Even when you are lucky enough to start with an empty room, it can be overwhelming to design an interior that you can enjoy for years to come. Following some basic interior design principles, you can transform your space into a relaxing room you will be comfortable and happy with. Decide what your focal point will be and build out from there. For best results, keep proportion and scale in mind as you decorate as well as these tips!
Deciding on Your Focal Point
Do you have a magnificent bay window with an incredible view? Is there an ornate mantle that is the reason you fell in love with your home? Or is there something you absolutely MUST HAVE in the room? Situate your furniture around your chosen focal point to create balance and equilibrium. If your room does not already have an existing focal point, create one with oversized art or add an accent point like a free-standing fireplace, they come in a variety of sizes and styles. Symmetrically balance the room evenly so that both sides mirror one another. This will help your chosen focal point stand out all the more! Use matching accent tables to flank your sofa or use different pieces of furniture to create a copacetic visual impact, like two similar armchairs to balance a sofa.
Repetition for Rhythm
Rhythm creates a flow and helps direct the eye to the differing visual elements in your room. Just as the notes of a favorite song repeat to create the rhythm, repetition in decor will create a rhythm throughout a home. Establish visual interests with a rhythm throughout your space by placing similar colours or patterns at intervals and repeat in artwork, cushions or area rugs.
Perfect Proportion and Suitable Scaling
Who doesn’t love a large, overstuffed chair? But if your room is on the smaller size it may look out of place and make your room seem even smaller than it is. Keep proportion in perspective. Proportion is the ratio between a piece of furniture and the size of a room. Scale is the size of a piece of furniture in relation to the other pieces of furniture in the room. A super large chair will overpower an apartment of loft size sofa or loveseat and create a sense of unbalance in the room.
Have your room humming harmoniously
Creating harmony will enhance how much you will continue to love your finished. Pull the room with a subdued colour palette for a pleasing, harmonious vibe. together for a pleasing, harmonious look with a subdued color palette. You can also use a single colour for elements that vary in size and shape. Check out our blog on Doing White on White Right! for more tips!
What is the focal point in your room? What is your best tip to find harmony and balance through your home?
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You know that feeling when you finally get a chance to move into your first apartment and have total control over how it looks? The only downside is there are so many design decisions. It can actually be overwhelming! Well, fear not because we're here with some of our favourite tips for hanging mirrors in an easy way.
I'm always getting mixed up when it comes to how high I should hang my mirrors. It's not like they're wall art, right? Ha! No one knows what height is best for them because everyone has different needs and preferences in their space. For example, if you have a tall piece of furniture like the chest over there (points) then 4-6 inches below that will be perfect so people can still see themselves while they walk by or look at anything on top of the chest without feeling uncomfortably close to a mirror hanging too low above them - but keep in mind this may vary depending on where most people are sitting around your room; such as with an end table next to your couch or chair.
There are two easy ways to introduce more natural light into your living room or bedroom - strategically place mirrors. Consider the angle of the sun and hang a mirror opposite south-facing windows, east-facing windows, or on both walls if you want even more sunlight shining through!
Coming or going, guests are certain to check their reflection in your mirror when they enter. Add a well-placed console table with some seating for comfort and style without sacrificing space of the entryway!
Make sure you mount hardware properly to keep mirrors safe. There's nothing as tempting as adding wire to the back of a mirror, but each D-hook or keyhole mount on the back should attach to its own hook for safety and stability.
Finding a mirror that fits your space’s aesthetic can help you achieve the perfect cohesive design style. Whether it's windowpane pattern in your modern farmhouse bedroom, wood frames for spaces with rustic style and organic shapes for mid-century homes or even textured glass to match an industrial loft - each one will make sure everything feels like it belongs together.
If finding the right frame is difficult consider how important light reflection is when choosing which type of mirrors are best suited to be placed on top of furniture such as dressers or side tables: if you want all reflections visible choose mirrored ones; If displaying decorative items atop then opt instead for framed options so they don't get blocked out by glare from any nearby windows.
You don't have to limit the use of mirrors to indoors. Using old mirrored shower doors or adding shutters to a wood framed mirror can enhance your outdoor spaces and make your garden appear bigger and more lush!
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The decision to buy furniture is a substantial one. You want something you can live with for years and even decades, so it's important that your purchase matches up well with the space in which you plan on using it most often.
Home decor is a significant investment. You want to make sure that you’re investing your money in pieces today that will still have the same appeal five years from now.
Each year, at Canadian Home and Garden, we consult with thousands of people searching for furniture in Canada. As an established furniture retailer in Canada, we often get asked: “What should I know before purchasing quality furniture for my home?”
What Am I Looking To Add Or Replace?
When you begin the furniture buying process, it is usually due to a problem: My back is killing me, I need a new bed, the sectional is falling apart, or we need to update the dining room. While your pain points help you focus on what you need, it is always a good idea to envision the end result you are going for and how you want the room to look and feel.
As you envision relaxing in your finished room, which of your current pieces have you kept? What is new to the space? Will the old stuff go with your new furniture? Do you love the old pieces?
What Do I Need To Coordinate With?
What colour are the walls in the room? Does it change with the lighting? Are you going to paint? Are you looking to match or contrast?
Start simple and repeat the colours in your patterns. There are endless combinations of patterns you can mix, but you’ll want to follow a few simple rules to ensure your room is not too chaotic. Check out some creative stying tips in this article Working Within the Rooms You Have.
What Are My Room Measurements?
Measuring is the only way to be sure your furniture will fit!
“To measure or not to measure, that is the question.” But we can guarantee you one thing: if you don't take measurements at all before ordering a new sectional or sofa, there is a good chance you have some problems fitting in through doorways and clearances for windows and fireplaces. Read our article Before you Shop: Measure! to learn how to measure to make sure your new furniture will fit before you buy.
What Is My Design Style?
From what you wear to where you live, your style says a lot. When it comes to interior design, your home should reflect you.
How would you describe your style? Do you prefer modern, casual or traditional? Do you like comfort, what’s on-trend or both?
What Features Are The Most Important In My New Furniture?
While most retailers strive to meet all their client’s needs and wants, the reality is that you sometimes have to compromise. As you get into your furniture buying experience, you will find you are in a much better position if you clearly understand your top priorities (and even better if your partner agrees!).
Leather Or Fabric Cover?
There are so many choices of furniture covers; where should you begin? First, you’ll want to decide whether you want leather or fabric upholstery.
Essential factors to consider when choosing your furniture coverings are:
Take a look at our Fabric Gallery for our wide selection of upholstery.
Who Will Be Using My New Furniture?
Is your new chair or sofa for everyone in the household or just for you? If multiple people will be using the seating, you will need to consider everyone’s size and furniture requirements for the room.
When Do I Need My New Furniture?
Are you moving or building a new home and have plenty of time to plan out your space? Or do you need your furniture right away?
It takes time to build and customize your furniture to your specific configurations and requirements Knowing when you need your furnishings is crucial when purchasing custom furniture. In this case, it’s important to plan ahead.
Add the shipping of your new furniture, and it could take many weeks or even months to receive custom-made furniture in Canada.
Learn more about Canadian Home and Garden furniture delivery and pick-up services to your part of Canada.
*Due to the pandemic, some furniture delivery times are taking longer than usual.
If you are only purchasing an in-stock chair, the delivery date will be much sooner.
What Is My Budget?
While price & budget is something many can feel uncomfortable talking about, it can also be one of the most important factors for many people when considering the furniture buying process. Learn how to Fortify Your Online Furniture Shopping here!
It can be challenging to determine a budget when you are just beginning your buying journey and don’t know how much things cost; however, you will want to have a ballpark idea before you get started. In this case, knowledge is power, and the more you know about the pricing in the furniture market, the better prepared you will be when shopping in-store or online.
The cost of furniture varies depending on many factors, including the retailer you shop at, the quality of the materials used, custom or in-stock items, and the options chosen.
What Is A Rub Count And What Does It Mean?
When buying a new sofa or reupholstering an old settee, it’s all too easy to be seduced by the prettiest fabric on the shop floor.
But no matter how nice it may look in your living room, you need to know how that material will hold up against mucky hands, excitable pets and other day-to-day challenges.
A rub test is a method of determining the durability (or ‘abrasion resistance’) of a fabric.
During the test, a special machine vigorously rubs the fabric. When the fabric begins to show signs of wear, the rub count is determined by counting the number of ‘rubs’ to that point.
