Category: Home

Whether it’s done out of necessity or for an eclectic flair, mixing and matching furniture pieces can bring a sense of style and cohesion to a room. Sometimes you have simply no choice but to mix and match, such as when your favorite furniture set is suddenly discontinued and you must replace one of the pieces. Whether you need to make a quick match or are simply trying to stay in budget, you can successfully mix and match furniture by playing off common elements and themes. Look below to learn how to mix and match furniture.
Match colors and patterns
Accent a sage green sofa with a wingback chair in a complementary sand or taupe color. Add a throw blanket to the back of a wooden chair that reflects the same shades of earth-tone colors. Top the coffee table with a glass bowl full of natural potpourri made of a mix of pinecones and dried flowers in varying tones of green.
Coordinate the weight of furniture and accessories
If your dining room features a heavy, rectangular oak dining table, coordinate with square-back chairs in a similar wood finish. Forgo delicate chairs for a style that evokes sturdiness. Frame artwork with lightweight and narrow wooden frames that match the finish of the table. Temper the heavy look of the room by mixing in a delicate touch. Place fragile crystal candle holders and a porcelain statue in the center of the dining table. Add potted plants with gently flowing foliage to the room.
Mix and match wood finishes
If you’ve started designing your living room with honey-blond maple, try adding an end table or bookcase in dark walnut as an accent. Coordinate the wood choices in the room by hanging wooden picture frames of each wood finish represented in the room.
Follow a time period theme
If the focal point of your living room is an antique lamp that belonged to your great-grandmother, pair it with an end table that resembles the same time period. Hang paintings that showcase scenes from days gone by. Mix in a few modern focal points for variety. Add a chaise lounge covered in crushed velvet. Position tall ceramic floor pots with floral arrangements in the corners for a colorful touch.
Play up a classic style with a new twist
Pair your low, glass-covered Japanese-inspired dining table with rice paper lamps. Choose a chest of drawers or a buffet with classic Asian artwork on inlaid panels. Then hang modern framed photographs of Japanese street scenes on the wall. Accent the room with bright plush rugs and chic square-style dinner plates.

As the center point of your home, your living room is a great place to begin your redecorating project. Whether you’re starting fresh in a new home or looking for simple ways to upgrade your existing decor, we’ll show you how to decorate your living room in five easy steps.

1. Take Inventory of Your Furniture and Decor
   If you’re working with a living room full of furniture and decor, start by taking stock of your stuff to determine what to keep, what to donate or sell, and what to toss. Use this time to let go of worn-out items like your broken-in easy chair or that scuffed-up coffee table that’s on its last leg. With only the essential pieces left, you can start fresh and build on your design from the ground up.
2. Arrange Your Furniture to Entertain and Unwind
   Look for opportunities to create seating areas that encourage conversation, or situate your furniture around a focal point like your TV or fireplace. Don’t forget to think about traffic flow. Your living room is typically the most-used room in your home and the place you go to relax at the end of the day. Make sure furniture is situated in such a way that it’s not difficult to maneuver around everything, or look for lightweight pieces that can rotate throughout the space.
   If you’re not starting from scratch, begin decorating your living room by rearranging your furniture. If you’ve been living with the glare on your TV for the last few years because you’re already settled in, now is the time to change things up. Moving your furniture around can make your space feel new and interesting again.
3. Refresh Your Color Palette to Set the Tone
   Before buying all new decor, artwork, and accessories, it’s important to figure out your living room’s color palette. The color of a room will ultimately determine the mood and energy of the space. If you want to create a calming, soothing space, consider shades of blue or green. For a more energetic, lively space, think about warm tones like reds, oranges, and yellows. Neutral shades of beige, grey, tan, or white will give you more versatility when deciding what secondary colors to bring in.
   Dark-colored or patterned pieces with tight weaves will prove to be the most durable in a living space, especially for a busy family. If your color palette feels too one-note, switch up your fabrics and finishes for a richer, fuller look.
4. Nail Down Your Style for a Cohesive Home Design
   Your living room’s style will often set expectations for the rest of your home, so the next step is nailing down the design style you want to achieve. If you love the look of low-slung sofas, tapered legs, and geometric shapes, you’ll love mid-century modern style. Or if you prefer distressed furniture, vintage decor, and floral patterns, shabby chic style is your cup of tea. For the modern minimalist who loves clean lines, practical decor, and streamlined design, you’ll revel in the simplicity of modern style.
5. Welcome Guests With Efficient Lighting
   Lighting is an often-overlooked part of redecorating a space, but it’s essential when setting the mood of your living room and illuminating your decor. To learn how to use a mix of ambient overhead lighting and task lighting to give the room a warm glow, check out our Home Lighting Design Tips.
   Maximize natural light with sheer curtains that softly diffuse sunlight. Table and floor lamps are a great way to punctuate your design style while adding functional light to your room, so don’t be afraid to go bold with your lamp choices. Lamps are also a way to integrate secondary pops of color into your living room design.

