Category: Color

Color

Categories
Color Design Tips Living Rooms

The New Neutral

Grey is one of the hottest trends in fashion right now.  You will see this neutral hue everywhere this spring and that has carried over to furniture as well.  Grey creates a cool, contemporary look and is the perfect neutral.  It has become increasingly popular in homes including bedroom wall paint, kitchens for backsplashes, countertops, flooring, and dining cabinetry.  Because it is neutral, it never goes out of style.  It gives you dimension and depth and you can accent it with any color. The Room Place has an excellent selection of living room furniture in this hot hue.

 

 Like the Chloe sectional.  Wrap yourself up in the cozy comfort and contemporary good looks of our Chloe sectional! The classic L-shaped sectional design and deep seating encourages relaxation to your heart's content, and the plush, velvety microfiber keeps every moment soft and soothing. The swirled accent fabric adds whimsy and a sense of visual movement. 

 

 

 Our Devon Grey collection boasts a dual arrangement of fabrics for powerful appeal! Visually, the grey and black colors make a quintessentially sleek statement; texturally, the cozy, velvet-like microfiber contrasts the smooth touch of the faux leather. Comfort-wise, you'll luxuriate in the full-bodied cushions, pillowtop arms and recline options. The reclining seats offer a full chaise design — no gaps between the seat and the footrest — for total body support.

 

 

 Our Demi II collection will give your living room the update it deserves.  As stylish as it is comfortable, this set is made luxurious with its thick microfiber fabric, which gives the appearance of suede while being velvety soft. The flared frames offer a dynamic visual element, while the hardwood/plywood construction keeps you well supported. The fun toss pillows boast big circles in various patterns, all with a touch of chenille.

Make sure to visit one of our showrooms to see the rest of our living room collections in this season's hottest color….grey!

 

Categories
Color Design Tips DIY Entertaining Home Decor Room Makeovers

Use Thanksgiving-inspired home décor to get into the spirit of the season

With radio stations already starting to play round-the-clock Christmas tunes, the imminence of the holiday season probably hasn't escaped your attention. As most of The RoomPlace's Chicago and Indianapolis furniture customers know, Thanksgiving is already on the ten-day forecast and Christmas is just around the corner after that. But during the hustle and bustle of preparing for ever-dropping temperatures, noisy house guests and much-anticipated (dreaded) holiday shopping, it's easy to neglect the ways you could be getting into the spirit of the season just by doing a little sprucing up around the house.

Thanksgiving marks the end of the fall season and launches us headfirst into winter, so for 2012, make sure you give the end of the autumnal era all the respect it deserves! The teams at The RoomPlace furniture stores in IL and IN encourage our readers to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving the right way, by sending the fall season out with a bang.

 

Bring the outdoors in with rustic home accents

What better way to procrastinate on your Christmas shopping than by clinging to every scrap that’s still left of fall? For the final weeks of November, consider adding a little autumnal rustic flare to your dining room or living room. Furniture replacement won’t be necessary; we're not talking about transforming your house into a log cabin. Keep it simple.

Pick up some silken leaves at your local crafts store and drape them around your bookshelves, or display them inside your picture frames for a more sophisticated look. If you're truly dedicated to the "natural" vibe, try threading freshly fallen leaves into a makeshift garland and hanging them above your living room fireplace. While you're at it, invest in some cheap faux feathers or artificial birds for a nature-inspired mantel setting, and throw in a few wood-framed mirrors or a vase filled with red leaves and acorns for good measure.

Finally, Halloween might be over, but white or "ghost" pumpkins are still in style – and they're the perfect way to blend those last remnants of fall with the snowy white winter ahead. Pick up a few of these tasteful home accents and create a simplistic display on your dining room’s buffet table or sideboard by adding a few ceramic pedestals, potpourri, or a vintage clock. 

 

Spice it up with seasonal colors

You don't need to re-paint your entire house to add a seasonal color scheme to a few of your rooms. Incorporate the warm hues of autumn into your home décor with just a few extra touches of trendy fall colors like bold bronze, chocolate brown, copper, and wine. Try switching out your everyday draperies or rugs for some new ones featuring these kinds of colors. Feeling adventurous? Add a little fall flavor to your Thanksgiving table by picking out a few dining room chairs – or new upholstery fabrics for the ones you already have – that highlight autumnal hues in exotic patterns and prints.

