall room with bookshelves for height. A chair rail may also break up the expanse of wall, but should be avoided in a contemporary room. Hanging multiple prints on one wall can add personality and scale down a too-tall room.

Vary the heights of your furniture

If your table and sideboard are all that you have in your dining room, the room will feel unbalanced. If you can’t afford a gorgeous hutch or Welsh cupboard, a set of high backed chairs will add the contrast of vertical height you need.

How much room do you need?

Elbow room for guests should be between 20 and 24 inches wide and at least 15 inches deep. The center of the table should have a strip about 12 inches wide for serving dishes, centerpieces and candles.

That being said, color schemes can be developed from many different sources of inspiration, such a specific culture (Oriental, Southwestern, African) or simply from the colors in your favorite painting. Sometimes the type of home you have will suggest a certain color scheme – for example, the colors in an old Victorian home are typically going to be different than those found in a Spanish ranch.

Regardless of where you look for inspiration, here are a few tips on choosing a color scheme that works throughout your room, and even throughout your entire home.

Start with a pattern
Starting with a pattern is the easiest way to create a color palette for your décor. Choose a pattern from any object you already love, such as a pillow, a painting, a rug, a bedspread, favorite shirt, or an upholstered piece of furniture.

If you don’t have something already in your home, check out some home decorating magazines, browse fabric samples in your local furniture store, or find a picture online that best represents the colors or culture you want to create. From the colors in the pattern you select, you’ll be able to create a color palette for the entire room.

Get comfortable with color
Some homeowners are so afraid to make a mistake with color that they just keep their walls plain white – BORING! Even if you are going for a neutral palette, that doesn’t mean flat white walls are the way to go. There is a huge variety of neutral colors (whites, greys and browns) that can warm up a room or cool it down. It’s time to breathe some life into your home confidently with color. Such a simple effort as painting the walls can completely transform your room from blah to beautiful.

Another fear that some people have is wondering whether their color choices will “match” their furniture. If you’ve got a brown or black leather sofa, you’ve got nothing to worry about. But if you’ve got a bright red sofa or some floral-patterned upholstery, then you of course should take those colors into consideration. If those colors aren’t a part of your inspirational pattern from the previous step, you should honestly consider getting rid of the piece of furniture that clashes with the colors that you really love and want to surround yourself with. Or, consider a neutral slipcover to emphasize the colors you like and tone down the ones you don’t.

Analyze and apply your colors
From within your selected pattern, choose three colors: a light color, a medium tone and a darker one. These three colors will form the foundation of your color scheme. It’s a good idea to go to your local hardware or paint store to find the color chips that matches your three colors – that will make it easy for you to carry those colors around with you as you shop for items to furnish or decorate your room.

With your three colors, keep these general ideas in mind for applying them throughout your room:

• Use the light color as the background. Paint the walls with a soft version of your light color. If the light color from your pattern seems too intense for the wall, it’s perfectly OK if your paint color is a couple of shades lighter – just stay within the same color “family.” (The paint color chips will come in handy here, as they often have several shades lighter or darker on the same strip.) Try to find a rug that incorporates your light color – this will help to bring the entire room together.
• Feature your mid-tone color in furniture and windows. Select fabrics that use your medium color in your upholstery furniture pieces and window treatments – even better if it picks up on your lighter color, too!
• Accessorize with the dark color. Your dark color will stand out the most, so choose accessories featuring that color and use them evenly throughout the room. Think accent pieces of furniture, accent pillows, artwork and other accessories.

Sleep quality is extremely important for children’s health, and it affects their ability to focus on tasks during the day. Experts say sleep-deprivation – especially among school-aged children – can have severe consequences, including poor concentration, less energy and weakened ability to fight illnesses. According to the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR), children need at least nine hours of sleep each night on a regular basis to be healthy, active, and able to do their best in school, as well as in sports and other extracurricular activities.

