Saturday, October 29, 2016

Home Décor Service from Baer’s Furniture

People often shy away from using a home décor service because they think they’ll lose control and end up with a home they don’t understand. Or that it will be too expensive. When working with a Baer’s Furniture design professional, nothing could be further from the truth. You are more likely to stay within your budget because a design professional can help you avoid making expensive mistakes. You will be working with an expert who can help you turn your vision into reality.

baers interior design service

Perfectly put together spaces don’t happen by accident. Of course, we all have that friend who seems to be able to effortlessly put together a room that is aesthetically pleasing as well as perfectly functional. However, the majority of us struggle with this. What seems so easy on the surface can quickly turn into a nightmare.

An interior design professional has extensive training and experience. They have learned how to visualize and plan a room based on design principles such as balance, rhythm, harmony, and emphasis as well as proportion and scale. They also understand the importance of the elements of design: space, line, texture, color, light, and pattern as well as shape and mass. As design professionals, they use their knowledge of these principles and elements to create spaces that are emotionally and physically comfortable as well as functional and beautiful.

Benefits of Baer’s Home Décor Service


  • Bring your style to the forefront. An interior design professional will work towards designing a home that shows who you are. They help you decide from among many possibilities to guide you to a style that suits you and your family’s lifestyle.
  • Each project is different and, regardless of size, presents challenges. A home décor service can provide solutions for every issue, and solve problems as they arise.
  • Keep you within budget. There are many choices available for materials, some of which you may never have heard of. An interior design professional can tell which materials are best for each purpose, from cabinet and countertops to flooring, window treatments, and upholstery. They can find the perfect materials to suit any budget and help you determine where to splurge and where to cut back.
  • Make your life easier. An interior designer will help you make the most of what you already have – a special piece furniture, your favorite color, or your preferred style. They do the research and legwork for you, and when your home is completed, it will not only be beautiful, it will be functional for the way you live your life.
  • Keep your project on schedule. A Baer’s Furniture interior design professional has relationships with expert painters, installers, and contractors. They will ensure that your home is completed down to every detail, including staying on schedule.
  • Access to resources. There are many resources available only to interior design professionals. Working with a home décor service can help you get access to these. 
interior design by baers


Maybe you only want to redecorate a room, a whole house, or a vacation home. Baer’s Furniture design professionals take on every project with the same attention to detail. They can help you with furniture choices, window treatments, flooring, molding and cabinetry, painting and wallpaper, bedding, mattresses, and accessories. In fact, as a Baer’s design client, your interior designer will help you accessorize your home. They will bring a selection of accessories to your home, show a variety of arrangements and groupings and let you decide what you want to keep and what you want to send back.

Using a home décor service will only enhance your home and your quality of life in your home. Hiring a design professional enriches your experience and can turn your house into a home that tells your story.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Follow Baer's Furniture on Twitter to get the latest news.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Light Fixtures That Light Up Your Rooms

You know how beautiful photographs of furniture looks in magazines and catalogs? Everyone wants their homes to look just as glowing. There’s a trick designers use to achieve this look: layers of light. When you layer light sources, you create a textured look that shows off the best features of your room. To do this, you’ll need to combine different types of light sources and fixtures. Below is a guide to achieving layered lighting for any room.


Windows

Yes, windows. It seems obvious, but sometimes the obvious is overlooked. However, if your room has great windows that provide lots of natural lighting during the day, you’ll need to take this into consideration. Daylight is what we are usually trying to imitate when we add lighting to a room, so if you have it, use it.

Keep in mind that even on the sunniest South Florida day, a single window may not give your room sufficient light. And it will vary depending on the time of day. Placing light sources near the window will give subtle lighting that creates a balanced, beautiful space no matter what time of day it is.

Pot Lights

Pot lights, also known as recessed downlights, are often used to modernize and brighten a space. They can spread light throughout a large area, especially the center of a large space where wall lights might not reach.

Track Lights

Track lighting can overcome its bad reputation when used in the right way – especially in kitchens. They have the ability to put task lighting right where you need it.


