Creative Ways to Save Money on Outdoor Furniture

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Save money on outdoor furniture at yard sales

Whether you’re checking ads in your local paper, sifting through items on Craigslist, or using a yard-sale app like Rumgr to find private citizens selling outdoor furniture in your area, this tactic could help you to find amazing deals on the pieces you want for your outdoor space. Sure they might be slightly used, but sometimes you can get them for the fabulous price of “you haul” (read: free). And even if you have to shell out a few bucks to paint pieces or buy new cushions you’ll still save a ton over brand new furniture.

Sample sales can find you deals on patio furniture

Many women rush to sample sales for their favorite fashion designers, but have no idea that furniture stores frequently pull the same stunt in an effort to clear out floor samples and replace them with new stock. So check in with your local patio furniture store to see if and when they are hosting sample sales. The pieces may have a little wear and tear from the showroom, but you’ll pay a fraction of the cost for virtually unused furnishings.

Discount warehouse stores

You may be aware that you can find many home goods at discount stores like Target and Wal-Mart, but you may not have realized that this often includes outdoor furniture. Besides the fact that you can get an entire outdoor setup at a great price, you may also have the option to buy items piecemeal so that you don’t have to overspend for items you don’t want and you can replace a piece that is damaged without having to buy the whole set again.

Online outlets for outdoor furniture

The internet offers a plethora of opportunities to save on just about any product you can think of, outdoor furniture included. And if you can find Cabelas promo codes for your hunting gear it’s a good bet that you can scope out online coupon codes for patio-furniture e-tailers. At the very least you’re bound to find sale items that aren’t in stores and even observe lower prices in general.

Looking for spring outdoor furniture? These outdoor furniture tips can help.

Outdoor Furniture Maintenance Tips:

You maintain your car through regular inspections, your home through regular cleaning, and even your body with a daily vitamin courtesy of coupon codes for Puritans Pride. So why wouldn’t you maintain your outdoor furniture? If you leave it exposed to the elements year-round then you shouldn’t be surprised when you have to replace it. Instead, keep it handy during the times of year when you actually use it and then cover it or move it into the garage the rest of the year. This will save you the time and expense of buying new items every summer.

For more outdoor living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Beautify Your Outdoor Home with these Types of Fences

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There are various fence designs to choose from. These may vary from the materials used and style. Here are some of the popular fence designs to help beautify your outdoor home. For more types of fences check out these 9 fence types.

Types of Fences: White Picket Fence

This design is very iconic. For some, the white picket fence is a symbol of the ideal middle-class suburban life of a decent family lifestyle. It is not merely tracing a property line but a frame which flowers like roses and other attractive plants may grow. Since it is white, the presence of flowers will highlight once it is full grown. This will definitely bring beauty to the totality of your home. Houzz gives some great tips for choosing the right fence for your home.

Vinyl Fence come in Fence Panels

Other types of fences include vinyl fencing. The vinyl fence portrays simplicity and elegance. With its flexibility in design, a vinyl fence can enhance and reveal your landscape. It is also durable as it is longer lasting than wood. It won’t fade, rot, corrode or rust. You can design the vinyl according to your budget, functionality, and location. Since it is made of plastic, you can count on its high-quality resistance against the sun and any weather condition that may create cracks and breaks.

A Wood Fence can be Painted or Stained

Many homeowners prefer types of fencing that adds rustic charm to their outdoor home. There is nothing like wood for natural warmth and beauty. You can choose from wide varieties of wood types according to your desired fence style. Also, consider the type of wood that is suitable for the climate and weather conditions in your area. For lasting beauty and durability, you should paint or apply waterproof sealer to your wood fence right after the installation. This should be done every three or four years after. If it is left untreated, wood fencing will weather naturally. If your climate has salt water in the air consider brushing waterproofing over your fence periodically to keep the wood from rotting. Here’s some wood style fences to choose from.

Take time to choose which type of fence you want according to your preferences and availability of materials. Whether you choose a fence based the aesthetics of your outdoor home or material, there is a fence perfect for your outdoor home.

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

A nursery requires not only comfort but also safety for your baby. The sensitivity of a newborn to the environment should be taken into consideration as well as the safety and comfort of other family members. Your baby’s nursery must be a safe haven where they can grow healthy and develop their full potential, and incorporating green and eco-friendly tips will benefit everyone.

