Foolproof Patio Design Ideas for Entertaining All Year Long

In Florida you can take advantage of the wonderful weather all year long.  This means you can use your patio every day of the year, if you wish. One of the best ways to make your patio warm and inviting, yet cool and chic, is to bring the indoors outside. Try any or all of the tips below to turn your patio into one of your favorite places to relax.

Create Atmosphere

Use candles to set the mood, just as you would in an indoor space. Candles, lanterns, or torches scattered around your yard and patio create an indoor atmosphere and intimacy. Glass cylinders make great candle holders, or you can put hurricane glass shades around your candles. If you have a fire pit, such as the Island Estate Lanai Fire Pit Set from Tommy Bahama, don’t be afraid to use it all year round. It features a service area with ample room and adds exotic appeal with its hexagonal weatherstone top. When entertaining, add a cocktail tray with glassware, mixers, and garnishes. This will also add to the indoor vibe of your outdoor space.

Hang Curtains

Curtains add functionality and aesthetic appeal to your patio or porch. Traditionally for interiors, curtains can help make an outdoor space feel intimate and cozy. In addition to adding a decorative touch to the space, they create shade on the sunniest of Florida days, shelter guests from windy weather, and provide intimacy during social gatherings.

The Right Furniture

Increasingly you can find outdoor furniture that looks like indoor furniture. Instead of uncomfortable metal sofas, you can opt for outdoor furniture with soft, comfortable cushions and sturdy construction that can withstand the elements all year round. Consider using something that looks like it would be at home in your living room or den. Upholstered in Sunbrella Performance Outdoor Fabric, the Island Estate Lanai Scatterback Sofa by Tommy Bahama offers comfort and style as well as durability.

Textiles

Just as you carefully choose textiles for your indoor furniture, you should be choosy about what you put in your outdoor room. The right textiles will help you recreate the comfort and warmth of an indoor space. Above, the five cushions that make up the back of the sofa look like indoor pillows, and so really solidify the indoor look you are going for.

Finishing Touches

Once you have your foundation, add some finishing touches. Accessorize, just as you would any room. An area rug can pull the space together, a chandelier can add elegance, and flowers add a little freshness. Depending on how the space will be used, you can even add a TV.

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Home Design that Maximizes Your Living Room Space with Natuzzi Editions

Every home needs more space, regardless of how large or how small. Have you ever noticed that the family room or living room is usually the messiest room in the house? These rooms are high traffic areas, with family watching TV, friend dropping over, and you lounging on the sofa to read or watch the game. If you’ve been wondering how to create more space to make your home more feel more welcoming and spacious, below are a few tips on how to style the a room with leather furniture from Natuzzi Editions that might give you inspiration.

Let Your Room Breathe

Your living room needs space to breathe, so place the couch a few inches away from the wall to make your room seem more spacious. Use multifunctional furniture such as ottomans with storage and coffee tables with open shelving or drawers. This will give you space when your busiest f room is full of people. Also consider pieces that can be used as stealth seating for entertaining such as stools, ottomans, and sturdy side tables. An ottoman can be used as either a coffee table or extra seating.

Seating Options

Consider size and depth when choosing a couch, such as the white leather sofa from Natuzzi Editions. It provides comfortable seating that will complement almost any décor. The box seat cushions give your family and friends durable support. If you have the space, longer sofas can also provide additional seating, but are best used in a floating space plan where two identical couches are positioned across from each other in the center of a room. They then need to be balanced with a long coffee table.

 Benches can also serve dual functions in your home décor. Try buying two benches that coordinate with the design of your living room, and place one or both at the foot of beds in your home. Then when additional seating is needed, you can easily move the benches into the living room and you will still have a cohesive looking space instead of a mishmash of piece pulled from the garage or back porch.

Shelving

Try adding shelving on the wall behind the sofa, either built-ins or matching book cases. Here you can display books, art, and collectables in a way that shows your style. It keeps table tops clutter free and provides a home for all the items you wish to show off.

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Sectional Sofas Provide Style and Function

Once mockingly called “conversation pits”, interest in sectional sofas is on the rise. And it's not hard to see why. With more people becoming "nesters", sectionals have become increasingly popular. They can be used to soft-divide a room and supply ample seating for entertaining and lounging. They can also be split up to create an intimate seating area or better traffic flow when necessary.

Since sectionals can be large and bulky, creating a balanced arrangement can be tricky and intimidating. However, their strength is in their size and their versatility. Because they dominate their space and provide plenty of seating, you usually don't need many other pieces. The Design Your Own collection by Sherrill gives you the size and versatility sectional sofas are known for. You can customize your sectional by choosing your fabric as well as the arm and back style. The size of your room, your design preferences, and the needs of your home are just a few of the factors to keep in mind when choosing your sectional.

