How to Pick a Crib for Your Baby

This is an exciting time for you! You have so many ideas for your baby's nursery that you don't know where to begin but you would like to incorporate as many of them as you can. As new parents, you want to do everything "right" and that includes designing the perfect first room for your newborn. Let's take it one step at a time. Not only is it the focal point of the room, you will want to pick a crib for your baby that will keep your child safe and sound.

Quality Construction: Since your baby will be sleeping in it for two to three years, it must be durable and strong. The crib you select should be well-made, sit level on the floor without wobbling or tipping and edges and corners should be smooth. Hardware such as locking mechanisms, etc. should be user-friendly and hidden from baby. For safety's sake, the distance between each slat must not be any wider than 2.38 inches. This will prevent your child from getting stuck in between.

Comfortable: You're not going to put your child into a bare crib; it's the mattress that makes it comfy for your baby. Crib mattresses fall into two major categories, foam and innerspring. Neither one is more or less beneficial than the other; it is simply a matter of personal preference. Studies have shown that if the parents sleep on an innerspring mattress, they will probably choose the same for their child; the same of course applies to those who prefer to sleep on a foam mattress. Trusted manufacturers of baby nursery furniture and accessories like Da Vinci, Dream On Me and LA Baby offer both foam and innerspring baby crib mattresses.

Affordable: There are so many different types of cribs available in a range of different prices. Select one that you can afford: many high-end cribs have economical versions that are just as charming and appealing. Definitely make a budget for each piece of baby furniture you will need.

- E. L.

Contemporary Beds for the Contemporary Bedroom

With the appearance of thinking outside the box, contemporary beds are often on the cutting edge of design. Contemporary bedroom furniture is well-known for smooth lines, sleek profiles and the creative use of construction and decorative materials. Beautiful and practical, a contemporary bed breathes new life into the space and in turn, revitalizes you.

Contemporary Wood Beds

A contemporary style wood bed is ideal for those who want their bedroom to posses a clean, uncluttered look, but still include elements that lend the room a warm, comfortable and relaxed look. Contemporary beds with lighter finishes such as birch, pine or maple can make a bedroom appear lighter. But wood bed with a dark rich finish like the Modus Maui Wave Birchwood Panel Bed that incorporates texture will definitely create visual interest.

Contemporary Metal Beds

Contemporary metal beds possess a unique and timeless elegance that is conducive to a tranquil bedroom environment. Metal beds a generally strong and long lasting. Typically the frame of a metal bed will be made of iron. But it's what a designer can do with the metal that makes metal contemporary beds so interesting. When going for a trendy look, choose a contemporary bed like the Hillsdale Neopolitan Metal Bed with its individual bowed design and sleek nickel finish.

Platform Beds

An essential element of the contemporary bedroom is the platform bed. As far as contemporary beds go, there is just something inviting about its low-profile design that literally breathes new life into a room's décor. Platform beds with underbed or built-in storage drawers are ideal for a contemporary bedroom, especially one that doesn't have much storage space to begin with. Maybe because they are closer to the floor or they commonly don't have a footboard, the appeal of a platform bed is its casual air of relaxation.


- E.L.

Top 3 Reasons to Own a Futon

I feel like almost everyone I know has owed a futon at some point in their life. They are just so convenient! In fact, here are my Top 3 reasons to own a futon:

1. It’s Much Easier to Move
Instead of taking apart a traditional bed, moving it to its new location and then reassembling it all over again, you can much more easily move a futon. Simply collapse the frame and carry it anywhere you want. The actual futon is much lighter and folds in half, making it easy to fit in any doorway.

2. It’s Inexpensive
Futons are much cheaper than beds and sofas, however, don’t mistake low cost with low quality. There are many, many high quality futon frames and mattresses you can buy. Futons are often less expensive than beds and sofas because there’s less material required to make the frame.

3. Versatile
Futons can fold out into a bed or it can easily fold into becoming a sofa or a futon chair. It can double both as living room furniture and bedroom furniture. This saves both space and money. Also, futon covers can be purchased separately, completely changing it’s style, which is convenient if you want to redecorate, but minimize your costs.

Have you ever owned a futon, what has your experience been?