Before you spend a fortune having a couch reupholstered or just throw the whole thing in the dumpster, consider a slipcover. A durable sofa slipcover will enhance your furniture cosmetically and functionally. Whether you have a new sofa that you don’t want to get ruined or a second-hand sofa that needs a face-lift, furniture slipcovers save you money and they’re generally easy to take care of. Here’s how to find a heavy-duty slipcover that will keep your living room looking fresh.
Browse Sofa Covers That Fit Your Budget and Lifestyle
The type of sofa cover you’ll want will depend on how your piece of furniture is used. If you have company over often, you’ll want a colorfast slipcover that won’t wear with regular use. Do house guests occasionally spend the night on your sofa? They’ll appreciate the antimicrobial qualities certain slipcovers offer. If a slipcover is reversible, so much the better. For daily life, stain-resistant and waterproof sofa covers are must-haves, especially if you have kids or pets. A non-skid slipcover will stay in place a lot better than other options.
Ready-made and semi-custom slipcovers are machine-washable and the least expensive, making them practical choices. Manufactured in standard sofa sizes, ready-made slipcovers require tucking and pinning to take care of the extra fabric. Semi-custom slipcovers are tailored to fit specific brands and models of sofas.
Custom slipcovers are designed to fit your sofa specifically, and you can choose the type of fabric, style, and color of the cover before it’s made. These covers are usually “dry clean only,” so they require more care than their mass-produced counterparts. But because they’re more fashionable, you can feel better about leaving one on your sofa all the time.
Measure the Size of Your Sofa for Stretch Strength
Whether it’s for a loveseat or a sectional, a strong sofa slipcover has got to have some give. The perfect combination of elasticity and shrink resistance will minimize the time you spend straightening and smoothing, so decide if you want a relaxed or stretch fit slipcover. Full-cushion coverage and a wrinkle-free fit also make for an impenetrable, longer-lasting sofa.
To get the right-size slipcover, carefully measure the length of your sofa from outer arm to outer arm, then measure the depth from the front of the couch to the back. Finally, measure the height from the floor to the top of your seat cushions. Make sure you note whether the cushions are square or if they wrap around the arms of the sofa. For more on sizing a slipcover, read How to Measure a Sofa for a Slipcover.
Try to avoid purchasing a sofa cover you have to struggle with each time you take it off to clean it. Instead, choose a one-piece design that slips on and off with ease. For more detailed instructions on getting the best fit, read How to Put a Slipcover on a Sofa.
Choose a Resilient Slipcover Fabric That’s Made to Last
Choosing a type of fabric plays an important part in the durability of your slipcover. The most indestructible sofa cover fabrics include twill blends, canvas, cotton, and denim. It’s also a good idea to consider the material of the sofa underneath the cover. A leather sofa slipcover needs to be made from natural fibers that absorb moisture so the leather won’t be harmed.
While heavy-duty and thick fabrics make the sturdiest sofa covers, fabrics like chenille and velvet won’t conform well to the shape of your furniture, so it’s best to avoid these types of heavyweight slipcovers. Outdoor furniture slipcovers typically have a water-resistant coating — one of these is a must-have if you’re trying to protect a sofa on a patio or screened-in porch.
Polyester and microfiber fabrics provide a more fitted appearance but tend to be more lightweight. This includes stretch-suede slipcovers and micro-suede sofa slipcovers. Silk and wool provide a sophisticated touch, but the fibers won’t last long, and the covers tend to be “dry clean only.”

