Maxine Chang asked:


Have you ever wanted that great home bar in your house, but never thought it was affordable? Maybe you didn’t know where to get one or if you needed to build one yourself or where you’d put it. If so, you have come to the right place. Many people are starting to put home bar furniture in their homes these days. Whether you want it in your finished basement or in your game room I’ve got the answers.

You probably thought only people with a lot of time and money can have a home bar. This is not true and I’ll show you what I mean.

Reasons why you would want home bar furniture:

1 – First, it is a great way to entertain guests and family members while they’re visiting your home. It can be a great social hangout in your own home with people telling stories and relaxing with a drink. Imagine enjoying all the fun and excitement of a night out at the bar in your own home.

2 – Believe it or not, you’ll actually save money by owning a home bar. You’ll never need to pay for over-priced drinks at your own bar. You don’t need to worry about paying a taxi to take you home at the end of the night. Your home bar furniture will practically pay for itself within the first year of owning it!

3 – I find home bars to be a wonderfully relaxing and stress free environment. Come home from work and fix yourself a drink at the bar and forget about all the stresses of life for a while. I personally have noticed a dramatic reduction of the stress and anxiety in my life since purchasing bar furniture. Benefits like these are priceless.

4 – Bar furniture can add a touch of class to your home as well. The elegant beauty of this furniture style creates a rich, sophisticated look in whatever room you decide to use. Home bar furniture usually comes as a full set with matching barstools or chairs, the main bar unit, and sometimes an optional wall unit for storing glasses, bottles of wine and liquor, and accessories. It will also have storage compartments and cupboards in the back as well as a sink for cleaning dishes and glasses.

Now that you’ve seen just a small number of ways that home bars can benefit your life you may be wondering, “where do I get it?”. The best place to find these home bar furniture sets is online. You may have visited a local furniture retailer and been turned away by pricey, expensive home bars. Well, I’m here to let you know these same incredible furnishings can be found at a super discount online due to the competition between rival websites. Turn your home into the relaxing, enjoyable, and entertaining family gathering you’ve always wanted it to be. Happy shopping!

Maxine Chang asked:


Have you ever thought of finishing your basement into a stylish home bar area? Many people have had this idea and are now reaping the benefits of their own home bar for less money and effort than you think.

Of course, you want your home bar to have the perfect lighting and accessories but you must remember the most important piece of furniture is the bar itself. This includes the main bar unit, bar stools, and if you have enough room a wall unit for storing drink bottles, glasses, and accessories. For this reason I definitely recommend buying bar in a unified, matching set. It is the best way to get the look you want, the number of pieces you need, and save a lot of money at the same time.

First, there are some questions you need to ask yourself before buying your home bar furniture set:

1.) How much space have you set aside for your bar?

2.) How many pieces of furniture do you want?

3.) What additional accessories do you require?

4.) What design and color scheme are you looking for?

5.) Where can I find all this at an affordable price?

I will answer each question as if I were the one in the market for a new home bar. At the end I will have a very good idea of what I’m looking for and where to find it at a great discount.

Question number one asks how much space I’ve set aside for my bar. Personally, I will be adding the bar to my finished basement. It will take up about 1/3 of the square footage in my basement, roughly a 12′ x 15′ area to work with. This helps me to understand the dimensions of the bar set I am able to purchase without playing a guessing game.

Number two asks how many pieces of furniture I want with my set. I am looking for a 4-piece set including two bar stools, the main bar unit, and a wall unit for displaying accessories and some decorative art. This narrows down my choices even further since I know exactly the number of pieces I want.

Question number three is important in narrowing down your choices even more. Additional accessories can be anything from a built-in sink for rinsing glasses and dishes to a foot rest attachment around the bottom of the main bar unit. I’m looking for some additional accessories including a rinse sink in the back of the bar unit and some storage cabinets under the bar.

As for design and color scheme, this is obviously nothing more than personal preference. But keep in mind that you should consider your existing decor of the room the bar will be added to. You don’t want your new home bar to clash with anything you already have. As for me, I would like a more traditional dark finished hardwood with some brass accents. You can see that with each answer to our list of questions the final choice gets closer and closer.

