Bring Rio to Your Home

By Beds for less

The largest international multi-sport event will take place in Rio de Janeiro this August. Since it is international, you can imagine the number of eyes watching worldwide. It’s a time that everyone unites together to cheer for their respective country. That being said, it’s also a great opportunity for you to host a gathering with family and friends, in order to cheer on the crème de la crème athletes around the world. Let’s take a look at how to organize your party:

Bring Rio to your home

Begin by decorating your home with colorful lanterns, tiny palm trees and miniature parrots to bring the tropical feel that Brazil has to offer. It will certainly get everyone in the right frame of mind. For a moment, they might just forget where they are!

Food, food, and more food

If you’re going to have guests over to watch the opening of the Olympics, or to view one of your favorite sports, then food is a must! Set up a table with different foods. Try to be creative by assembling cold dishes that resemble flags!

The right accommodations

Perhaps the most significant element is to have the right furniture to accommodate your guests. Obviously, the larger the group, the more seating that will be needed. Ideally, a large sectional would definitely do the trick! If you are planning on serving savory tropical drinks, then a coffee table or ottoman would definitely be handy! That way, you have somewhere to rest your tray. Finally, a tv stand would be optimal to keep the tv at perfect eye level.

Team spirit

In order to stir up some team spirit, you may want to create a scoreboard to record how many medals your favorite team is receiving. Also, encourage your guests to wear something that supports the team(s) you are cheering for!

Now that you have your party outlined, you’re all set to have a good time! Remember, “Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up” – Rocky Balboa. We can all learn a little from these hard working athletes!

Mix & Match Your Dining Room Furniture

By Beds for less

Are you looking to spice up your dining room? You can add character to this space by mixing an array of furniture with a Vintage Casual style. All your pieces will have some type of character to them and they don’t need to be from the same collection! Besides, being too matchy-matchy has nearly become a home décor faux pas!

The dining table

First and foremost, begin with the dining table. The Mestler dining table is a simply shaped table with a beautiful rich bisque finish. Fortunately, the simplicity of the shape allows for the rich finish to take the spotlight. In fact, the beauty of picking a table as such is that you can allow yourself to ramp up the character with the seating.

Seating options

That being said, the second task is that of selecting the dining seating. The Mestler collection offers a variety of seating choices to meet your dining room décor needs. As a first option, the side chair featuring a beautiful distressed antique blue finish, would definitely add some much needed character to the table. However, if you feel that this option is antique blue overkill, you can play with the seating style and add a touch of blue instead. In order to pull this look off, opt for a mix of distressed antique blue chairs, distressed antique white chairs and a tufted light brown upholstered chair. All three dining chairs offer a Vintage Casual style that blends perfectly with the dining table.  

The piece that ties it all together

Lastly, the final touch resonates with the buffet. The Demarlos dining room server features a vintage-inspired style. This piece is bathed in a rich finish with gentle distressed accents and antique hardware. It screams character! Despite exuding character, its relaxed sensibility avoids an overstated look. Aside from being stylish, this server offers plenty of storage space – a must for ladies that love their china!

If you’re an individual who enjoys displaying a little character in your home, then this project is for you! Enjoy mixing and matching your pieces to achieve your desired look!

                                                     Content provided by: @tailbase

                                                           www.tailbase.com

St. Patrick's Day Gathering

By Beds for less

St. Patrick’s day, the patron saints’ feast is coming! No need to be in Ireland or Irish to celebrate it, as March 17th has become a cultural tradition spread all over the world. It is more of a religious holiday in Ireland where St. Patrick was known for converting the people to Christianity. In other countries, this day is a symbol of sharing Irish traditions and heritage. Some people would even say that it is their luckiest day!

Indoor or outdoor- lots of things are planned for gatherings on St. Pat’s! Here are a few ideas you will definitely crush on. No matter what mood you are in; get ready to see everything green!

Our indoors/ in-house suggestions!

If you decide to throw your own St Pat’s party, you will be rewarded as you can make a great party on a budget and enjoy the most of the day! 

Start by turning your house green with a green sofa and homeaccents or get few accessories like green leprechaun’s hat, shamrock!

Once the atmosphere is set, you can now get some drinks and food ready. If you are a great cook, you can attempt to cook some typical Patrick’s Day dinner with colcannon or Irish stew. Whatever you plan to make, just remember that “a room without potatoes is like a body without a soul.” Make sure you have potatoes!

Put some nice Irish music and start dancing!

Our outdoor /outside your house suggestions:

If you live close to the Chicago River, you might see the leftover of the river dyed in green the weekend prior to the D-day.

In the morning, you can start your day on a green foot – drink an Irish coffee and wear green clothes to fit in the Patty’s day mood!

Then, participate in a street parade in the afternoon. Eat the classic corned beef dish!

Continue or finish your day in a pub for a stout and just feel the Irish culture ambiance surrounding you!

