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Design Tips Entertaining Featured

Creating the Perfect Patio Fire Pit Gathering Space

Patio

A patio fire pit is an automatic draw for its warmth and ambiance, and it gets even better when you create the perfect gathering space to experience it. You have several factors to consider when designing your ideal patio fire pit gathering space, and The RoomPlace is ready to walk you through all of them.

Make It an Exclusive Space

While your fire pit is best located on your patio, you want it separate from your main dining area. People tend to sit around the fire after dinner, not during it, and you want to set aside a special place for after-dinner relaxation. Make sure there is a clear path from the dining area to the fire pit area with no obstacles or hazards to impede traffic from one area to the other.

Choose an Optimum Location

Choose a location that has enough room for the fire pit as well as ample seating around it. Most fire pits are about no larger than about 4 feet across, and you’ll want an additional 6 feet around it on all sides. Consider the type of seating you plan to use, as some outdoor patio furniture takes up more space than others. An Adirondack bench or chair, for instance, is going to take up more room than a standard patio dining chair.

You may also want to position the fire pit in a place where you can view it from inside the house. That way you’ll be able to enjoy its ambiance even if the weather is too frightful to do it from outside.

Select the Fire Pit Type

Once you determine the fire pit location, the next step is to choose the fire pit type. If you’re not intending to have one built into your patio, you can purchase a portable wood-burning fire pit or a modern fire pit that runs on propane. Options run the gamut from shallow wood-burning bowls to fire pit tables you can switch on with the turn of a switch. Keep the overall look of your patio in mind, whether it’s rustic or contemporary, to retain a cohesive look.

firepits

Select the Fire Pit Seating

Most fire pit gatherings are rather casual and intimate, which makes cozy seating options ideal. You can opt for seating all the way around the fire pit, or choose to leave a pathway area open for easier access. The type of seating you choose depends on the look and layout you want to achieve.

Some fire pit tables are part of a fire pit patio set, giving you an instant and easy put-together look. You could opt for an elegant look with wedge benches and other cushioned patio furniture, or choose a more rustic vibe with wooden Adirondack benches and chairs.

Once you put it all together, you’ll have the perfect gathering area around your fire pit. It will be in a prime location, provide a cozy retreat from the main patio area, and give your guests ample room to congregate around the fire for cozy conversation and relaxation. Shop outdoor patio sets and more at The RoomPlace now.

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Design Tips Featured Room Makeovers

Must-Have Furniture for Your Small or Studio Apartment

Apartment Furniture

Just because you have a small living space doesn’t mean it has to be small on style and functionality. You can create a highly impressive and efficient home with the right touches, starting with must-have furniture that no small or studio apartment should live without. These tips from The RoomPlace tell you how.

Designate Specific Zones

One of the keys to effective studio apartment design is to create different zones where different activities will take place. Creating these zones makes smaller areas more comfy, with specified areas for sleep, work and play. Small apartments may already have different rooms designated for you, but you can still break up larger rooms into distinct zones for different activities.

Living Zone

This area is for relaxation and entertaining, which means it requires apartment-sized furniture where you and any guests can kick back as needed. Small apartment furniture can include smaller sectionals or sofa sets that fit neatly into the area. The easier you can move the furniture around, the more versatile you can make the layout as needed.

Look for pieces that do double or even triple-duty, such as an ottoman with storage. You can use it as a seat, a coffee table and a storage bin.

Sleeping Zone

Make the most of your bedroom area by making it absolutely private. In a studio apartment, this can be done by using a bookshelf as a makeshift wall, creating a cozy corner for sleeping. Consider a platform bed with built-in storage to maximize storage space.

If you’d rather not make the sleeping zone a separate area, you can incorporate it into your living zone. In this case, ideal options would be a sleeper sofa, or a daybed that lets you tuck away the sleeping platform when not in use.

Eating Zone

The kitchen and dining area are often one in the same for studio and smaller apartments. Making the most of this area involves choosing a dining table that doesn’t take up too much space, or can double as a counter area. Ideal choices can include a pub table or bar table with matching stools, or a counter-height table you can position against the wall to double as extra counter space. Try a one with built-in storage for an added perk.

Working Zone

Creating an office area in small or studio apartments involves picking office furniture that has multiple uses. Opt for desks with cubbies or other storage space you can file documents and paperwork. Borrow a chair from the kitchen area when you need to sit down and work, or choose a small rolling stool or chair you can easily move to different locations.

If you don’t have room for or would rather not invest in a separate desk, look for a kitchen table that can also function as a desk.