For those more familiar and vibrant fall colors like orange, gold, and red, focus on the details: Select some of your favorite items from around the house that already utilize these colors, like a brightly colored cultural piece or shiny brass candle holders, and dress your room around them. You'll be surprised at how in-season your home feels with just a few splashes of bold Thanksgiving hues.

 

Reduce, re-use, recycle

It's nice to have the home looking gorgeous when relatives come calling, but when it's time to sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, let’s face it: Nobody will be concerned about the color scheme of the dining room. Keep your creative autumnal vibe in the spotlight during this year's feast by re-using some of the elements from our other tips, to create a simple recycled Thanksgiving centerpiece before you carve the turkey.

Take a leaf out of the rustic decor book and fill the center of your dining room set with fresh herbs and colorful fall foliage. Or, decorate your ghost pumpkins with your silken leaves for a more literal representation of the season. Our favorite minimalist Thanksgiving idea here at The RoomPlace? Stroll around the block and gather some bare branches for a sculptural, elegant centerpiece that costs you nothing and allows you to keep the rest of your fall decor intact. Incorporate your favorite autumnal color scheme by sticking the branches in a bronze or brass container, or create eye-popping contrast by placing them in a bowl of red apples or berries.

 

This Thanksgiving, don't forget to give the fall season a little credit as you wave goodbye to it and head into December! Whatever you end up doing to prepare your house for Thanksgiving and however you choose to celebrate, the team here at The RoomPlace wishes you a safe, healthy and happy holiday.

Now, don't you have some cooking to do?

Categories
Cleaning & Organizing Color Design Tips DIY Home Decor Room Makeovers

Brighten your home for shorter winter days with these tips from The RoomPlace

The end of Daylight Savings Time has officially brought the fall season to a close, and that means we’ll be greeting the sun a little earlier as we enter the long winter months ahead. But for The RoomPlace customers working 9-to-5 jobs, those premature sunrise hours might be the only opportunity to enjoy daylight that's vanished even before punching the clock at the end of the workday.

Unfortunately, the consequences of setting our clocks back can be more serious than just waving goodbye to that nice summer tan. Recent studies suggest that loss of daylight this time of year tends to result in more car crashes and pedestrian fatalities, while the darker evenings of winter increase our susceptibility to unhappiness at work, weight gain, and even Seasonal Affective Disorder.

But The RoomPlace has a few quick tips for how our Indianapolis and Chicago furniture customers can keep life feeling bright and cheerful, despite early sunsets and dropping temperatures. Just because it's darker outside doesn't mean it has to be gloomy where it really counts: inside your home.

 

Help sunlight help you

The first step in brightening your home for the winter is remembering one simple rule: Dark, matte surfaces absorb and hide light, while light, glossy surfaces reflect and maximize it. Take a quick look around and take note of which description best applies to your favorite rooms. Some of your home accents – like shadowy drapery, heavy shades, dark-value wall paint, or murky-colored upholstery fabrics – might be sucking up your rooms’ available light.

There’s only so much natural light to go around during the shortened days of winter, so try to make the most of it by storing some of your heavier or darker items away for the season and replacing them with lighter fabrics or reflective materials. For example, you might try exchanging your framed photographs for framed mirrors, or consider going without window dressings for a few months.

 

Let there be light

There’s no better time than the end of Daylight Savings to replace old or dated light fixtures. Replacing your lamps and sources of artificial light is one of the least expensive, least time-consuming ways to perk up an older house or a dim room that isn’t getting enough natural sunlight. Worried about ending up with mismatched lamps after updating? Choosing lighting package specials rather than individual items will ensure not only a cohesive décor, but also a lower total price tag.

Once you’ve found the perfect new floor or table lamps from The RoomPlace, you might also consider upping the wattage of your lightbulbs to further brighten the interior of your Illinois or Indiana home. If you’re trying to save energy, at least go for clear bulbs instead of opaque; they tend to shed brighter light at the same wattage level.