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One of the best ways to build a nursery room is to go green. Use the advantages brought about by natural and environment-friendly solutions. If you want to consider going green with your nursery, here’s three simple solutions:

Install non-toxic finishes

There are several reports of people being affected by toxic fumes from the materials used. Experts claim that toxic fumes can affect your child intelligence, memory and other body functions. These are linked to toxic materials present in baby products, furniture, toys and other nursery room essentials. When buying new furniture, textiles, finishes such as carpets, wall paper, paint and even bedding and area rugs should use natural and organic materials. Harmful off gassing can occur from toxic finishes, so check with the manufacturer’s guidelines on finishes and furniture when purchasing.

Reduce the amount of pollutants

Consider reducing pollutants from the outside world before going into your baby’s room. Your clothing shoes, bags and other personal items are exposed to dust and dirt outside. These instances bring pollutants in your nursery room. You can reduce pollutants by having some self-discipline to ensure cleanliness before going inside. You can also spray disinfectant that is all-natural and will not harm your baby’s skin. Also consider removing your shoes when entering your home to ensure outside pollutants don’t get inside your carpet and flooring.

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Provide proper ventilation.

It is best to expose your baby to natural air whenever possible. You may widen the area of your window so that you can easily open it and welcome the fresh air outside your room. Adding green plants to your home that are safe for children can help indoor air quality, and installing humidifiers air purifiers can also help. Outside, add trees to your surroundings to provide shade and freshen the air that will be going into your nursery room.

These three green solutions can help send a message to your baby on how much you care. Your love will definitely be felt and experienced through the comfort and ambiance you provide. A green nursery can be easier to achieve than you thought.

For more baby nursery ideas on Stagetecture click here.

If you’re keen to do some aesthetic upgrades to your kitchen but you’ve discovered that the cost of replacing (or even re-facing) your cabinets is a little beyond your budget, then you might wonder just how you can kick it up a notch when it comes to your grungy, old cupboards. In truth, there’s not much you can do with laminates. But if the structure of your cabinetry is sound and the facing happens to be actual wood, then there are a couple of good options that will allow you to completely change the look of your kitchen without blowing a huge amount of dough. This is especially true if you adopt a do-it-yourself mentality. The only question you really have to answer is whether you want to paint or stain your cabinets, and there are a couple of pros and cons associated with each avenue.

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Way the options of price

For starters, you’ll probably want to think about how much the project will set you back financially, and believe it or not there can be a pretty big price difference between the two options, depending on what you’re starting with. Suppose your cabinets have wood grain rather than a smooth surface. Although paint and stain are comparably priced products, only one can be applied directly to the wood grain (that would be the stain). If you want to paint these cabinets you’ll first have to create a smooth surface, and this could mean purchasing tools (like a belt or circular sander) to create the grain-free surface you need. The other option is to use a primer or wood grain filler of some kind to create the glass-like surface needed to make sure the paint finish comes out smooth. Either way you’re going to have to purchase additional materials that will make the painting process more expensive.

How much labor is involved?

Of course, there is also the labor involved to think about, and while both may require preliminary elbow grease (removing any varnish or other finish that happens to be on the wood already), the painting process will definitely take longer to complete thanks to the many extra steps involved, including sanding away or filling in wood grain to ensure a tight bond and a smooth finish once the process is complete. And totally aside from the amount of work you’ll have to do, multiple coats of filler and paint will require additional drying time, stretching out the length of your project. On the other hand, there are so many more options available in terms of color and finish when it comes to paint that it may be well worth the additional effort.

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Which option is more eco-friendly?

However, there is one last consideration, and that is the relative eco-friendliness of your options. While it’s easy enough to find low- or no-VOC products when it comes to paint, and you’ll even discover a wide range of colors and finishes to choose from, it’s a bit more difficult to find stains that fit the bill. But it’s not impossible, and more and more companies are striving to meet the growing demand for products that will do less harm to the environment. Although the average cabinet now comes in a wide variety of finishes and options to suit every buyer, painting or staining the wood you have could save you a ton of money in the long run. You simply have to decide which look you want and how much you’re willing to put into the effort before you settle on the product that best suits your sensibilities.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Home is where our heart is. This is so true since our home is not only a structure but a sanctuary. It should be a safe haven for all the members of the family. Our home is where comfort, convenience and safety take place. It doesn’t matter where it is located, total area or the size of the home.