Manufacturers rely on rub tests to determine what a textile should be used for. Materials with low rub counts are best used for decorative functions, such as toss cushions. They are also usually only suitable for dry cleaning. High rub counts, however, are better matched with frequently used furniture, such as office chairs and sofas.
Thankfully, you don’t need to be an expert upholsterer to understand what a durable rub count looks like for your furniture.
How Do I Maintain My New Furniture?
It is typically recommended that you have your furniture professional cleaned. However, the following codes will give you some insight on caring for your furniture in between professional cleanings. Check out what the different cleaning codes mean under our FAQs.
Ready To Take The Next Step?
If you’ve looked at all the furniture stores in Canada and decided to give us a try, you can feel good knowing that Canadian Home and Garden has over 90 years of experience in home furnishings.
You can also feel good knowing you are supporting a local business. Our Canadian-owned and operated Canadian Home and Garden store is devoted to our community and our customers. We are your friends and neighbours striving to give you the best furniture buying experience possible!
Our highly trained sales consultants are furniture experts; they will guide you through the purchasing process to help you find what you’re looking for.
Visit us online at www.canadianhomeandgarden.ca
We look forward to helping you find the perfect furniture for your home and making your space just a little bit more comfortable
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All types of beans will grow quickly and repeated harvests until the frost comes in. Planting them throughout the summer will provide a longer growing season and more beans to pick! Because the growing plants can be delicate it is best to sow them right where they will grow. Pole beans prefer a trellis, but bushy bean plants will support themselves.
Peas are another almost no fail choice. They grow quickly and can be started indoors if you want to get going on your growing. Snow peas are a great choice to pick and pop in a fresh summer salad.
Broccoli and cauliflower are both easily planted at any time of year but should be kept from direct heat and being nipped by frost. If it hasn’t grown to your satisfaction by the time the cooler weather sets in, cover it for protection.
Radishes will grow like weeds – but in a good way! They take approximately four weeks from planting to picking. They prefer some shade which makes them the perfect thing to plant under taller veggies if you are limited on space. Like beans, if you stagger sowing radish seeds you can get multiple harvests throughout the growing season. Green onions can be direct planted into your garden late summer and will be ready to be harvested through the fall and even early winter.
Lettuce loves cool weather as much as it loves the sun. You don’t have to stick to your traditional vegetable gardens with lettuce, try growing in pots with pansies and blooms as a lovely, leafy green accent.
Kale like lettuce thrives in cooler weather and has been known to keep growing even through winter. Try sowing it early spring through to early fall and enjoy harvests almost all year long.
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If you are looking to plant a flower bed with blooms and bushes. Take the following advice into consideration!
Check in for our next article on those vital veggies!
In the meantime, make sure you take some time to smell the flowers!!
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Setting the First Impression
When the door to your home opens, whether it be to company or at the end of your own long day, you want your entry to set a good first impression. A few ways to create a sense of high end comfort is with walls that create a statement on their own! Use your entry to introduce the colour palette found further into your home. Add personal touches and creative pieces that reflect things important to you.
Accent Walls
If you have used enough paint and wallpaper on the other walls of your home, accent walls are a great alternative for your entry. They can be made out of old pallets or wood (reduce, reuse, recycle!) to provide a little colour and texture, as well create as a rustic feel.
Be sure to stain the wood you to use to provide a nice contrast to your flooring and other walls. If your entry is a high traffic area consider a stain with a sealant to protect the wood.
Board and Batten Wall
Leveled up your entry with a board and batten wall. This does take a bit or work and a few coats of paint, but it will give your entry some texture and makes and a bit of an air of sophistication!
Design Your Own Wallpaper Effect
If you have a steady hand and some talent, create your own wallpaper effect that you can be proud of for years to come! Paint your selected wall a neutral colour, then decide on a pattern or design you like. You can stencil a design on to the wall or create your design freehand if you are up to the challenge! (Remember, abstract is a style 😉 ) If its an entry to your mud room, get the whole family involved!
Contact Paper and Removable Wallpaper (It’s not just 70’s Mactac!)
Remember mactac on everything in the 70’s? It’s still around and even better than it was. Now commonly known as contact paper and removable wallpaper, it is a quick and affordable way to change the entire look of a room. As designed, it works great on walls but if can also refresh cabinets and table tops. The tricky part is to get it applied without air pockets or uneven edges. Applying a light coat of soapy water before applying the paper will give you some wiggle room to place the paper just right.
Be on Base with Baseboards
Give your entry some new-found elegance by adding in some baseboards with trim and moldings.
If you have smaller baseboards and want to give them some umpf, add a thinner strip of wood above the baseboard and then paint the space between the two, saving time and money.
Be Mindful of the Gap
A frequent issue to deal with is gaps between baseboards and door frames or at corners. For a clean finish cut a plinth block down to the appropriate size to cover the gaps. Fit the block in nicely with the molding and trim and paint it to match the trim and molding.
Have you done something unique with your entry? Do you have a main entry and one at the side for every day use? Tell us about them!
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Are your cupboards looking dull and dated? Take advantage of the nice weather to take them down and out… outside that is! Give them a light sanding and a new coat of paint! It is expected that white kitchens will lose their lustre in 2021, bring a bit of sunshine into your home with a bright yellow colour or go trendy with black cupboards.
If you really want to try a new look, get rid of the upper cupboards altogether and replace them with open shelving. Not sure if open shelves are “you”? Try removing the doors and live with them for awhile, if you are loving it, fill the holes from any hinges, add some trim, caulk them, and paint them up! Not into quite as much of a makeover, try swapping out the hardware and tightening up the hinges while you are at it!
It’s scientifically proven that plants can make an impact on your home. They help remove toxins from the air, they can help boost productivity, and bring a sense of calm and relaxation to your space. You don’t have to have a green thumb to keep many different types of plants greening up the room!
Pothos is a trailing plant with heart-shaped leaves. They can have variegated leaves with yellow, white, and green. Pothos thrive in indirect light, very low light and artificial light. These plants are happy in ordinary potting soil. It’s actually best to allow the soil to dry out completely in between waterings. Great news for those who tend to forget to water their plants!
If you are looking for a plant that thrives on neglect, a Snake plant (a.k.a Mother-in-Laws Tongue) might be the one for you! These plants can go weeks without being tended to and still stand tall and proud. Their tall, dark green leaves protrude stiffly with yellow stirpes along the edges. They can help fill a corner that just "needs that something" when potted in a large urn or basket.
Get some green for your green with a Rubber plant. In the right conditions Rubber plant will grow quickly, in the wild the reach heights of sixty feet and more. They also come in a wide variety from dark rubber leaves to pale variegated to add some interest to a grouping of them.
A backsplash doesn’t need to just be functional; it is also a way to introduce colours and textures into your kitchen. If your backsplash isn’t creating a splash of it’s own, maybe its time to freshen it up a bit!
There are so many options in backsplashes it can be overwhelming. Tiles are a typical choice and available in fun, modern, and traditional options, or consider something different like brick, stainless steel, coppers, or mirror. Some have even blown the wall right out to create a glass backsplash that looks right outside.
Sprucing up your backsplash can be done in a weeked. If you aren’t into the work of the previously mentioned options, check out peel-and-stick tiles, that can be applied over an existing backsplash!
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Spring is right around the corner and with the nicer weather our windows open and the urge to get some spring cleaning done strikes! As brighter lighting starts to shine through the windows for longer than it has in awhile, we start to notice areas that need a bit of sprucing up. This month we will do a series of articles with quick fixes to freshen up your living space!
If your home has more than one level it’s pretty much a given that you have stairs, there is no side-stepping them! Stairs are high traffic areas and can look worn and shabby if ignored, but they can also be ‘stepped-up’ with a little bit of creativity.
Fabric runners can be easily stapled or glued on to a slip proof fabric down the centre of your stairs. You may want to re-stain or paint the steps first for a really fresh look!
Wallpapering or tiling the risers bring some whimsy to your walk!
Painting the risers in matching colours with varying patterns or an ombre effect will add some colour to the climb!
Elevate Inspiration by stenciling both the steps and risers to look like stacked books or cover them in your favourite quotes.
Be bold with strikingly steps and railings in dark colours offset with lighter walls and warm wood accents.
When it comes to your stairs, you can’t go over them, you can’t go around them so you might as well enjoy going up them!
