Tips for Choosing the Right Furniture

When you take the big step towards revamping your home, we understand how difficult it can be to choose the right furniture. There are just so many different styles, colors and designs out there and it can feel like you’re drowning in a sea of possibilities. Thankfully, Apartment Therapy offers a little bit of guidance in that department, hopefully easing the process, if even by just a little bit.

In one of its recent articles, Apartment Therapy offers “5 Tips for Choosing the Right Furniture”, and we thought it would be a good idea to break it down for you.

First off, consider the construction of the piece and make sure that it is solid and sturdy enough to last you for years. Many homeowners will opt for a cheaper product but don’t take into consideration that it may be offered at a lower price for a reason. You may spend a little more now, but you’ll definitely be saving in the long run. Next, take a good hard look at the silhouette. Keep in mind that you want to keep this furniture for as long as possible; are you still going to love this shape five years from now? There are plenty of pieces available that are both beautiful in shape and timeless in style – don’t settle.

Once that has been sorted out, the finish is the next step. A piece can be completely transformed just by changing the color or stain of any exposed wood. It’s important to keep this in mind if you’re looking to make a particular statement with your new furniture. The same goes for the fabric as well. According to the article, “if this is a piece of furniture that will be used frequently, it is suggested to choose a slightly darker fabric.”

Lastly, go for the unexpected! Your home is a reflection of yourself, so give it a little bit of personality. As you’ll have already noticed from reading through previous blog posts, the inventory at Elegant Finds for Your Home is full of wonderful pieces that make a statement in any room. You’ll be sure to find something that speaks to you!

What Makes a Piece Whimsical?

Some people believe that for a piece of furniture to be classified as “whimsical”, there has be some sort of completely wild and crazy element involved. While that may be true in some cases, each and every piece does not have to be totally out there. The whole idea behind whimsical furniture is to have it stand out on its own and make a statement.

When choosing a whimsical piece, it’s all about deciding just how bold you want to be. Take for example a chest of drawers; to be considered whimsical, you’ll have to take a look not only at the way that it was painted and textured, but at the way in which it was crafted as well. Often times, you’ll find that a whimsical chest isn’t carved in straight lines, but rather with curves instead (think Willy Wonka style). For example, notice that the Lark and Vine Chest and the Chevron Chest from the Elegant Finds for Your Home collection are both sporting an unusual shape. Neither is designed with an outrageous pattern, but yet they are both still categorized as whimsical. 

That isn’t to say that you can’t get a little crazy. Our Leopard Chest speaks for itself on why it can be considered a whimsical piece. In our opinion, it would be very difficult to decorate a room where this particular piece of furniture wouldn't stand out!

The key to whimsical furniture is just to have fun while bringing a little bit of your fun personality out in the décor. Always keep in mind that nothing is too outrageous in whimsical design!

What is the Appeal of Hand-Painted Furniture?

When you browse through the Elegant Finds for Your Home inventory, you will find that one of our greatest features is that many of our pieces are hand-painted. So what is it about this type of furniture that leaps out and catches the attention of people like yourself? Well if we had to guess, we’d say it had a little something to do with the character these pieces add to a room.

Hand-painted furniture not only brings a certain uniqueness to any room, but it gives the owner a sense that this one piece was custom designed to fit their energy and personality. So many homes are filled with the same plain-looking furniture, and while that is all well and good, there’s nothing special about it.

To invest in a piece of hand-painted furniture doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your classic sense of style though. Many pieces (especially in our collection) are highlighted with simple touches that accent even the most elegant of homes – such as the oval drop leaf table with a beautifully hand-painted border. However, if you are seeking a piece that makes a bold statement, we’ve got plenty of those as well – this colorful three drawer chest is one of our favorites!

No matter your own personal style, even the simplest of hand-painted furniture works to enhance the aesthetics of a home. Due to the fact that it isn’t just another plain piece, all eyes will instantly be drawn to it, whether it’s a grand dining table or a small corner table, that little pop of individuality will bring any room to life!

Be Better than the Earthquake Table

Right around the time that we start to feel the holiday season creep around the corner is about the time we should start thinking about our home furniture. Now that might sound a little confusing but think about it – if you’re the one who is constantly being elected to host each season’s big event, you should really consider filling your home with furniture that you can be proud of.

With the Thanksgiving feast coming up and Christmas dinner with the family following quickly in its wake, stop and ask yourself what your guests will be dining on this year. Are you planning to pull the fold-up, plastic tables out of storage like last year and the year before that? We thought so. Take it from someone who has spent many a holiday meal at one of those tables, it’s no fun.

With wobbly, unstable legs for support, whenever someone cuts into their turkey, everyone else is subjected to a momentary earthquake. Be better than the earthquake table. Choose something with a little more support this year – and much more style!

Elegant Finds for Your Home carries a wonderful selection of dining tables, such as those that you’ll find in the Zentique collection. Check out the Leeds Dining Table, made with an oak and elm finish and shipped over from India. With a length of ninety-eight inches, this piece would be perfect for a big holiday dinner with family and friends! Then pick up something like Zentique’s Huston Table for a more stylish twist on your classic kids’ table. They’ll be thrilled to sit at a table that is just as fancy as the “grown up table” instead of that earthquake table again!

You’ve already been chosen to host this year’s events so why not accept the challenge with style and grace? Order a beautiful vintage inspired dining room table for the holidays!

2013 Home Décor Predictions

Just as there are predictions for upcoming sports seasons and fashion seasons, the world of home décor has predictions on up-and-coming trends. For those of you who are always looking for ways to keep up with the latest and greatest, Pantone has a few predictions for 2013 that will have you filling up your shopping cart here at Elegant Finds For Your Home.

First of all, what is Pantone? For those of you who are unfamiliar, Pantone is the world-renowned authority on color, known to set the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer. This year, they have predicted that neutrals will make a major comeback during 2013.

Transform your home with warm, easy and classic neutral tones this year as certain colors take on new roles. For example, Pantone emphasizes that leathery browns will become more important as a basic, light blues and navy take center stage and the color olive becomes bolder. It’s becoming more and more apparent that 2013 will be the year of sophistication for the home décor world.

As your browse through our inventory at Elegant Finds For Your Home, you’ll find that many of our pieces fit this description perfectly. Take a look at what we have to offer in our French Vintage and Zentique collections for starters and we’re sure you’ll find the perfect focal point for your new 2013 décor!