A VINTAGE CASUAL ROOM MAKEOVER

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As an employee in Ashley HomeStore’s eCommerce department, I spend much of my days looking at our furniture and studying the way our talented team styles the rooms in our digital catalogs. I’ve had my eye on one room in particular that was shown in our Hello Summer catalog. It’s the very essence of Vintage Casual, our Lifestyle that features gently weathered pieces and serene styling.

Unfortunately, I live in an older home with tiny bedrooms and the Marsilona bed and nightstands simply won’t fit. But that’s OK! I decided to swap out Marsilona for Prentice, which has a crisp white finish and simple lines. It doesn’t have quite the same farmhouse appeal as Marsilona but I can achieve a similar look by layering in Vintage Casual decor.

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As you can see, I have a lot of work to do. In addition to bringing in the furniture and accessories, I need to install a floor and apply a fresh coat of paint. After moving into my home a few years ago, this spare bedroom became a sort of “play room” for my cats. In no time at all they destroyed the wall-to-wall carpet, hence the need for a new floor.

Stay tuned for my next post where I’ll update you on my progress!

 

(He might look cute but don't let that fool you!)

TOP 10 MUST-HAVES FOR GAME DAY

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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.

ENTRYWAY 101: MASTERING YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION

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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!

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.

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.