Blog posts of '2018' 'January'

With the new year comes a new determination to put procrastination habits aside in favor of productivity. If you work from home, finding the motivation to be productive can be difficult, but there are several things you can do to create the perfect, productive work space in your home.

The perfect office space

Although it’s tempting to browse furniture catalogs and social media for the best aesthetics, it’s important to remember that productivity and functionality go hand in hand. You’ll need furniture that helps you organize important papers and decor that motivates you to accomplish your goals and finish tasks. Then you can focus on adding the perfect decor to tie it all together. The perfect home office space is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Create a functional space

When creating your home office space, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself before you begin:

• What tasks do I need to perform?
• What materials do I need to store?
• What technology do I need?
• Will customers or colleagues visit?

The answers to these questions will inform the general setup of your home office space. When choosing furniture for your space, it’s important to prioritize desk and storage space.

Choosing a desk

Your desk will be the most important piece of furniture in the room since you will spend most of your day sitting at it. The desk you pick should be a perfect synergy of style and storage capacity. Dell recommends that, when selecting a desk, you should pick one that has the most flat space for its size. Surface space is important because it allows you to spread out without feeling claustrophobic. Make sure you have enough leg room to sit comfortably for hours. Consider how many drawers you’ll need to store your papers and other materials. If you’re right-handed, it might be helpful to make sure the drawers are on the right so they’re easily accessible.

Other furniture

Adding file cabinets, bookshelves and arm chairs will add functionality to your space. If you hate seeing clutter, consider choosing solid cabinets instead of glass-front or open shelves. This way, you can store more of your things out of sight. If clients or colleagues will visit your home office, consider adding a small sitting area to accommodate them.

Get more comfortable with Ergonomics

Finding a good desk chair is not only important for your comfort but also for your overall health. Sitting in a poorly designed chair for hours a day can wreak havoc on your neck and your back.

Here are a few important considerations for the perfect desk chair:

• Adjustable seat height
• Adequate lower back (lumbar) support
• Adjustable armrests
• Should swivel and roll
• Comfortable padding

Make it look good

In addition to creating a functional space, you should focus on putting together a space you enjoy spending time in. There are several aesthetic touches you can add to your home office that can promote productivity.

       

Picking paint

Focusing your energy on a space that makes you feel comfortable and productive can make all the difference. One great and fairly simple way to do that is by choosing a paint color for your home office that can help make you feel this way. If your home has a much larger office than you care to paint yourself, call in the professionals to get the job done in a decent manner of time. But it you have a smaller home office or simply don’t mind taking on a little more work, visit your local home store to choose the colors that’s right for you. Gravitate towards hues of blue and green for a more calming effect in your home office, or stick to rich shades of neutral. If you enjoy more of a creative energy, go for a brighter color or cool pattern that helps you feel more inspired like a sunny yellow or black and white striped accent wall. An accent wall, or picking just one wall to paint, can be a fantastic use of decor. It can give any room just the right amount of pop without going overboard on any shade or texture.

Bring the outside in

Office plants are no joke and should be utilized to the best of their ability. You may be stuck indoors while at work, but hopefully you enjoy what you’re doing and can bring some of the outdoors inside to help not feel so locked in. Greenery can give a room a breath of fresh life and help make you feel relaxed as well. A few plants to keep within your office that are durable and easier to care for than others include aloe, bamboo palm, and the Boston fern. Aloe requires little water but should sit next to a window to get full sunlight. Catch a small papercut? Simply break off a tip of one of the branches and use the aloe within to provide some natural relief. The bamboo palm is another plant that is not too fussy about water and does not need a ton of light to survive. Use filtered water to keep it healthy and be sure the soil is not too dry. As for your Boston fern, keep the soil moist and mist the fern every now and again to be sure it stays thriving in your brand new office space. Before taking in office plants, make sure they are safe enough to have around pets or small children. For those who feel as though they will kill anything they touch, not to worry! Head to your local home decor spot, pick up a few plastic plants and keep them well dusted to give the impression of greenery in your home office.

