February 23, 2009

Choosing the Perfect Sofa at The Roomplace

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leather-sofa

Since your sofa will likely be the largest piece of furniture in your living room or family room, it’s important to choose it carefully.  Here are a few tips from The Roomplace to help get you started:

Fabric or Leather?  Sofa shoppers are often stumped when it comes to choosing between leather and fabric upholstery on their new sofa. Wide selections of fabric make traditional upholstery a popular choice because they allow shoppers to incorporate patterns or shades which fit their decorating theme, or even design an entire room around the upholstery they choose.

Leather sofas are versatile choices that are designed to last for years if properly cared for.  The solid hues of black, tan, and brown leather sofas can provide a classic, even elegant, look to any home.  Spills or pet hair are easily wiped away from leather sofas, while a traditionally upholstered sofa may require a little more effort.

In recent years, micro-fiber furniture has become quite popular.  The tightly-woven fabric is easily cleaned with a damp cloth, and is quite stain resistant.  If you have small children, a micro-fiber sofa could be the best choice for you.

Style is Everything:  Whether you’re going for the casual family room look, or for a more formal living room setting, the style of your sofa is definitely a big part of setting the tone of the room.  Sofas with higher backs and straight line, tailored looks can make your room look more formal, while puffy and round selections give the room a more casual feel.

If you’re looking for a sofa for a small space, consider one with a low profile and neutral tones.  These features will make the room appear to be more spacious, with less distraction to the eye.   If you have a large space that needs some warming up, then a large sectional or multiple pieces in rich tones will help to fill up the space.
Want more help choosing a sofa?  Visit the Roomplace at http://www.theroomplace.com.

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February 11, 2009

Your Interior’s Design is All in the Accessories

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Accessories on scale make a large difference in how a room feels.

Accessories on any scale make a large difference in how a room feels.

After you’ve chosen a new sofa, side chairs, or other major pieces of living room furniture, it’s time to move on to accessories- all the little things that turn ‘just any old house’ into a warm and inviting home.  Here are a few suggestions from The Room Place for putting the perfect finishing touch on your living room.

Accent lighting is one of the fastest and most effective ways to create a sense of warmth in your home.  A pair of table lamps placed on either side of your sofa can create a sense of symmetry and balance within the room, and provide low-wattage lighting sources that eliminate the glare of traditional ceiling lights.   If you want to define a second seating area, a hanging lamp placed over side chairs or a table will do the trick.

Candles, like the ones shown above, are a great accessory for placing on end tables, coffee tables and ottomans.  Even if you don’t light them, candles create a sense of warmth in the room.  And, if you’re looking for a fragrant effect, the inviting aromas of vanilla, cranberry, and sugar cookie candles are all great choices for creating a sense of home.

Mirrors can work wonders in any living room, especially when placed over a sofa or fireplace. Carefully placed mirrors can be used to reflect light into dark spaces, reflect a beautiful outdoor view from a nearby window, and create the illusion of space in tight quarters.  And don’t forget, groups of smaller mirrors in place of one large mirror can give your room artistic flair.

Artwork doesn’t have to be expensive to give your room a unique feel.  From landscapes to abstract paintings and sculptures, your choice of artwork should reflect your personality and tastes.  In addition, textured fabrics, family photos, and small items of interest placed in matching frames can create a one-of-a-kind wall grouping over a sofa or sectional seating.

The Room Place offers all the accessories you need to put those special final touches on your living room, bedroom, or family room.  Visit any of our Chicago showrooms or www.theroomplace.com today!

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February 6, 2009

Not a Morning Person? Maybe it’s that Old Mattress!

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A great mattress pays for itself

A great night's sleep is worth it!

Did you wake up grumpy this morning?  Checked your mattress lately?  There’s no greater guarantee of a lousy day than a worn out, saggy mattress that leaves your body aching due to a lack of support for your body’s unique shape.

The good news is that mattresses have come a long way in the last decade.  New technology and space age foams offer many more options for a good night’s sleep than we’ve ever had before.

Experts recommend replacing your mattress at least once every ten years.  If you’re due for a new mattress set, there are several options to consider, including the firmness of the mattress.  If you have back problems, you may want to go with a firmer mattress for added support.  People with small frames should consider a softer mattress, while those with larger frames may require a very firm mattress in order to support their extra body weight.

If you’re looking for added comfort, check out some of the pillow top mattresses on the market today.  The added softness and extra layer of support can make even the firmest mattress seem like a cozy retreat.  The pillow top mattress shown above is a Simmons Beauty Rest™ mattress which is available at The Room Place.

If you haven’t replaced your mattress in several years, you’ll probably find today’s mattresses to be much thicker than the one you currently own.  Many mattress sets now come with an extra-thick mattress and lower profile, much thinner, box springs. These sets work well with traditional bed frames as well as trendier platform style beds.

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February 3, 2009

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When you first see the blank white walls of a new home, you may be completely overwhelmed by the possibilities. Where do you start? What will be your inspiration? What style will work best for you? What can you afford to purchase? It is important to remain calm in this situation and realize that even if you are no Martha Stewart, it is easy to create a comfortable room that reflects your personal style.

The first thing that you must do when you begin to decorate a new house or a new room is to take assessment of your own personal belongings. What have you acquired over the years that you can utilize in your new home? Also, you should analyze the layout of the room and try to think of styles that will work best with its structure.

One very underrated way to gather ideas about where to get started is just by perusing magazines.  Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living and others are full of glossy, full-color examples of beautiful rooms. It isn’t necessary to hire a professional decorator, when you can get 50 pages of ideas from the professionals for only $2.99.

The magazine, Your Home, published by The Roomplace is also a great place to get new ideas. This publication is free and can be ordered online. It is full of stories about issues that may come up during the decoration of your home, and examples of gorgeous rooms, many of which include our own pieces.

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