Teenagers are no exception. Contrary to the belief that the need for sleep diminishes with age, the NCSDR reported that adolescents actually need more sleep than children just a few years younger, but few adults (or teens) are aware of this. As Dr. Richard Allen, founder of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, points out, “Teens tend to get only six to seven hours of sleep, which isn’t enough. They should be getting at least eight to nine hours

What can parents do?
If your child has difficulty waking up in the morning, is irritable and cranky, or has trouble remembering or concentrating, he or she may not be getting enough sleep. The Better Sleep Council offers these top 10 tips to make it easier for parents to ensure their child is getting an adequate amount of sleep each night:

1. Help your child get at least 9 hours of sleep each night.
2. Don’t over-schedule your child. Too many after-school activities and commitments can keep children from precious sleep. Allow your child plenty of time for homework and chores each night to ensure that they are not forced to stay up past their bedtime.
3. Set a regular bedtime for your child and stick to it. A regular bedtime can help ensure your child gets a full night’s sleep.
4. Avoid caffeine too close to bedtime. Consuming caffeine, found in soda and chocolate, in the evening can make it more difficult for your child to fall asleep.
5. Develop a sleep ritual for your child. Routine and relaxing activities, like taking a bath or reading with your child, can help him or her transition into sleep mode.
6. Help your child unwind in the evening. Tackle science projects, book reports and other homework either before or right after dinner. Allow your child at least one hour before bedtime to relax and unwind.
7. Make sure your child’s bedroom is dark. Be sure the lights are turned off and the shades are closed in your child’s room before he or she goes to bed. While a small nightlight is fine, if necessary, a dark room is most conducive for a good night’s sleep.
8. Don’t allow your child to fall asleep in front of the television. Noise from a television, radio, or even loud conversations can keep your child from deep, restful sleep.
9. Pay attention to your child’s mattress. Handing down an old mattress to a child isn’t a good idea. Because mattresses wear out over time, it’s important to maximize your child’s chances of restful sleep by making sure he or she is sleeping on a mattress that is comfortable and supportive enough in order to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.
10. Keep a comfortable room temperature in your child’s room. Children (and adults) may have a difficult time falling and staying asleep in a room that’s too hot or too cold. The ideal sleeping temperature is around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you prefer the tranquility of a neutral pallet, consider adding interest and variation through different hues of similar values. The term hue refers to the color category: red, blue, yellow, etc. The term value refers to how light or dark a color is. This means that if the base color of your interior is beige, you might compliment it with a soft moss green, or a soothing pale sky blue. Try more that one complementary soft shade. The effect will still be soothing, but not bland.

While most people have an innate affinity for certain colors, you don’t have to limit your decorating pallet to the colors you would wear. You can warm and brighten a dark basement family room with yellow butter-cream walls, even if you wouldn’t wear the color. Your home interiors are an opportunity to stretch your bounds in terms of color.

Bold choices in furniture colors shouldn’t be feared. The entire look of a room can be changed with a change of accents, accessories, and wall color. A red sofa will feel bold and graphic in front of a white wall, but will seem exotic and intriguing when it is place in front of a taupe wall.

If you are still worried about a bold color choice, then try easing into color. Do you love cobalt blue but are afraid that you will grow tired of living with it? Then start out with blue accents. Candles are a great place to introduce color, as are vases, pillows and throws.

Artists often joke about “sofa paintings,” artwork that is selected only on whether or not it will match the sofa. You can use your selection of artwork to cue the rest of your interior’s color scheme. When you bring art into your home, select it because you love it, then find a color within the artwork to play up and reinforce with similarly-colored accents and accessories throughout the room. This can inspire you to take your color scheme in new directions.

Color Trends to Watch

Purple remains a strong choice for interiors. Shades of purple have become redder in hue, moving from orchid to plum and aubergine. It can be bold and vibrant as a rich grape hue, or it can be subtle and elegant as a lilac-toned grey.

