March 1, 2010

9 Hints That It Is Time For A New Dining Room Set

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“Let’s just wait a while longer before getting that new dining room set” you said, thinking of a few household expenses you wanted to take care of first.  That was good thinking at the time but  now the “dining room issue” is kind of impinging on your family’s style.

Here are 9 hints that you need a new dining room set:

9. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners tend to be eaten in the living room because it’s “more comfortable” in there.
That’s just beating around the bush.  It’s like saying I’d rather walk the three miles to work because it’s healthier for me rather than getting your car fixed.

8. You go out to dinner with the family just so you can eat at a table that fits all of you comfortably.
If you’re not sure the plate you’re eating off of belongs to you or the person sitting beside you it may be understandable that you drag the crew out for dinners.

7.  You avoid the topic of family gatherings when talking to family because it would be embarrassing if you had to host it.
I know, what’s worse than the relatives making jokes about your furniture under their breath when they don’t know you’re standing right behind them?

6.  Of the five chairs around your dining room table, only two of them match and those two are a wee bit wobbly.
At meal time, it’s like musical chairs in your dining room—the last two to the table get the “rocking chairs” which everyone knows may not make it through even one more meal.

5. You always promised yourself you would update the dining room when the kids moved out but the kids moved out five years ago and now there’s an echo between you and your spouse at the other end.
That was five years ago, now and it is a bit sad eating at a table with so many empty chairs.   With fewer visitors now that the kids have left and less people to impress, maybe you just got to the point of “Why bother?”  These are the best years of your life.  If you are spending a good amount of time in your home, don’t renege on those promises–you’ll love yourself for keeping them.

4.  When your In-Laws visit, they always mention how “cute” it is that “lil ol’ table” is still around—especially since they were about to give it to the salvation army before their son moved out and took it with him to college.
Is it sentimental value or tight purse strings that prevents you from taking the life support off that old thing and letting it slip into annals of family history.  It was almost gone once, don’t prolong its misery any longer.

3. Lemon-yellow Formica dinette set
With the passing of a few decades, state of the art becomes kitsch–which wouldn’t be all that bad if anything else in the house matched it–which it doesn’t.

2.  Your “dining room table” is long and narrow and is attached to your kitchen counter.
Just so you know, that’s called a breakfast bar and it’s called that because it’s best for quick meals on-the-fly, not a 3 course dinner with the family

1. When you open the leaves of the table so everyone can sit down, at least one person gets trapped at the table until the meal is finished. The wrong shaped table for your dining space is as bad or worse as the wrong size table.

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February 20, 2010

Simple Ways to Declutter Your Home

Posted under Rants & Raves | Comments (0)

Making your home free of clutter can seen a daunting task, but it is well worth your time in the end.  Although you may be intimidated by the project, living in an organized house can be refreshing and very rewarding if done right.

Start off by picking just one room to work on.  Pick a room that you spend a lot of time, like a living room, to motivate you to finish in a timely manner.  You can even create an enticing reward if you do complete your task by a certain date.   Setting a deadline is important to ensure you stay on track and remain focused.

Go through items in your room and decide what stays, what can be thrown out and what can go into storage.  Focus on keeping items that serve real purposes or are very meaningful to you.  Everything else can be stored outside of the living area.  Once you have determined what stays, make sure everything has a specific place and commit yourself to keeping items where they belong.  If need be, purchase a wall unit from The Roomplace to store items in an elegant setting.

Organizing a room and making it clutter-free is only half of the battle.  Keeping it that way is just as challenging.  It takes a real commitment if you are prone to collecting.  Try to incorporate the concept of getting rid of something everytime you bring something new into the environment.  If you fall in love with a lamp buy it, but remove a vase or picture frame to keep your room feeling fresh.

And speaking of cleaning up, seems like everyone’s doing it:

Oprah to Declutter and Help A Favorite Charity
Oprah cleans out her closet and will give proceeds of auction to charity
Publish Date: 02/17/2010 12:32
http://blogs.suntimes.com/oprah/

Instructions for decluttering your home (in less than 500 words …
How do you make the decisions to get rid of things?
Publish Date: 02/17/2009 10:30
http://unclutterer.com/

YinTeing’s Life Blog » Blog Archive » Declutter your bedroom and …
The lives of a few of my friends changes after they’ve learn to declutter. It is a step by step process- you cannot force the letting go process… it is gradual. But again, it is something that you have to get started, little by little. …
Publish Date: 02/19/2010 19:15
http://life.yinteing.com/

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February 16, 2010

How Color Affects the Mood of the Room You Are Decorating

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The way colors affect a person’s mood has been the subject of hundreds of studies and although the effects of color vary from one person to another there are some colors that create predictable moods when they are dominant in a room.  This is something to keep in mind as you decorate your living spaces and the places you spend much of your time.