While it’s not too difficult to choose baking sheets for making cookies or for other baked goods, there are a few things you might want to consider before buying bakeware. And when it comes to bakeware construction, there are lots to choose from. You’ll need at least two baking sheets and if you plan on doing a lot of baking, you will probably want more. It’s also a good idea to have a couple of large ones and also one or two smaller sizes, that can be used for other things such as pizza, jelly roll or for other oven cooking needs. Baking sheets are very versatile and have many uses.
Bakeware Construction & Nonstick Finishes
The most common and economical are single-ply tin without a nonstick finish. These have been in use for generations and many bakers still use them. However, baking sheets that have multiple layers and heavier construction, especially those with an aluminum core, do perform better and offer a more even heat distribution.
Then there’s the choice of nonstick finish or not. This is entirely a personal preference but nonstick finishes do make clean-up much quicker and it’s somewhat easier to remove baking from them. A nonstick finish does not entirely remove the need to grease pans before baking. Some finishes are more durable than others and there’s less a tendency for baking to stick. Where nonstick is really noticeable is with clean-up.
If you plan on using parchment paper or silicone liners, you don’t need to spend the extra money on nonstick pans. Standard baking sheets will be fine. Though they do give you another item to clean, silicone liners tend to help with baking performance. Parchment paper or liners are a great way to cut down on cleaning; they are discarded after use and make it easy to remove baking from sheets.
With Sides or Without
There are lots of choices including baking sheets that are mainly flat, or those that have only one side edge or all-around edges. The height of the sides also vary. Totally flat baking sheets can also be used to display/serve a decorated cake. And flat sheets and those with only one side edge make it easier to remove and transfer baked cookies without breaking them. Baking sheets with sides, however, are more versatile—you can use them to make pizza, cinnamon rolls, jelly roll and such.
With Handles or Without
Baking sheets with handles make it easier to remove hot pans from the oven without getting the pot holder into the baked goods. Those with silicone inserts also help to reduce the risk of burns when handling hot baking sheets.
Why Size and Brand Should Be a Consideration
If you want to cut down on energy use and baking time, look for pan sizes where you can get two baking sheets in your oven on the same rack. If you have a large oven, this might not be a concern—two standard large baking sheets should easily fit. You can also often bake one smaller sheet along with a larger one. Baking sheets that are similar and same brand, will usually nest better and that can be very important when it comes to storage.

Choosing the right furniture, including style and construction that can stand the test of time, can be tricky. It may even be rather anxiety-inducing as you don’t want to invest a lot of money only to find that it wasn’t the look you really meant to create, whether you just purchased one
No matter what your situation, by following some important shopping basics, you’ll be much more likely to make good decisions.
Pick a Theme
It’ll make it much easier to choose furniture that compliments each other by picking a theme, such as contemporary (metallic, angular pieces), casual (a cozy, earthy/woods feel), country (soft florals), eclectic (individualized, artisan or ethnic pieces) or traditional (antiques and dark red woods).
Define Your Needs
Think about everything you and your family need and how furnishings can make your day-to-day life more comfortable. For example, you and your spouse will probably need one larger bed, perhaps a queen- or king-size, while a bunk bed or two single beds in bedrooms for two siblings make the most sense. Consider the purpose for every room – a room for relaxing should look different from one meant for working or studying and require different types of furniture too.
Your lifestyle should play a part in choices too – do you have small children or pets? You may not want a pricey leather sectional.
Consider the Layout of Each Room
Every room has its own unique dimensions you’ll need to work around. Think not only about the style of your home’s interior, but the size and scale of each space.
Choose Anchoring Pieces First
Build your foundation first by deciding on the anchoring pieces, such as the sofa in a living room, a dining table in the dining room and beds in the bedrooms. Then finish off the rest of the room working around that signature piece. You don’t have to choose matching sets of furniture as pieces that look like carbon copies can leave the room feeling uninspired. Don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit. Remember that a piece of furniture is an investment in your home, and it also says a lot about who lives there. Choose items that you love now and are likely to continue to love long into the future.
What Else to Keep in Mind
You’re probably going to find lots of great pieces you love that aren’t necessarily the right fit for your home. Be sure to keep in mind durability, function, necessity and aesthetics when shopping for the right furniture for your home. While the most important thing is that you enjoy it, balance your affinity for pieces with objectivity.
Measure each room, taking an in-depth look at the space and how you use it, and be sure to evaluate any items you may already have too. Don’t let fleeting moments of boredom cause you to get rid of furniture you love, as designer Emily Henderson writes. She had the ideal comfortable, unique and indestructible sofa and regrets ever selling it for one that turned out to be not near as inviting