Shades of teal are promising to become more prevalent in the market, primarily in analogous color schemes, paired with lighter shades of green and blue. Analogous colors are those colors directly beside one another on the color wheel (blue/green or red/orange). Rich brown also pair nicely with the teal hue.

If you lived through the 1980′s you doubtlessly remember the Easter egg pastels of the decade. Today, pastel shades are making a comeback, but now they are grown-up, elegant and refined. Modern pastels, in light shades of blush pink, lemon ice and barely blue, are neither babyish nor preppy. They are subtle, sophisticated and chic.

If you seek a bold interior color scheme, then black and white might be a choice for you. A black and white room doesn’t have to be stark and modern. When paired with grey, it can create an elegant and glamorous effect, like a classic movie from the 1930′s. Black and white color schemes can take on a quaint country charm with mixed and matched painted furniture finishes, and punctuated with cheery yellows or reds.

Metallic tones have become strong elements in interiors, from daring modern rooms to exotic oriental settings. Tones are not restricted to gold and silver, but include subtle shades of rose gold, bronze, copper and pewter. Metallic finishes are strong on in accessories such as vases and lamps, and on larger pieces such as accent tables and caps on the feet of wood furniture. But metallic tones are not restricted to objects and furnishings made of metal. New metallic tones and finishes have infiltrated fabrics and may be seen in accent pillows, throws as well as wall finishes. The sheen of metal elements may vary from the gleaming effect of mercury glass to subtle matte effects like antique bronze.

While their parents may have been clueless about color and fashion trends when they were growing up, today’s kids are much more sophisticated. Credit the internet, the proliferation of celebrity journalism and home improvement shows for creating a generation that knows what’s hot, and how to use it.

While offering a broad choice of styles and pricing, designers and manufacturers of kids apparel, accessories and furnishings are trying to capitalize on this demanding market. When it comes to color trends, the kids market isn’t so different from the adult market. Kids are becoming very sophisticated, and they know exactly what they want.

Some trends for youth furniture being in the nursery

Style Trends – Parents are purchasing furniture that grows with their children. The best pieces sellers are the simple, clean designs possessing a level of sophistication in look that stretches the life of the furniture. Timeless designs last well past toddler years. Classic styles such as Shaker, Louis Philippe and Cottage that have been adapted for younger consumers.

Many furniture manufacturers offer cribs that convert to daybeds. Retailers are happy to suggest ways to add dressers and storage units that work beautifully in rooms with children of all ages. Parents are finding more solutions that are cost effective and appropriate for growth in today’s market.

Regarding color trends, some furniture designers feel that gray is the new black. That doesn’t mean that six-year-olds across America will be living in pale gray bedrooms. Gray is just one of a host of hues that are popular. The introductions of more sophisticated, striking colors, such as royal blue with maple, natural finishes, and walnut or mahogany finishes with gold or silver metal pulls or trims, have also made waves in juvenile bedrooms.

Consider these tips to make a youngster’s play study and sleep world complete:

•     Quality construction that withstands active wear
•     Compact design that provides ease and versatility
•     Ample storage in clothes cabinets, desks, bookcases, nightstands, and TV stands

Versatility / Function Trends – Consumers want purchases to last longer as evident in the substantial increase in the sales of full-size beds. In addition, much more of what is termed “piece buying”: purchases made by identifying a needed function and then identifying a particular piece of furniture that satisfies that need. This a movement away from choosing a room full of correlate pieces at one time.

Spending Trends – Overall, the various forms of media attractions (Internet, music, TV/DVD/iPod) that can now be found in the child’s room has increased the amount of time kids are spending in their rooms. This leads to more of the families disposable income going towards making the child’s room more of a haven than just a place to sleep. It is not uncommon for parents to sacrifice spending on other rooms in the home for the child’s room.

Furniture shopping for your child is a fun experience! — Follow these tips to make it a successful one for years to come.