Yellows and golds, for example, make a space feel larger than it is and bring about feelings of liveliness and happiness.  It can be a great color to use for rooms in which you will entertain, read, or play.
Room Decoration with Yellow

Green gives a feeling of health and refreshment.  Green can evoke soothing feelings of calmness.  This might be a great color to decorate your kitchen or bathroom where you want a fresh and clean feeling.  Many other colors go with green which helps make decorating a green room easier.  The Roomplace has a wide variety of neutral items to accent your green room.
Room Decorating with Green

Blue is a very popular color used in decorating.  It may be no coincidence that this is due to the fact that blue represents peace and tranquility.  Blue has been shown to calm and relax those looking at the color.  This can be a great way to decorate your bedroom to help you wind down after a long day.  Add a mirror or two from The Roomplace to make the room appear larger and accentuate the blue.
Room Decorating with Blue

Then there is the forever classic black.  Black lends a feeling of sophistication and formality, making it great for a dining room or living room.  Through black accents, you can create a mood of elegance and modern style.  When black is used wisely, it can create a beautiful room, even in the absence of color.  Check out The Roomplace to see all of their sleek and elegant furniture to go great with your black color scheme room.

Room Decorating with Black

Here are some more resources to help you use color to decorate your home:

Interior Decorating Tutorial: Using Color, Texture & Style
RSVPstyle.com’s DVD/workbook set: an all-in-one crash course on how to choose colors, textures and decorating styles for small to big projects.

Connecting Rooms with Color | NTV’s Good Life
How do you decide which colors to put where? Start with the rooms where you and your family spend the most time.
Publish Date: 02/19/2010 12:27
http://ntvgoodlife.com/

Color Me Happy: Use Color to Impact the Mood of Your Home
Post image for Color Me Happy: Use Color to Impact the Mood of Your Home. Modern research has shown that when our eyes connect with a color, our brains release different chemicals that impact us on a physical and emotional level.
Publish Date: 02/17/2010 1:00
http://simplemom.net/

www.theroomplace.com See what’s on sale today! Great selection and fast delivery

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February 8, 2010

Using Lighting to Make Your Room More Functional

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Proper lighting in any given room is crucial for the room to function optimally.  Before heading out to purchase just any lamp, first define the room’s primary use then decide whether light fixtures, recessed lighting, table lamps or floor lamps would best suit the room’s purpose.  At The Roomplace you can even choose 2 or 3 packs of matching lamps to save you money.

Often times, a bedroom is used for reading as well as winding down, and in those cases, a dimmer light of some sort may be appropriate.  Table lamps are a great use of lighting to decorate your room but consider where people will be sitting so the light won’t shining directly into their eyes.  Floor lamps offer an option to save table space and bring the light closer to the ceiling which can be good for entertaining purposes.  You will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of lighting options to choose from at The Roomplace.

Another option to consider when creating the right mood for a room is candle light.  Candles can be used effectively to give off the right amount of glow to set the mood for an intimate dinner party or a romantic evening.  Choosing stylish candle holders to match your décor is easy at The Roomplace where a variety of candleholders are availahble to choose from, including sleek and modern as well as tall and elegant.

The proper lighting in a functional room will make the world of difference and impact the feel of the room tremendously.  Take your time to shop for the lighting that will best suit each one of your rooms.  Shop right online at www.theroomplace.com.

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February 2, 2010

Creating an Allergen-Free Room for Your Child

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More and more kids are being diagnosed with allergies every year.  It’s a growing epidemic to say the least.  It can be so stressful to watch your child suffer with asthma or even the common hay fever.  There are a lot of things parents can do to keep allergies at bay and one of the easiest things to do is to decorate their room to provide an allergen free environment.  It’s impossible to eliminate allergens completely from your home, but some things are simple and worth your time to update if you or your children have allergies.

One of the most allergen filled pieces in your child’s bedroom in their carpet.  Pulling up the carpet and using area rugs on hard wood floors can limit allergens and vacuuming regularly is important. The Roomplace has colorful and unique area rugs which will work great in your child’s room.

It’s crucial to update your child’s mattress since old mattresses can breed allergens such as dust mites and the Roomplace even carries anti-microbial protection to ward against bacteria which can flare allergies.  The same advice goes for pillows.  They should be replaced about once a year at least.  In addition to refreshing your pillows regularly you can use allergen protective pillow cases which are very effective.

Keeping your child’s room simple is key to limiting allergens.  The less items in the room to collect dust, the better.  When choosing dressers, lamps, and mirrors choose designs that are easy to dust and avoid upholstered items.  The Roomplace has a large variety of all of these items to choose from and with the right balance of style and allergy free items, your child can live comfortably in his or her bedroom.

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December 28, 2009

Leather & Storage Ottomans

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Perhaps more than any other piece of furniture in your living room, the ottoman is a multitasker.  Be it upholstered in leather, microfiber, fabric, or un-upholstered, they add comfort, coziness, and functionality to a family living space.  Nothing says “someone enjoys spending time here” quite like an ottoman.

