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Home Accessories Ideas

Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture, Outdoor & Patio Ideas Published: March 9, 2017 | Updated: October 8, 2018

Enliven Outdoor Spaces with Rugs and Pillows

Gorgeous furniture designs are taking indoor sophistication and comfort outside, making your backyard an extension of your interior style. But why stop there?  Adding several area rugs and throw pillows elevate your outdoor level of comfort even more. Here’s how:

Define your space with vibrant area rugs.

If your outdoor deck, patio or lanai is large and undefined, you may need to set some boundaries. Rugs create visual borders that break up large areas and make it easier to determine furniture placement.


Add a little color– or a lot of – for visual impact.

Just as you would an interior room, design your outdoor living space with a theme and color scheme in mind. Here are a few options:

Patterns Pop – The geometric design of this rug stands out beautifully against the neutral tone of the sectional. Changing out the rug and throw pillows results in a completely different look.

Neutral’s Nice – Slate gray and other earth tones are universally appealing and always in vogue.

Color Counts – Bright colors liven up any area. Pair several hues together for a lively look that’s anything but boring.

Increase your comfort level with an outdoor rug or two.

Warm weather begs for bare toes, but concrete, tile, and hardwood decks can get scorching hot in the dog days of summer. Soft rugs underfoot offer respite from the heat, while strategically placed comfy cushions create much-welcomed back support.

Relax. Nuvella® fabric and outdoor rugs are long lasting & easy care.

While outdoor furniture is loaded with indoor style elements, it’s still…well…outdoors. Choose pillows covered in weather-resistant fabric such as Nuvella, a high-performing, durable fabric. This all weather fabric repels moisture and stains, and, with proper care, will continue to look bright season after season. Ensure that area rugs are indoor/outdoor, and read care instructions to prevent formation of mold and mildew.
Dining Room Ideas, Entertaining, Home Accessories Ideas Published: February 6, 2017 | Updated: August 20, 2024

How to Plan An Outdoor Dinner

Nothing goes hand in hand like great weather and outdoor entertaining. Here are a few tips that will make your guests want to linger long after the sun sets.

Spread the news

Unless it’s really a swanky event, feel free to skip the paper invites and send an email to your guests. Make it easy on them and ask them to respond only if they can’t make it.

What’s for Dinner?

Decide what type of shindig you’re throwing. A favorite is pot luck. Just ask guests to let you know what they’ll bring so you can plan the menu. (You don’t want to be faced with three potato salads and no dessert.) Even if guests are bringing food, you should plan on an appetizer to get the evening started. Make an easy antipasto appetizer by filling a generously sized tray with cuts of salami, olives, roasted bell peppers, assorted cheeses and a variety of crackers or slices of a baguette. Cheese platters are always a great option. Click here to find out which cheeses will keep your guests wanting more.

Set the Table

 
You don’t want to use paper plates but also don’t want to risk breaking your dinnerware? An easy solution is to set the table with melamine plates. Melamine is shatterproof and BPA-free.

TIP: Paper napkins and plastic utensils may be more convenient, but you’ll elevate the tone of your event if you pull out cloth napkins and use real cutlery instead.

Break the Ice  

Hot summer evenings demand plenty of ice. Don’t have an ice bucket? No worries. Just line any clean, attractive container with heavy duty plastic to make it waterproof and voila, instant ice bucket.

 
Tip: Don’t forget to place tongs or a scooper next to your ice bucket to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Liquid Refreshments

Set up a bar cart with essentials like chilled alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and of course nothing says summer like lemonade.  Turn it into a classic adult beverage with a British flair by adding Pimm’s Cup No. 1 for a light, refreshing cocktail.

 

Pimm’s Cup (makes one drink)

  • 1 1/2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
  • lemonade (or ginger ale)
  • lemon slices
  • cucumber slices
  • (optional: orange slice, fresh borage and/or mint leaves, apple slices, strawberry)
  • Half-fill a tall glass with ice and a few slices of cucumber or lemon. Add measure of Pimm’s, then top up glass with lemonade or soda. Stir gently and add more ice if necessary. Garnish with slices of lemon and cucumber.

Candles Count

Make the evening magical by placing candles everywhere. They can even do double duty if bugs are an issue when you use these candle holders.

 
That’s Entertainment

Use wireless speakers to liven up the evening with music. And if the evening gets chilly, warm things up with a fire pit. More than just a heat source, fire pits add instant ambiance. Outdoor Ashley HomeStore is appearing in-store soon and now online!
Crafts, Home Accessories Ideas, How To Published: January 19, 2017 | Updated: July 24, 2024

Refreshingly Simple—DIY Reed Diffuser

Do you have a vintage vase or bottle that you’ve been holding onto for years? Maybe it’s time to put those accents to work. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for turning your ancient artifacts into a breath of fresh air.

Supplies:

  • Any narrow-necked vase or bottle that is essential-oil safe
  • 1 cup light, unflavored oil (corn or canola work best)
  • 1 tsp essential oil (scent of your choosing)
  • ½ cup alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
  • Tan, black or brown rattan reed diffuser sticks

Step one:

Combine ingredients in a glass measuring cup.

 

Step two:

Stir gently to ensure the scented oil mixes with the other ingredients.

Step three:

Pour into your vessel until about 1/3 full (save remaining mixture in an airtight container until needed).

Step four:

Place reeds in the vase or jar. Make sure they’re long enough to extend several inches above the opening to allow the fragrance to escape.


And that’s it! Place your diffuser wherever a touch of fresh air is needed. Periodically flip the reeds to release the fragrance anew.

What combination of essential oils do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section.
Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture, Home Office Ideas Published: December 29, 2016 | Updated: August 16, 2024

Create a Home Sweet Home Office

Typically, the words “cozy” and “workspace” don’t go together, but today we’re going to be bending the rules. The following tips are a great way to add some warmth, personal style and creativity to your desk area.

#1: Add texture and warmth

Adding a throw over your chair is a great way to add comfort and dimension to your workspace. You can fold it over your chair back or lay it face up over your seat for added comfort. Faux furs offer the warmth needed for an office and allow you to share your style in a practical way.

#2: Keep it personal

One of our favorite ways to keep a smile throughout the work day is to have photos of loved ones around. By adding photo frames to your desk, you surrounded yourself with positivity, no matter what chaos the work day may bring.

#3: Add creativity, without the clutter

A trick to adding creativity to a smaller space without making it look messy is to go vertical. By using taller, rather than wider, decor you can add an equal amount of personalization but use a fraction of the space. For this workspace, orchids and ferns add a touch of color and complement the earthy sophistication theme.

With these three simple steps, you can transform your workspace and your mindset while making the space comfortable and unique.
Bedroom Ideas, Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture Published: December 8, 2016 | Updated: September 12, 2024

Holiday Bedroom Refresh

Ok, so you’ve hung the lights, decorated the tree and decked out the living room in holiday cheer. Don’t go opening your presents just yet! You forgot about sprucing (see what we did there) up where you spend the most time: your bedroom—and more specifically, the bed. Watch this quick little video to see how you can transform your bed into something more seasonally stylish!