Thursday, September 29, 2016

Make Your Broyhill Leather Sofa the Centerpiece of Your Room

While furniture styles may come and go, one of the most enduring is leather. Almost anything leather has a timeless appeal. You know it is meant to last. Sure, there are style updates, but you can find a leather couch in almost any style, from traditional to mid-century modern, to contemporary. A leather couch is a statement piece for the ages.

There’s something about leather furniture that exudes comfort and warmth. It adds an element of calm and elegance to any room and is easy to clean and maintain. In fact, the look of leather gets better as it ages. However, many find decorating a living room with a leather sofa a challenge. It doesn’t have to be. By letting the leather’s natural qualities shine through, your leather sofa can be the centerpiece of your living room décor.

Highlight the Leather Color

Leather is available in a variety of shades, including rich brown, red, cream, yellow or black. Darker shades can make a room seem masculine, so soften it with soft colors on the curtains, walls, and other furniture pieces. A black leather sofa will create interest in the space if paired with rich, deep colored throw pillows or an area rug. Blue-gray, burgundy, and rust are all good choices. These accessories will make your living room feel warm, welcoming, and luxurious. Soft greens, blues, and buttery yellows go well with light colored leather sofas.

Additional Accent Colors

We've discussed color for the walls and accessories, now consider additional accent colors. If you have a dark leather sofa, add some light decor to the room to keep the sofa from becoming overbearing. If your sofa is a lighter shade, try some patterned accents in the same color as your sofa. Select draperies, rugs, and other design elements in neutral shades to balance your living room. This may seem contradictory, but remember that you want to create a cohesive space. So try adding and taking away these elements until you achieve the look you like. Keep it simple so that your leather sofa can take center stage.

Place Your Leather Furniture Carefully

This goes for any living room design. Avoid a look that appears cluttered by spacing out your furniture. If you have a leather sofa set or sectional, add some pieces such as accent tables in lighter materials and colors. This will give the room some texture as well as contributing to a lighter feel.

Accessorize in Harmony

Highlight the texture of your leather sofa by including a small piece of leather furniture in your décor. A chair or ottoman will accentuate the look without drawing attention away from the sofa. Place a piece of artwork on the wall that highlights your sofa or use a small, simple dining or side chair to add an element of interest. Accessories made from natural materials will amplify the look of your leather sofa. Bamboo blinds, cotton throws, and terracotta pots are all good choice for accessories.

Make It Fresh

Remember that your leather sofa is likely to be with you for a long time. But it doesn’t have to become outdated. Try different colors and fabric to create a fresh look. Use the leather sofa as a backdrop, and soften it with diaphanous sheers, or add throw pillows with bright pops of color such as tangerine, turquoise, and yellow. Or update your look with throw pillows in modern prints – changing out the throw pillows can quickly update any look for any season.

Making your leather sofa shine doesn’t have to be complicated. Just put your creativity to work and use it to create a fresh, new look that is entirely your own.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Outdoor Decorating Ideas for Florida Entertaining

Making your back porch into the perfect spot for get-togethers will let you enjoy an intimate Florida night with family or a large event with friends. Backyard living is quickly evolving into more than a trend and “outdoor rooms” continue to gain popularity. As these trends continue, you may find yourself bringing almost everything outside with you. Outdoor decorating ideas include comfortable furniture and all the amenities you need in an outdoor kitchen or barbeque area.

Below are a few outdoor decorating ideas you might want to adapt for your back porch this summer.

outdoor decorating ideas Baer's

Go Neutral

Keep your outdoor space cool and refreshing with neutral shades. The outdoors are often blooming with color, so a calm neutral shade can create a restful space that allows the landscaping to take center stage. You can pull off this polished look by choosing essential pieces such as the Coco Ilse 7 Piece Outdoor Dining set. The faux-rattan printed table top gives you a tropical feel while the metal construction gives you durability and easy maintenance.

Vertical Gardens

People usually head outdoors to take advantage of the greenery and fresh air. However, not everyone has the space for planting a garden. If this describes you, consider taking advantage of your walls. You can create a vertical garden on any wall, just hang flowerpots, old crates, or plastic containers filled with easy-to-care-for succulents. You can even use this idea on a patio, front porch, or fence.

Add Some Art

Art makes a space come alive and also shows off your personal style. Art can also be a great conversation starter. So, go ahead and hang some art on your patio, or display a collection of your favorite pieces of pottery or other collectibles to add some personality to your outdoor space.

Hammocks and Swings

Alternative seating is always fun if your outdoor space is big enough. And a hammock is great for relaxing on a pleasant summer evening or read a book in the afternoon. If a hammock is not your style, consider adding a swing to your outdoor decorating. A swing makes a great spot for intimate conversations.
Tommy bahama fire pit

Fire Pits

Outdoor entertaining is fun, but it’s even better add some fire. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is a great way to extend your outdoor entertaining space. They provide comfortable, natural lighting that lets you see the person next to or across from you. And even in South Florida, we have the occasional cool night suitable for making s’mores by the fire.