Here at Texas Furniture Hut, we can not only help you furnish your dream space, we can also assist you in the decor process as well. Continue to check out our blog to get some useful pointers and tips to making a space that works for you and your family.

Find your whole home look with quality furniture found at Texas Furniture Hut. We carry top designers complete with sets made to work together to combine seamlessly into your home. From more neutral shades to create a cozy feel to something colorful that makes the room pop, we have it all and would love to make ourselves a part of your everyday lifestyle.

We are giving you a walkthrough of 4 rooms with pieces that we think could make your house a home.

Bedroom

Your bedroom should be a place you can retreat to after a long day and feel perfectly safe and comfortable doing so. It is after all the last place you may see at night and the first thing you wake up to in the morning. So if it were us, we might want to start with furniture that can double as something stylish that gives off relaxing qualities, as well as an item or set that has ample storage to reduce clutter and make your bedroom feel more open. Our Élan King Bedroom Bedroom Set for example would be perfect to wake up to for a few reasons. For starters, it has a simple, and classic design which helps bring some elegance to the room. This set also comes in a beautiful pale wheat, almost ivory, shade which opens up the amount of options for design. Take a quick trip to your local home goods shop and pick up pillows and throws in various tones of blues and greens to reflect the look and feel of a spa. Matching dressers and nightstands make storage a breeze, and gives you that much more space to sleep well.

Home Office

For those who work from home on occasion or full-time, your home office should be a place that exudes productivity and organization. Did you just take a moment to laugh? Not to worry, we can get through this together. If your home office lacks these qualities, try to begin by getting the space clean. Throw away old, unnecessary documents and get rid of excess storage items like file cabinets and boxes. Gather together only what you need before you buy the furniture you like. Then, take a look at something like our Wellington Executive Desk and pair it with our Wellington Credenza and Hutch. Both boast a rich garnet cherry wood finish, and provide enough space organize and store items like office supplies, files, and books. Once you have your brand new furniture and cleared out office, you can get to work designing and making it yours. Hang your degrees on the wall in coordinating frames, get an ornate floor piece like this Northcote Adjustable Clock, or add a unique desk lamp like this Nickel Station Table Lamp.

Dining Room

The work day is over and it’s time to gather around the table and have dinner with the family. Now imagine sitting down at our Estes Park Dining Room Set that can seat up to six. The great thing about this set is that it’s geometric style with clean lines makes it easy to blend in to just about any home setting. It has a warm oak finish with a solid foundation made to last for years to come. Be sure to take care of your quality furniture and keep it clean by using less abrasive cleaners and soft cloths to wipe up spills, and it is certain not to let you down. Get a tad creative and place a medium vase of fresh flowers in the center of the table to brighten up the room, or light a few candles in the evening to give off a more romantic vibe. From a weekend breakfast with friends to a full holiday spread, this dining set can create a mood for making memories.

Living Room

The weekend is here and you have selected the perfect movie to watch with the family. The popcorn is drizzled in butter and slightly salted and it’s time to settle in, turn down the lights, and begin the adventure of a cozy movie night in. Why not set up on our Dakota Reclining Living Room Set? Complete with a sofa, loveseat, and recliner, each piece is made with soft brown fabric and constructed to provide luxurious comfort. Since this set comes in a pleasant neutral shade, you can dive right into decorating your living room how you like. Pick out floral oil paintings in a deep plum to add an accent color, get a large knitted throw in olive for more options, or display works of art you have collected from around the world and let them act as the focal point of your living room.

After you’ve gathered up your ideas and have a style in mind, visit us at Texas Furniture Hut at either of our locations in Cypress and Katy. We are more than happy to help you find what you’re looking for to help give your home new life.

Are you using an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down granite countertops? What about products that contain certain levels of bleach? You could be making some major cleaning mistakes and not be fully aware of how it can be ruining your newly purchased furniture. Invest in the right techniques combined with the appropriate products to help keep your home neat and tidy.