As home décor trends come and go, so do the accessories in our homes. Over time the list of home décor purchases can become costly. Instead of jumping on every bandwagon that drives by, consider selecting a few pieces that will compliment many of the trend cycles ad add warmth and interest to your décor.
We aren’t talking about a safari room, unless that’s your thing! An oversized floor pillow, the seat cushion of a wooden chair, or small footstool done in an animal print adds a dash of exotic sophistication to a room and melds well with eclectic, modern and traditional styles.
Is there a photograph you love? Imagine multiplying your love for it! Divide the photo into sections of 4-8 and have them printed and framed to hang as a grouping. That one photo of your favourite day or vacation place is now an artistic focal point that emits happy thoughts.
These are great looking and so practical. Dress them up with pretty bottles and wheel them to wherever the party is! Fill the ice bucket in the kitchen and wheel it out to the patio. Bars aren’t for you? The carts are also good for getting dinner from the kitchen to the dining room, plant stands, you name it. Investing in one will pay of in many ways as your needs and décor change.
Draped over chairs, a bench or the end of a bed, a nice blanket screams homey. Every room should have one to shake off the chilliness that can be experienced at even the warmest time of year.
Check out markets and antique stores for a bowl that sings to you. From fruit to keys, you will find many uses for a bowl you like as you reorganize your space over time.
Nesting or not, boxes are great for stashing keys, remotes and other cluttery contents.
Display some candlesticks on a sideboard or an entry table. The candle holders don’t have to match, mix together varying heights, try some made out of pretty pottery! As your arrangements change, break out the grouping and scatter them around the room
Fresh flowers not only bring some of the garden into your home but introduce an uplifting, airy fragrance to the room. Select flowers that offset the main colour of your room and a provide beautiful contrast. Add a bit of sugar to the water for longer lasting flowers. As you will need to get fresh flowers on a regular basis, it will be easy to find something that suits your current décor!
Create focal points and brighten up a room by hanging large mirrors over large-scale furniture like sofas and beds. Mirrors come framed in a variety of materials and styles, as well as unframed and with artistically etched glass. Making them timelessly stylish.
Gather a collection of like-coloured pottery pieces to add some instant colour, texture, and interest. The practicality of pottery makes it a versatile addition to your home.
A tray is another, ever useful accessory and fashioned to look great in several places. They are the perfect solution to create a surface on an ottoman, where you can put up your feet and set your tea at the same time. Smaller trays are great for unifying a vignette of perhaps candles on a shelf or table.
Having decor that you cherish and can move from room to room over time will help provide inspiration as new trends become popular. If you are able to collect some of these pieces during memorable road trips or vacations, they can inspire pleasant memories and bring some warmth and happiness to your day, no matter where you have them on display.
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Benjamin Moore offers more than 150 shades of white paint and they are not the only ones offering white paint. How do you pick? Does it matter? A truly pure white is not often favoured as it can be almost unbearably white and downright blinding.
Generally white paints have undertones that can be used to help narrow down your selection. Take into consideration the natural light your rooms get, north facing rooms may accentuate a gray undertone if it is in your pain colour. Likewise, a west facing room may accentuate the pink undertones. The most common undertones you will encounter during your decision making are blue, gray, green, pink and yellow.
The best way to notice the differences is to compare your choices side by side. Make a trip to the paint store and grab some of the whites that you find appealing, bring them home and tape them to the walls you will be painting. View the samples at different times of day, next to the furniture and art that it will be sharing space with. The undertones will start to make themselves known. If you are still unsure, ask the pro at the paint store, they are there to educate and advise!
White paints with cool undertones like grays and blues are best used in rooms that get plenty of light that will add warmth to the room, and match well with contemporary styles. Vice versa, pink and yellow warm undertones will add warmth to a cooler room, think old European style. The finish of the paint should also be kept in mind, flat matte paints resemble a plaster finish, whereas an eggshell and semi-glosses are better used in bathrooms and kitchens.
Introducing colour to your space is dependant on the vibe you are striving for. Wood tones and greenery will feel natural and neutral. Bringing in black is bold and collections in splatters of colours can make them even more special. Some find the latter overwhelming and prefer to go with an ombré effect, starting with lighter shades and with a graceful elegance, introduce the darker hues.
Start with something you love and let it introduce the rest of the colours into your room!
Create depth and interesting aspects to a somewhat monochromatic view by incorporating other textures and materials. Layering shades of white and textures or with hints of different faded shades are key. Creating reflective moments with lighting, mirrors, and a few key pieces of art will also help add depth to your white-on-white ambiance.
As mentioned, pure white can make everything appear quite sterile and that works if you are going for modern and minimal but if you want your space to feel inviting try adding in a mixture of natural features.
In a white kitchen try incorporating texture through pottery filled with fruits, woods like the walnut finish on our Courtenay Dining Table , and carried across the room with cutting boards or giant salad bowls.
Bringing some natural elements into a room also brings in natural calming properties and a sense of peace amid our hectic lifestyles.
You don’t have to scour the beaches for ornate driftwood, (though you could make a wonderful day of doing just that!) adding some fresh cut flowers or plants of varying shades of green with radiant area rugs, plump pillows, and textured throws are a great way to add some of your own personality to the space. If you have been through the throughs and pounded the pillows, a well-framed, large-scale piece of artwork could be enough!
An all-white interior provides great flexibility and is the perfect canvas for any kind of artwork. Why do you think most galleries are all white? Whether you hang a grouping of art salon style or prefer to go with a few larger scaled pieces, keep scale and proportion in mind, you want to create a focal point but maintain balance in the room.
As wonderful as whites are, many people tend to avoid white furnishings especially with pets and small children. If you tend to have pizza and watch movies, have kids that keep wearing their shoes in the house or have puppies that like to snuggle but still really want that white sofa understand it will likely need more upkeep than other upholsteries. Invest in upholstery specifically treated to be durable like the Defender line of fabrics from Canadian Home and Garden.
With good reason, the absence of colour makes all-white kitchens and bathrooms very popular. They are almost timeless. But just like everything else, all-white colour schemes bring their own challenges. When the wear and tear become evident, it is very evident.
Selecting durable materials like non-porous, quartz stone for countertops is a great choice for an all-white kitchen. It stands up to juices, oils, wines that could stain surfaces made of granite or marble. As quartz is non-porous it won’t harbour harmful bacteria. Incorporating a contrasting stone countertop that is veined throughout in white can make your kitchen easier to maintain while still being bright!
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If you are planning to purchase something that will experience everyday wear and tear, durability is important. The higher the number of double rubs on the upholstery you select, (for example 150,000 vs 50,000) the more likely you are to get better quality and durability. An upholstery fabric’s durability is determined by how it rates on the manufacturer-administered double rub test, which is a back and forth motion that mimics the wear and tear of someone sitting on an upholstered seat over time.
For furniture like occasional chairs, or a bench or ottoman for the bedroom, the durability of the upholstery fabric may not be as important as they are not used as often as your sofa. When durability is not a key consideration look at silks, wools, linens or cotton fabrics.
Colour is one of the first things we consider when purchasing new furniture. The pieces will be out in the open, visible to anyone in your home, you want them to look good, maybe even make a statement! The usage the furniture will see should also be considered when deciding on a color choice. Beige tones are a popular for hiding dirt as well as being a neutral colour that melds with many different décor styles.
Solid colours in lighter tones contribute to spacious ambiences and can help make smaller rooms feel big and airy. Bright colours and patterns can turn an average ottoman or chair into a bold statement piece that your friends and family will love. Stains and dirt can also be hidden by the patterns, great with little ones who may spill their juice from time to time.
Fibers make the fabrics. Fibers can be used on their own to make fabric, however when combined the characteristics of each can create a more durable, quality fabric with a higher performance rating.
Cotton is a breathable, comfortable, and budget-friendly. Can fade easily. Not the best material on its own for furniture.
Linen is a Strong, breathable, and classic. Linen is more prone to stains and fading and should be considered for occasional pieces.
Wool, warm, wonderful wool. Terrific texture and just feels cozy. Wool keeps its shape well and is less resistant to stains especially when used in a blend.
Silk is a smooth and strong fabric but not typically recommended for everyday wear and tear in the family room. Water stains alone can quickly mar the look of this sexy material.
Rayon on it’s own, is not very durable, but adds softness when blended with other fibers it contributes a softening to the end fabric.