The most important question to answer is number five. How can you save money on the home bar of your dreams? The answer is surprisingly quite simple. Shop online! That’s right. You would not believe the incredible deals you can find by shopping online as opposed to a local furniture retailer. The key is that there is so much more competition online due to the sheer number of sellers. This brings prices down as they all compete for our dollars in the huge Internet market. Now that we’ve answered all of the important questions go find exactly what you want. Happy shopping!

My Dream Home Registry asked:


While it is not necessarily the most inexpensive of the flooring options available on the market today, hardwood floors are certainly one of the simplest and most lovely options available. Wood matches just about everything, and you don’ have to worry about vacuuming or those nasty smells that just won’t seem to leave carpet. It is an effective option for floor covering and if you take care of your hardwood floors, they will last you a very long time.

However, having hardwood flooring in your home is about more than wishing it was there and deciding to have it. Here are the three things that you should know about installing hardwood flooring in your home.

DIY Is Not Always Cheaper

Hardwood floors are certainly something that those handy people out there in the world are able to take care of. Buying wood and laying it down as flooring in your home sounds a great deal easier than it is. There are many different kinds of wood that can be used for flooring in your home and depending on your needs; there are great deals of different styles to choose from. You want your flooring to resist nicks and scrapes, but you want it to be able to get some character as well.

There are all of these things and more to think about, and if you install your wood flooring all on your own, chances are that you will not be able to get the solid advice that you might wish you had later. You want your floor to last as long as possible and although you might be very willing and able to put in your new hardwood floor all by yourself, the costs down the line might make this not-so worth it. Do you want to end up having to have your floors redone because of an error on your, the amateur’s, part?

Not All Wood is the Same

The more money that you spend the better quality of wood flooring you will be able to get as far as outward appearance goes; although a floor may not look as uniform and sleek as another type of wood floor it will probably last just as long. The quality and type of wood that you select for your floor has a lot to do with how you want your flooring to look when it’s down. Do you want a smooth look or do you like the way that natural knotholes look in the wood? Do you prefer the way that wide planks look on the floor or do you prefer the look of thinner, smaller pieces of wood for your flooring?

Depending on what you are willing to spend, there are a great deal of different ways that you can go with the wood for your flooring. You can buy First, Second, or Third wood, which is a description of the type or quality of wood on the market ranked in order of quality. Clear is the finest wood that you will be able to get a hold of. It has little to no grain marks or knot holes in it, so if you want the best quality that is the way to go.

You Are In It for the Long Haul

While hardwood floors are a great option for the floor covering in your home, be sure that that is what you want to do, and that it is an acceptable long term solution for you and your home. While the hardwood floor will not have to be vacuumed, it has to be specially cleaned and probably swept constantly (unless you are a fan of dirty feet). Also, keep in mind that depending on the quality of wood that you purchase you may have to deal with some small repairs due to warping or splitting, or simply due to damage that is unsightly for your home. Either way, hardwood floors are much easier to maintain than they are to replace and although you will probably be thrilled to keep your floors for years to come, it will be rather difficult to do otherwise.

This article is sponsored by My Dream Home Registry, the gift registry for everything home. Visit them on the web at www.mydreamhomeregistry.com

My Dream Home Registry asked:


You have decided to purchase a new sofa and you know it needs to last for many years. There are some very important things you need to consider. These may include style of sofa, type of fabric, and, of course, price.

The style of sofa you choose can be determined by the intended use. Do you need the sofa to provide a place to sleep for more than one person? A sectional sofa can provide excellent seating, but if you will need the sofa to provide a sleeping area, you may want to consider a sleeper sofa.

Which Sofa Back is Right for You?

Once you have decided what type of sofa you need, you will need to concentrate on what type of back should be on your sofa. There are generally four types of backs to choose from: tight back, attached pillow back, loose pillow back, and loose multi pillow backs.

A tight back sofa is a sofa with no pillows. It usually sits upright and the fabric chosen is generally easier to clean because there is no way to remove the fabric to clean it.

An attached pillow back refers to a sofa that actually has the pillows sewn to the back of the sofa. This particular type of sofa is easy to maintain, in that, there are no pillows to put back; however, it can be more difficult to clean. The pillows cannot be turned if they get stained so it is important to choose a fabric that is easy to clean and one that wears well.