Style and function – friendly are the rules for today’s children’s furniture. If Mom and Dad can have a sleigh bed with their initials carved in the black, distress-finished headboard, then your child should be able to as well! At least that is what today’s furniture companies believe, as evidenced by the products they are producing and the focus of the marketing.

Functionality

As noted earlier, parents are looking for furniture that can grow with the child. Many retailers offer a “combo dresser.” A combo dresser is a dresser and a hutch that has a changing pad under a flip-up top and plenty of room to hold baby supplies. When the dresser is flipped upside down, the changing pad hutch disappears and it looks like a regular dresser with large drawers. The drawers are reversible and have double sets of tracks as well.

Other ways the industry is meeting parental demand is with changing tables that convert to toy chests, bunk beds that have a twin on top and full on the bottom and raised beds that have a desk underneath. Don’t be afraid to be practical when shopping with your child. Children’s items are flowing directly out of the adult market. Black or gray never used to be an option for a newborn baby’s crib, but now it is all the rage, as is distressed painting. Gone are the days of pretty pastels. Color is bold and everywhere, so spice it up!

Personal

While function and style are important, there is still that element of making a child’s room, a child’s room.

For the young child, parents still like to have monogrammed crib bumpers and step stools with personalized pictures on them. All kinds of companies have caught on to personalizing children’s rooms. Now, there are specialists in everything from kids rugs, lamps, artwork to bedspreads. Accents are where a child’s personality can really be brought into a room’s decor. They can be found in every shape and design imaginable. Your child will love making the room his own.

Safety

Finally, safety is an important concern. Thankfully, today’s companies are a lot more safety-conscious when designing their items. For example, most toy boxes now are designed so they won’t snap shut on little fingers. Also, the industry is moving towards non-moving parts.

The photos you love most are best appreciated when you have them around you, of course. And what better way to share the people and places you love most than by putting together an interesting collection in your home for guests to admire?

Hanging photos intimidates many homeowners, often because they’re afraid to make a mistake in grouping different shapes and sizes. But with a little guidance, you can easily transform a blank wall into a striking collection of art that is special to you and fun to share with guests.

In general, artwork should be hung so that the center point of the picture or grouping is at about eye level. That’s between 58 and 62 inches from the floor. So first pick the one photo that you want to make the center of the grouping, preferably a larger print to serve as an anchor for the eye.

Then pull together items that have something in common. All-gold frames with black-and-white images would tie unlike subject matter together. Or maybe you’d rather all black wood frames and white matting. Then, add a couple items with some dimension, such as a similarly framed mirror. Don’t overdo the variety so that the common thread of the grouping is lost. Also, don’t feel that you have to use all the items you’ve collected – if something doesn’t fit in, save it for another wall in the room.

A grouping of pictures should be thought of as one unit. That being said, there are several different shapes or arrangements that you can choose for the space you have:

• Block – Similarly shaped and sized pictures often look most effective in a simple block arrangement. Take care over the spacing and keep the gaps between the pictures even.
• Framework – Set your pictures within a well-defined shape, such as a rectangle or oval, inside an imaginary framework. Balance the display by placing the largest pictures in corners or in the middle of the arrangement.
• Single row – For a horizontal row, range the top or bottom edge of your frames along an imaginary line. For horizontal, vertical or slanted rows, such as stairwells, display them with the centers on an imaginary straight line.
• Double row – Two rows of pictures can either be lined up centrally, by running an imaginary line between the rows, or be aligned at the top and bottom of the double row. Line up the sides of the outer pictures too.
• Cross – Group pictures round an imaginary cross, with the largest near the center of the cross, balanced by smaller pictures at the outer edges.

Consider also that horizontal lines tend to elongate, widen, and emphasize a casual decorating scheme while vertical lines tend to be more formal, add to the illusion of height, and can seem more elegant.

Pictures in a dining room can be hung lower on the wall since they will be viewed while seated.

So let’s get ready to hang some photos!