Studio Apartment Furniture

Additional Pieces

Now that you have the basics covered, the final step is to look for additional pieces for any remaining storage needs. Get creative with options to get the most use out of any single piece. A dresser can double as a TV stand, for instance, or you can use an entertainment center wall unit as a place to store shoes, clothes and personal items.

Top it your apartment decorating with different decorative rugs to further designate the different zones, and add stylish home décor that pulls it all together. Mirrors are always fabulous for making spaces appear larger, while a mix of light fixtures can add a cozy ambiance. Check out the furniture, home décor and lighting options at The RoomPlace today.

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Design Tips Featured Home Decor Room Makeovers

Area Rugs: Where to Put Them and Which to Choose

Area Rug Decor

Area rugs serve as artwork for the floor, but they also do so much more. They can add warmth, comfort and excitement to you living space, in so many different locations. We here at The RoomPlace are big on rugs, which is why we created this guide to help you determine where to put area rugs in your home and which rugs to choose.

Where to Put Area Rugs

Rugs can enhance nearly any space, as long as you have enough room to adequately accommodate them. You don’t want to shove one into a tight entryway, for instance, but you can use one in a cramped bathroom to make the room look larger. Here come a variety of areas you can spruce up with a rug.

Entryways and Foyers: The right rug here can make a fine first impression the moment someone walks in your door. Opt for one that’s wider than the doorway. In a larger foyer, center the rug under the lighting source.

Hallway: Runners work well in hallways. They look best with at least 6 inches of space on all sides, and preferably in the center of the hall.

Living Room: A dashing rug can serve as the focal point of the room, and you can even use more than one if you have a particularly large living room. When placing a rug in the center of a furniture ensemble, make sure it extends beyond the coffee table and under the first set of legs on the sofa and chairs. Rugs placed in front of couches should be at least the same length as the couch.

Bathroom: Small bathrooms can appear larger with rugs featuring bold patterns and a mélange of colors. Put one in front of the sink.

Kitchen: Several rugs in the kitchen can spruce up the look while adding a layer of comfort for your legs, feet and lower back. Try one in front of the stove, another in front of the sink. Use smaller, individual rugs or runners, with runners placed at least 6 inches away from the cabinets.

Dining Room: Rugs can look amazing beneath the dining room table and chairs. Pick a rug that’s the same shape as the table, and make sure it extends at least 2 feet on all sides of the table.

Bedroom: Bedroom rugs add a dash of coziness to the space. Place one under the bed, with the rug extending at least 2 feet beyond the bed. You can also use runners along the sides of the bed for extra cushioning and comfort when you get up in the morning.

persian rugs

How to Choose Area Rugs

Now that you have a good idea of where you might want to put area rugs, it’s time to choose the right rugs for each space.

Determine the Atmosphere You Want to Create

Do you want the rug to add cozy comfort? An exotic splash of color? A modern vibe? Review the variety of rugs available to determine what type of atmosphere you want the rug to create. While rugs don’t need to perfectly match everything in the space, it does need to align with the tones and textures of the existing furniture and décor.

Pick the Color, Pattern

Color and pattern play huge roles for setting the tone of the room, so choose carefully. Do you want the rug to stand out or blend in? If the space is already packed with tons of colors, select a solid neutral rug. Rooms that could use a boost can do well with bolder, more colorful, or patterned rugs.

Select a Shape

Rectangle rugs are the most common, but they’re not the only choice. Round rugs can help create a cozy niche in a corner of the room or add interest to an entryway. Other choices include square, oblong and animal hides.

Choose the Size

Many folks make the mistake of choosing a rug that’s too small for the space. If you’re selecting a rug to cover the floor for the entire room, you want to center the rug and leave between 10 to 20 inches of bare floor between the walls and the edge of the rug.

If you’re using rugs to define spaces within a room, different rules apply. You can find some of those rules above, when we outlined where area rugs can be placed.

area rug cleaning

 

Consider Lifestyle and Maintenance

Even the most plush and glorious rug can end up making you unhappy if all you’re doing is cleaning or maintaining it. Consider your family’s lifestyle and where the rugs will be placed to narrow down choices that are easy to maintain.

Low-pile rugs work well in high-traffic areas, like kitchens and hallways. High-pile and plusher rugs do better in areas that don’t get a lot of traffic. Darker colors and patterns will hide dirt and stains better than lighter, solid colors.

Whatever type of rug you choose, make sure you get the right type of rug pad to go with it. Choose one that’s compatible with the flooring below the rug, whether it’s carpet, tile or hardwood floors.

Now that you have all the basic info you need, it’s time to start looking for rugs that make the perfect statement in every area of your home. Shop the area rug collection at The RoomPlace now.