Pendants and Chandeliers

Pendant lights or a chandelier. I’ve put them together here because the line between them is often blurry. A chandelier is often larger and more decorative, but basically still a pendant light that hangs from the ceiling. More important is where the light is aimed: either down or up to provide a general glow.

Turned downward, the light can illuminate a dining room table or console and create an intimate mood. Aimed upward they will project more light to the room’s center and can highlight overhead features in a room.

Dropped Ceilings

In some instances, pendant lighting will not work, for example in a condo with a concrete ceiling. In this case, a dropped ceiling panel can supply the space to put in lighting fixtures such as pendants or pot lights.

Sconces

Sconces can be artistic and ornate or simple and sleek and they come in many sizes. Evenly spaced single-bulb sconces add light at eye level and provide even brightness. Or, if you wish to eliminate shadows, place your light fixtures close together.

Standing Lamps

Standing lamps – table lamps and floor lamps both fall into this category – are useful for adding task lighting for reading. They also throw off a gentle glow wherever they are placed and can be used to target the center of a space or the corners. When placed near a window a floor lamp, they can substitute natural light that would stream in during the day.

Wall Washers

As the name implies, wall washers are installed on the wall, or sometimes on the ceiling. They are used to highlight decorative features in a room, such as a statement wall or piece of art. In addition, they will make the entire room seem much brighter.

Uplights

If you have a decorative ceiling, you can show it off with uplights. Combined with a wall washer they can put your architectural features on full display. Uplights are often installed in the floors of contemporary homes, and combined with wall washers and pot lights can seem modernist and cold to some. So unless you like a minimalist, gallery-type look, you may not want to use them excessively.

Very few people are going to walk into your home and complement you on your lighting scheme. But that’s not the point. If you have layers of light implemented correctly, what they will do is complement you on your home.

Learn more about Baer's Furniture. Find a Baer's Furniture near you to see the entire collection.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Area Rugs, Pillows, Throws, and Accessories: Layers of Texture Every Home Should Have

All rooms need texture to create depth and interest in the décor. But, what does that mean, exactly? What designers usually mean when they talk about texture is that it has both visual and tactile appeal. Texture adds dimension and is a really great way to add visual interest to a room that might otherwise seem one-dimensional. For example, an all-white or all-beige room can easily become boring, but making careful choices about how you use textiles can make it dramatic – even if they are in the same color palette.

Architectural features such as a stone fireplace, columns or paneling on the walls can add texture. And you can also choose furniture for the texture it brings to your space. A wicker chair or leather chair or tufted velvet sofa can add a layer of visual interest. However, you may not want to replace furniture, add a fireplace or panel your walls. If you want to quickly refresh the look of any room, add some texture with area rugs, pillows, throws, and accessories.

surya area rug gemini collection

Area Rugs

Wall-to-wall carpeting is cushy under foot, but isn’t always visually interesting. And although wood flooring or tile is beautiful, it can often seem uninviting and cold. In these instances, adding an area rug can add texture and interest. Adding area rugs to bedrooms and family rooms may seem obvious, but have you considered adding an area rug to the kitchen? Or a runner in a hallway? Cowhide, sisal, flat weaves, rag rugs, kilim rugs – just about any rug you can think of will add texture and warmth in these unexpected spaces. A rug from the Gemini collection by Surya will add elegance and charm to a room with any type of décor. Hand tufted from banana silk, the muted colors add extra dimension and softness.

surya rugs mammoth pillow

Pillows

Pillows are another easy way to add texture they're called throw pillows for ao reason. Just choose from the thousands of different styles available and toss a few on your sofa, chair, or bed. When creating texture with pillows, look for different fabrics such as velvet, chenille, or linen. The pattern and texture on the Mammoth pillow from Surya will add visual interest to any room.

surys rugs woven throws

Throws

Throws add an extra layer of texture as well as extra warmth. They can by casually draped on couches, footstools, or chairs, or across the foot of the bed. They come in a variety of textiles such as high-end silk of cashmere, soft flannel, chunky cable knit, lightweight cotton, or even fur. You can use a textured weave or pattern to create more interest. The Throw Blankets collection by Surya Rugs gives you seemingly endless option in color, weave, texture, and pattern that will add depth and warmth to a bedroom, living room, guest room or den.