Here are 4 common cleaning mistakes people make when they have bought new furniture and are not quite sure how to care for it properly.

Read the instructions

Seriously! If a large tag attached to your new piece looks unsightly, go ahead and take it off but save the contents by creating a folder or drawer somewhere in your home where they can easily be found. That way, when you’re ready to clean, you can refer back to those tags on how to do so correctly.

Keep stone pristine

Granite countertops can make a room look refined and unique but if not treated properly, granite surfaces can look dull, and washed out. Avoid bleach or harsh acidic cleaners—including solutions with orange or lemon—on your granite. Instead, opt for a mild soap and warm water when wiping down your sealed granite countertops. A microfiber cloth should do just fine. If you would like to go the extra step, purchase a specialized granite cleaner.

Avoid wood wear

Gently remove dust on your wood furniture with a duster that can remove the mess without dispersing it in the air. Getting rid of dust first can help reduce allergens and create a solid foundation for cleaning the wood. Next, be sure to avoid using water and multi-purpose cleaners to clean your wood furniture. They can ruin the finish and make the pieces look worn well before their time. If absolutely necessary for sticky situations, use a mild soap and warm water mixture to remove them for your wood pieces. Immediately dry after grime has been removed. To be safe, simply use a polish recommended by your furniture supplier.

Glass full of gleam

Glass can be tricky to take care of. While beautiful to look at, glass can easily gather dust and other gross contaminants you don’t want to see. Avoid hard chemicals when attempting to clean your glass items so they don’t dim in appearance. A microfiber towel will reduce the amount of annoying streaks when wiping glass surfaces down as well.  A final rinse of water mixed with a touch of vinegar will give it a striking shine.

You love your home but keep circling back to what might be missing. There seems to be something you can’t quite put your finger on, but you do know you want to see a slight change in the space you already have. Making minor adjustments to a room can open it up to some fantastic possibilities.

Here are 4 ways to change the look and feel of your home without breaking the bank to do it.

Fresh new coat

Plain white walls can begin to become drab after years of appearing clean and refined. It may be time to slap on a new coat of paint to refresh the energy of the room. If painting sounds like too much of a chore at the moment, try picking an accent wall to elongate the room you have chosen. One wall painted a shade of something you like can give the illusion of creating a whole new look out of nothing. Pop in a print if you happen to be feeling like going the extra mile, or stick to a matte finish for a style that remains chic and sophisticated.

Reflection of you

Some people have an issue with lighting in their homes. The home you have bought might be a bit older and lack the amount of outlets you desire, or you may just not want to add more lighting fixtures to a room you have designed to your liking. One trick to help illuminate your home without having to purchase additional lamps is to place mirrors on the walls like photo frames. For example, one large mirror added to the wall of a dining room has potential to reflect all of that already established light coming from the chandelier in the center of the room. An extra boost of light in all of the right places can give any room a brighter, more welcoming feel. A visit to your local craft store can reveal a whole section of mirrors for sale, sometimes with a discount offered, and mounting pieces attached to make the setup even easier.

Day-to-night

If mirrors give you too many 70s vibes, then a solid lamp might be just the way to go. Pay attention to how much existing light you have in the room and build from there. Implement a sleek, modern lamp trimmed in silver, or go for that funky piece you saw a while back to spark the conversation when friends and family come over. After you have found a lighting fixture you truly enjoy, start experimenting with various light filters, and bulb wattage that’s safe to use on your latest addition of home décor.

Avoid excessive clutter

If you can’t seem to place your finger on the problem of your home, you may just have to lift one to get to the solution! People may not notice every tiny detail you’ve put into designing your space but they will always notice if it isn’t clean. If you can’t seem to remember the last time you gave each room a good scrub, it may be too long. Sometimes, the best feeling you can get from your home is when you know it is neat and tidy. It’s such a small shift to make but it proves to be hugely effective. Clear out unwanted items, dust, and dander and fall in love with your home once again.