Essentials of Sectional Sofas

The essential element to creating an effective layout is balance. Positioning a single chair across from the short end of the sectional will give you this balance. You can determine the ideal spot to place the chair by drawing imaginary lines from the each of the sectional's arms. Where these lines meet is the best place to put the chair. Although the sectional provides plenty of seating, putting a chair opposite it visually rounds out the space and allows for plenty of conversation opportunities. Grounding the space with an area rug keeps everything under control. The customizable sectional sofas in the Veronica Collection by Broyhill Furniture let you choose modular pieces that can create any configuration you wish.

Make the Layout Work for the Space

If you have a sectional and a chair and a half or a sofa that seats two, you can put the sofa or chair and a half across from the short end of the sectional. Then place three poufs or a small bench in front of the coffee table. Since the two-seater will be longer than the short end of the sectional, this will maintain equilibrium in the room.

When working in smaller spaces that may require extra seating without blocking the view or the television, a large ottoman or two small ones placed across from the larger part of the sectional will allow unobstructed vision. Above, the corner sectional is offset by a pair of ottomans, all from the Take Five collection by Lexington. You can hide or replace the ottomans with a coffee table when they are not needed for overflow seating.

If you have a sectional that is the same length on each side, you can balance it by placing either smallish chairs or a largish one across from it. Again, position the chair on a diagonal, but this time it should be in the same plane as the sectional’s back. This will keep the feeling of the layout open.

Face the Challenges

Long, narrow spaces always present design challenges, and are no less tricky for sectional sofas. Your first thought might be to position the longer pieces of the sectional parallel to the wall and place additional seating – a couple of chairs, an oversize ottoman, or some poufs – across from the shorter end. Try using a rug to pull the space together and place your additional seating so that it faces the sectional. This will keep your space from seeming overcrowded.

If one sectional is good, then two are better, right? If you have a large space, consider two sectionals placed across from each other. This will give you a cozy room with all the seating you need. Or add several chairs and a couch and organize all the seating around a coffee table or two. This is an ideal arrangement for entertaining. You'll be making the best use of the large space with separate areas perfect for conversations.

Although a sectional can be made up of as few as two pieces, they generally contain 3 to 5 sections and can include recliners or chaises. They are great for bringing warmth and softness into modern spaces that can feel a bit cold. Whether the space you have is small or large, slick and modern or family friendly, there is a sectional and a layout that will work for you. Regardless of the layout you choose, remember to aim the television toward the sectional's center so that everyone has a decent view.

Explore more sectional sofas from the many famous brands at the Baer's Furniture near you.

Soften Your Dining Room with Curtains, Drapes, and Rugs

When you think about dining room décor, tables, chairs, buffets or sideboards, and chandeliers are the first items that come to mind. However, curtains, drapes, and rugs are equally important to the look and feel of the room. With all the hard surfaces that fill this space, a little softness can go a long way. The right window dressing and area rugs will make the space warm and inviting.

Patterns and Fabrics for Curtains

You can go the tradition route and use the same fabric on the window treatments that are on the chair cushions. Although old-fashioned, this is a look that works well in the dining room. Alternatively, you can pick up a color from a piece of art and use that as a solid color on the drapes. When choosing curtains with a pattern, be sure careful to pick one that ties the colors of the room together.

The simple shapes and monochromatic tones of the Criteria Formal Dining room furniture above are softened and complemented by the gentle geometric pattern of the floor-length curtains. The type of fabric you choose will depend on the look you want to create. Rich velvets and elegant silks create a formal and dramatic feel, while linens or light cottons are perfect for a more casual space.

Color, style, and the room itself are all factors to consider when choosing curtains and rugs for the space. If you like voluptuous, billowing curtains that pool on the floor, then by all means go for it. If your style is more tailored, you’ll want to look for something more streamlined. The goal is to use wide swathes of fabric to create softness rather than shutters and hard blinds.

Sizes for Curtains

You don’t have to go for the opulence of drapes puddling on the floor if that’s not your style, but keep in mind that drapes and curtains should at least brush the floor when dressing large floor- or almost floor-length windows. You’re better off going a little long than too short. When too short, they look like they don’t fit the window—this is one of the most commonly made design mistakes.

If you can’t find drapes that skim the floor, you can adjust the rod a little. Generally rods are mounted about 4” over the window frame, but this rule isn’t set in stone. So, go ahead and adjust the rod to fit your space if need be. Also, the general standard is to extend the rod approximately 6” to 8” past the window frame. Making it larger will make your window look bigger.