A loose pillow back sofa is one that has the same number of pillows as cushions. The pillows are not attached to the sofa back and the loose pillows allow them to be turned to extend the life of the pillow. The couch tends to be quite comfortable.

The last type of sofa back is the loose multi pillow back sofa. This sofa can be difficult to maintain because the pillows tend to get everywhere and need constant arranging. The pillows can be turned at will to prevent excessive wear.

What Types of Fabric are Best?

Now that you have determined the style of your new sofa, you will need to determine what type of fabric you desire. Some of the fabrics available include: microfiber, leather, and cloth.

Microfiber is an excellent fabric for a sofa especially if you have pets or small children. Microfiber, also called micro suede or ultra suede, is actually a micro denier weave of 100% polyester. It is extremely durable and can usually be cleaned with water. It is also comfortable even in the warmest of climates.

Leather is a good choice if you are in a moderate climate. The humidity and cold adversely affect the comfort level of the leather so it is advisable to use leather in a moderate climate unless adequate climate control is in effect. Leather can also be costly to repair should a rip occur.

Cloth fabric is available in a wider array of colors and patterns than the other two fabric choices, but it tends to be more difficult to clean than microfiber. It is usually easier to repair than leather so it makes a great fabric choice.

Price is an important consideration when you are deciding to purchase a sofa. However, the overall price is not as important as the amount of quality you get for the money. It is imperative to purchase a sofa that has “good bones” as the fabric can always be changed should the color palate of your room change. A sofa with “good bones” will last you for a long time. You will ultimately spend less money for this type of furniture because you will need to purchase fewer sofas.

Purchasing a sofa is a good home investment. Remember, quality is imperative for long lasting satisfaction.

This article is sponsored by www.MyDreamHomeRegistry.Com, the gift registry for all things home, as part of an ongoing effort to supply unbiased information to their customers.

My Dream Home Registry asked:


There are various rooms in the home which many state to be their favorite one. One such room is often the home theater. This is the perfect area for the whole family to enjoy. For those who do not yet have a home theater in their residence and wish to set one up, the following will provide some useful tips for selecting the proper electronic equipment and furnishings as well as how to set up the whole room so that the finished product is a spectacular one.

Choose a Room or Space in Which the Home Theater Will Be Located

Before heading out to the store to buy electronic equipment or furnishings for the home theater it is important to select the space in which the home theater will be located. It is most advantageous if there is a completely separate room which will accommodate the home theater alone. However, for those who have limited space and would like to make a portion of their family room into a home theater this too may be accomplished. After selecting the appropriate room or space for the home theater, take down measurements to determine how much space you have to work with.

Determine What Items Are Desired and Where They Will Be Placed

The next step in the establishment of a home theater is to decide what items you want your home theater to have and where they will go in the room. Some necessary items will include a state of the art television, DVD player, DVDs, television stand or wall mount, speakers and proper seating. Additional items may include a surround sound system, new lighting, wall decorations and tables. Once you have determined what type of home theater items you want in the room, make a sketch of the room and take note of what items will go where within the room.

Consider Soundproofing the Room

For those who wish to go all out with regard to their home theater, soundproofing the room may be an option. However, this can be a more in depth task therefore only those who are capable of completing a job of this magnitude should attempt it as it often involves a larger type of home improvement project. For those who may not have the expertise but can afford to do so, you can always hire someone to soundproof the room for you. Just keep in mind that it is not necessary to soundproof the room in order to have a great home theater as soundproofing is simply an additional nicety which some may desire.

Shopping for Your Home Theater Equipment and Furnishings

It is now time to purchase the items for the home theater. For the electronic equipment, it is often best to shop at electronics stores, either at their physical locations or online, as these types of stores will usually yield the largest variety of products. Determine what your budget is with regard to equipment and choose items which will go perfectly within your new home theater. Try shopping sales and consider purchasing items online as web-only specials are frequently offered via this route. If buying equipment online just be sure to inquire about free shipping and insurance protection options as the equipment is fragile which requires careful shipping.

