5 EASY UPDATES: GET YOUR HOME READY FOR FALL

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Shift into the new mood by personalizing your spaces with these easy updates.

Spice up your rooms with a mix of warm and unexpected textures. Like genuine leather, realistic fur and vibrant kilim patterns.

Flickering candlelight is always intriguing, especially when its holder is wondrously unique. Go for an asymmetrical look by pairing two unique sizes of candle holders.

New bedding has a way of making you wake up feeling beautiful. And don't stop at just one comforter set. Pairing a solid color with a pattern takes your look over the top.

Lay down fields of softness room to room. Fall for a variety of materials: incredibly soft wool, natural jute, resilient manmade fibers, even leather. Then delight in how any of these styles warm your floors.

Throw in dashes of warmth. Having a throw or two in every room increases the comfort factor significantly. Opt for soft cable knits or fluffy faux fur varieties.

STAYCATION: ALL THE FUN WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOME

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There are plenty of ways to say it: We have to stay in tonight. And we always feel upset, too—our weekend has just been taken away from us and now what is there to do? We’re here to tell you that staying in for the night is not always a bad thing, in fact, it can be the perfect time to reconnect with your family AND destress from that long work week. It’s just like a vacation… in the comfort of your home!

Get The Pizzas, Cause We’re Having a Party

Making dinner doesn’t have to be a chore this weekend, in fact you can make it the main event with some small touches. A personal pizza party is a great way for everyone to be creative by choosing their favorite toppings and making their own designs. It’s a fun way to get the family away from their phones (can’t touch screens with dirty hands) and to enjoy some quality Italian food!

Your local grocery store often has a pizza display case with all the ingredients lined up ready to go. Here are three of our recommendations for personal pizzas that rock:

Veggie Monster Pizza

Fresh sliced peppers, spinach, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese.

Traditional Three Cheese

Any three cheeses will do; our favorites are parmesan, sharp cheddar, and mozzarella.

Meat Lover’s Delight

Pepperoni, ham, sausage, and mozzarella cheese.

And We’re Off to the Games

You’ve finished filling your bellies with your own culinary creations and now everyone has just a little too much energy to expend. We’ve got the perfect solution and it’s as simple as it gets: Family Game Night! Any game will do the trick—pick something that's easy to learn but challenging enough to keep the whole group engaged. This is actually a great way for children (and adults, depending on the game) to test their mental and physical abilities, all the while inspiring some friendly competition.*

Family Time Capsule

Most mementos are stowed somewhere in the attic, to be found years later covered in dust and thrown out. We’re telling you NOT to make the past the past, make it something that your family looks forward to! Time capsules are a sweet way to capture the memories of the moment and to create an exciting reveal down the line (our recommendation is a full 10 years).

There are several ways to create a time capsule:

1. Use a simple plastic water bottle and seal the top with hot glue
2. Completely drain a paint can and fill with items (decorate the outside with stickers or use the paint itself to make designs!)
3. Our favorite, use an old trunk lined with metal on the inside. See here.

THE INSPIRED ROOM: A BLOG INSPIRED BY MELISSA MICHAELS

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Fluffy golden doodles, designer room tours and home decor inspired coloring books are among many inspirational tools you will find in Melissa Michaels’ crafty and chic blog; and we can’t get enough of it! Her style guides are inexpensive to initiate, simple to follow and simply gorgeous in design. Whether you’re a coastal lifer, cozy cottager or farmhouse chic fanatic, Melissa has a guide for you. See these here.

We were so pleased to collaborate with Melissa on her latest project—giving a small room a giant makeover! What was once a cramped office space, became a gorgeous guest bedroom with furnishings by Ashley HomeStore. Melissa was given a budget to go wild (and wildly fashionable) by selecting her own bed, mattress, accent furniture, and accessories! She even upped the cozy with a selection of our own quilts and nesting tables, making the guest experience truly divine.

See the full, stunning collaboration here.

Melissa has had the distinct honor of being voted Reader’s Favorite Decorating Blogger at Better Homes and Gardens magazine two years in a row and is the author of New York Times Bestseller “Love the Home You Have” released in March 2015. Melissa encourages her followers to explore their home style by truly embracing what inspires and motivates them—even if it’s a little quirky! 

