How to Add Decorative Accents to Your Living Room

By Mike's Furniture

There is a list of a few questions you must ask yourself when looking to add decorative accents to your living room. Don’t worry, no need to ask a designer to do it. Here are 5 simple questions you might ask yourself before adding decorations to your living room:

1. Which color scheme are you using in your living room?
2. What kind of ambiance do you want to make?
3. Is there a common theme in your living room (florals, vintage, monochrome)? Do you want to keep this theme or change it?
4. Where do you want to add decorations?
5. Why do you want to add decorations?

Based on these questions, you should be able to make a good choice. 

Now, little tips and advice to help you make a better choice:

• First of all, if you have kids, it is not recommended to choose fragile decorations like a glass vase or pottery for places they can reach. Adding some decorative candles and/or printed pillows can be a good alternative.
• Make sure that you find the same color at least in 3 items and not more than 5 colors (different tones don’t count as a different color if they are similar). Too many different colors in the same room make it hard to match them.
• Don’t be afraid to use textures and patterns, but not more than 3 (you don’t want your living room decor to be inconsistent). Choosing a theme helps to choose the textures and patterns.
• Keep in mind the size of the room while you’re shopping; too much decoration rarely gives good results and make the small rooms seem smaller.
• Adding decorative pillows can make all the difference, you might try this before adding anything else.

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Bring A Fall Touch To Your Home With Great Aromatherapy Ideas!

by Mike's Furniture

Ahh, Fall! Who doesn’t love the sound of crisp leaves underfoot and the taste of pumpkin spice everything (especially lattes!)? One of our favorite ways to celebrate the season is by filling our homes with scrumptious scents. There’s just something about a cozy house filled with family, friends and delicious smells that lets us know our favorite season is finally here.

The Nose Knows

Looking for ways to cozy up your home for fall? Try these easy aromatherapy ideas:

Bake goodies. Fill your home with the scent of freshly baked pumpkin pie for an instant autumnal aroma. It doesn’t have to be made from scratch—even frozen pies smell fantastic while they bake. Premade sugar cookie dough also produces a heavenly scent. Nothing says “home” like the smell of vanilla!

Light a candle. Don’t want to go to the trouble of baking? Pick up a pumpkin spice- or sugar cookie-scented candle. Other scents that conjure fall include cranberry, sugar and spice, cinnamon and pear. Try burning different scented candles to create your own signature smell.

Create a stovetop simmer. Combine one sliced orange, a couple of cinnamon sticks and a few dried cloves in a saucepan. Add enough water to cover all ingredients and simmer on the stove. Check on your concoction periodically and add more water as needed. Your whole home will smell heavenly!

 What are your favorite scents for fall? If you have any easy aromatherapy tips, share them in the comments below! We’d love to hear your ideas.

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How To Use This Fall Colors in Your Home Decor!

by Mike's Furniture

This year, fall color scheme includes neutrals and bold tones. We must get inspiration from landscapes, forests and fields. Even colors name refer to the nature; Dried Herb, Desert Sage, Stormy weather, Oak Buff, Amethyst Orchid, etc. This unisex color palette is easy to integrate in every home since the tints please everyone! Here are some tips and ideas to help you create a beautiful autumnal home decor:

As the color palette contains a lot of dark tints, we have to be careful with which we decide to use. To make a perfect fall mood without darken the place, we must follow some easy but crucial rules.

1-   Walls and furniture

Dark colors have this tendency to make a room seems smaller than it really is. That’s why we should choose a light color for the walls and big furniture. It will help to balance the main decor.

2-      Accents

As the bigger part of the room is pale, we can add some coolness accent. Marsala, Stormy Weather and Reflecting Pond are adding a touch of luxury and finesse when they are perfectly mixed with pale shades.

3-      Don’t forget the cozy side!

An interior design can’t be autumnal if it doesn’t contain some cozy hint. Pillows and throws are the perfect match to add this delicate accent. Of course, faded colors inspire the warm comfort and security of a house full of joy and souvenirs.

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Back To School Organizing Tips & Ideas

by Mike's Furniture

Back-to-school is for many of us synonym of supplies, lunch, home works, mess and lunch again! When this time of the year is coming, we start to stress, to be tense and we are trying to be organized (which is not that easy sometimes!). Here are some organizing tips to help everyone being more relaxed at the back-to-school:

Make a space for children’s backpacks

In the lobby or anywhere else, take time to make an exclusive space to put the backpacks when child come back from school. It could be a storage bench, a wall shelf with hooks, a big basket or a large storage box.