As for the furniture which will go in your new home theater, purchasing items such as recliners, side tables and wall decorations will all make your home theater comfortable and give it a homey feel. Determine what look you are going for with regard to the overall feel of the room and choose furnishings which will accomplish this goal.

Furnish the Room

The final step is to set everything up within your new home theater. Take out your sketch of where you wanted to place the items within the room and get started on setting everything up. This should be the easy part as you have already determined where you would like things to go and you have the necessary items in which to furnish your new home theater.

Need help paying for your home theater? Take a look at www.MyDreamHomeRegistry.com, the gift registry for everything home.

My Dream Home Registry asked:


Getting in shape is on the minds of many individuals these days. Some choose to obtain gym memberships whereas others would like to have the convenience of working out at home. For the latter group of individuals, creating a home gym might be the perfect option to bringing the optimal exercise atmosphere home to you. If you are interested in creating a home gym and making working out as convenient as can be, the following will provide some tips on how to make your dream of a home gym reality.

Figure Out Where the Home Gym Will Go

The first step to creating a home gym is to figure out where it will be placed within the home. If you have a separate room which you can set aside as your workout location, this is ideal. However, for those who have limited space within the home, it is completely possible to create a home gym in a room which is used for other purposes as well. Take a good look around the home and determine which area would be most suitable for your home gym location.

Determine How Much Space Is Available

When creating a home gym you also want to determine how much space you will have available. Doing so in the beginning will help you to decide what type of workout equipment you want to buy for your home gym. Before making any equipment purchases, take down some measurements of the available space as this will prove helpful when shopping for workout products.

Peruse Different Types of Gym Equipment

Some individuals will know exactly what types of gym equipment they want to buy for their home gym whereas others may need to peruse the options before deciding on particular types thereof. Try searching various equipment options online and in fitness magazines to see which ones peak your interest. Also, if you are interested in working out specific portions of the body try searching for equipment which will work out those areas in particular.

Shop for the Home Gym Equipment and Furnishings

Once you have a good idea as to what type of home gym equipment and furnishings you wish to buy, the next step is to make the desired purchases. Buying items at sporting good stores and fitness retailers will often provide one with the most options. Try visiting your local sporting good stores so that you can view the equipment in person and even try it out. Later, if you figure out what brand equipment you want and have tested it out in the stores, look online for the items as these may yield the best prices. However, just be sure that the online retailers ship for free as these products are often quite heavy which can make for extremely expensive shipping costs.

In addition to the fitness equipment, you may also want certain furnishings in your home gym. Items such as a chair, towel rack and even a television for viewing while working out may be good purchases. Consider what extra niceties might fit perfectly within your new home gym and check out options with regard to those as well.

Time to Set up the Home Gym

Once everything has been decided upon, purchased and received, the final step is to set up your new home gym. Prior to setting the equipment up you should already know where everything is going to go as it will be difficult to move things around too often due to the weight of a lot of exercise equipment pieces. Since most equipment will need to be assembled, try to do so in the home gym room as this will make for an easier time getting everything set up and ready to go. Once you have it all set up, you are ready to get started working out in the convenience of your own home.

Need help paying for your home gym? Check out www.MyDreamHomeRegistry.com and make your dream a reality.

Maxine Chang asked:


Have you ever thought of finishing your living space into a stylish home entertainment center? Many people have had this idea and are now reaping the benefits of their own home theatre for less money and effort than you think.

Of course, you want your home entertainment center to have the perfect accessories and gadgets but you must remember the most important piece of furniture is the entertainment unit itself. This usually includes the main tv unit in the middle and a couple side piers for displaying accessories and mounting electronic devices. These electronics can be as simple as a cable box or as complex as a surround sound hub with dvd player and equalizer. For this reason I definitely recommend buying home entertainment furniture in a complete set. All of the pieces will be uniform in finish color, size, and shape. It is the best way to get the look you want, the number of pieces you need, and save a lot of money at the same time.

First, there are some questions you need to ask yourself before buying your furniture set:

1.) How much space have you set aside for your entertainment furniture?

2.) How many pieces of furniture do you want?

3.) What design and color scheme are you looking for?

4.) Where can I find all this at an affordable price?