tommy bahama decorative mirror palm leaf motif

Decorative Accessories

Once you’ve built your foundation with area rugs, pillows, and throws it’s time to accessorize. There are many decorative accessories can add texture, here are just a few to give you inspiration.
  • Baskets
  • Crystal or wooden candlesticks
  • Ceramics vases
  • Natural elements such as shells, coral, driftwood, or stacked firewood
  • Wood or silver picture frames
  • Embroidered, ruffled or antique lampshades
  • Interesting mirrors
  • Rustic or hammered metal finishes on bookends or lamp bases
  • Stacks of books with decorative covers
  • Furniture with nailhead trim
  • Cut-glass furniture pulls
  • Trees or plants
  • Lamp bases with geometric finishes, interesting shapes or textures
Just keep in mind that your accessory groupings should vary in height, weight, size, and shape. Use the rule of three and add a little greenery.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture and follow us on Twitter to find design tips.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Bedroom Furniture and Design Basics

The bedroom serves a very specific function in your home – a space for sleep and relaxation. It is a place to retreat and regroup after a hectic day. It is for this reason that you often see bedrooms designed with soothing colors and furniture that minimizes distractions. Below are some guidelines for turning your bedroom into a true comfort zone.

tommy bahama bedroom furniture at Baers

Bedroom Furniture

Make the most of your space with your bedroom furniture placement. The size of your bedroom will be the guiding force behind how much bedroom furniture you will need. There are some musts: bed, dresser, bedside tables, and lamps are the bare minimum.

It’s unavoidable, the bed is both the focal point and the most important piece of bedroom furniture. It is also the most important design element in the space. Since the bed is the largest piece of furniture in the bedroom, begin by placing it first. The most common places for the bed are across from the door or along the longest wall. If you have a great view, be sure to take advantage of it by placing your bed in such a way that you can see the view as you wake up each morning. In fact, the view or windows can be considered an important design element.

Then, decide where you want to place the dresser, generally across from the bed, but this will depend on the amount of space you have. Now that the larger pieces of bedroom furniture have been placed, you can decide if you want to add a chair or bench at the foot of the bed or a sitting area if you have the space. If you have the space, a comfortable chair, vanity, or a small sofa are nice additions.



kingsdown mattress

Choose the Right Mattress

But beyond the looks of the headboard and bedframe, you’ll want to choose a mattress that gives you a comfortable night’s sleep. Speak to a sales professional and take advantage of the Kingsdown bedMATCH™ technology to help you find the best fit for you. After lying on the test bed for 3 minutes, the technology uses your personal profile information and more than 1,000 calculations to determine which mattress will give you the best support. Bedding makes your room complete, so choose those that complement your design theme and color palette.

Bedroom Lighting

Lighting can set the mood, and the mood you want here is relaxation. Keep the lighting soft, subtle, and easy to turn on and off. Add lamps to the bedside tables if you like to read at night. If you tend to fall asleep with the lights on, use a light with a timer. Not only does this save energy, it also conducive to getting a better night’s sleep. Pendant lamps, chandeliers, sconces, and table lamps are all good choices for bedroom lighting.

Accessorize

Always the finishing touch, add accessories. This is also where you can play. Add an area rug, throw pillows, and a grouping of pieces from collections you own. Put these items in your line of site so that you can see them first thing in the morning. That will get your day off to a great start.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture. Read about the Spirit of Life Award given to Baer's Furniture

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dining Room Sets for Casual Entertaining

If you have a both a formal and casual dining room, the ability to dine and entertain in separate spaces is a wonderful thing. However, if you have only one dining space, you’ll probably find yourself juggling to make the casual space look formal enough to host a dinner party, or to make the formal space suitable for a casual gathering. Dining room sets that provide versatile seating options might be the perfect solution to this challenge.