Polyester is durable and easy to clean, but if the rub count isn’t high enough it may start to pill.
Nylon is also a very durable fabric, with a high resistance when it comes to abrasion and easy to clean.
Acrylic fibers are a great fibre for furniture that will get a lot of use. Highly durable, low fade, and easy to clean.
Olefin, like Acrylic, is great for furniture that will get lots of use. It is very durable, color fast, and easy to clean.
Basketwear and Tweed fabrics are textured woven fabrics that hide stains and wear well. These fabrics are used on a variety of furniture pieces and come in a number of double rub ratings. Higher double rubs reduce pilling and fabric pulls.
Chenielles are an excellent fabric choice for heavier use furniture like sofas. Similar to velvet, it has a cut pile that improves resistance to abrasion resistance is very comfortable.
Faux Leather is great when you have children for high use furniture. It is easy to clean but should be conditioned to reduce the risk of cracking.
Microfibers, Fauxsuedes and Ultrasuedes are polyester multi-weave fabrics that are easy to clean, with a strong surface abrasion treatment giving them a fuzzy, sueded pile that mimics real suede. These are the perfect fabric for family rooms with children and pets.
Jacquard is a heavier fabric, made up of yarn dyed fibers that create a textured pattern. It is a good fabric choice for decorative or moderately used pieces of furniture.
Velvet has a dense cut pile, making it a luxuriously soft fabric with a sheen. Velvet stands up to heavy usage, and is an attractive fabric covering for small and large pieces of furniture alike.
You can’t throw your sofa in the washer when it gets dirty (if only!) Most manufacturers do not recommend trying to clean your upholstery fabrics on your own, professional cleaning is the best way to ensure your fabrics are cleaned properly and your upholstery and other materials used in the construction of your furniture is not damaged. To avoid having to have your furniture professionally cleaned too often, look for fabrics that are treated with stain repellents and fabric guards. Spot cleaning should be able to address most messes without the pros.
With the options available in upholstery fabrics today its easy to find beautiful furniture that is built to last!
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Shopping online for clothes, groceries and other necessities has become a habit for many and saves precious time. Why not new furniture? The options are virtually endless, no commissioned salespeople and you can do it in your pjs!
But wait – the options are virtually endless! How do you know if you are getting high-quality products? How do you know if the site you are looking at is even legitimate? We have all heard stories of people ordering something and getting a doll’s chair instead of the chair for the living room they thought they were ordering.
The following tips should make the process less daunting and help you be confident in the purchases you are making.
There are sites that offer every style under the sun and can be very overwhelming. Look for a store the holds a commitment to something that you relate to. Sorting through pages and pages of products can be time consuming and make your head spin.
Some stores may specialize in mid-century modern styles, if you are not into retro styles, save time and skip these sites. Search with terms that match what you are looking for from Antique to Shabby Chic!
An online store with a good selection of furnishings gives you a better chance at finding everything you are looking for and can make co-ordinating your purchases easier. Not only can you ensure that the styles and fabrics match but you can also have everything delivered in the same shipment. Much better than needing to be home for each delivery or risking porch pirates! Many stores also offer a combined shipping rate that can save you money.
Most sites do their best to provide accurate photos, the better the pictures, the better a shopper can decide. However, photos online can distort true colours, monitor settings alone make a big difference! Dark woods can look much lighter online than they will when delivered. If you have selected a piece and want to be sure about the colour, check it out on different devices. Much like checking on the quality and customer service, check the reviews for comments about a difference in colour from when others made their purchase and what they received.
After browsing pages and pages of furniture you may start scanning the descriptions instead of thoroughly reading them. But when you land on a piece you are actually considering purchasing make sure you read the description carefully, click all the tabs and if you still have questions most sites have customer service standing by to chat with.
When it comes to furniture shopping, most of us don’t have a “go-to” site. We just don’t buy furniture often enough and when we do it’s not usually the same furniture we bought last time, it’s more about finding something we like. How do you know that you will be taken care of as customer? How do you know if quality is worth the money you are spending? Use the reviews to rate your decision. If a product has lots of negative reviews it could be a sign of poor workmanship and quality. If there were issues, how did the reviewer feel about the response from customer service? Problems arise, often outside of a companies control, but if they are dealt with well that’s what matters.
Before you enter your credit card and other personal information, reduce your risk of identity theft. When you begin your check out process look for indicators that the site is secure. The URL (website address) will begin with “https” if it is secure. If there is a lock icon you should be able click on it to read more about the sites security measures.
Check the FAQs to see what steps the company takes to keep your information safe. If there is a billing issue, will they email you asking for your credit card information? (Hopefully not!!) Do they share your information with any 3rd parties?
Shipping policies are usually found under the FAQ pages. What is included in their shipping? What are the delivery fees? Depending on your location the shipping companies and level of service may vary. Do they deliver to your door or to a location near you that you will have to pick up from? Is it only to your door or do they provide a White Glove Service that includes set up and removal of your old furniture? Do the shipping policies meet your needs?
It happens! Even when you have visited a retail location, checked out the couch in person, sat on it, felt the fabrics, and selected a fabric swatch… when the couch is delivered it doesn’t quite fit, you sink too far into the cushions and the upholstery doesn’t quite match the way you thought it would. Knowing a company’s return policy is important.
Online you are able to take the time to read it and understand it before you make your purchase, unlike in store where it is usually in the fine print on page 16 of the sales agreement you are asked to sign in the middle of a showroom. They should be simple to understand. How much time is allowed for returns? Most stores provide a 30 day window to make sure you are happy with your purchase. Do they provide a good warranty? Often returns can be avoided with a warranty, a smart retailer will provide a warranty as part of strong customer service. Is a restocking fee or no refund policy? Is the customer responsible for shipping on returns? Large, heavy items do not ship cheaply! Be informed before making your purchase.
Are you a pro at online shopping? Do you have tips to a terrific experience? Share them in the comments!
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Recycling Remedy
Put the junk mail directly into your recycling bin. It doesn’t have to be an official (ugly) recycling bin, just a container you have designated for recyclables and emptied on recycling day. In the event you need that pizza flyer you will also know where to find it!
Clear Your Countertops
Do the Dirty
Dirty dishes have to be one of the biggest eyesores there are. Put the coffee cup in the dishwasher right away. Hand washing a few plates after each meal is much quicker than washing a day or twos worth. The tastiest meals can be less appealing if you are surrounding by piles of dishes.
Limit the Laundry
This can be a challenge with kids and a spouse added into the mix and quickly add layers to the clutter in your home. Piles on the bathroom floor, the corner of the bedroom and often wherever things land when they are removed. Strategically placed laundry baskets or hampers help contain the piles and limit the layers you are seeing.
Tame the Toys
Cloistering toys in the closet cuts clutter. Use bookshelves, bins and hanging organizers in the closet to sort and stack. When there’s no room left in the closet it is time to cycle them out. Every 4-6 months it’s a good idea to clear out the toys not being used, either store them to be brought out as something “new” to play with or donate them. Typically, the things that have made their way to the back or corner of the closet are less noticed when they disappear!
Cumbersome Closets
Take 5 minutes and grab 5 pieces of clothing you rarely wear. Keep a box in the closet to add to as you go through your closet. If you try on something you haven’t worn in a while and decide you no longer like it put in the box instead of back on a hanger. Once the box is full, donate it or give it away online.
Make a habit of going through your closet every other month to organize it and get rid of a few more things you aren’t wearing, you will find the clothes you keep hang better and it is easier to find what you are looking for.
Half the Hominess
As time goes on we pick up souvenirs or are given knick-knacks and other decorative pieces as gifts. Sometimes they are sentimental, sometimes they are just things that others thought would look nice in our homes. Grab a box and go through your home, anything that you don’t absolutely love or hold a special meaning to you should be added to the box. If you feel that some spaces are left with a void that bothers you, pick a piece or two from the box. I like to keep a few things stored and when I get in the mood to switch up the décor I can cycle in some “new” pieces much like with the kids toys!
Suitable Storage
We all love to snuggle under a pile of blankets, there are some days we can never have enough! But the days we don’t need them we also don’t need them cluttering up a room or closet. Look for practical ways to keep things like extra blankets at hand but out of site with furniture that incorporates storage features like the Haileybury Storage Bench or Snowdrift Bed from Canadian Home and Garden.