Fabrics and Patterns Rugs

A bold print or color on the area rug in your dining room can make it the focal point of the space. A smaller patterned rug will make the space feel larger and airy, so this is a good choice for smaller rooms. In addition, your rug color will help define your space and make it feel welcoming. 

Colorways should contrast or complement the colors on the walls and curtains. You can choose a similar pattern in a larger scale, or a solid color that pulls out or complements a color in the drapes. If you want to highlight the flooring select a smaller-sized rug, and of course if you want to downplay the floor, choose a larger rug with a bolder pattern.

Sizes for Rugs

The rug should be wide and long enough on each side so that the chairs can easily slide in and out. And don’t forget that your dining room usually has a few other piece of furniture in it, such as a buffet, sideboard, or server. Try arranging your furniture before you decide on the size of your area rug. Generally, your rug should end before your other furniture, however, if you have to have the front legs on the area rug, be sure to shim the back legs so the piece is level.

The essential element of good interior design is balance. A room with numerous hard edges, such as the dining room, can use a little softness. The right curtains, drapes, and rugs can help you achieve this balance.

The dining room furniture pieces shown above can be found at Baer’s Furniture, family owned and operated for four generations.

A Chest of Drawers: Fashionable Storage for Every Room of Your Home

Tall and narrow, short and wide, small enough to use as a bedside table or big enough to hold all your clothes, a chest of drawers is one of the most versatile, multi-purpose pieces of furniture. You can put it in a bedroom, foyer, dining room, living room – you name the room, you’ll probably be able to find a place in it for a chest of drawers.

The function of a chest of drawers can be either decorative or practical. Whether a large piece that takes up an entire wall, or a small piece in a foyer or living room, it gives you a place to hold or hide small household items and makes your space cleaner and more organized. And more than just the drawers are useful. You can store plants, baskets, or photos on top of a tall chest and use the top of a small chest for candles, lamps, televisions, books, or flowers in a decorative vase.

When shopping for a chest, consider your entire decorating plan. If you’re style is vintage, look for a practical chest with simple, straight lines such as the Campaign Wellington Chest by Theodore Alexander. It gives you plenty functional storage with sleek, sophisticated style. If you have a more formal style, look for a well-crafted antique reproduction piece. If your style is contemporary, a chest with sleek lines will work in your home.

Keep in mind that you will probably have this chest of drawers for a long time and use it in many different places in your home. So make your selection wisely and you’ll have a piece that will enhance whichever room you place it in. Here are some of the ways you can use this versatile piece of furniture.

Bedroom

This is the logical place to use a chest of drawers, since they were originally created to store clothing. A small paneled chest with 2 drawers makes a perfect nightstand. It can hold books and an alarm clock while keeping personal items neatly stowed out of sight. Put a lamp on top for late-night reading. The gilt verre églomisé paneled chest by Theodore Alexander adds a little opulence to your bedroom.

Living Room/Family Room

The gilt verre églomisé also makes a beautiful end table next to a couch, sofa, or chair. The top offers elegant display space and the drawers keep items such as remotes handy when you need them and neatly stowed when you don’t. Or if your living room is more of a game/craft room for the kids, a chest of drawers can be used to store games, puzzles, books, or art supplies.

Dining Room

Instead of a sideboard, try a long, low chest. The top can be used for serving and while tablecloths, placemats, napkins, and trays can be stored in the drawers. A small chest gives you a place to display seasonal decorations or a floral arrangement. The drawers can be used to store silverware.

Foyer or Hallway

Large foyers can often be difficult to decorate. Not a room, not a hallway, but big enough for a small chest of drawers and maybe a side chair beside it. The Commode Chest, also by Theodore Alexander, can hold scarves, keys, and mail. Give each family member a drawer and add a decorative box or basket on top for mail.

Bathroom

A tall, narrow chest can store all the things you’d put in a linen closest – towels, washcloths, and hair supplies. A shorter chest near the shower or bathtub can keep towels and bath supplies handy. Use a decorative basket for shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and towels. Store hair tools such as the blow dryer, straightener, or curling iron in the drawers.

If you are looking to enhance the décor of any room in your home, visit the Baer’s Furniture Showroom near you to check out the entire Chest of Drawers collection by Theodore Alexander.

Essential Elements of Coastal Décor

If you love rooms bathed in sunshine and painted in soft, watery colors with lightweight gauzy sheers or bare windows, coastal décor may be the style for you. Adding a few essential elements of this style will create casual ocean attitude and seaside energy, even if a house on the beach is only in your mind’s eye.