Create a study area

To facilitate the productivity and reduce the homework time a study area is a must. Ideally, it should be a quiet place without any source of distraction like TV, video games, tablets, cell phone or any toy. The room could be filled with bookcases, a bench and/or chair, a work desk and maybe comfortable furniture where to read and study like a small sofa or a recliner.

Prepare in advance

To save time and avoid stress in the morning, preparing in advance is a good thing! The day before or even during the week-end, we can prepare lunches, sport clothes and organize backpacks for the upcoming week.

Choose outfits the night before

If we are still lacking time in the morning, choosing the outfits the night before could make the difference!

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HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS

by Mike's Furniture

Your sink cabinets are jammed with virtually every foam, spray and spritz cleaner on the market. And yet, you’re not satisfied with the results.

Time to get back to basics.

Wonderfully multipurpose, natural cleaning agents (e.g., baking soda) cost pennies on the dollar compared to brand-name products—and they work just as well (if not better).

There are endless possibilities for a green clean. Here are our five favorites:

Dispose of Odors.

Garbage disposal smelling like, well, garbage? Pour a half cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar down the drain. Boil a kettle of water and pour boiling water down as well. Then add two cups of ice and one cup of rock salt to the drain. Run through the disposal. Lastly, cut a lime or lemon in half, and run both halves one by one through the disposal.

Unclog Drains Naturally.

While they might get the job done, products like Drano are terrible for the environment and dangerous in contact with your skin. A natural alternative: Pour ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar down the drain. Let sit for at least 25 minutes. Pour in 2 quarts boiled water. The fizz you hear is the baking soda and vinegar working magic. If the water is still sitting in the sink, plunge it down to reveal your clean-as-a-whistle drain.

Nip Those Fleas.

Got pets? Then you know too well the dog days of summer can mean one thing: pesky fleas. Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax powder on your rugs/carpets and other areas where fleas may fest, such as a cat climber. Use a stiff brush to work the Borax into the rug/carpet. Let the Borax sit at least six hours (overnight is even better). Vacuum thoroughly. (A ½ cup of Borax powder will give your laundry detergent a power boost, too.)

Make That Stainless Steel Sink Sparkle.

Pour undiluted white vinegar—a gentle but powerful disinfectant—into a spray bottle. Rinse sink with water. Sprinkle baking soda over wet surface. Scrub with a soft-to-medium brush. Spray vinegar over remaining residue. That fizzing sound is cleaning in action. Rinse sink thoroughly. For even more shine, buff with a bit of olive oil, using a soft, dry cotton cloth.

Polish to Perfection.

Spare your finished wood furnishings that furniture spray buildup with this smart solution: Using a funnel, pour 2 tbsp. olive oil, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and ¼ tsp. lemon oil (or fresh lemon juice) into a spray bottle. Shake well then spritz onto microfiber cloth and rub in evenly in the direction of the grain. Remove excess polish with a clean, dry cloth and behold the beauty of your like-new furniture.

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Home Decor For Fall

by Mike's Furniture

As the cold gusts of wind hit and temperatures drop, we know a new season has begun. Not to worry! Chase away the cold with a cozy decor that warms the soul.

Go Bold

Nothing says fall like bold colors. From emerald green and tangerine to canary yellow and deep berry; pick hues that depict the perfect autumn-inspired color-palette. Despite being bold, these colors are also suggestive of comfort and hearth, which will wrap your home in a soothing blanket of warmth.  There really is no need to purchase new furniture to keep up with current trends. You can simply introduce fall colors in small doses with accent such as decorative pillows, throws, rugs, ottoman and accent chairs. This is an easy and cost-effective solution.

Add Texture

Although color has a significant impact on fall trends, texture is also all the rage this season. Don’t be afraid to mix different textures, as it will be easy on the eyes and exciting to touch. Try pairing opposite textures such as a smooth and supple leather sofa with tweed pillows. Also, combine a fluffy down comforter with a tightly woven area rug. The idea is to create contrast both visually and to touch.

Introduce Glamour

A glamorous aesthetic is not about oozing with fancy. Forget about floor-to-ceiling rhinestones, mirrors and metallic! In fact, if you are aiming for a chic look this fall, understated elegance is your friend. How can you achieve this look without going over the top you might ask? Think button-tufted headboards, breakfront dressers and metallic picture frames. You can also attain an upscale look with the use of modern furnishings – their clean lines make them intrinsically elegant.