While you’re holding the piece up on the wall, have someone else put a tiny pencil mark along the top of the frame right in the middle. Next, measure the distance between the top of the frame and the spot on the back of the frame from where the photo will hang. Then go back to your pencil mark, subtract the difference, and make another pencil mark where your nail or hook will go.

Always test an arrangement of pictures by laying everything out on the floor, playing with combinations until you hit upon one that works. Cutting out sheets of paper to the size of your frames is even better because you can work with them easily on the ground, then tape them up on the wall to help you put all your nails in the right place.

Also, when hanging art over a piece of furniture such as a sofa or table, keep in mind it should not be longer than the width of the furniture – follow the general principle of being about 75% of the furniture’s width.

Once the frames are all hung, it’s easy to change or update the photos as you want to mix it up over time.

Now for the best part. Put all the tools away, stand back and admire your beautiful collection.

Arguably the most important thing you can do to create a stylish (and functional) space is to buy quality furniture that is not only good-looking and durable, but works with your lifestyle as well. Today’s home furnishings offer lots of options to help you clear up clutter and store as much as you can out of sight, which will make your home appear more peaceful and roomy.

Go vertical! When square footage is at a minimum, look up! It may seem counterintuitive to buy bigger furniture in a small space, but one effective piece of furniture can take the place of a lot of small pieces taking up valuable room. Instead of using a small TV stand in your family room, go for a large, wall-unit entertainment center that will beautifully frame your television and smartly stow your DVDs, gaming equipment, books, and various A/V components all in one place.

If you have a projection screen instead of a regular-sized television, consider adding tall bookshelves on either side of the screen or along the side walls to neatly organize all your entertainment components.

If you have a TV in your bedroom, invest in a piece of furniture that will support and display your TV proudly and provide storage solutions as well. TV consoles are available in a variety of styles and finishes to coordinate with your bedroom furniture, and many have drawers and cabinets below for components, DVDs, and other items you want to keep tucked away. If you want to hide the TV when it’s not in use, some consoles have a “power lift” feature that raises the TV out of the console at the touch of a button, then lowers it back inside to keep your flat panel TV safe and dust-free.

Invest in a bed with storage options. The bed is obviously the biggest piece in any bedroom, so if clutter is a concern, choose one that has built-in storage options! Today’s options aren’t just for kids’ rooms, either. Many bed frames combine clean, modern lines and lots of storage space for shoes, blankets, extra pillows, magazines, toys, or anything else you want to keep off the floor. Whatever you choose, make sure you pick a frame that is not only stylish, but also well made. Invest in one that will hold up after many years of use.

If a new bed frame is not an option, consider buying several simple, shallow baskets that slide under the bed to store shoes, handbags, out-of-season clothes, and other items.

Similarly, your other bedroom furnishings, such as dressers and armoires, should help you organize your belongings effectively. If your bedroom is small, invest in a taller piece of furniture that maximizes the amount of storage available within its space in the room. You might also consider a tall bookshelf that can be outfitted with baskets, cabinets or drawers to organize everything from magazines to photos to extra socks.

Don’t forget tables and other furnishings. Side tables and nightstands are very functional pieces to have throughout the home. Not only can they serve as a place to set up lamps and decorative items, but many tables have drawers and/or cabinet doors to hide books, magazines, lotions, pens, toys, and much more. Additionally, look for coffee tables that provide storage or shelving within them; similarly, ottomans of various sizes can serve as extra table space or seating, and many open up to store blankets, toys, or magazines.

Casual dining spaces were thus created as part of the kitchen or closely connected with the kitchen, and they are designed to be used as a part of our daily lives (as opposed to formal dining rooms that most people save for special occasions). Not only is it probably the place you sit and eat with your family, but it also might function as your children’s homework zone, a bill-paying center, newspaper/coffee break spot, crafts station, and place to catch up with friends. But just because your casual dining space is a great multi-tasker doesn’t mean it has to suffer for style. There are lots of great furnishings that are functional and chic.

