Thursday, April 9, 2009

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Furniture to Green Your Home Décor

Going green is one of the most important tendencies right now and it has manifested itself everywhere. No wonder, going green is not only good for your health, it’s good for your conscience as well. What could be better than living well while also making sure you are playing your part in the preservation of the planet? Indeed, the green way of life has also translated into furniture, and here are the best ways to green your home décor.

Buying eco-friendly furniture means more than just buying something that looks natural or light-colored or resembles the look associated with eco-friendly furniture. It means always being aware that actions have consequences and that whatever we consume might not be replaceable tomorrow. As such, getting furniture made out of highly renewable materials, like bamboo, gets you one step closer to a green living.

Go vintage. It’s a trend, of course, and all the celebrities are sporting vintage clothes and furniture, but the green benefit behind this habit is uncountable. Yes, vintage furniture was probably not made with green methods, but it already exists, so by buying vintage furniture, you ensure that no extra resources are used. You can be trendy, stylish and green all in one blow.

Buy locally-made furniture. Most cities have furniture craftsmen working and selling their products even though they often get overlooked in the rush to get something flashier or trendier. The advantage with locally made furniture is that you very often have the chance to better control and customize the furniture you buy, which can lead to interesting and unique variations from what everyone else is sporting. Aside from that, transport would be minimized, which would mean less pollution and fuel consumption, not to mention less of an expense for you.

Buy furniture from places that promote green living and healthy harvesting of the base materials. Companies with a concern for the environment should be supported and promoted, and you can do your part by purchasing products that have been crafted with eco principles at heart. There are a myriad of retailers that carry only environmentally friendly furniture, such as platform beds, dining tables, and coffee tables made from sustainably harvested wood. There are also plenty of other green-only retailers that carry other home furnishings such as rugs and light fixtures like the floor lamp and chandelier that are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

Buy furniture that is built to last. One of the main things that oppose the idea of green living is consumerism. The tendency to replace everything regardless of whether or not it needs replacing, only because a newer model has come out is eating up the planet’s resources at an alarming rate. As such, if you buy something that is durable and that won’t need replacing for a great many years and keep it, you are doing your part in the preservation of natural resources.

Buying eco-friendly furniture is not difficult, you just need to keep your eyes open and think about the big picture.

Monday, March 9, 2009

How to Move Your Bedroom Furniture

Moving is listed as one of the most stressful things that a person can do, so it is important to minimize the pressures associated with shifting around heavy items. Among these, bedroom furniture sets usually seems like some of the most problematic. Disassembling bed frames, lifting dressers, and avoiding damaging glass are some of the common issues faced. There are effective strategies to use when moving to alleviate some of the pains. A few preparatory steps can greatly reduce the chance that your furniture will be chipped or dropped. Even if you are not moving from one home to another and simply wish to rearrange your bedroom, these tips will help.

First, invest in casters or furniture slides. These are usually small plastic discs that are inserted under furniture. With these, you will be able to push and slide your furniture around on the floor. They even work on carpeted floors. These provide a simple way to get your furniture from the bedroom to the front door or moving truck. Even if you are only rearranging your bedroom, the slides will make it very easy to move anything from an armoires to beds. They are relatively cheap, easy to obtain, and can even be reused.

Wrapping furniture is a great way to protect. This depends largely on what you have in your bedroom, however. A wall mirror, for example, should be wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap or nonabrasive cloth to prevent scratches or chips. Bed frames may seem large and intimidating, but they are also relatively easy to protect. Even a poster bed is no problem. Most beds either come with disassembly instructions or have clearly visible points of connection. Once the frame is taken apart, wrap each component in a similar way to that of the mirror. These pieces are easier to carry, as well. There is really no piece of furniture in the bedroom that can’t be simply transported.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Bedroom Furniture Sets: Keep The Theme Together

Contemporary bedroom furniture sets are sold in order to minimize the amount of time it takes to purchase furnishings. By buying furniture for the bedroom separately (that is, buying each piece individually), not only do you run the risk of breaking the design theme but you also may end up paying more. Buying sets may help offset cost in the same way that buying anything in bulk ends up cheaper. Many manufacturers and retailers are willing to make deals and lower prices when consumers decide to purchase a package deal that includes all of the furniture for a specific part of the home. Doing this for a bedroom makes more sense as bedroom furniture is very functional. There are decorative pieces available, but it is likely that everything in a set will be used some way or another.