 

Create warmth underfoot

Finally, it’s no secret that temperatures are dropping as days are shortening. Looking for a quick, cheap way to stay warm while continuing your home-brightening project? Create warmth underfoot by investing in some new rugs – available at The RoomPlace furniture store nearest you in all styles, sizes, and price ranges. A new rug can bring a splash of bright colors and patterns to any room, while also protecting your feet from cold tile and the draftiness we’ve come to expect from those harsh Chicago winters.

 

Of course, there's no better way to brighten your home than jumping headfirst into the upcoming holiday season. Check back on The RoomPlace furniture blog frequently so you don't miss any interior design news about bringing holiday cheer to the home in Schaumburg, Tinley Park, Merrillville and beyond!

Categories
Cleaning & Organizing Color Design Tips Home Decor Living Rooms Room Makeovers Shopping & Gifts

How to buy the right furniture for your living room

At The Room Place we aren't here to just sell furniture. We actually want to get to know our customers and help them find the perfect piece or pieces of furniture for their home and lifestyle. We realize that shopping for furniture can be stressful, but it can also be extremely fun provided you know what you want as well as what you need. At The Room Place we take pride in being your neighborhood furniture store for over 100 years now. Quality, value and fantastic service aren't just buzz words for us.

Here are some tips on how to pick out the right furniture for your living room.

  • First you need to look at the room as a whole. What do you use it for?

    • Is the room used for movie night? How about kids jumping around? Pets? or is this room just going to be a formal room to occasionally entertain company?

These are all great question that will help you start to narrow down the living room furniture that you should buy. Below are some of the answers to these questions.

  • Furniture for movie night and just hanging out.

    • You should really look for something that is comfortable and stain resistant since you will probably be drinking a soda and eating popcorn, right??.. Keep in mind you can always purchase fabric and leather protection at any of our stores or online.
  • Young children running around means your furniture will see a lot more use and wear.

    • Make sure you buy living room furniture that is durable and well made.
    • You may want to stay away from electronic motion sofas, sectionals and love seats. Children tend to love pushing buttons!
    • You will definitely want fabric protection for living room furniture being used by small children.
    • Look for sofa cushions that are removable and not attached to the backs or sides of the couch, sectional or love seat. Kids will jump on, over and into the furniture often putting stress on the seam connecting back cushions to the sofa backs.
  • Allowing pets near or on the living room furniture.

    • Again you will want fabric protection for your sofa, loveseat, sectional or chair.
    • Fabric choice is key here. If you go with leather you can just wipe down the cushions to clean or get pet hair off. However, going with upholstered furniture you will get hair and stains that will need to be vacuumed as well as cleaned often.

      • As long as your pet doesn't claw or scratch at your furniture you may want to consider leather or faux leather furniture for the ease of maintenance. .If you do decide on upholstered furniture than consider purchasing furniture that has removable cushions where the fabric can actually be removed from the cushion and laundered. (please check your fabric care instructions here).
  • Formal rooms for entertaining and sitting.

    • These are the easiest to pick out. Just look at the room. How much space do you have? Do you want your room to be Traditinal or Contemporary in designs?

      • You don't want to over crowed the room. Or worse, buy something that doesn't fit at all. If you have limited space you may want to measure. Come into the store with measurements in hand.
      • Look for your style. Is the room or decor eclectic, contemporary or traditional?
      • Leather tends to look more formal but isn't always as comfortable as a plush upholstered furniture. You often have to balance look vs. feel.

        • You can find sofa, love seats and sectionals at The Room Place that have both leather or Faux Leather and Upholstery. This kind of furniture will give you a more formal look with the comfort of plush cushioning.

What is important when looking for living room furniture is to really know that there is a fine balance between needs and wants. Shopping for furniture can be overwhelming with all the different styles, fabrics and designs. It will definitely help you make a better decision if you can ask yourself some basic questions like the ones above. When you shop at The Room Place you will find sales associates that are happy to answer your questions and help you pick out the best furniture for your home.