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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May 8, 2009

Home and Office Go Together

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In days gone by, your “Work” lives and your “Home” lives were separate and tended to be kept that way. Now with WiFi, smartphones, and global business, you can have an important meeting anywhere and anytime. Home Offices serve more than just the workplace, too. They are an activity center for homework, vacation planning, and getting ready for the weekly grocery shopping trip.

What makes for a great home office environment? Organization is the first step to efficient home office use.  HGTV has a some great tips for home office arrangement, and The Roomplace has great furniture options for building the perfect home office space. The DIY network’s tips for workflow can help you think about how to select and arrange your furniture.

A computer with Internet access has become almost as indispensible to most households as a refrigerator, yet they tend to end up stuffed in corners or set up on the edge of a table that’s really meant for other things.

A well organized and comfortable workspace, whether it’s for your primary job, the kid’s homework, or household organization and financial planning can add to the functionality of your home in many ways.

champ-collection

The Roomplace's Champ Home Office Collection

Writing a book report for school, finishing that presentation for the big meeting the next morning, or planning the family trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s during summer vacation, the home office serves as the planning and activity center. At Roomplace we understand that everyday life requires superior solutions. Come in and look over our Home Office collections.

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January 22, 2009

Home Office Furniture on a Budget

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The Newport Cove Collection

As you sit in your home office, working on that pesky project that your boss sent home with you, your mind may begin to wander.  Perhaps you will think about a rocky New England shore, walking along the beach and feeling the salty sea breeze ruffle your hair. You may hear the cry of seagulls, the waves crashing into the coastline, and the aroma of broiling lobster may even filter through. Um hmmm, you’ve been there before.

Unfortunately, we can’t offer you a fantastic New England vacation–complete with chowder. However, we can make your work environment worthy of a daydream with our Newport Cove home office collection. Its clean and simple white bead board elements give light and air to an office, as well as a hint of old Northeast charm.

The collection offers ample storage space, in its bookshelf, cabinet, and credenza (which can be complemented with a matching hutch). It also provides a sturdy, yet elegant writing desk. All of the pieces are antique white, with warm cherry accents and exquisite nickel details.

The collection makes your home office feel more like a home, and less like a cubicle. Its straightforward lines give it the ability to flow effortlessly with the décor in the rest of your house.

With The Roomplace’s Newport Cove collection, your home office will soon become your new favorite room, and make it an ideal place for the children to do homework and for you to finish up that report. Drop by any of our Chicago area Roomplace locations

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January 16, 2009

A Home Office that Works for You

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Have all the space you need to work effectively and efficiently.

Have all the space you need to work effectively and efficiently.

Does your workspace create more stress than your job? For the work-at-home professional, a clean, organized and well-decorated home office space is essential to a productive work day.  Here are a few decorating ideas from The Room Place for creating a new home office, or transforming your existing one.

The ultimate goal of any home office should be to create an atmosphere that lends itself to productivity.  For most of us, this means clearing away clutter, finding storage space for necessary items, and selecting comfortable, well-designed office furniture.

So, where should you start?  The largest piece of furniture within your home office will likely be your computer desk, so it’s a good place to begin.  When selecting a desk, look for a piece that will comfortably hold your computer, printer, and still provide you with enough space to spread out a few files, books, or other paperwork as you work.

Since many of us often use our home office for personal business as well as work, look for a desk with separate storage spaces for work and home files.  Many home office furniture sets offer add-on options such as a hutch or additional filing cabinets.   Keep in mind that you may want the option to add pieces as your business grows or your needs change.

One often overlooked home office item is the desk chair.  Even if you’re on a tight budget, don’t skimp here!  Choosing the right chair for you can prevent hours of discomfort and back pain.  Look for desk chairs with back support and adjustable height settings.

Don’t forget to add those special, comforting touches to your home office space.  A warm shade of paint, a green plant, a floral arrangement, artwork, or pictures of friends and family can provide welcome relief from the daily grind of conducting business.

The office furniture shown above is available at The Room Place.  Visit www.theroomplace.com for more information!

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