While many home chefs have embraced this newest line of bakeware products, some have been slightly reluctant to depart from more traditional metal or glass baking pans. That’s because these old standards have stood the test of time, whereas a silicone pan does have a slight learning curve. And you should know up front that silicone bakeware, in general, is getting mixed reviews. It works for some and not for others.
The cheerfully bright colors of silicone bakeware do attract attention, but it’s their general flimsiness that raises a few skeptic bakers’ eyebrows. However, manufacturers have been very quick to allay their visions of these soft pans folding in on themselves or having to clean up batter messes, by designing optional or companion racks or ‘sleds’ that provide the much-needed stability, especially for the larger pans. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for silicone bakeware.
Pros of Silicone Bakeware
If you haven’t yet ventured out to try one of these, you may be pleasantly surprised. Start out slowly at first, with spatulas which are very economical—no big risk there. They were rewarded with a spot in the handy main tool holder. Goodbye, rubber. Hello, silicone spatulas!
Silicone utensils really are that good. No melting and no more scissor-trimming to remove worn edges. They can take the heat (within their temperature rating) and you can even use them in a hot skillet to scramble your eggs. After a year and considerable mileage, they still look like new. No turning back on these silicone spatulas and utensils.
Since the spatulas made the grade, it was on to bigger silicone baking tools such as a general-purpose loaf pan. To grease or not to grease the bakeware is the question. Opt for ‘not’ and trust that the silicone will work its releasing magic.
But what was most impressive was the easy loaf removal. A slight twist of the pan and sides just pulled away, revealing an evenly baked delicious banana loaf that gently rolled out onto the cutting board.
The only drawback was the size of this particular silicone pan. Being slightly smaller than a regular bread pan, it meant adjusting the batter level and baking the excess in a single-serve pan. No problem, neighbors were happy to share in the baking results. You should not assume a particular pan will fit your cake mix; read the size details.
Muffin cups can also vary in size too. No greasing, no fuss and so much better than using paper liners which may or may not easily remove at serving time.
Silicone bakeware purchased from well-known kitchenware brands is usually made of FDA-approved food-grade silicone and this should be clear on the packaging description. Each piece of silicone has its own limitation as to manufacturer-recommended maximum oven temperature, which is usually stamped right on the product. Heed those heat limits and you’ll enjoy using these for years.
– No greasing or oiling of pans should be required
– Pans heat quickly and bake evenly with no burnt or dark edges or bottom.
– Removal from pans is super easy—a slight twist or gently pulling on the sides and roll out your baking.
– They’re freezer, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe.
– Bake, store, freeze, and reheat right in the pans.
– No rusting or staining.
– No need to alter your batter or temperature—bake as usual.
– Cleanup is a breeze.
– Lightweight and perfect for a camper or RV.
– Storing is easy—although they do not easily nest, no special attention is required and they retain their shape.
Tips for Successful Baking
– Follow the manufacturer’s maximum heat ratings.
– Pans are hot to touch while in the oven but cool down quickly; use hot pads to remove them.
– Using a cookie sheet underneath will provide stability even for smaller pans.
– Always use a metal baker’s sheet or specially designed sled or rack underneath wider or larger silicone pans.
– Place filled silicone cups either on a metal muffin tin or baking sheet for stability during baking.
– Wash pans thoroughly before first use. Warm soap and water clean-up is easy.
– Warranties tend to vary with bakeware brands.
– Do not use knives or sharp objects—they could damage your pans.
– Never use on an open flame or on stovetop burners.
There’s a multitude of uses for silicone bakeware from specialty cakes to everyday breads and muffins. You can freeze conversation-inspiring shaped ice cubes for the punch bowl or use the pans for your favorite gelled salads or desserts.
Cons of Silicone Bakeware
Know that not all silicone bakeware performs exactly the same. Some bakers have greased or not greased and still did not have good results. Others found that baking times needed to be adjusted or results were not fully cooked in the middle.