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There are several ways to make your home a personal sanctuary. All you have to do is to provide time and consider what makes you feel good about your interiors. For every person it is different, but there are a few areas that most of us humans love. Whether it is comfortable colors and aesthetics, personal items around us that feel secure and safe, and feeling comfortable with space and not cramped, are all features that most people can agree are wanted in their homes.

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Here are few ways to do this:

Maximize all areas at home

Maximizing all your areas at home will make it very convenient and spacious. For instance, you may use the space under you stairs as storage. Consider how you can create multifunctional spaces that can serve dual roles. A dining room table may be able to double as a home office for homes that are small and have limited home office space.

Organize your home

Plan a comfortable arrangement of your decor at home. You may remove all unnecessary furniture, decorations and accessories that are not functional. You may sell them or donate to charities. If there is a need for new furniture, choose eco-friendly materials and multipurpose. If you have personal items you just love, surround yourself in them, but balance them with decorative items that can hold magazines, or can serve a purpose of functionality and beauty.

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Consider repainting

The general color or theme of your home affects the mood and ambiance of the surroundings. Color stimulates energy and relaxation. To freshen up your home, choose neutral colors or nature colors like green, blue or beige. You may also mix and match colors as you prefer. A neutral palette can give your home a feeling of spaciousness and calm!

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Personalize with accessories

The personalize accessories will allow you to feel ownership and refuge. This may be something you repainted, repurpose or recycled. Get something you like and make it the theme of your home. Of course, consider the likes of the other family members. You can change your things around very often like display paintings and other craft materials and flowers. You may also display inspiring quotes and photos.

These are just a few of the things you can do to make your home a sweet home! Use these tips to make your personal space comfortable and livable for years into the future.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

To receive more home inspiration get 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home Ebook here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/how-to-personalize-your-interiors-just-for-you/feed/ 0 28103 https://stagetecture.com/how-to-choose-the-right-furniture-for-your-kids-room/ https://stagetecture.com/how-to-choose-the-right-furniture-for-your-kids-room/#respond Thu, 24 May 2012 10:30:34 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=27075  Entry #1217, May 24, 2012

As parents you want only the best for your kids. This preference includes choosing the right furniture for your kids’ room. In the selection process, it is not only the design that is considered but also the comfort and convenience of the furniture. As the saying goes, what you feel is more important than what you see.

To give you some ideas in choosing the right furniture for your kid’s room, here are the things you need to consider:

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Prefer comfort over design.

You will certainly agree with this idea. Although the design of furniture is important but then the comfort that it brings should always be on top priority. There is furniture that grabs attention through cutting edge design but not pleasurable when in use. Hence, comfort has to be highly considered especially if it is for children.  This idea, however, is already in the minds of manufacturers. They are making sure that comfort is on top of the design for all furniture. Choose furniture that has materials that are healthy for your children – such as cotton as opposed to polyester. Also look for organic materials and be careful with reused and repurposed furniture especially cribs and furniture that will be around babies and toddlers. Ensure the paint isn’t old and painted with lead paint or reclaimed wood could have been pressure treated.

Consider the safety design of furniture.

Obviously, there are additional safety concerns when choosing items for a nursery or kid’s room. You must ensure that the furniture has no edge or style that can harm or cause an accident if kids play around. It has to be well-made and of best quality. A curve edge should be preferred than square or angular edge. Bear in mind that your kids will always find time to play and the presence of sharp edge furniture is not advisable. Before buying furniture check with the manufacturer and any recalls are usually posted at the service area of furniture stores. Be wary of manufacturers with multiple recalls for their furniture.

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Choose durable furniture.

Make certain that the furniture is going to withstand through the years. Kids are indeed charming and adorable but they can be tough and are capable of breaking anything possible. Being practical does not mean cheap nor expensive but rather durable and lasting. You can save even more if it is sustainable.

Available furniture in the market today is amazingly versatile and customizable for your kid’s room. This is to address the desire for furniture that best suits your needs. With these considerations, your kids will surely feel the love you have and that you only want the best for them.

For more kids’ room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There are a lot of ways to be green within your home: energy-efficient windows and appliances, programmable thermostats, unplugging televisions and computers when they aren’t in use, etc. But did you know you can also make your floors and carpets eco-friendly?

Growing concerns about manufacturing processes and resources has led more and more people to consider eco-friendly flooring – it’s not only sustainable, but also a beautiful upgrade to your home!

