NEED SPACE FOR STUDY TIME: SET UP A HOMEWORK STATION

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

Now that the kids are back in school, are you struggling at homework time? Perhaps you need a game plan for after school studying. Here are some tips on how to get started on setting up a homework station.

PICK THE RIGHT SPOT

Choose a location in the home for work and study. It needs be a quiet escape. Ideally, it could be their room, a study, basement office, attic office or even a secluded kitchen nook. Ask your kids for their ideas and incorporate as many of them as possible. This will help get their buy-in so they’ll use it more. Include favorite colors and posters, as well as educational items like maps, globes, books, art supplies, computers, printers, chalkboards/dry erase boards and calendars.

GET IT TOGETHER FOR COMFORT

Clean up the clutter. Remove toys and items they’ve outgrown. Paint the study area their favorite color. Up the comfort by putting down an area rug. A blanket rack for displaying cozy throws is another great idea, so they can keep warm during long winter nights. Providing adequate lighting is important, too. Use floor lamps, pendant lights and desk lamps to brighten things up. These help prevent eyestrain and headaches.

FURNISH IT

Set the scene with a desk or table. The bigger the better―kids need lots of room to work. Add bookshelves, file cabinets and storage bins for keeping supplies organized and within reach. Decorate the walls. Include a wall clock, decorative canvas prints and a corkboard for pinning A+ work, photos and more. You can accent the work surface with a small plant, photo frame and a favorite souvenir. Finish it off with a comfortable chair with ergonomic features.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Once the homework station is ready, turn your focus to an area where you can keep organized and up-to-date on their progress. That will be the next project!

ENTRYWAY 101: MASTERING YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION

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

First impressions are everything—that’s especially true when it comes to your home. Your entryway can set the tone for your decor style from the moment your guests walk in. But creating a clean and organized foyer can feel like a challenge if this high traffic area is prone to muddy footprints, heaps of bags and jackets, plus the occasional drenched umbrella. So what are your options? We’ve got a few tips to keep your entryway looking fresh, pulled together and super stylish. 

ACCENT WALL

To make a huge statement in a small space, an accent wall can do the trick. Consider painting just one wall in a dramatic hue or add wallpaper with a bold pattern or wide stripe. Add a console table with some chic tabletop accessories and your entryway just might be the most stylish spot in the house!

STYLISH STORAGE

Have a crew that drops everything just inside the door? Let’s talk about ways to tame the clutter. Console tables with drawers for knick-knacks and lower shelves for shoes are a great place to start. Add a rack to hang coats, hats and unbrellas conveniently by the door. Finish with a storage bench that can do double duty—stowing your stuff and providing a convenient place to sit and put on your shoes.

MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL

Adding a mirror to your entryway will instantly brighten up the area and even make it appear larger. And if you’re into Feng Shui, a mirror near the entrance of your home will welcome in the chi. Be sure not to put it directly across from the door or the energy will go right back out!

 

We hope these easy entryway tips made an impression on you. Once you’ve got yours styled right, we’d love to see a photo on Instagram. Just include #MyAshleyHome in your post!

TOP 10 MUST-HAVES FOR GAME DAY

 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

Hut, hut hike! As football season gets underway, where will your family and friends gather to watch the hoopla? Get your game on and prep a room to enjoy the excitement, food and camaraderie. Score a touchdown in everyone’s playbook with this checklist of 10 pregame changers for home.   

Cushy Recliner

Whether it’s manual or power, a recliner provides ultimate aahs making it a great choice for resting between plays. Your only worry—who gets the best seat? Psst…tackle that worry by adding more.

Snack Table

When nobody wants to get up, a chairside table is the perfect holder for keeping snacks and remotes within reach.

Coffee Table

Doubling as a smorgasbord during game time, a coffee table keeps favorite finger foods within reach of hungry fans.

Entertainment Center

Optimize the view of your widescreen and create a stadium experience with a state-of-the-art entertainment center—a definite crowd pleaser.

Sofa

Get ready for extra quarters! Make sure your crowd has a comfortably spacious place to sit, recline and cheer their team on.  

Lucky Football

What’s more important than a lucky football? You may not be superstitious, but it can’t hurt to have a good luck charm on hand for the sake of the game.

Lucky Spirit Towel

As excitement builds during big plays, show team loyalty by waving a rally towel—get one for everyone in the room and encourage big cheers.