Your home office plays a major role in your comfort, productivity, and even your reputation, so choosing a room in which to build your home office is not a decision to take lightly. You’ll have plenty of time to make gradual adjustments to your office, like upgrading the furniture or painting the walls, but everything starts from the room in your house you choose to serve as your base of operations.
Which factors should you consider when selecting a home office room? And how should you make your final decision?
Factors to Consider
These are some of the most important factors to consider when evaluating the different rooms of your home:
Spaciousness. First, consider the amount of space you have to work with. For most professionals, a bigger office is better, since it provides for more flexibility—but you also don’t want to sacrifice the size of your living room or master bedroom to do it. If you’re not sure how much office space you need, start looking at office furniture from a vendor you trust. Look at the desk and chair options that most appeal to you, measure them, and imagine how they might fit into your desired space.
Positioning. One of the most important priorities to consider is positioning. If there are multiple rooms to choose from, think about the relative positioning of each room in your consideration. For example, would you prefer your office to be directly next to the kids’ playroom, which might be noisy, or next to the spare bedroom, which will usually be empty? Do you want your home office to be in the front or the back of the house? Do you want to have your office on the first floor or second floor? Some of these questions also play into accessibility, our next poin
Accessibility. It’s also a good idea to think about how easy it is to get entry to your office. If you plan on having clients or other guests regularly, you’ll want to make sure your office is easy to reach—like putting it on the first floor, next to the front door. Otherwise, you might optimize for privacy, keeping your office away from the main routes within your home.
Soundproofing. Your home office should be free from outside distractions, meaning a soundproofed or sound-resistant office would be ideal. Consider the acoustics of each room, and how they might affect your work. For example, enclosed rooms with no windows, like those in a finished basement, tend to be quieter than their counterparts. Additionally, you may wish to avoid rooms that are exposed to excessive noise, like if there’s a window facing a busy highway. You can always improve the soundproofing in a room later, but it’s helpful to get a strong start.
Window access. Looking out the window during a busy day can help you destress and relax your eyes, but it can also be a distraction. Consider whether you want your home office to have an available window.
Alternative functionality. Hopefully, you won’t be using your office for much longer than 40 hours per week. What function is the room going to serve in the meantime? You’ll want to think about the alternative functionality this room can have, like doubling as a home gym or as additional storage.
What to Do Next
What do you do after choosing a room to serve as your home office? That depends on your goals, your current assets, and how soon you need this room to be operational. For example, you might:
Shop for and purchase furniture. Many people choose to build their home office around the most ergonomically designed, comfortable furniture they can find. Accordingly, you might start shopping for (and purchasing) furniture as your first move.
Make adjustments to the room. You may also want to make adjustments to the room before you start building it out with furniture. For example, you might replace the flooring, install a new window, or paint the walls.
Invest in décor. The subjective design of your home office is something to seriously consider in addition to the placement of the room. You can make your office more productive and more inviting with things like bookshelves, houseplants, and art.
Set up a temporary workspace. If you need to start working from home immediately and you don’t have anything you need, you’ll have to set up a temporary workspace with whatever furniture you have on hand.
Over time, as you become better acquainted with your new work-from-home environment, you’ll be able to make smarter adjustments that support your comfort and productivity. Start with a strong foundation, and make iterative improvements as you get the chance. In time, you’ll build the workspace of your dreams.