So many things can be done to celebrate St. Pat’s but the best part is that you can share this moment gathering with friends and family.

Happy St. Patrick’s day!

Content provided by: @tailbase

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Choosing The Right Upholstery For Your Lifestyle

By Beds for less

Believe it or not, selecting the right fabric that works for your home requires putting your lifestyle and design taste into perspective. In fact, here are some helpful questions you should ask yourself before choosing and upholstery for your furniture:

1)      Will it be exposed to sunlight?

2)      Can it sustain heavy wear due to children, pets & high traffic?

3)      Is it spill & stain proof?

  

To help you make your decision for the purpose of practicality and durability, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of natural fabrics vs. man-made or engineered fabrics.

Natural Fabrics:

Fabric	Pros	Cons
Cotton	Durable & easy to clean	Not as resistant to soiling & wrinkling
Leather	Forgiving & easy to clean	Develops more character with age
Linen	Stays clean & absorbs moisture	Does not resist piling & fading
Wool	Water repellent & durable	Blended with a synthetic fiber for cleaning purposes
Hemp	Durable	Wrinkles easily

  

Man-made Fabrics:

Fabric	Pros	Cons
Acrylic	Resists wear & lightweight	Low-quality will pill in high-wear situations
Microfiber	Durable & easy to clean	Electrostatically charged; can pick up dust & lint
Olefin	Durable & fashionable	Low moisture absorption
Rayon	Durable	Wrinkles easily
Vinyl	Easy care & less expensive than leather	May crack with time

Now that you have your upholstery choice down pat, don’t be afraid to opt for a vibrant color. To inspire yourself with the latest color trends, you can refer to Pantone’s color trends of the year. Also, a pattern will add visual interest. Besides adding depth to your space, it just may help camouflage spills and other mishaps that are inevitable. Choosing durable upholstery is applicable for sofas, dining chairs and rugs, especially in high traffic areas. The idea is to achieve bulletproof decorating. That sums up how you can achieve your desired look that meets your needs.

Content provided by: @tailbase

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How to Throw A Last-Minute Halloween Party

By Beds For Less

Halloween is just around the corner. Are you a busy bee who can barely find the time to brush your hair, let alone plan a Halloween party? Then you`ve fallen on the golden goose of party ideas for the procrastinator.  So feast your eyes on these 3 simple steps!

Step 1: Set a date

First and foremost, set a date, compile a list of guests and give them a call. Make sure you nip this in the bud right away! In order to entice your guests to come to your spooktacular party, mention there will be fun games, special treats and a costume contest! Keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable with dressing up. Word to the wise; add that this is optional.

Step 2 – Decorate your home inside & out

Get ready to have a frightfully good time by prepping your home inside and out to celebrate in style! Here`s a list of thrilling decoration ideas to inspire you:

Outside:

1)      Transform the front yard into a graveyard.

2)      Board the windows

3)      Put a condemned notice on your front door. Try to make it look aged (you can do this by sponging a bit or tea or coffee onto the paper).

4)      Go crazy with some caution tape – this will give your guests the impression that your home is abandoned and unsafe… maybe even haunted.

Inside:

1)      Add as many candles as possible, especially if you have a visible staircase. To avoid a fire hazard, you can purchase battery operated candles at the dollar store. You can always use real candles in jars for extra precaution.

2)      Cover your furniture with drop-cloths or sheets. Nothing says condemned like a house full of covered furniture!

3)      Change the light bulbs for some vintage colored ones, to create a dim atmosphere.

4)      Spider webs – if your house is going to look condemned, don`t forget spider webs!

  

Step 3 – Entertainment

Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!  A successful party has great entertainment and treats to go along with it. I mean, let`s face it. No one wants to see their guests yawning and looking at their watches. Here are some great ideas to keep the party going:

1)      Halloween charades.  You can find free printables on Pinterest.

2)     Murder Mystery Game. Good news – you have access to free murder mystery games online, complete with character descriptions and scripts, so your guests will dive into the game.

3)      Halloween movie trivia. If you`re a horror movie buff, and so is your circle of friends, then this is the game for you. Again, this is another frugal game idea. Yes, horror movie trivia quizzes can also be found online.

4)      Last, but not least, the costumes contest. The pinnacle of your party is the contest. Make sure to take the time to vote on whose costume won the challenge. To add a little excitement, throw in a prize. It doesn`t have to be anything pricy. A candy loot bag can do the trick!

Content provided by: +Tailbase 

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Get Crafty: DIY Decor with Squash

By Beds For Less

Who said decorating your home for fall had to be expensive? Check out some thrifty DIY ideas with the use of squash to add a touch of autumn in your home. Time to roll up those sleeves!

Antique your butternut squash:

There is something about decorating a home with antiquities, as it adds instant history and soul. If you have a fondness for antiquities, then this is the project for you!