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Bamboo Flooring:

Made from stalks that are about five years old, most bamboo flooring looks very similar to hardwood. However, it’s much more renewable than wood because it’s a grass, and therefore grows much faster. For example, traditional hardwood floors can take 100 years to mature, compared to five years for bamboo. It’s durable and strong, resistant to moisture, and comes in a variety of colors.

Cork Flooring:

Cork flooring is an excellent insulator, as it’s warm and resilient and can be sealed for extra water resistance. Another added benefit is that it provides excellent noise insulation, and it’s available in a variety of colors to meet your style preferences, from neutrals to bolds.

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Recyclable Carpet:

Millions of pounds of carpets end up in landfills each year. However, by using recycled carpet to make new carpet again and again, you’re helping to reduce the previous statistic. Plus, like any type of carpet, it’s available in a range of textures, styles, and colors.

Natural Linoleum:

Linoleum flooring is a great choice for kitchens and/or bathrooms, and because the color is embedded in the structure, it doesn’t fade. Made from milled and dried flax seeds mixed with other plant materials, it’s also 100% biodegradable. With its stylish appearance, this classic flooring can compliment a wide range of décor.

With such a wide array of options available, choosing eco-friendly flooring for your home has never been easier. Contact Binghamton flooring installation to get started today at 607-235-0944.

For more eco-friendly ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

If there’s one room that a lot people tend to spend a lot of time in, but not so much on, it would have to be the kitchen. For many of us, it’s basically seen as the place where the food is kept. Oh, but it’s actually so much more than that. The kitchen is where we create things (meals). The kitchen is where we have our meals. And when you look at a lot of family-themed sitcoms, where do a lot of scenes take place: in the kitchen, right? This lets us know that the kitchen is also where a lot of lifetime memories are made.

So, why not place a bit more effort into upgrading that very space?

Here are five design tips that will have you well on your way to one that’s a top of the line gourmet edition.

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Select a classic color.

Kitchen walls don’t have to be that bland yellow color or be wallpapered with that dated country-time print. There is a world full of color awaiting everything about your kitchen space. When it comes to the walls, many interior designers recommend either going with an earth tone shade or the total other extreme by using a bright red or blue. Then you can build around that. White painted cabinets are a timeless addition and green, black or white countertops will always stand the test of time.

Revise your countertops.

Fashion has trends and so do kitchens. What’s really hot right now is exchanging your current tile countertops with ones made of natural (such as marble or soapstone) stone. One reason why they’re attracting more attention is due to the fact that they’re eco-friendly. They do require a bit of maintenance, though. You’ll need to seal marble on an annual basis and go over soapstone with some mineral oil bi-weekly.

Have the right appliances.

Just like there is a new phone or computer seemingly every other month, there are new kitchen appliances that find their way into our favorite stores on a fairly consistent basis too. When you’re upgrading your kitchen, be careful to not overlook your refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. It may take a bit, but if you get one piece at a time, it will definitely change the overall look of your kitchen. Built-in stoves are becoming a popular preference and more and more people are using smaller refrigerators to conserve electricity and to allot for more space. Plus, being that many companies are “going green”, buying new appliances will provide you with access to ones that use less energy, which ultimately makes them far more efficient (you can find some of these appliances online at LG.com).

Chalkboard paint your accessories. Chalkboard paint for children’s bedroom walls has been a favorite by many for some time now. But why not consider purchasing some chalkboard paint for some of the accessories in your kitchen too? Your glass cookie jar, lemonade pitcher or salt, sugar and flour canisters are the perfect platform to using chalkboard paint to stencil in your name or a cute cooking quote.

Grow your own produce…inside.

Did you know that there are many foods that you can grow in containers in your very kitchen? This includes everything from herbs and apples to squash and peppers. If you go to your favorite search engine or to YouTube and type, “grow organic foods indoors”, you might be surprised at all of the options that will keep you from having to go back and forth to the grocery store. After all, when a gourmet cook grows their own food, really, does it get any more epicurean than that?

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Whether you’re building a new one or renovating the one that’s already in your home, when it comes to completing the look of a kitchen, you might want to consider using granite countertops. They’re modern, they’re efficient and they’re also a really good investment in any house because while other items like carpet, paint and even cabinets can cause a home to look dated over time, once you’ve installed granite countertops, they tend to be a house addition that remains for decades to come.

So now that you haven’t received a brief introduction on why you should go with granite, the next steps to take are deciding which kind of granite countertops are best for you. Here are three things to factor in before making your selection.

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What Color and Kind?