See Melissa Michaels' full blog here and prepare to be inspired!

5 EASY UPDATES: GET YOUR HOME READY FOR FALL

 Ashley Furniture Clearance Sales 70% OFF: Up to 50%  70% OFF Select  Items for Living room + Home furniture. Free Shipping Redeem thisAshley Furniture coupon and get Up to 50% OFF Select Home Decor + Free Shipping On Many Items

Shift into the new mood by personalizing your spaces with these easy updates.

Spice up your rooms with a mix of warm and unexpected textures. Like genuine leather, realistic fur and vibrant kilim patterns.

Flickering candlelight is always intriguing, especially when its holder is wondrously unique. Go for an asymmetrical look by pairing two unique sizes of candle holders.

New bedding has a way of making you wake up feeling beautiful. And don't stop at just one comforter set. Pairing a solid color with a pattern takes your look over the top.

Lay down fields of softness room to room. Fall for a variety of materials: incredibly soft wool, natural jute, resilient manmade fibers, even leather. Then delight in how any of these styles warm your floors.

Throw in dashes of warmth. Having a throw or two in every room increases the comfort factor significantly. Opt for soft cable knits or fluffy faux fur varieties.

How to Choose the Right Lighting for Each RoomHow to Choose the Right Lighting for Each Room

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Lighting is one of the key elements that helps make your house a home. The proper 

lighting enables you to perform tasks easily, makes you feel safer and more comfortable, and allows you to enjoy your home at its full potential. Each room, however, has specific and unique general and accent lighting needs. Here are some tips and ideas to consider when planning your lighting needs for each room in your home. If you are uncertain about what type of lighting fixture you need, or you're just looking for inspiration, take a few minutes to browse through this guide!

Method1

Foyer, Halls, and Stairways

1. 
   1
   Use lighting and decoration for a first impression. The foyer conveys the first impression of a home's interior. Center a traditional chandelier, contemporary pendant, or transitional close-to-ceiling fixture in your hallway to provide basic illumination and create a welcoming atmosphere.

   • Make your artwork come to life and illuminate it with halogen light from track or adjustable recessed down-lighting. Mirrors also add a special decorative touch to a foyer.
2. 
   2
   Make sure to size the decorative fixture to the space. Not all foyers can accommodate a large chandelier, so make sure the size proportions are correct. Likewise, if you have a larger space, you'll need a larger fixture. If you'll be able to view the fixture from above, make sure to select a foyer chandelier or pendant that looks attractive from second story viewing.
3. 
   3
   Remember that stairways and halls must have good general lighting for safety. To prevent accidents, stairs should be lit from top to bottom with switches in both places. For safety in hallways, place lighting fixtures every 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3.0 m). Tie in the fixtures you choose by matching your foyer chandelier or pendant with close-to-ceiling fixtures for hallways and smaller chain hung fixtures for stairways.
4. 
   4
   Use matching wall sconces to complement the hanging foyer fixture. Always mount a sconce above eye level (approximately 66" from the center of the fixture to the floor) so that the lamp source is not visible.

Method2

Living Area

1. 
   1
   Use lighting to bring out the best in your living spaces. Enhance your room's ambiance, dramatize wall textures, accent artwork, or just provide general illumination for your den, living room, family room, playrooms, or bedrooms. A variety of different types of lighting fixtures will work for both your general lighting and accent lighting needs.
2. 
   2
   Use recessed lighting to light a general area. This is preferred because the light source is concealed. Close-to-ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and interior lamps are also excellent choices and provide ample lighting. These fixtures are not only decorative pieces, but are ideal sources of task lighting for reading or playing games.

   • While traditional wall fixtures with arms remain the most popular form of wall lighting, more contemporary wall sconces are gaining popularity for accent lighting.
3. 
   3
   Try recessed lighting or track lighting to make a room come alive by accenting artwork, wall washing, or grazing. Interior lamps are also a great choice.

   • When table space is limited, wall lamps are a good alternative.
4. 
   4
   Try CFL Lighting to get more value for your money.

Method3

Dining Room

1.