Preparing Your Room for the Upcoming Professional Sports Season

I’ve mentioned that I recently moved, and my roommate and I are in the process of furnishing the place. Right now we are focusing on the Living/Entertainment room because we are eager to have guests over.

With Fall upon us, I’m starting to see plenty of tweets about the upcoming NHL pre-season show up in my stream. One thing I look forward to this winter is just hanging out with my friends on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday night, relaxing with snacks and watching the game. This got me thinking about some essential pieces of furniture needed in your entertaining space, to make sports game watching as comfortable and as fun as possible. Here are my top 5 essential pieces that every sports media room should have:

1. Recliner – Recliners the staple of the entertainment room. They are comfortable and adjust to your desired sitting level, so you can literally just put your feet up, lean back and enjoy the game. Consider a recliner that contains a cup holder for your beverage. There also exists the sofa recliner, so that more than one person can have the recliner experience in one chair.

2. Ottoman – Those that aren’t sitting in a recliner chair can still put their feet up on an ottoman. Storage ottomans will allow you to quickly stash away clutter before guests arrive.

3. Flat Screen HDTV – Any kind of TV will do, but new High Definition technology allows you to almost feel like your at the game.

4. Surround sound – Enhances the total viewing experience – it’s like the crowd is right in your living room!

5. Mini fridge – Avoid missing those crucial, game-changing plays when you have to go to the kitchen to refill drinks by having the fridge right in the room with you!

If you have these items in your rec, media, family or living room – be warned, during play-offs, you might never get your guests to leave!

-M

Didn't they teach you Home Ergonomics in school?

Most of us who make the daily trek to the office are aware of ergonomic office furniture that will help get us through the day comfortably and safely. But what about the furniture in your home? It might look and feel comfy to sit and relax on, but is it being kind to your back?

Making a home ergonomic may sound complicated (and expensive) but it doesn't have to be. Ergonomics is simply how we use furniture, tools and equipment in relation to our immediate environment in a way that reduces physical discomfort and the risk of injury. A soft sofa or a fluffy, oversized chair may appear to be comfortable and inviting. However, if it encourages you to slouch, it can have a lasting, negative effect on your body, especially your back. You can ensure that your living room and dining room are ergonomic by following a few basic principles.

When shopping for a couch, look for one that allows you to sit at ease, with feet flat on the ground, thighs parallel to the floor, head centered over the shoulders and back fully supported. This would also apply to any type of chair you are considering purchasing, including dining room chairs, side chairs, arms chairs and recliners. When choosing the perfect recliner, make sure that when sitting upright, your lower spine is fully supported by the backrest and that it cradles your shoulders and neck. If you do find a recliner that you just must have, but it isn't an ideal fit, you can select one with a matching ottoman. This will take the pressure off the backs of your legs, one of the first places to experience discomfort when not sitting properly.

If, when using your sofa, you are in the habit of lying down, ensure that your back, neck and shoulders are being properly cushioned. Before purchasing end tables, take into account whether or not your couch has arms. If it does, are the arms high or low? If they are high, you will want end tables of a comparable height, so that you can easily place items on the end table without having to twist uncomfortably. The same goes for coffee tables: they should stand at a height in conjunction to the couch's seating area when you are sitting, so that you can easily reach anything on the coffee table without effort or strain. This will also apply to an accent table being bought specifically to stand beside an armchair; you want the table to be high enough or the arms to low enough to avoid having to overreach when putting something down on the table top.

In the dining room, similar ergonomic principles can make mealtimes more comfortable and enjoyable. Dining chairs should be bought with the dining table in mind. The seat height of the chair should be anywhere from 10 to 12 inches below the dining table edge. For example, if the height of your dining table is 30 inches, the seat height of your dining chairs should range from 18 to 20 inches high, depending on the size and height of the person sitting in the chair on a regular basis.

Before purchasing a dining room table, take into account how many people will be using it and then buy one that will be large enough to easily accommodate everyone. A person generally needs a minimum of 24 inches of personal space to feel comfortable, but an additional 6 inches will provide extra elbow room. Allotting the maximum amount of personal space will also facilitate each person's ability to reach for things effortlessly, reducing the risk of muscle strain.

At Cymax Stores, customers can choose from a wide range of reliable furniture manufacturers for a comfortable and personalized online shopping experience. Taking time to choose ergonomic furniture for your living room and dining room will be worth it when you come home after a busy day to the perfect place to relax and unwind.