Gratify the Garbage Man
Canadians in particular, have become very good at reducing waste. The “Three Rs” have been drilled into us – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and typical weekly refuse is often under the “limits” many areas have. Take advantage of the half-filled recycling box, thrown in some broken toys or that stack of old brochures from your office. Some areas allow large item pick up any time of year, drag out that chair that has been sitting in the basement.
At the end of the day, developing habits to address the clutter thorugh your home will have you feeling better and free up the time spent on weekends trying to deal with it!
]]>Natural light creates open and airy feelings, avoid using dark curtains on large windows. Light and semi-sheer shades maximize the light brought in from smaller windows.
Mirrors make small rooms look larger, try propping a large mirror in the corner or tiling a section of wall in mirrors. Not only will it reflect the room, making it appear larger, but also reflect the light in the room, making it brighter.
When selecting additional lighting, consider wall-mounted or hanging lights to avoid taking up precious floor space. Swing-arm sconces can be found in stylish designs and will eliminate the need for space on tables like traditional table lamps - in fact they eliminate the need for tables!
Even in small spaces creating contrast and points of interest are possible. But there can be a fine line between a well-curated look and cluttering up the room. Dramatic hanging lights like sparkling chandeliers, a large ottoman covered in an interesting pattern or an over-sized ornate vase can help create the contrast you are looking for in what could otherwise be a drab looking room.
Embracing the size and shape of a space will help you enhance the feel to your room. Keeping seating close together and intimate, has been well advised if you're decorating a small family room, where you want the room to be welcoming. Creating space behind some furniture contributes to making a room look wider than it may be, try pulling some pieces out from the wall. Varying proportion and scale will create a visual effect of higher ceilings. Lower sofas and settees help change the perception of the room. Using ottomans in place of a traditional coffee tables will make better use of your space. Top them with a tray holding flowers and candles to look pretty while being on standby for extra seating or to put your feet up on at the end of a long day.
Sometimes, the only option is to get creative and make rooms multi-purpose when space is an issue. Not all homes are large enough for separate living room, family room, and home office, and all three spaces need to be combined in one area. Arranging furniture to create divisions within the room can help, area rugs will break up the continuity in the floor space and contribute to defining the various uses of the room. Be mindful of traffic flows, if you don’t at first you will be rearranging the room after banging your toes for the umpteenth time!
Take advantage of vertical space! Make tall windows light and airy with high, full curtains and fabulous wallpapers curtains. Hang artwork to trick the eye, depending on how it’s hung, artwork can accentuate the height of a room or seemingly expand the height of lower ceilings. Gallery walls done to the ceiling can make your space feel larger, especially if a few mirrors are incorporated in with the photos.
Have fun with color! If you love bright, vivid colours but are afraid of it being overwhelming, pick a tight colour palette, two or three colours you enjoy the most and work around them. Over time you may find a way to add in a few more! Mix in some patterns to create interest. Do you already have a pattern you love? Base your colour palette around some of most or least used colours in the pattern, sometimes its actually easier to start with your favourite pattern and build your room around that!
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Snow sprinkles the ground in parts of the country, with many of us getting cabin fever and looking to make a change. As the warmth evades us outdoors, its time to contemplate creating warmth in our homes. We have looked into some of the perfect lessons in layering warm tones, how you can’t go overboard with wood, how to balance color with neutral, and a brief lesson in using tones in your design.
A general rule of thumb is that the more open concept your living space is, the more important it is to treat the space as one. It can be challenging to consider EVERY detail of abut when done well, the final feel of your space cannot be matched!
Layering wood on wood, with an accent colour that speaks to you and balanced with a creamy white neutral will create a cozy ambiance. Using marble in your kitchen helps break up a wood on wood look and create unique elements for the different living areas of your space. Using elements like area rugs and differing textures also help break up living spaces in a way that is complimentary, not overwhelming.
The view from one room into the next should be cohesive and in sync with the rest of the home, but distinctive in its own right. Add pops of colour to break things up a bit, adding a variety of metals. Check out a past blog What Was Old is New Again in Décor Trends for more tips on mixing colours, patterns and metals!
Regardless of your design and decor preference, Canadian Home and Garden has the quality pieces to make your home your haven in comfort and style.
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The whole family can travel the world from home! Check out a virtual light shows or visit a museum anywhere you want!
With limited travel opportunities and the typical activity venues limited, many of us are home and running out of things to do and ways to keep the kids busy. To help, we have come up with a few ideas!
Take an online class
Cooking or baking, whatever tempts your palate! Many local businesses prepare kits you can pick up prior to the class so no shopping is needed! Not only will you have a delicious treat at the end, but no one will be asking what’s for dinner!
Check out a Virtual Light Show
Why drive aimlessly in search of houses all decorated up? Tune in for a global light show! A quick search will list light shows from all around the world. Our favourite is the light show presented by Canadian Heritage highlighting local artists and illuminated displays from across Canada.
Tour a Museum or Gallery
No need to whisper and worry about knocking over an exhibit! Museums are offering video and virtual tours. Places we thought we would never see like the British Museum in London , the Smithsonian or the Louvre are offering tours with a click. Browse Google’s Arts and Culture for an endless list of museums and galleries from all over the world. Climb mountains, see how you would look in a helmet with Tengu Mask and Crows.
Streaming Wildlife
Many parks and sanctuaries were in on steaming before it was cool! They have set up cameras in various spots to spy on wildlife in their habitats. See Elephants and Gorillas in Africa or Platypus’ and Pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
Take a World Tour
Have you always dreamed of a trip abroad but time, budget and responsibilities have held you back? Take the time you may have spent commuting or out for drinks with the gang and check out the places you have always wanted to go. Visit the Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, watch the water traffic at the Ponte delle Guglie in Venice and the hustle and bustle of Times Square in New York at and end off your tour at the Temple Bar in Dublin.
Get crafty with your loved ones
Create something fun with your family, YouTube is full of inspiration whether that means knitting, diy ideas, or getting messy with paints, you can be proud of the outcome or it will make a good story to laugh about for years to come!
Playdates
Are the kids missing out on play dates with their friends? Are you missing out on wine dates with your friends? Cast it! Set up your webcam – whether you are using your phone, laptop or an external webcam and cast it to your tv! The kids can scatter their toys and play side by side with their friends, but you only have half the mess to clean up! No more trying to see everyone on a tiny screen and you can sit back and relax like you are all in the same room!
Whatever you decide to do, make the most of this time and have fun trying something new!
]]>We all know someone that turns into bear when they haven’t gotten enough Z’s but here are a few other good reasons to get sufficient shut eye!
Tips to Better Sleep
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Experiences like this can make the idea of buying furniture online a nerve-wracking process.
You don’t get to see the pieces in person, you can’t feel the textures or experience the cushioning of the seats. We have collected some tips to make your shopping experience stress free and the addition of that perfect piece to your home an uplifting and satisfying experience!
Scale
If your furniture is too big for the room it will literally stick out like a sore thumb. When looking at new lighting, add the length and width of the room measured in feet and that number in inches should be the maximum diameter of your light fixtures (Example, a room that is 14 feet long and 12 feet wide, you wouldn’t want the diameter of your light fixture to exceed 26 inches.)
The first step in buying a sofa online is deciding how much seating is needed. To seat three comfortable, a sofa of 84- to 96-inches long is recommended. The back height of a sofa typically measures 34-38 inches, and overall depth is around 35 inches. Overall dimensions are not the only measurements to note. Consider the intended use and make sure the piece you are selecting will meet your needs.
Does your family enjoy stretching out for naps on the couch? Look for a longer sofa if you have the space. Are some of your family members “heigh challenged”? Consider shallower seating. When ordering sectionals or modular pieces, left or right-facing is determined as you face the sofa, not when you’re seated.
When shopping for a dining room table, pay attention to the numbers.To ensure a comfortable fit, it is recommended that you need to leave a 3-foot walkway around your table. The typical dining table height is 30 inches.; A standard for counter dining is 36 inches and 42 inches for bar height tables. For adequate elbow room, chairs should have 24 inches between seats. Measurements are done from the center of one chairback to the center of the one beside it.
Check out Canadian Home and Garden’s Blog to When the Dinner Bell Rings for important tips to keep in mind when purchasing new dining room pieces!
Tabletops throughout the home are seen closely and touched a lot, focus on the listed details and give some thoughtful consideration as to whether this is a look and feel you will be happy with. Will the material stand the test of time while meeting the intended function?