Cookware comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes in order to perform the hundreds of different cooking tasks that take place in a kitchen each working week. But it isn’t just the shape and size that needs to be looked at, the material also plays a huge part in a pans performance.
Aluminium Pans
Aluminium is still a firm favourite in the kitchen due to the fact that it is cheap, doesn’t corrode and is a great conductor of heat. It is these combinations that makes aluminium a good pan for boiling and on cost grounds is suitable for very big pans such as stockpots. While there are many advantages to aluminium, there are also disadvantages like any material. Aluminium can react with acidic food to give flavour taint; it also can’t be used on induction hobs and is prone to sticking when food is fried. While cheap aluminium pans are made from a single sheet of metal, the best professional aluminium pans have a thicker base to spread the heat more evenly. Medium-duty aluminium pans with a base thickness of 3mm to 4mm are suitable for open-top cooking ranges, but with the more intense heat of a solid-top range or for hard use, a heavy-duty pan with a base of 7mm will perform better.
Stainless Steel Pans
Stainless steel is an alloy of metals including steel, carbon and chromium, and have risen in popularity with hotels and restaurants. This is because it doesn’t tarnish, it is easy to clean, hygienic, hard-wearing, has a non-reactivity with either alkaline or acidic foods. It is also less prone to sticking than other metals. As with aluminium, the base of the pan will be layered; this normally takes the form of a three-layer sandwich with stainless steel on the bottom, aluminium in the middle to give good conductivity and stainless steel on top. Some top of the range pans will have up to seven sandwich layers.
Cast Iron Pans
Cast iron cookware is perfect for a wide range of cooking applications, from searing steaks to frying meats and vegetables. Cast iron can withstand extremely high temperatures and has excellent heat retention properties, making it an efficient and practical material for use in commercial and domestic kitchens. Cast iron was commonly used in the 20th century, but its popularity fell during the 1950’s due to the introduction of cheaper materials and synthetic non-stick coatings, such as aluminium. However, the potential, quality and durability that cast iron has to offer has seen its popularity and use rise year-on-year since, with it becoming the go-to choice for many amateur and professional chefs. A non-stick coating is achieved by seasoning the pan with oils, which also makes it a healthier option as there are no chemicals used to create the non-stick surface.
Copper Pans
Copper pans have always been a popular choice for their attractive appearance and ease of control thanks to their excellent conductivity. The traditional construction would be copper for the conductivity lined with tin to protect the food from contamination from the copper. These days, copper pans will be found lined with stainless steel as it provides the conductivity with the style of copper. One downside of copper pans is their solid metal handles, which can get far hotter than the tubular handles found on stainless steel or aluminium cookware.
Non-stick pans
Non-stick pans are a must in any kitchen as they are perfect for frying delicate foods like fish. Care needs to be taken with non stick as the coating can be damaged if not properly cared for. The two main causes of damage to the non-stick coating are using metal utensils and overheating. While normal frying is done at 200°C, flash frying over a fierce heat can send the base temperature over 250°C causing splitting.
Tri wall pans
Tri Wall cookware is constructed with multiple layers on metal that work together to increase heat conduction, spread heat evenly. As the name suggests, Tri Wall cookware is made from 3 layers; a layer of aluminium sandwiched between an outer layer of brushed stainless steel and an inner layer of polished stainless steel. This is called Thermocore and makes the pans extremely good at conducting heat whilst remaining easy to clean and safe for all foods.

A small room that is spacious and airy. It seems like a dream, right? Actually, making the right decisions when planning, furnishing, and decorating will make it look bigger than it is. When choosing furniture, do it with your head: think about the space you have, measure well, and assess your needs. Do not get carried away by bargains or a whim without checking if that piece fits in your living room. It is the ‘A-Team’ of small classrooms. If you are looking to get the most out of space, this furniture will solve many of your problems.

1. SHELF AND BASE UNIT
   They are best for small classrooms. They help maintain order and have storage without reloading the room, for example by placing baskets underneath. With a shelf of sufficient size, covering the wall from side to side, it will seem that the living room is much larger. And painted the same color as the walls, it will be even lighter.
   It is usually a very wasted space in our houses. And we don’t use it much either. Put the piece of furniture low at the foot of the window and you will have created a very cozy corner with an extra space in which to store blankets, shoes, or bags.
2. A CORNER OR ‘L’ SOFA
   The corner sofas are the best solution to enjoy the comfort and a large number of seats, also taking advantage of the space. It can function as a room divider and, if it is the same color as the wall, it will lose visual weight – essential in a small room. To make the set lighter, choose a light coffee table and space will appear larger.
3. THE COFFEE TABLE, NEST TYPE OR BUILT-IN
   They are very decorative, but if they stand out for something, it is for their functionality. You can fit them together so they take up less space. And, when you need it, you can move them freely according to your needs.
4. A LOW CABINET FOR TELEVISION
   Whether we like it or not, television occupies a predominant place in the living room. To avoid that their presence is more striking than necessary, place a low cabinet. It does not need to be very striking and much less large, as it will eat up the space.
5. SHELVES THAT MERGE ALONG THE WALL
   Painted the same tone as the wall or as a niche, as if standing out. Shelves will seem to blend discreetly and decoratively with the wall. Also, it is another way to dress the wall of the sofa.