Assess Your Style

Begin by assessing your style – your dining style, that is. If you frequently have large Sunday dinners, you may need a dining room set with a center leaf that can be used and then removed. However, if your family tends to grab quick meals and you don’t do a lot of entertaining, a smaller table may be better for you.
lexington casual dining room set from Baers

Check Your Seating

Dining room sets with casual chairs are a good option if your style is more casual. The difference between types of chairs can make a big difference in how formal or casual your dining room feels. Chairs with straight high backs tend to be more formal, while chairs with shorter backs made of metal or plastic will seem more casual. However, you can make your formal chairs seem more casual by adding seat cushions with playful fabrics.

Change Your Dining Room Décor

Changing out your dining room décor can create a more casual feel and you don’t need to worry about whether your dining room set is formal or casual. Your place settings, table linens, and candle holders can help change the atmosphere of the room. If you are hosting a casual get together, choose playful place settings and if you’re hosting a more formal affair, throw on a linen tablecloth and bring out the good china.

Paint the Walls

Of course, you won’t want to change the paint color on your walls every time you entertain. However, you can choose colors that fit into your style. Just as this dining room group can be casual or formal, paint colors can evoke a particular feel. Consider using tones such as deep burgundy, burnt orange or rust to make the room more formal. Use neutral tones such as beige, gray, coffee brown, or white to keep the room more versatile. These colors make it easy for you to dress the room up or down as needed by changing out a few elements of the décor. A dining room that easily goes from casual to formal is ideal. And dining room sets that give you options for extra seating will make it easier for you to go from formal to casual and back again as needed.

Find your furniture at a Baer's showroom near you and take advantage of the complimentary design service. Find out more about Baer's Furniture.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Area Rug Dos and Don’ts for Every Room

When finalizing your home’s interior décor, don’t ignore the impact an area rug can make. Whether simple or jazzy, an area rug can take a room from good to great. Let’s review what a rug does for a space. It can say “These furniture pieces belong together.” Or in a large, multi-functional room, it can say “this space is the living room” and “this space is the dining room.” It can also enhance your décor by bringing in colors and patterns that highlight your furniture. It adds a finishing touch to your design.

Area Rug DOs and DON’Ts

area rug living room placement
DO pick the right-sized area rug for your space. Keep in mind that the bigger the rug, the bigger your room will feel. That being said, a general rule for living rooms is to have a rug large enough that the front legs or your couch and chairs sit on top of the rug. Above, the rug by Nourisan defines space and makes it feel larger. For bedrooms, the rug should run under the bed completely or at least under the bottom two-thirds, so that you can step down on it when you get out of bed.

DON’T use a small, postage stamp, rug. The purpose of your area rug is not to anchor the coffee table, but to bring the entire space together. When you have a tiny rug in a room-sized seating group, it will look out of place. And in the bedroom, it will look like a bath mat next to the bed.

DO consider furniture placement if you are using a patterned rug. An all-over pattern that repeats is pretty safe, but if you have larger, more asymmetrical pattern on your area rug, use it with furniture that is more delicate or has an open or airy frame.

DON’T place bulky furniture over special parts of your rug. If you have a big coffee table a large patterned rug might not be the best choice for that space.

area rug bedroom placement
DO mix patterns with different proportions. You may think you shouldn’t use a patterned area rug if you have a chair or curtains that feature a print, but you can. Just be sure to choose a pattern different in scale than the pattern on the curtains or furniture. Or choose a striped pattern in the same or complementary colors.

DO choose your living room furniture before your rug. You’ll probably keep the sofa and chairs for longer than the rug.

DON’T keep wood or tile floors bare. A rug will make your rooms look finished, warm up the space, and create buffering from noises. They also highlight your wood or tile flooring. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpet, an area rug can fulfill its purpose of defining the space.

DO choose a flat rug for the dining room. Dining rooms are areas where spills tend to happen, and a flat rug will be easier to keep clean.

Area Rug Protection

Following these general guidelines will help ensure that your rooms look polished. But remember that while choosing the right area rug will enhance your room’s décor, they placed on the floor, often in high traffic areas. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them. Baer’s offers the UnitersPure protection plan to help you keep your rugs looking spotless.

Find out more about Baer's Furniture and Jerry Baer's new role as president and CEO.