Mood Lighting

And the last of our outdoor decorating ideas: lighting. When considering lighting for your outdoor room, approach the space as a blank canvas. Hang string lights in the trees, place romantic tapers on the table, and use tea lights in seating areas. This subtle lighting will enhance the ambiance of your outdoor entertaining area.

If you are looking for that perfect piece to make your outdoor entertaining space shine, go to the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the entire collection. Check out our Pinterest board for more inspiration.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Practical Reasons to Choose a Leather Sofa

If you’ve ever had slipcovers, children, and/or pets, you are familiar with the battle of keeping them clean. While slipcovers are great for cleaning – you can whip them off and into the wash in no time – sooner or later you’ll start to lose the battle when you add children or pets into the mix. You may find that you washing your slipcovers have become pretty much a full-time job. You may want to consider the next phase for your living room: a leather sofa.

bernhadrt foster leather sofa

Family Friendly

For the fabric lovers, there are washable fabrics available but a leather sofa is particularly great if you have kids and/or pets, since it easily withstands sticky fingers, muddy paws, and spills of all kinds. You can easily wipe it off, and it becomes better looking over time.

Durable and Ages Well

Leather is super strong and built to last, yet soft and comfortable. Leather doesn’t need to be replaced every few years and gets better and more comfortable with age. As the leather ages it takes on the character you would expect from a life well lived, yet remains strong and durable. Many leather pieces are passed down as family heirlooms.

Makes a Statement

A leather sofa will add a touch of elegance to any room. Every piece of leather is unique, so in a sense, each leather sofa is one of a kind. Leather is always in style and can become the focal point of any room. Leather has a personality and whether you like traditional or urban chic, there is a leather sofa just for you. And you can get it in many colors from reds to blues to whites o the more traditional browns. The white leather furniture from Natuzzi Editions enhances the decor of this all white room.

natuzzi white leather furniture

Hypoallergenic and Easy Maintenance

Leather doesn’t collect pet dander, dust mites, and other allergens as easily as fabric, making it a good option if you or someone in your family has allergies. A quick wipe with mild soap and water when necessary will keep the leather looking good.

The Cool Factor

As in, leather furniture is cool to the touch in the warm Florida weather, making it comfortable all year long. Leather conforms to the environment and adapts the room’s temperature and your body’s temperature when you sit on it. It will stay at a consistent temperature that feels good on your skin.

If you are looking for cool, comfortable leather furniture, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the wide range of Natuzzi and Bernhardt leather sofas available. Like us on Facebook for more design inspiration.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Make It Your Own with the Personal Design Series from Lexington

Your home reflects your personality, your style, and your passions. Ensuring that you have the right pieces of furniture is crucial in such a personal space. A good foundational piece of furniture can last a long time, so in addition to the need to stand up to every day wear and tear, your furniture should also express who you are.

However, sometimes finding that perfect piece can be a chore. You may not be able to find the right size, shape or color for the room you need to furnish. The Lexington Personal Design Series might be the right choice for you. The numerous pieces in this series can be customized to suit any taste and fit with any preexisting décor.

Baers affordable custom furniture

Economical

This collection allows you to create a look that is uniquely yours. By selecting from an array of design options, you can build the piece you want at an affordable price point. You choose the frame—standard or oversized—and go from there. Cushion configurations, boxed edge or knife edge, bed pillows or scatterback pillows are among the many options available. You get the best of both worlds: a piece that is completely your own at a price that is well within your budget.

Lexington personal design series

Aesthetics

Based on your individual taste and style, you most likely have a specific vision of how you what your home to look and feel, even if you have trouble articulating it. Custom upholstery can help you realize this vision in ways a pre-made item can’t—it is a visual representation of your uniqueness. A custom upholstered sofa can be made to complement existing décor or bring a little extra sizzle without throwing color palette off completely. Everyone has a favorite color, or maybe you need something to go with an existing piece that you adore. This is where custom upholstery works its magic. With the Lexington Personal Design Series you can choose from track arms or sock arms, tapered block wooden feet or ater fall skirt, two or three cushion seat, and approximately 897 cover options, the possibilities seem endless.

Saves Time

Whether you are shopping for a picture-perfect sofa for the living room, or the best bench for your entry way, it can take hours of unrelenting searching that zaps your time and energy and still leaves you empty handed. Your furniture is something you see every day, it creates the backdrop of your daily life. By choosing the exact color and type of fabric, you are ensuring that you will be happy with your surroundings every time you enter your home. With the help of a trained interior designer, you can quickly find a custom-made piece that will fit your needs perfectly. An interior designer will know exactly where to look for the piece you have in mind and guide you through the process.

Visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to learn more about the Lexington Personal Design Series and take advantage of the free interior design service. One of Baer’s highly qualified design professionals can help you create a custom piece that is perfect for your home.

More home decor shopping tips from Baer's furniture executive Jerry Baer.