Another thing that makes going with granite a wise decision is that it comes in a variety of colors and even types. Let’s go with the kinds of granite countertops that are available first. Generally, you can go with black granite (a traditional and popular choice), gold granite (which requires a sealing every couple of years), faux granite (which is more cost-effective) and tile granite (for those who prefer more natural tones and/or the option of installing the countertops on their own). Other than with the black granite (for obvious reasons), the granite types come in a variety of colors to suit the overall color scheme of your kitchen. The rarest granite is considered to be rose. Although the color options basically run the gamut, in selecting a shade that’s best for you, remember to choose one that best complements not only the kitchen walls and cabinets, but the floor as well (furniture should be the last consideration on the list since that tends to be changed the most in a room).

What’s Next?

Being that granite colors come in everything from black and whites to blues and greens to basically every neutral tone you can think of, you’ve actually gotten over a huge hurdle once you’ve made your color selection. After that, make sure to ask yourself the following questions: How large is the kitchen? (You want to think about this because darker shades tend to make a room look smaller.) How much natural lighting comes into the kitchen? Does my color selection not only complement the floors and walls but also the hardware in the room? And finally, did I choose a color that’s practical should I choose to sell my house in the future? In order to come to a full resolve on questions like these, you might want to consult with an interior designer or contractor so that they can help you in considering options that you might not have thought of otherwise. Also, because they are experts in the field, they can help you to check for cracks in granite, inconsistent coloring throughout the slabs that you’re considering and any pits that may be in the material too.

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How Much?

When it comes to paying for granite countertops, the pricing does not present itself with a black-and-white answer, but there are some factors to consider before making your final selection. For one, there is a noticeable difference in price between tile vs. slab. Also, if you desire to have the granite in your home customized, the cost is considerably higher. Therefore, the best thing that you can do is shop around and compare prices before setting anything in stone (pun intended). For more information, either place “granite countertops” along with your city into your favorite search engine or visit GraniteCountertops.net.

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

There’s no time like the spring to open up your blinds or curtains and let the sun shine in! The thing is, even when it comes to finding the right kind of window treatments for your home, there are far more than just a few options to choose from.

Are you looking for a way to upgrade the windows in your house? Here are some ways to inspire you.
Use some bamboo. If you’re super eco-friendly or you would simply like the presence of neutral tones to give off a tropical feel in your bedroom or breakfast nook, a popular trend is using blinds that have the texture of either bamboo or maple or birch wood grains. Lowe’s, Target and IKEA are all stores that carry these options at a relatively fair price.

Image via: Lowes Creative Ideas

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Adorn it.

The thing about a classic look is that it never goes out of style. If luxury is more your lane, curtains made of silk or leather are two fabrics that are a bit on the pricey side, but they last a long time and come in a variety of colors and patterns. You can even accent your curtains with crystals, pearls or beaded tassels and the leather curtains (when closed) are an efficient way to keep the room at moderate temperature no matter what season of the year it is.

Go bold.

A great way to dress up a child’s bedroom window or even a bonus room is to use a bold print on either your blinds or curtains. Not only does it add a splash of color, but it can also bring a bit of life into any space. If your daughter likes flowers, how about some big pastel printed curtains with some handmade paper flowers placed along the curtain rod? If your son has a blue room, some window shades with big khaki and cream stripes could be a nice accent. SelectBlinds.com has daily discounted prices on a wide selection.

Roman blinds. If you’re looking for a type of window treatment that wins the award for consistency, roman blinds would definitely be in the Top Three. Not only are they clean, sleek and come in a variety of options based on your particular need, but they also are the perfect marriage between being a fabric drape while providing the practical benefits of a shade. If you want your office windows to have an understated presence, how about a set of blinds in an antique pearl or grey color? If you’re using them for your kitchen or living room instead, Home Depot has some soft colors with ruching effect that are quite elegant.

Image via: Piorra Maison.Blogspot

Be a trendsetter.

Following the fashions, even when it comes to home décor is cool, but remember that when it’s your house, the sky’s the limit when it comes to tapping into some of your own creative energy. While interior design magazines and television programs on HGTV can definitely provide you with a starting point, these days, thanks to websites like Pinterest, you can also go online to get ideas from people just like you. Instead of copying a look straight out of someone else’s home, trying merging a few concepts to provide you with the signature style that can only be yours. Besides, there’s no rush to find what’s just right. It’s your house and your windows. Enjoy the creative process that’s all your own.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.