Nightstands and dressers, for example, are frequently sold in sets. This is due to the fact that every bedroom needs them, and they might as well match. When all of the furniture in a bedroom matches, the appearance is one of uniformity and cohesion. All of the items will be necessary at some point or another, so why not purchase them all together at once? Sets guarantee consistent style as each piece of furniture has been designed with all the others in mind. As the central piece of every bedroom set, the bed should be priority and the starting point to the theme and decor of your bedroom. For example, should you go with a box spring bed, a canopy bed, or a platform bed? Having the right bed can make all the difference when it comes to deciding how you want the rest of your bedroom decor to look and feel.

bedroom furniture sets may seem expensive at first glance, it is important to consider the number of items as well. If purchased separately, it is almost guaranteed that you will pay more in the end. Add to this the benefit of possibly receiving every item for your bedroom at once. It is very likely that the furniture will arrive in one large shipment depending on the vendor. Sets make it possible to immediately have a fully furnished bedroom. There won’t be excessive waiting for those individual pieces of furniture to complete the look.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Tween Bedroom Furniture

The Evolution of Tween Bedroom Furniture
Many parents have children that are at that stage in their lives where they feel like they're all grown up and no longer need Barbie dolls and G.I. Joes for Christmas. Unfortunately, their taste in bedroom furniture also changes. Tween bedroom furniture was manufactured for children ranging from the ages of 8-12 where the furniture style and design is still considered kids furniture, but has an adult-like theme or style. It is that point in their lives where they want to have their own bedroom in need of more privacy. No need to worry parents, it's natural for this to happen. Just keep in mind what to expect when that day actually arrives. On the plus side, you'll be the coolest parents the day you buy your kids tween furniture!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Bedroom Furniture - Hide More Junk in Your Trunk


Here's a cool piece of bedroom furniture to hide all your little knick knacks, extra pillows, etc. Trunks are often neglected but very multi-purpose as a piece of furniture. You can obviously use it as storage, you can also use it as a seat. What I would use it for is to hide all my sneakers in it.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Measuring Your Room for New Furniture

How to Measure your Room

Buying new furniture can be very tedious. Many people are so eager to get their new furniture pieces into their homes that they often neglect measuring their room for space. By just taking one extra step before purchasing your furniture can alleviate the pains of trying to fit your furniture inside your room. Here's a few tips before purchasing your furniture:

  1. Measuring Tape - The longer the measuring tape, the better. The easiest way to measure your room is with a friend. Have a friend hold one end of the measuring tape and walk to the other end of the room while you're holding the tape for measure. Make sure the measuring tape is a straight line and record the measurements on a sheet of paper. Complete the following steps for any other measurements needed while recording each measurement as you go along.

  2. Window/Shelf Height- Measure the height from the floor to the bottom of all the windows and shelves in the room just in case your bed's headboard is too high, sofa, etc.

  3. Outlet Plugs - You'll want to jot down all your outlet plugs are located on your walls to avoid having to cover one or two up with furniture.

  4. Doorway - Measure the width of your room and house doorway to what the maximum width your furniture can be to fit through the doors.

  5. Furniture - Find our what your furniture's measurements are so you can remodel your room accordingly.


There are many platform bed styles to choose from and each style will vary in measurement from the headboard, footboard, mattress size, etc. These tips will work for buying new furniture for any room. Follow these tips for stress-free furniture shopping!


Monday, November 17, 2008

Sleigh Beds

Rothmore Sleigh Bed Collection


Sleighs beds in my opinion are the grand daddy of beds. Whenever I think of a sleigh bed I think of commitment, content, and stability. My advice on sleigh beds, make sure you'll be staying at your current residence for quite some time. Sleigh beds are heavy and best bought when you know you're going to be living in the same house for a while. It's heaviness is actually it's weight in gold. Also, make sure your doorways are big enough to haul this piece of bedroom furniture inside your house. But if you want to be serious in bedroom furniture and take the next step, I suggest you look into sleigh beds.