“Some assembly required” can indicate lower quality. Having the assembly handled by the pros, while it may be slightly more expensive, removes the headache of trying to find the time and find screw W to fit into slot D! Whenever "White Glove Service" is offered take advantage of it! It usually includes unpacking, any final assembly, general placement and removal of all the packing materials!
Before ordering upholstered furniture online, go beyond the picture. Screen settings can vary the colours, lighting and other colours used throughout your space can also make the actual piece appear different in real life. Ask for swatches to be sent to you. Situate them in the space you plan to furnish and take some time observing them in different lighting and times of day.
Visualizie Your New Furniture in Your Current Space
Visualize your potential purchase in your space, one option is to tape out the dimensions of the furniture you are looking at. Walk around the room with the areas taped off to get a sense of what the flow through the room will be like. Get a better sense of the proportions of the furniture by stacking boxes or books to understand how much space will be taken up by the piece you are considering.
The Tools at Your Fingertips
Retailers want to avoid returns, so utilize site resources they have provided to help you. Reviews from those that have purchased the product already can give great insight into the durability of the product and the level of customer service encountered when they had concerns. Problems can occur, complaints will be posted, look for how the company handles those complaints before becoming their customer. Look for the shipping and return policies, check out the FAQs. Still have questions? Most online retailers have a customer service agent waiting to chat!!
]]>Whether you have just moved into your new home or need to upgrade your current dining room set, you’ll find the utopic dining room set for your home at Canadian Home and Garden. We carry sets designed for large dining rooms as well as smaller table sets made for a two.
What size? Determine the size of dining set you need. To furnish a formal dining room, you’ll want a nine- or eleven-piece dining room set, large enough to fit the entire family for a holiday dinner. Not all homes have space for large table, perhaps an extendable table or smaller table sets still offer the comfort and style while taking up less space in the room.
Customers with a breakfast space, would ideally consider a three to five-piece dining set. A table and four chairs is perfect size for a small family to gather at and also double as a space for homework or office work! The three-piece sets are an ideal option for singles or couples living in apartments, condos or small homes and want a place to enjoy their meals together.
Once you have determined the size of the dining set you need it’s time to decide on the style and colour of your set. No matter the style of furniture you prefer, Canadian Home and Garden has something to match your tastes. From rustic, modern, contemporary, or traditional, we have a set for you. Our Dining Sets are available in a variety of finishes. We have popular wood finishes like espresso and walnut, smooth leathers, luxurious fabrics in solids and patterns, you are sure to find the set to stylishly meet your needs.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is important to have a nice spot for a cup of coffee or home cooked meal, and that calls for the right amount of seating to go around the right size table. Dining chairs make a difference from both a design and comfort perspectives.
Canadian Home and Garden has a nice selection of dining chairs, benches and stools crafted from a variety of materials and in many available as custom orders. It is possible to select a few dining chairs or a whole set for stylish, functional daily enjoyment.
You want to select a dining room table that matches your style and that you can enjoy for many years. Our selection of dining room chairs will provide comfort and class homes of many different styles. Consider the height of who will be sitting in the chairs to decide about the appropriate height of the back of the chair. The taller the people, the more appropriate a higher back would be. You want your dining room chairs to be comfortable and stylish.
Purchasing your dining room chairs and table together as a set is a great way to ensure that they coordinate with one another. If you decide to purchase them separately make sure there is consistency in the design. If you have a traditional dining room table with an ornate design, you would not pair the table with modern or metal chairs. Comfortable and luxurious leather chairs or upholstered chairs make an elegant statement. If you decide that a farmhouse dining table is more your style - you will want to make sure that you go with either a wooden bench or rustic chair design.
Parson chairs are popular options for dining room chairs due to their comfort, simplistic design, and versatility. Parson chairs blend in with many styles, from modern to contemporary, making them the perfect option for many different homes.
It is important to know the dimensions of your dining room, the width and length of your room will affect how you able to move around once you have placed your furniture. Allow 36" – 48" of space between the table and the wall to permit flow around the table, and approximately 48" between the table and a doorway. When you are looking for a new dining room table, the right height is an important aspect to both the functionality and aesthetics of a room.
There are three common dining table heights: standard, counter height, and bar height.
Standard: Standard height tables average between 28" – 30" high, chairs that have seat heights of 18" – 23" are ideal with these tables. This height works well for families with a wide range of ages who make use their dining areas for a wide range of purposes.
Counter: Counter-height tables average between 34" – 36", high chairs that have seat heights of 24" – 26" are best suited to these tables. Counter-height tables are perfect for small spaces and create an open, more informal look.
Bar: Bar-height tables average between 41" – 43" high and paired with bar stools that are between 28" – 33" high. Create your own bar at home with some stylish pieces!
If you are buying chairs separately from the table, always check the seat height. There should be 10" – 12" between the chair seat and the bottom of the table.
The width and length aspects impact how your room looks and how comfortable you will be at your dining table.
The width of a dining table width is measured along the “head” of the table – this effects how easy it will be to pass food and how many serving dishes you can place along the center of the table. You want to be able to easily pass dishes across the table, the width of the table should be 48" to share comfortably. If you will have a sideboard and only need place settings on the table, a table as narrow as 30” wide will suffice.
No one likes being elbowed during dinner! Each guest should have at least 24" of personal space. To avoid scuffs and scratches to your chairs, allow 6" between them. Remember, the legs of the table may take away a few inches of room under the table.
The size and shape of your dining table will affect seating capacity.
Round: Round dining tables take up less space, this makes them perfect a perfect fit for small rooms where space is limited. In the centre of square rooms, the rounded edges leave the room feeling more spacious. Round tables are not recommended in rectangular rooms as created a cluttered and crowded feeling.
Rectangular: Rectangular tables fit well in rectangular rooms. When in unsure, select a table shape that reflects the overall room shape. Rectangular dining tables do not work well within a square room, the long length appears oversized and will affect how you move around the table.
Oval: Oval tables are a stylish alternative to rectangular tables. They work well in long rooms where you want a modern and contemporary feel.
Square: Like round tables, square dining tables are well suited in smaller spaces.
Dining tables usually seat from two people or more. The following chart can be a reference for combining table shape and size with seating capabilities:
Round or rectangular, standard or bar height, defining a spot in your home for people to gather at and enjoy a great meal or finish up a science project should be reflective of your taste and style!
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Let’s start with colours; the Pantone colour of the year, Classic Blue, but blue isn't everyone's cup of tea!
The”up-and-coming” colours are earth tones that bring out warmth and a connection to the great outdoors in the shades of olive greens, yellow ochres, and burnt oranges.
Furniture and accessories are reflecting the natural elements of wood, plants, and metals lend themselves to creating a calming, outdoorsy atmosphere. Incorporate some bold contrasts with dark shelving, doors or trim or a cozy, soft brown sofa. Embracing these tones will creative a grounded feeling to your room.
Floral wallpaper has been around, is around, and will continue to be around! It has varied from the granny flowers to flowerchild patterns of the 70s. Floral wallpaper with contemporary style can offer a wow factor to any wall. Current wallpaper patterns with an appeal for vibrant and contrasting colours are available in varying sizes and designs to suit many decor styles. Create character in your mid-century modern dining room with moody peonies on a dark backdrop. Brighten your opulent office with an accent wall of wildflowers. In small spaces, floral wallpaper will add interest and whimsy.
This year there has become an obsession with metals and mixing them takes the trend the next level. Furniture and finishings in tins, coppers, silvers, and golds, are prominent. To avoid metals from becoming an overwhelming feature in your room, there are some guidelines: when mixing warm metals like brass, gold and copper, and cool coloured metals like aluminum, silver, and stainless steel, choose one dominant colour and one accent colour. Neutral metals like cast iron and other black metals easily combine with both. Avoid incorporating more than three metals to mix and clustering different metals in only one part of your room, disperse your pieces across various horizontal and vertical areas.
Rattan and wicker offer warmth and charm and can be added into a variety of personal décor styles. Once considered only for outdoor furniture, rattan and wicker furniture invite in organic elements that layer well with other décor styles. Bring some elements of nature into a modern living room design a fabulous corner or add a bit of the beach to your office with a rattan bookshelf.
A throw back to the 60s and 70s, rounded furniture makes a modern appearance with lines and curves highlighting the beauty of each piece. The free form mid century modern designs will transition easily to designs incorporating waves, circles and curves as we yearn to bring more of the tranquil energy of nature into our homes.