Sea and Sky

Decorating with the colors of the sea and sky is the best way to bring the vibe of the seashore into your home. The turquoise of a Caribbean cove, the deep green of a lake, or the gray of a stormy sea are all coastal-inspired hues that will give you a cottage-y feel. Painting your woodwork a crisp white, another element of coastal style, will amplify the color on your wall, so keep it light to keep it airy. If you prefer white walls, use the coastal hues on your upholstery or linens. Whether you’ve chosen blue, green or gray, layer the shades in coordinating patterns to add depth, texture, and detail to the room. Take inspiration from nature, if you’ve used blue, sunshine yellow is its natural complement, so it is an excellent choice as an accent color. If yellow is a little too bright for you, seaweed green and sandy beige also work well.

Bright Ideas

Coastal decorating emphasizes light – so avoid dark wood tones in flooring and furnishing, since they can make the space feel heavy. Instead, use light woods such as maple, oak, or cork with a clear varnish and blue toned rugs. Keep the window treatments sheer and minimal, or keep the windows bare, to bring as much bright, natural light as possible into the space. White in upholstery, kitchen cabinets, and window treatments will add breeziness to the space.

Ocean Artifacts

Since you are going for an ocean feel, incorporate elements that you could find on a walk on the beach. A piece of driftwood as a lamp base or a jar full of sea glass are perfect decorative accessories. However, be careful not to go overboard, having a theme is nice, but if used too much it will give you a one-note, heavy-handed look.

Embrace the Elements

Since coastal living is often casual, barefoot living, what’s on the outside of the house is just as important as what is inside it. You can link the inside and the outside by furnishing the deck, patio, or garden in the same style. Think of your outside space as another “room” that can extend your look and your living space. Set up some comfortable spaces for lounging with a book or an afternoon nap. If you like to entertain, be sure to have plenty of dining surface to host a crowd. Then, bring some outside indoors by creating a terrarium, hang artwork that portrays an outdoor activity, or a lobster crate repurposed as a side table.

Practical Tips

If you’ve vacationed at a seaside cabin or lived in a house by the coast, you understand that there are some practicalities of this life that must be handled – sand tracked across the floor, harsh sun that faces upholstery, and damp swimsuits that can ruin the finish on kitchen chairs. This can be mitigated by making smart decorating choices. Choose wooden flooring that can be easily swept clean, slipcovers that protect upholstery, and painted finishes instead of stained wood on tables and chairs in the kitchen. These choices are all essential elements of coastal décor, so will enhance your coastal theme.

To find out more about the Seabrook Collection by Broyhill, visit the Baer's Furniture showroom near you. Read about Baer's Furniture leadership changes.

Stylish and Unique Accent Tables to Revive Any Style

End table, side table, sofa table, lamp table — call them what you like, accent tables can revive any style. Small and stylish, they balance the look of your living room, while also functioning as a place to hold beverages, remote controls, reading lights, and more.

When considering adding an end table to your living room, think about both its form and function. How will you use it the most? What style will complement your room’s overall décor? Do you want it to stand out or subtly enhance the room? Keeping these questions in mind will help you determine the best size and shape of your accent table.

Look for the Right Shape, Size, and Weight for Your Room

If you are thinking about a little extra storage, look for end tables with drawers or shelves. The Beach House Round Drum-Style Pompano accent table from Tommy Bahama provides warm sophistication to any space. It gives you hidden storage that keep items neatly tucked away. The shape adds visual interest, and the exotic mango veneer and reeded bamboo panels provide rich texture.

Size — how tall and how wide — is another detail to consider when choosing accent tables. A general rule is that the height be even with or up to several inches lower than the arm of the sofa or chair it accompanies. Think about its usage, if it is too high or too low it will be uncomfortable, too wide and it will weigh down the furniture surrounding it. And if you plan to put a land or other heavy decorative objects on it, you’ll want to be sure the table can support the weight or these items.

Pick Quality Materials That Will Stand the Test of Time

If you are looking for a sofa or console table, consider the size, shape, and proportions of your room when making your decision. This piece of living room furniture can section off and define parts of a large living room, so length, height, and depth is important. The intricate leather-bound detailing of Beach House Two-Drawer Palm Coast Sofa Table, also from Tommy Bahama, gives the piece an airy and sophisticated look. Two drawers add extra storage the finished back of the sofa table makes it a versatile piece. A quality solid wood accent table will be strong and durable, and compliment almost any style. Lush finishes and textural details will enhance the room’s appeal and only get better with age.

Baer’s Furniture is inspired by Florida living. Visit the nearest Baer’s Furniture showroom to find more pieces in the Tommy Bahama Beach House collection. Contact us for more information.