I will answer each question as if I were the one in the market. At the end I will have a very good idea of what I’m looking for and where to find it at a great discount.

Question number one asks how much space I’ve set aside for my furniture needs. Personally, I will be adding the entertainment center against one of my living room walls. I want it to take up about 2/3 of the length of my wall which is 15 feet long. This helps me to understand the dimensions of the set I am able to purchase without playing a guessing game.

Number two asks how many pieces of furniture I want with my set. I am looking for a 3-piece set including the main tv stand and two accent side piers for displaying accessories and decorative art. This narrows down my choices even further since I know exactly the number of pieces I want.

As for design and color scheme, this is obviously nothing more than personal preference. But keep in mind that you should consider the existing decor of the room the entertainment center will be added to. You don’t want your new furniture to clash with anything you already have. As for me, I would like a more modern dark finish such as black or deep brown. You can see that with each answer to our list of questions the final choice gets closer and closer.

The most important question to answer is number five. How can you save money on the home entertainment center of your dreams? The answer is pretty simple. Shop online! You would not believe the incredible discounts and deals you can find by shopping online as opposed to a local furniture retailer. The key is that there is so much more competition online due to the sheer number of sellers. This brings prices down as they all compete for our dollars in the huge Internet market. Now that we’ve answered all of the important questions go find exactly what you want. Happy shopping!

Home Stager asked:


Hi there!  Lorraine here from HOUSEDRESSINGS Ltd AUCKLAND.

www.housedressings.co.nz

Here are some vital tips for presenting your home for sale.

1. De-clutter your living spaces. Start first on the kitchen area. Clear all clutter on bench tops,window sills and clean all surfaces. All papers,bills,debris, file neatly away.

MOTTO: When in doubt – chuck it out!  Or at least store it away!

2. Re-arrange living room for a good spacial flow & layout. Any pictures on walls should be placed at eye level and curb all the personal pics and effects scattered throughout.

Minimalism is best as most potential buyers can’t imagine themselves living in that space with your accumulated clutter.

3. Add some bright funky cushions to your existing sofas to modernize and enhance the setting and place a nice rug under the coffee table (maybe shagpile or something contemporary ) to complete and define the living area.

Lighting is paramount for ambiance, so include a modern standard lamp or side table and lamp.

Accessories and modern art play a huge role in creating the ‘wow’ factor and clever use of colour is most important.

These are the important factors which brings it all together.

4. Beds should be dressed up  with modern duvets/plump pillows/valances/ cushions/bedside cabinets and stylish lamps. These don’t have to be expensive-go for style.

5.Bathroom: Add soap pumps/quality towels and choose colours to co-ordinate the existing.theme.

6. Don’t forget the entrance area. This is the first introduction to your home. Add a hall table with a floral arrangement or maybe a candleabra with canvas artwork above. (Abstracts work well in most settings.)

When having an open  home – make sure you have some music playing in the background. Light jazz works well or easy listening classics. This helps curb the awkward silences and helps people to linger longer to create a ‘connection’ with prospective buyers.

If you feel you are out of your comfort zone in acheiving this, then call a Home Staging Professional.

HOUSEDRESSINGS Ltd   are experienced in putting it all together, taking into account the style of home, existing colour scheme, best spacial layout. and your budget .

Staging can be : Partial – just a living area and a bedroom to full staging of  your home, complete with outdoor furniture.

We can also pack and store your existing furniture while your home is on sale.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Visit our website and leave a message on our contact page.

www.housdressings.co.nz

Email: lorraine@housedressings.co.nz

Kindest regards,

Lorraine Wilson (director)

My Dream Home Registry asked:


You have decided to purchase your first home – together. This is a very exciting time, but it is not without pitfalls. Communication is the key. What do you need from your home? What do you want in your new home? How much can you afford to pay? Are you going to use a realtor? Where do you want the new house to be located? Where can you find furnishings for your new place? These are all important questions you should discuss prior to looking for a new home.

Wants vs. needs

The decision is made that a new home is to be bought, but what features are wants and which ones are needs? How many bathrooms do you need? Are you planning to stay in the house for 30 years or only 5 years? Will you need room for your family to grow? Will your new house have a pool? How about a hot tub? Do you need a large yard or a small yard? The number of bedrooms and bathrooms is an important consideration.