Size up your space

Casual dining spaces are usually on a smaller scale than formal dining rooms, so it’s all about keeping it simple.

Think carefully about the size you have available – is it rectangular? Square? Or would a round table work best? Use masking tape or pieces of newspaper to visualize the most appropriate size for your table, chairs, and extra two feet behind for you to move around comfortably.

Many casual dining tables are round, but square gathering tables have become popular over the last few years as well. Although a round or square table accommodates fewer people than the traditional rectangular table, they do offer a more relaxed and conversation-contributing approach to dining. Whatever you decide, be sure to choose tables and chairs that are proportional to your space.

What’s your style?
Casual dining furniture comes in all kinds of styles, from country to uptown modern. Since casual dining areas usually share space with the kitchen and/or family room space, you’ll want to make sure that the style of your furniture is compatible with the style of the entire room.

Casual dining room furniture can be found in rustic, casual, country, formal and modern styles, making it a breeze to find pieces that complement your existing style. Better yet, it comes in a huge variety of materials, so you can find the pieces you really love:

* Wood: The traditional and classic material is known for a natural look that is durable and low maintenance. Wood is a perfect fit if your style is casual, warm and natural.
* Wicker: Traditionally neutral in color but now available in many shades, wicker is a lightweight and versatile material that works in both indoor and outdoor areas. Woven wicker is made from different natural materials, including rattan, bamboo and cane. Lightweight, easy to clean and sturdy, wicker is a great option if your style is country, elegant or cozy.
*  Aluminum is a firm and sturdy material that is lightweight and easy to move around. It also is easy to clean, resists corrosion and stands up well to the elements, making it a popular material for many furniture designs and styles. Aluminum is a favorite material used for contemporary, streamlined pieces.
* Wrought Iron: Wrought iron is a strong, sound material that ranges from contemporary to traditional in style. Because of its heavyweight composition, wrought iron will not tip easily, making it ideal for windy environments. Wrought iron is frequently chosen for formal, classic environments.
* Mixed Materials: Some people prefer outdoor furniture that combines more than one material, such as a chair of teak and aluminum or a table of glass and wicker. Mixed materials complement spaces that are eclectic, incorporating elements of many different design styles.

Have a seat!
Seating can be really untraditional and fun in a casual dining area. Throw the rulebook out and find the seating that works best for how you use the space and shows off your personality. Here are a few ideas to consider:

* Try mixing the fabrics on your chairs – instead of having them all look the same, cover a couple with a complementary fabric. Or choose a couple of different chair styles in the same wood finish or material.
* A pub or bistro table with counter stools, swivel chairs or barstools can be a great addition for a small dining nook or a corner of a kitchen. When people are sitting at bistro tables they are almost on the same eye level as someone who may be standing nearby, which encourages conversation.
* How about a freestanding bench along one or both sides of a rectangular or square table? The look is fun, relaxed, and practical for seating several children at a time.

* Jofran, 129-12-1593 A similar idea is to incorporate a cushioned bench or L-shaped bench, which could serve the dual purpose of storage space – several styles feature a top that lifts to reveal storage space beneath for shoes, toys, umbrellas, jackets, and so on.
* Try adding in another style. Super-modern chairs or 70′s retro casual chairs are a fresh and surprising addition to a traditional wood booth or table. As long as the table or chairs complements the rest of the room, a little whimsy creates a fun and eclectic look!

Keep in mind that because of its multi-purpose nature, you want your casual dining furniture to stand up to plenty of use – a good piece of furniture can give you years of function, comfort and enjoyment. You may pay a bit more for better quality but, in the long run, quality furniture will last for many years, and you will save money by not having to replace it frequently.

* You can have only one metallic tone in a room. A look at the faucet display at your local home improvement center will demonstrate that silver and gold tones can be mixed. You can even combine different brushed nickel with shiny gold.

* You can’t mix floral fabrics and plaids. Many fabric companies now offer coordinates of florals and plaids in the same color pallet and designed to be used together.