Game Day Munchies

Stock up on chips, pretzels, nuts and crackers. Add salsa, queso, ranch dip and cheese spread to treat everyone’s taste buds. You don’t want to run short, especially when the game runs long.

Team-Themed Coasters

Protect tabletops from sweating glasses and cans, while showing support for your favorite team.

Foam Sleeves for Drinks

Decorated with your team’s logo, foam sleeves that hold cold drinks will keep them frosty throughout the game.

By going all out with this top 10 list, everyone will champion a comfortable home field advantage, when it comes to watching games. 

How do you prepare for games? Do you have a great game-watching memory? We’d love to hear your tips and stories in the comments section.

THE INSPIRED ROOM: A BLOG INSPIRED BY MELISSA MICHAELS

 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

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!

7 Secrets to Lighten Up a Room

 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
1
Paint the ceiling white. If the room's ceiling is painted a dark color, or has dark wooden beams, it is probably casting a pall over the entire room. Buy a can or two of white paint and give the ceiling a fresh coat. The bright white will reflect light instead of absorbing it, and you'll be amazed at what a difference it makes.

• If you prefer to use color instead of plain white, try a pale yellow, mint or cream.

• Even if you don't paint the walls white, painting the ceiling white will still make a big difference.

2
Limit accent colors. You might be tempted to paint the room your favorite rich, deep color, but it's best to save bright and bold colors for accent walls or trim. In a dark room, a deep color won't look brilliant - it'll just add to the dark feel of the space. If you absolutely must use dark blue, green, red or another rich color, choose one small wall to paint, and paint the rest in a much lighter color.

• Another way to incorporate some color without making the space darker is by adding a stenciled accent trim along the ceiling. Buy or make a stencil in a shape that suits your taste - flowers, leaves, and abstract designs are popular - and use your favorite paint color to make a pretty pattern.

• Painting the baseboards and door trim a contrasting color is another way to add a festive touch to the room without making it too dark.

3
Make full use of natural light. If you're working with a dark room, chances are you don't have a lot of natural light coming in, but it's important to make the most of what you have. If your windows are covered with dark shades or blinds, you're blocking out your best chance for brightening up the room. Instead of keeping your blinds closed, try the following:

• Choose airy, light-colored window coverings that don't completely block out the light. For example, cream-colored linen or canvas curtains will provide privacy while still allowing the sunshine to filter into the room.

• If you prefer blinds, look for cloth blinds in a light fabric that isn't completely opaque. Avoid wooden or plastic blinds that block out all of the light.

4
Replace overhead lights with soft perimeter lights. Harsh overhead lighting can actually highlight the fact that a room is naturally dark. Instead of flooding the space with fluorescent lighting, choose your artificial lighting carefully so that it looks as natural and pleasant as possible.

• Track lighting can really brighten a space without creating a harsh atmosphere.

• Use plenty of strategically-placed floor lamps with light-colored shades to diffuse light all over the room.

5
Use diffused lighting. If you have a dark corner or a room where there's no ceiling fixture, use multiple lights pointed towards the ceiling and walls. This reflected light provides a soft, overhead glow which minimizes harsh shadows.

• Candles shouldn't be overlooked as a pleasant source of extra light. When you want to create an especially bright, cheerful atmosphere, light some candles in addition to using artificial lighting.

6
Add custom lighting. If you frequently perform certain activities in the room, consider adding specific lights to help you work. Some lights mount under cabinets and over counters, and others may be useful on your sewing desk or piano.7
Use brighter bulbs. Replace the your bulbs with higher light intensity bulbs such as compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) of a lower wattage but higher light output. Higher wattage does not mean a higher light level.

• You may also experiment with the subtle coloring of the lights. Bulbs that are classified as "daylight" usually put out light with a temperature around that of direct sunlight, and provide a cooler, bluer, more vivid light. "Soft white" bulbs have a lower light temperature which provides a warmer, more yellow light.

8
Go with dark and cozy as an alternative. If there's just no getting around the fact that the room in question is dark, you could always nix the suggestions for brightening the room and go with the room's natural feel. Paint it a deep color and use rich, heavy decorations to create the feel of an old-fashioned parlor. Colors like charcoal and slate blue are popular choices for rooms that are meant to have a stately feel.

5.