Obviously, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms greatly influence the amount the final price will be, but if you will be enlarging your family, make sure you buy as much house as you can afford. As you tour the various houses, it is important to also envision your furniture or your prospective furniture to ensure there is plenty of space. Make sure you talk about closet space, furniture placement, color for the walls, and future renovations. Dream together and paint the picture of your future. Remember, this can be more fun that exasperating.

Will you be able to afford a house with a pool or hot tub? Do you need outdoor furniture? A pool/hot tub is usually considered a want and may need to be forfeited to obtain the number of bedrooms and/or bathrooms you desire. Make sure you have discussed this in advance to ensure you are in agreement.

Can We Afford a New House?

Before you start looking for a new house, you may need to be pre-approved for a loan. The financial institution you have decided to use can help you determine how much house you can afford to buy. Try to remain well below the upper amount of the range given to ensure you are able to afford to also furnish your new home and do any upgrades you would like to do in the future.

Is a realtor important?

You may want to consider using a realtor especially for your first house purchase. A realtor is priceless for finding a house in a good location and for negotiating all the paperwork for a purchase. (Of course, it helps to have a lawyer to have around for the closing). Realtors know the areas that they sell. They are usually versed on which schools are good and where various entertainment venues are.

Closing

Closing is the best and worst part of buying a house. You will likely wish to have a lawyer available to look over all the paperwork before you sign anything. Make sure you have a clean title and all the necessary papers are in order. You will be signing until you think your wrists will break. When all the signing is done, you will be handed your keys for your new house. Congratulations as you have survived the process of buying a new home. Now the fun begins.

Home at last

Once you have gotten your new key, you will need to move in. During the moving process, take time to reflect on your dreams for the future. Don’t forget to have a house warming party once you have settled in and invite all your friends to your lovely new home.

Need some help paying for that new home or what goes in it? Take a look at www.MyDreamHomeRegistry.com, the gift registry for everything home.

Maxine Chang asked:


There are many considerations to be made when looking for the right home office furniture. Ask yourself a few important questions before you decide which type of home office you want.

1. What kind of people will be frequenting your home office?

2. What is your budget?

3. Should the furniture be suited towards long-term use or short-term use?

4. How much space do you have in the room you are furnishing?

5. Do you prefer modern or traditional style furniture?

The types of home office furniture you purchase will obviously be very different depending on the answers to questions like these. Make sure you have a plan before you begin shopping so that you don’t waste time and money looking for things you don’t need. Let’s go through each question and figure out the perfect home office set for me. Then you can easily follow my example to figure out your own needs.

The answer to question number one is quite simple. The only people that will be frequenting my home office is me and my husband. We don’t have any kids and it will be used mainly for our home computer, printer, and filing of important documents.

The answer to question number two will determine where you may buy your furniture. I’ve set aside about a $2,000 budget for myself. If I do my shopping online I can find great deals on whole sets of home office furniture for this price and possibly even less. Competition on the web causes retailers and wholesalers to compete for your business. This brings the prices down and allows us to save a lot of money over many brick & mortar furniture locations.

Question number three is important because you must take into account the length of time you will use the furniture. It may come with you to future homes. In my case, I will plan on a long-term use of my home office furniture. I must make sure I purchase items of high quality and durability.

Question number four asks how much space is available in the room. Obviously, this is one of the most important pieces of information. This will determine the size and number of pieces you decide to buy for your home office. Personally, I have a medium sized room, about 20′ x 15′ devoted to this project.

The last question is also very important and will decide the final look of your office when it is finished. I have always been more partial to modern furniture with sleek lines and smooth finishes.

Now that I’ve answered some crucial questions I can start my online search for home office furniture with a good idea of what I’m looking for. I will most likely purchase a three piece matched set of modern style home office furniture including a computer desk, credenza, and filing cabinet for under $2,000. I want to make sure the set is durable and long lasting. I also want to make sure the dimensions are correct to fit in my room. Now I just need to start my search. Follow these rules and you can also have the perfect home office at an affordable price. Happy shopping!