For a dark & rich aged-look, use dark wax. You can purchase some Minwax Stain at your local hardware store. Apply the stain to your squash and try not to spread it evenly, in order to achieve a distressed look. Make sure it dries in a well ventilated area, free of humidity or cold. Once it is dry, feel free to add some finishing touches like hemp string that you can tie to the stem. If the mood strikes, you can go a little wild and add some artificial leaves along with your string. Voilà : the perfect antiqued squash for your home. Fall, come on in.

Pumpkin vases for your table escape:

Here`s another idea to jazz up your home for fall; pumpkin vases! Make a beautiful, yet simple table escape that is not only quick, but easy on the budget. First, hollow-out your pumpkin. Do not carve a large piece off the top, but just enough to slide a tall glass inside the opening. Then, spray paint the pumpkin white to soften the look of its deep orange coloration. You can also choose another muted color such as a pale blue or mint.  The idea is to tone down the color of the vase and draw the attention to the bouquet.

Once the spray paint has dried thoroughly, slide the tall glass through the opening of atop the pumpkin. Add some water to the glass and put together a beautiful fresh arrangement with flowers of your choice. If you prefer a low maintenance vase, then synthetic flowers are your thing. Don`t be afraid to use multiple colors, as it will add more character. There you have it, your very own pumpkin vase!

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Invite Fall Indoors With 5 Trendy Materials

By Beds For Less

Leaves are falling and nights are getting chilly; these are the cue to autumn! So it is time to invite fall indoors and create a warmth atmosphere at home while enjoying sunset hues from your windows. Certainly, we all have started to cozy up at home but how could we bring comfort into our house during this season?  With sensory and tactile materials that will make our house look trendy!

Here are our 5 trendy materials that can set up a perfect fall atmosphere in house:

1. Wood. Even If you do not have hardwood floor you can still add some rustic accents in your living room!

2. Wool. Worsted or knit, wool is a natural décor fabric for this sweater chilly season. Woolen rugs under a coffee table, throws or pillows can make a great difference on a couch.

3. Velvet fabrics. Have a craving touch for velvet!

4. Ceramics. Get pumpkin center table on your dining room to stay in the fall mood.

5. Our final trendy touchy material is animal fur leather!

 Content provided by: +Tailbase 

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WHY SHOULD YOU USE AN AREA RUG? BECAUSE...

By Beds For Less

It’s amazing how much an area rug can transform a room. If you’re looking to roll out big style—for a modest outlay of cash—opting for an area rug is a good way to go. When shopping for the right area rug, choose one that’s roughly the same shape as the accompanying furniture. Cluster the furniture around it or on top of it, place a table, desk or bed at its center—and you’re good to go!

Why are area rugs so great? Because area rugs…


Tie together a room’s color scheme. An area rug works as well, if not better, than art or throw pillows to unify your color schemes.

Anchor furniture. Area rugs make a room look connected and cohesive. In living rooms and family rooms, use an area rug that’s big enough to fit under the front legs of your furniture. If it’s too small to do that, center the rug under your coffee table. 

Are inexpensive “artwork.” Bringing color and graphical elements into a room, area rugs help create a dynamic gathering place. Certain area rugs, such as handwoven style rugs, can also be hung on a large wall, at a fraction of the price of large-scale artwork. 

Add warm, comfort and safety. Especially if you have solid-surface floors, such as hardwood, concrete or tile, you can appreciate the cushy relief area rugs bring to your space.

Work everywhere. Be it in the living room, bedroom or dining room, area rugs feel right at home. As a rule of thumb; use an area rug under the largest piece, or group of furniture, in a room to anchor the space.

Absorb sound. Especially when accompanied by an ample rug pad, area rugs do a wonderful job of buffering noise.

Move with you. Wall-to-wall carpeting might be there to stay, but area rugs are all yours to take with you should you relocate.

While machine-made rugs are the most common today, there are plenty of handwoven options that can include everything from precious oriental rugs to affordable jute styles.

A bit about area rug materials:

Synthetic rugs are mostly made from petroleum products. They’re popular for their colorful designs, durability and low price.

Wool rugs offer a step up with their remarkably soft, plush feel. Most are hand-tufted, with loops of yarn punched into a cloth, backed with latex and then sheared to produce a cut-pile surface. It’s completely normal for wool area rugs to shed a little when they’re brand new.

Jute rugs are another natural fiber area rug. These are usually handwoven. Though associated with more relaxed/casual settings, they’re a designer favorite in many interiors today because they add texture, lie flat and are easy to maintain.

Tips for keeping your area rug as good as new:

• Purchase a rug pad to reduce movement on the floor and prevent rug wear.
• Vacuum regularly to reduce dirt accumulation.
• Blot spills immediately. Avoid saturation with water. 
• Rotate occasionally to reduce the effects of traffic and sunlight.

Content provided by: +Tailbase & Ashley Furniture 

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