-M

Full Bedroom Sets vs. Individual Pieces

Why buy a bedroom set?
Full bedroom sets are already professionally chosen and designed to look great together. The style, the materials they’re made from, the various designs are all similar and complementary. Not to mention, they definitely save time and money if you are limited on resources but want a new look for your room.

The great thing is that with full bedroom sets, all the interior designing is done for you. All you need to do is decide where to put each piece. Buying a full bedroom set is usually cheaper than buying individual pieces as well. If anything is missing, then that’s when you’ll want to supplement your bedroom set with added furniture.

Why buy individual pieces?
If you do have a bit more money to spend and are confident in your eye for design, why not invest in individual pieces? By going this route you can make your space more reflective of your personal style, which is also very important. On the other had, if you are quite strapped for cash, you can buy pieces over time, saving up for each one.

What do you prefer: purchasing a full set or buying pieces individually?

-M

"Right" Reasons for a Queen Storage Bed

If you are looking for a queen platform bed, there are several reasons why it is the “right” choice for almost any bedroom décor, including the fact that you’ll never have to vacuum underneath the bed! The platform bed continues to gain in popularity simply because of its versatile design. Add functional storage and features like a bookcase headboard into the mix, and you have an ideal bed for any room, from the master bedroom to a second bedroom reserved for guests.

Probably the best reason for considering purchasing a queen platform bed is that it is economical. Because the design of a platform bed includes its own mattress support system, it does not need a box spring. And due to their simpler designs, queen platform beds tend to be less expensive than other types of standard beds such as a sleigh or poster bed.

At first glance, a queen platform bed might not appear like a multi-functional piece of furniture. But in small spaces like a studio apartment or a smaller-sized bedroom, a storage platform bed can actually eliminate the need for a dresser. And since, no matter where we live or the size of the room, we never seem to have enough storage, a platform bed adds maximum functionality to your living environment.
Use a queen platform bed to create the illusion of a bigger room. It often will make a room appear larger because of its low-profile design, which places the bed closer to the floor, revealing more of the wall, emphasizing the distance between the bed and the ceiling. Platform beds have smooth, clean lines that give them a distinctly modern appeal. Because a platform bed typically doesn’t have a footboard, this kind of bed can even open up the room, making it feel less cramped or cluttered.

-RL

The Features of Bar Stools

Bar stools have many options in terms of style and design. Here are just a few to consider:

Arm Rest
Arm rests give a more majestic or old fashioned vibe to the chair. It can make it more comfortable for people to rest their arms. However, it can make it a little awkward to talk to people next to you.

Back Rest
Bar stools can have a low or high back rest, or no back at all. Having a backless bar stool can make it a bit uncomfortable for people with back and posture problems.

Swivel
Swiveling makes it easier for people to talk to whoever they want to talk to, though it’s slightly more expensive than stationary chairs.

Upholstery
Upholstered stools can really add a classy vibe to the atmosphere. They tend to be slightly more expensive, so it does come down to how much you’re willing to invest.

If you choose to get upholstered counter bar stools, then the question becomes whether you want a soft and plushy barstool so people can rest, or just a slightly cushioned bar stool so that your guests are more comfortable than if it were just a plain surfaced bar stool.

As you can tell, there are quite a few options to choose from. What are your preferred features?

-M

Things to Keep in Mind when Buying a Baby Crib

Buying a baby crib is an important decision in raising your baby. Your baby’s going to be spending a lot of time in his or her crib. How much full sleep he will have, how much color is in his childhood, his safety, are all affected by the crib you choose. Here some things to consider before choosing a crib:

Price
Have a figure you’re willing to spend in mind. Note that price often reflects the quality of the design and manufacturing, however, there are still great baby cribs available in lower price ranges.

Style
There are many styles of baby cribs to choose from such as: convertible crib or not, finish, size, design, etc. Don’t forget that the style itself should match the bedding as well as the overall interior design of the nursery.

Safety
Safety is a huge concern when it comes to selecting a baby crib. First of all, check to see if the crib you’re planning on purchasing has the appropriate certification and that it meets national safety standards. As an added tip, check product recall sites when researching your crib purchase.

Return Policy
Knowing that you are purchasing a crib from a store with a decent return policy will allow you to freely make your decision to purchase without having to worry about making the wrong choice.

What else would you keep in mind when buying a baby crib?

-M