Interior design is branching away from matching elements that offer subtle and neutral looks. We are seeing a time of for high contrast decorating using forms of colours, materials, and styles. This means if you’ve wanted to paint your foyer a bold blue (bring out the Pantone Classic Blue!) or cover your kitchen in loud tiles, go for it! The trick, like in most things is moderation to balance things out with contrasting solids and other timeless pieces.
Matching old and new is the centre of eclectic design. Start with modern or contemporary décor base and sprinkle in some antique accessories, the distinct contrasts between looks gives creates a unique and creative space. Pair up an old farmhouse table with upholstered dining chairs with sleek lines, place ornate antique lamps in a modern living room to create focal points!
Regardless of what style you choose, create a space that you love!
]]>If only a good night’s sleep could be a click away! A beautiful selection of beds and free shipping will have your bedroom a peaceful haven in no time!
Create a new focal point in your rom with one of our stylish platform or panel beds. With different sizes, styles, and fabrics to chose from it's easy to design a custom a bed that fits in with your personal decor.
Creating a bedroom that's energizing and mood-boosting or exudes a calm, serene energy is easily done with colours and fabrics.
What’s the difference in beds?
Panel Bed: Panel beds area designed with headboards and footboards that are made of flat wood panels. A traditional bed design that often features an upholstered headboard and simple decorative moulding. We offer many different fabrics to personalize each one.
Platform Bed: The platform style is a great choice for those looking for a simple design. Platform beds have a box base that extends to the floor.
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There are as many types of air fresheners as there are perfumes. Some people (like myself!) have spent years, and lots of money trying to find the one that works for them. Walking into friends’ homes and being greeted with warm spicy scents or being uplifted by the light floral scents always had me leaving trying to replicate it in my home with varying successes.Air fresheners have been around forever, and there is a type out there for almost everyone. Incense and scented candles, oils and fans and motion detecting air fresheners, there will be one to fits your lifestyle and wallet.
Nowadays, who wants to waste the time, money and let’s be honest; have to smell some of the choices out there?? I decided to stick my nose into the world of air fresheners and how they have evolved!
People have attempted to mask foul air since the beginning of time, think back to the lack of conveniences and you can understand why. Many items were used to try make the surrounding smell more pleasant, essential oils, incense, and flowers. Nosegays were pinned to a gentleman’s lapel for this very reason!
In 1948 the military developed the technology to emit a pressurized mist using a chlorofluorocarbon propellant to release insecticides. The mist could remain in the air for hours. With the addition of aroma compounds instead of insecticides, air fresheners hit the shelves.
Doing the Bunny Hop into the 1950s, companies travelled the research and development road, adding substances intended not just to cover odors but annihilate them altogether. Most only neutralized some of the unpleasantness. In early 1980s, environmental concerns led manufacturers to looking into alternatives to aerosols. In the years since we have seen rapid growth in air-freshening options, from old fashioned potpourri to set and forget timed-release sprays.
With the advancement in air fresheners they no longer just mask unpleasant smells. While now being environmentally friendly, there are also fresheners available to sanitize the air, acting on airborne microbiological organisms. These air fresheners are great to put to use during flu season!
There are the air fresheners from our childhood. They are still on the shelves and will likely be there years to go. Traditional air fresheners containing a gel that evaporates over time will not transport you to an orchard of Japanese Cherry Blossoms, but they do what they are intended for. They are inexpensive and small, just remove the seal and put the air freshener in a discrete spot like the shelf of your closet or in a bathroom cabinet and replace as needed.
Aroma beads can be fun and easy to use. Place them in your favourite fragrant oil until it’s absorbed and stick them in a bag and use them to freshener the air wherever you want — a closet, dresser, or even your vacuum bag. If you are creative type, use the beads to make great smelling home decor and gifts. Be cautious around heat, the beads may melt and make a mess!
A Potpourri is a combination of herbs and spices, in natural and synthetic varieties. Potpourri is visually appealing as well as aroma therapeutic. It is available ready-made, or you can easily make your own. It is inexpensive and natural potpourris do not contain harmful chemicals, if you opt to make your own it can take some experimenting to reproduce your favourite fragrances but so worth it in the end!
Some find burning incense to be relaxing, others find the scented smoke too strong. I find the quality of the incenses makes an incredible difference in the experience. Ignited the cone, stick, or coil, blow out the flame and the incense will disperse aromatic smoke for up to an hour before self-extinguishing.
Scented candles are incredibly popular because they come in a variety of scents and colors, shapes and sizes. Some may find that they leave a bit of black, sooty residue on nearby surfaces or the air heavy and smoky when they are extinguished, somewhat counter active to lighting the candle to begin with.
When candles aren’t allowed, or preferred candle-warmers are an option. Like little fondue pots for your favorite scented wax. They are plugged in with the scented wax place on top or inside, as it warms, and the wax melts the scents wafted through your home. Scented candles and waxes often contain synthetic compounds, which can cause issues for those with allergies or asthma, look for natural alternatives if you have concerns.
Essential oils have been the hot topic of the last few years from diffusers to roll-ons and bracelets. Essential oils are lovely smelling plant extracts that have different properties and can be combined. If you want to relax, lavender can help you do that. If you are working from home and having trouble avoiding distractions, other oils can give you the energy you need to stay motivated or help you concentrate on the tasks at hand. Combining different essential oils that compliment each other can bring out notes that may not have been sensed using only a single oil.
There are essential oil diffusers that release aromatherapy with and without heat. Dispersing the oils with heat breaks them down in a way that may release harmful chemicals into the air. There have been studies showing adverse effects on pets when essential oils have been heated in a home. While the oils themselves don’t contain harmful substances, there is a chemical reaction that occurs during heating the dispels the chemicals into the air. Be informed, check with the manufacturer or your vet if you have concerns.
Getting a bit more hi-tech, there are fan air fresheners (usually battery-powered) that look and operate like little fans. The aroma comes from scent cartridges available in a wide selection to suit your personal sniff preferences. There are a few styles of these available, and no two are exactly alike. You learn that quickly when you go to buy replacement scent cartridges; Was it this one? No, kind of looked like this I think…? They also vary from ones that deodorize a single or your entire home. Some models that release fragrance for a month or others that will be empty in a week in high traffic areas.
Evaporative diffusers run on a quiet fan to disperse essential oils through a filter. They don’t tend to release all the components of the oils concurrently, so you may not get the total aromatherapy experience with these diffusers.
Ultrasonic diffusers are one of the most popular when it comes to diffusers as they use a metal plate to quickly dispense essential oil particles. These are considered one of the better options as they are quiet enough to be used in a bedroom at night and serve as both diffuser and a humidifier. They do have smaller water tanks making their aromatherapy capabilities less intense than other types of diffusers.
Plug-ins seem to be omnipresent in homes. Some people can turned off by the strength of the scent from plug-ins, but they can usually be adjusted to suit your preference of fragrance intensity. These fragrances are usually made of synthetic chemicals, so again, check labels if you have need for concern.
Plug-ins contain a warmer that circulates the fragrance usually through a single room or smaller area. Plug-ins last for weeks, are relatively easy to use and give you a good value to your dollar. The package will come with at least one fragrance refill, remember the brand when you go to buy refills, they are usually quite specific!
Many air fresheners cannot be tolerated by people with allergies and asthma as they contain carcinogens. Some of these chemicals can be especially harmful to babies, young children, and pets. Read labels carefully, look for all-natural options, such as essential oil diffusers and products that are free of compounds that could potentially be dangerous.
The scent you disperse through your home is as personal as the perfume you wear. Create an atmosphere that relaxes or invigorates – cinnamon and vanilla, eucalyptus and mint, or hibiscus and roses - it’s a matter of personal taste, or um, sniff!
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Pivot Points
When planning out your rooms give some consideration to how you will live in that room
There are solutions to all of these situations, sometimes a bit of creativity is needed! Increasing the comfort and functionality of your house makes it your home!
Contain your clutter
Turn small spaces into cozy spaces
Open up smaller spaces
The construction is irrelevant – it’s the choices you make that will transform your space into a sanctuary of welcoming comfort and style.