Break Out Your Fall Decor!

Last but not least, pulling out your fall decor is an irrefutable way to keep your home cozy and spark that holiday mood.  Keep it simple; include harvest colors and foliage. You can either buy or make your crafts with the use of pumpkins, candles, vases, leaves, fall vignettes, acorns, straw, baskets etc. Be creative and have fun with it!

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HOW TO MAKE A VINTAGE COUNTRY DINING ROOM

by Mike's Furniture

There is nothing as homey as the look of a tablecloth on the table and the smell of something coming out of the oven. You can create that warm sense of nostalgia by introducing a few well-placed items around your home. And with a little help, that happy sunshiny feeling will greet you every time you walk in the door. 

Here's what to use so you can dine in vintage country style:

• Whitewashed or distressed furniture

• Vintage items with a new found purpose

• Old-fashioned doors; reused or reinvented as wall art, tabletops or room dividers

• Bushel baskets (or wire baskets) filled with magazines, mittens, mail or anything that needs a home

• Mason jars as glassware, silverware holders or candle jars

• Red and white checked gingham tablecloths, napkins or dishtowels

• White curtains at the window and white china on the table

• Rugs on the floor, any kind will do: painted cloth, rag, braided or jute (to name a few)

• And flowers everywhere: in vases, pitchers, bottles or jars

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Ideas For A Vintage Casual Home

by Mike's Furniture

Inspired by the old and comfortable looks of the past, this style is perfect for a soothing mood.

The vintage casual look is cozy, elegant, creative and casual chic. From coastal to cottage or country house, the secret is in the accents you add. You can also mix the looks together to personalize it even more. All you need to keep in mind is natural materials and colors if you want to respect the soul of this style. Here are some inspiring ideas:

Accessories

Bedroom

Living Room

Dining Room

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Add Country Accessories For A Casual Home

by Mike's Furniture

Country Style Bedroom:

Whether your style is casual or refined, adding a Country style to your bedroom will create a warm and inviting space. Finally! You can retire to a bedroom that says cozy! One might ask how can I achieve this look? Get inspired with these Country bedroom essentials:

First and foremost, nothing says country like beautiful wood textures. There is something about natural elements that implies a soothing environment.  From reclaimed wood to smooth finishes, your choice of bedroom furniture should reflect your personality – edgy and slightly daring or toned down and timeless. A Country style bedroom set also typically includes dark metal hardware. As for the bedroom accents, since the furniture is quite neutral, have fun with adding a little pop of color to your pieces.

Country Living Room:

Homeowners, fashion a stay-awhile living room with a melting pot of country style designs! Perhaps the most sought after trends in a living room lean toward the French Country and Rustic styles. The ever so beautiful slipcovered sofa is both elegant and cozy. As for the country-looking sofa with a rustic edge, aim for an upholstered sofa with a nailhead trim.

Country Living Decor:

Tap into your inner Country girl or boy to decorate your home with stylish and practical accessories. Just think, if you were handed a fully furnished country house, which staple decorative pieces would you include to make it a home? To help you get inspired, here is a nugget of information. It seems that Country Living is regarded as the “simple life”. Perhaps most, if not all items in this type of home are not mass produced. Items are handmade, passed down as heirlooms and used for practical purposes. How do we mesh this information with modern day style? Here are some thrifty and functional ideas:

Use mason jars and tuck flowers in them to create a casual style or use them for organizational purposes.

Other country-infused ideas include the use of open shelves and neutral-toned basket to organize your pieces. The key is to avoid clutter.

As mentioned previously, heirlooms seem to play a significant role. Use country collectibles to tie in the idea of items being passed down.

Benches & Hall Trees:

Another must-have is the use of benches or halls trees. They are typically seen in an entrance, a hallway or in a mudroom. A bench is useful for putting or removing shoes and for additional storage below. As for the hall tree, this piece is a hallmark for mudrooms. It is useful to hang coats, for storage or for seating when putting/removing shoes. Although it can also be placed in an entrance, if space permits it, the hall tree will add charm wherever it is featured.

Country Style Color Palette:

When it comes to the Country style color palette, the range of colors includes neutral tones of brown and beige. However, it is not unusual to see other toned down colors such as white, blue or green.  Often, these colors are used for accent pieces and show signs of distressing to give them a vintage look. How quaint!

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