* You should pick one style and stick with it. Today’s interior styles reflect an eclectic mix of influences. Not only can you switch up your style from room to room, but within a room as well. Whether you prefer a casual or a more formal approach to furnishing your home, the contrast of different styles enlivens the space.

* Furnishings should be placed symmetrically. Just as your furnishings don’t have to match, the left side of the room doesn’t have to match the right. An asymmetrical arrangement can create interest and emphasize a focal point. An asymmetrical arrangement lends a room a more casual air.

* Books belong on bookshelves. Books are a great way to add color and interest to a room. The idea of a coffee table book deserves some updating. Stacks of books can be used to elevate a lamp or a plant in a table top arrangement. If you are feeling adventurous, you can stack several oversized books to the side of a chair to serve as an end table. When you use a bookcase, not every book has to be standing on end; try laying some flat and place decorative accessories on top.

Know your budget. Sofas can run anywhere from $299 to $10,000, so the first thing you need to do is set a realistic budget. Sure, they may look all the same to you, but there’s a huge quality difference in that range. Consider stretching a little beyond what you think you can afford – in a few years, you don’t want a budget compromise to have become the shabbiest piece in your room because it couldn’t stand up to your lifestyle.

Shape up your style. Because a sofa is one of the largest pieces of furniture you will buy, the safest shape is something squared off and simple. However, pick a silhouette that suits your space and lifestyle. A piece with legs and slimmer arms makes a room look less crowded. But, if you’re looking for a weightier feel, choose something that reaches to the floor. You may also want to check out loungers, sofa beds, futons, corner units, sectionals and L-shaped seating, which may suit you better than the standard two- or three-seater.

Size it up. Many people actually forget this step, only to discover that the sofa they picked in the showroom doesn’t fit in the space in their home! Do you need it to be big enough for your entire family or just you and your faithful four-legged friend? A standard sofa is 84 inches long, but if you’re considering a sectional or oversized piece, but sure to know what your room (and your doorframe) can handle. Try cutting an old sheet or laying out newspaper to get a sense of how much space you have to work with. Also, you should figure in at least three feet around a sofa for people to pass by – any less and your space will feel crowded and cluttered.

Look under the hood. Ask about the sofa’s construction. Is the frame made with a durable hardwood (such as maple or beech wood) or a softwood (such as pine)? Are the corners secured with dowels (better) or staples? And check out the springs: a more expensive piece could have as many as five or six rows per cushion area, while the cheapest may have two or three.

There are two basic options for the cover of your sofa: leather or fabric. Leather will offer that richer look and offer years of durability with proper maintenance. However, fabric allows you to be more creative with patterns and colors, and recent advances in textiles have given some furniture fabrics a big boost on the durability scale. Most people feel comfortable picking a neutral color for the sofa and dressing it up with bolder colors or patterns on the walls, cushions and throws. On the other hand, if you love bright splashes of color and your wall color is rather neutral, go ahead make your sofa the centerpiece of the room. Just remember that a bold-colored sofa will be the strongest element, so be sure the surrounding pieces don’t compete for attention. Ask for a swatch of material to take home and get a better idea of how the colors of the sofa will look against the décor you have.

Try it out. Obviously, you should see how it feels to you before you bring it home, because “comfortable” means different things to different people. Sit on it, and if possible have at least two other people sit on it as well. Are you more comfortable sinking into the cushions or with firmer support? Is the seat the correct height for your leg length? What about the arm height? If in doubt, sofa experts advise that you opt for a firmer model as it will be better for your posture, is less maintenance and sofas do soften with use.

When in doubt, ask! Salespeople will be able to find the answers to any questions you may have about the sofa’s construction and quality, so use them as a valuable resource in making your decision. Additionally, many home furnishings stores have interior designers on staff that can help you make fabric, color or pattern choices. With just a little homework, you will find a sofa that reflects both your personality and your lifestyle.