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Your home's ambiance is reflected by the furniture you select. Larger pieces are the anchor of any room. Choosing the right pieces are critical to achieving the desired finished look. Canadian Home and Garden's collection of sectional sofas is diverse, ensuring that there is a match to any home's décor. We offer a wide variety of colors and materials, regardless of a homes contemporary or rustic design, there is a Canadian Home and Garden sectional sofas be the perfect addition. Canadian Home and Garden’s sofa sectionals come in a range of different sizes, to fit smaller lofts, condos and apartments to those monster-sized sets for the whole family to comfortably relax on.
Learn how to measure your space for a sectional sofa in our guide on measuring before you buy. Canadian Home and Garden's sectional sofas are comfortable and made of durable materials, ensuring years of comfortable use when you are busy entertaining or enjoying a relaxing evening at home and a guarantee to back it all up.
Sectional sofas are an ideal solution for people who welcome overnight guests but are limited on space. Many of Canadian Home and Garden's sofas and sectionals are oversized and comfortable enough to sleep on as they are, others have built-in sleeper beds.
A sofa's color is key to determining the color scheme of a room. If the sofa and wall color match it helps maintain the overall ambiance of the space. Choosing a contrasting color from the rest of the room can add a zap of color and create a focal point to the room.
Sofa orientation is an important factor to consider. Finding a corner sofa, or L-shaped sectional that fits against the wall in your living room gives you the opportunity to make use corner areas that can be hard to fill with other styles of furniture. Corner sofas can also create a clear layout for the rest of your furniture such as coffee tables and TV stands.
Sectional sofas are the gathering place for people during parties and other social events, perfect for movie nights with the family, they are more than just a place to sit! A sofa chaise sectional is perfect for a smaller room, while an oversized sectional allows space to spread out and relax in larger rooms.
Setting the right feel for a room and making people feel at ease, requires the right sofa be melded into the home. In choosing one of Canadian Home and Garden's sofas, shoppers can be assured they are buying a quality piece of furniture that will reflect their own style and make people feel at home. At Canadian Home and Garden, we try to make sure you always have many options to make your home your own.
Canadian Home and Garden features a wide selection of Sectionals so that you can find the perfect one for your home. Whether you live in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, or somewhere else, you'll discover a variety of quality options. Shop through our store and discover how great shopping online for Sectionals and everything else for your home can be at Canadian Home and Garden.
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What colour? Patterns or solids? Dark or light? If you are not sure where to start, consider the colors that you already have in your room. Lighter colours easily complement darker colours by with a stunning contrast. Using similar, lighter colours to your background such as white create a sense of openness, spaciousness and freedom. The most important thing to remember is it’s your room, as long as you are happy with it nothing else matters!
Will it go with the accent pillows I already have? Accent pillows are lovely touches that you can add to a room in different spots or on various types of furniture. If the pillows won’t match your new sofa, it can be fun to freshen up the room with new ones.
What type of style do I prefer? If you are unsure about the kind of style of furniture that will work for you, think about your home style and personality and how you want to present your home to guests. You may prefer old traditional styles with wood, print or mosaic patterned fabrics or a modern look with metals and solid colors.
Choose the right upholstery. Cotton and twill oversized accent chairs can hold up to heavy use and have a pleasant texture to ensure comfort. For chairs that will be used less frequently, consider a luxurious fabric like velvet, linen, or chenille. Genuine leather and faux leather also have a sumptuous feel but are very simple to clean. Polyester and polyester-blends will remain vivid in areas that are exposed to intense sunlight.
Consider frame construction. For furniture that can hold up to years of daily use, focus on pieces that feature kiln-dried hardwood frames. Ones with reinforced corner blocked joints or screwed, glued, or doweled joints will be the absolute sturdiest. Plywood and particleboard frames are a more economical choice.
Compare support, hand-tied seats are comfortable and responsive, while seats with sinuous springs are slightly softer. Webbing suspension keeps the cost of seats low and gives chairs less support.
Final consideration is filling. If softness and plushness are your top priority, look for chairs that are filled with down or feathers. High-density foam filing is commonly used in accent chairs due to its durability and comfortable support. Prefer chairs with a smoother look? Options with wool or cotton batting will suit your tastes.
Regardless of style, color, or material you choose, you have plenty of options for decorating your home with one of our beautiful loveseats. Canadian Home and Garden features a wide selection of Loveseats so that you can find the perfect one for your home whether you live in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, or anywhere else!
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If you are looking to replace furniture in your home, it's essential to know the measurements of your old furniture so you can be confident your new pieces will fit in the same space. When considering how to measure furniture, it is important to acknowledge the type of furniture you are measuring. Be sure to measure the length, width, and height of all furniture pieces. Measure the dimensions of the room as well as the specific area where you would like to put the furniture. Use painter's tape to map out the dimensions on the floor to see how it will fit in your space. Make sure you have plenty of room to walk around!
Measure the width, height, depth, and diagonal depth of the sofa you are replacing. Use these measurements as a reference for your new furniture so you can be confident it will fit your space. Some sofas and sectionals can be moved in pieces, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s dimensions and instructions in case this is true for you.
For similar pieces like accent chairs or desks, you will also want to measure width, height, depth, and diagonal depth
Overall Length: The combined measurement of both the right-hand (or left-hand) loveseat and the corner chair. The overall length of a sectional sofa is usually between 94” and 156” (or between about 8’ and 13’) long.
Overall Width: The total measurement of all the components along the back of the sofa. In the illustration, the components are the left-hand chaise, the armless loveseat in the middle, and the corner chair on the right side. The overall width of a sectional sofa is usually longer than the overall length and tends to fall between 94” and 168” wide.
Other Measurements: The measurements on the interior sides of the sectional as shown in the illustration are important if you are considering pairing your sectional with a coffee table or ottoman.
Measure your living room or space for a sectional sofa, using a tape measure to measure the length, width, and height of the room. These measurements will be a baseline for what size sectional will comfortably fit in your space.
Choose the spot you’d like to place the sectional. It should be wide open and away from high-traffic areas; you don’t want the sectional to obstruct the natural flow through your home. Remember to leave a few inches for outlet access if necessary.
Mark the area you picked out on the floor with masking tape or painter's tape. By taping off the space you can realistically visualize how much space the sectional will occupy in the room. You can remove and re-tape areas as many spots as you like until you’re satisfied with the size and position and feel.
Use the measurements of the marked area. You may not find a sectional with those exact dimensions, or you may find the sectional you selected will not fit very well but this will provide a general guideline to help you narrow down your options.
Think ahead! You may want to rearrange your room in the future, measure for multiple placements to ensure that your sectional can fit comfortably arrangements.
Taller pieces of furniture, like a bookcases, cabinets, or armoires need to be measured by the width, height, depth and diagonal height (from the bottom left corner to the top right corner).
If you are looking to add new furniture to your space instead of replacing an old piece, use a tape measure to measure the room where you will place your new furniture.
Determine which entrance to your home has the easiest access for delivery. Consider entrances with larger clearances, such as patios, garage doors, and even large windows. If you live in an apartment or condo building, check to see if you have access to a service entrance.
Be sure to account for any immovable objects in your path, including fire sprinklers, angled or low ceilings, handrails, and more.
Measure the height and width of doorways and hallways. Account for handrails, doorknobs, trim, and hinges that can't be removed and include them in your measurements. Measure the entry clearance of all doors (the space between the door and the nearest wall or immovable object) if applicable. Keep in mind, interior doors can be removed and reattached if necessary and usually quite simply.
Measuring the width of the stairway. Include any handrails in the measurements if you will not be removing them. Measure the width and depth of any landings. If the top or bottom of the stairway leads to a wall instead of an open room, measure the distance from the stairs to the wall. Finally, measure the ceiling height in three locations:
If you need to use an elevator during delivery of your furniture, measure it as well. Measure the height and depth of the elevator door as well as the interior height, width, and depth. Also measure diagonally from the bottom center of the door opening to the back ceiling. Account for handrails and lights within the elevator, as they will not be removed and can lessen the amount of space by several valuable inches.
When deciding on the layout of your new furniture, be mindful of where the outlets, light switches, vents, and thermostats are in the room. Do not to cover these features if you need to access them frequently.
The width and height of your furniture piece should be less than the widths and heights of the doorways and hallways in your home. Allow at approximately 4" of space between your furniture and the doorways and hallways. This will ensure you have enough of space to move your furniture safely and comfortably without damage.
Make note of the items in the path of your furniture delivery: light fixtures, railings, wall art, area rugs, and more. Be sure to remove any of these common obstacles before your delivery arrives.
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