The Storage Ottoman

sasha-storage-ottoman

(The Sasha Storage Ottoman at The Roomplace)

Uniquely, a good sized storage ottoman is a great fit in a large living room or a small studio.  The bigger it is, the more stuff you can hide from view.  The Sasha storage ottoman, available at the Roomplace, for example,  is a cavernous 42″ wide, 21″ high” and 27″ deep. Books, clothes, pots and pans, cards, remote controls, lap tops, tools–it’s almost endless, the list of what might fit into one of these.  And another good thing is that even a large ottoman can work well into almost any decor.

The Extra Seating Ottoman

lyla-coctail-ottoman

(Lyla Coctail Ottoman)

Extra seating in a pinch is a hallmark of the ottoman.  Ever had five people casually show up to your home, all to congregate around your coffee table?  Ottoman to the rescue.  You can easily sit an extra two or three people around your coffee table with a good sized ottoman.  The fun thing is that when that happens, everyone will enjoy the close quarters much more than they may let on.  Test it out for yourself– the next time you see a few people sitting together on an ottoman, pay closer attention and see if all of them aren’t smiling!  I bet they will be.

The Coffee Table Ottoman

lakefront-cocktail-ottoman

(Lakefront Cocktail Ottoman)

An ottoman for storage or extra seating is good but the multi-tasking ottoman has more tricks to offer.    Coffee table, you ask? You bet. The wide, flat, smooth surface of a good-sized ottoman makes it a terrific surface to gather around for a casual cup of coffee, tea, snack, or TV dinner.

The Perfect Ottoman for Tired Feet

Florence-leather-ottoman

(Florence Leather Ottoman)

And then, there is the “I can’t think of a better place to prop up these tired feet” ottoman.

Elevating your legs after work or play
Relaxing, reading, watching the game on Sunday
A piece of furniture on which I can put my feet
Ottoman, oh ottoman, thou art such a treat

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November 2, 2009

What Colors Are Right For Your Home? Paint or Wallpaper or Both?

Posted under Dining Rooms, Uncategorized | Comments (0)

When you’re looking to make your rooms your own, one of the first items that come to mind is the color palette you should use.
The exact same room will look completely different if the colors of the walls and furniture and upholstery are different. Even changing the color of the matte on a piece of artwork or a framed photo will dramatically change the way it looks and how it interacts with the balance of the room.

How to Pick a room color: HGTV has some good basic tips for you to start with. Color is just the beginning of the choices; if you’re using paint, do you use Matte, eggshell, semi-gloss? What is the difference? For a good explanation of interior paint finishes Click here! Do I paint the trim to match or contrast with the main wall color? Here’s s good guide to choosing trim paint colors.

Wallpaper can be a either a full wall treatment or an accent, and can bring a rich and textured layer to the decorating scheme.  You need to be careful how you use it though. HGTV gives some great advice on how to select wallpaper. How stuff works gives a step-by-step on how to both remove and hang wallpaper, if you choose to do it yourself.

Wallpaper can be anything from a photo mural of a famous place or scene to a very heavily textured and colored paisley or pattern. There are as many various wallpapers as your imagination can go to, and everyone brings a different advantage to the room design.

Whether you’re in a condo, townhouse or single family home The Roomplace has the furniture and accessories that allow your creativity to soar!

Careful planning now will lead to years of enjoyment and relaxation, so bring your ideas along when you visit us and we’ll help you to create a beautiful room for you.

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August 18, 2009

New Store Opens in Indianapolis

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The RoomPlace has now opened our new Avon store, which is our third location in Indianapolis.  The store is located at 10695 E. US Hwy 36.   “Based on the success of our existing Indianapolis locations, a third location in Avon was an easy next step,” says CEO Bruce Berman.

As do our other Indianapolis stores, the Avon store has an open, modern design with an easy traffic pattern, warm colors, brighter lighting, and an updated youth area including entertainment for kids. The MattressPlace bedding test area is also located within the store and allows an easy mattress shopping experience.  More about The Roomplace’s newest store

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August 15, 2009

Decorating with Plants–Real or Artificial?

Posted under Entertainment, General, Home Accessories | Comments (0)

One time, in the not too distant past, plastic slipcovers and clearly artificial plants populated many a living room in our great country. Fake trees and plants of various non-natural colors lurked in scary corners across the land.  We all have heard and seen jokes about “Grandma’s Living room” being plastic coated. Certainly, some of us have actually lived it in person.

Luckily for us nowadays, even if live plants aren’t in the cards for accent pieces due to travel and work schedules, pets, and children, there are numerous options for dried and artificial plants and trees that are beautiful and low-upkeep additions to your décor. Martha Stewart and HGTV have excellent articles on how to use plants in decorating.

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August 6, 2009

New Roomplace Commercial for Indianapolis Store

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Being that its a new market, we’ve rolled out a couple of new TV commercials to help promote the store. Here’s one of The Roomplace commercials….

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