Preparing Your Home for Fall

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Fall has finally begun, which means we are heading towards the busy holiday season. This means family coming in from out of town, and more people entering your home. Get ahead of your nit-picky relatives by beautifully decorating your home for the season with these tips.

Here is how to create a welcoming and cozy environment your guests will love to visit:

Porch and Entry Hall

Make your front porch warm and inviting from the chill outdoors.  Add a decorative touch with pumpkins and other autumn-themed décor and set your lights on a timer, turning on as the sun sets each evening. This way, friends and family will feel welcomed no matter what time they arrive for the holiday festivities.

Also tidy up the entrance to your home, making room for the extra coats, boots and cold weather accessories that will accompany your visitors. Clear off coat hooks, set up a shelf for shoes and add a basket for your family to place their hats, gloves and scarves in. An organized entry will make your guests feel welcome from the moment they arrive and help to keep your home clutter-free throughout the busy holiday season ahead. Because Fall weather can be unpredictable, you may wat to use a vinyl rug cover to protect your rug and floor from rain and muddy shoes.

Bathrooms

Stock up on all the essentials before your loved ones come to stay for the holidays and give the guest bathroom a good scrub. Since this is a room that may not see much use, now is the perfect time to restock towels and add a new bar of soap to help make your guests feel at home while they visit this November and December.

Living Room

Create an intimate atmosphere in your living room this fall by placing a warm throw blanket over the arm of the couch and adding a bit of extra light. With the sun setting earlier each day, an extra lamp and some well-placed candles can add to the cozy ambience.

Bedrooms

To prepare for company this holiday season, freshen up guest bedrooms, swapping out the current bedding for fresh sheets and a comfy quilt for the cold weather. Place an extra blanket on the end of the bed as well, to ensure guests will be cozy throughout their stay.

Make your home come to life this holiday season with some help from Sherwood Studios. A full-scale furniture store and premier interior design studio in West Bloomfield, Michigan, we can make your house a home no matter what your decorative taste. Browse furniture options online and contact us at 248-855-1600 to set up an interior design consultation today.

How Social Media Has Impacted Interior Design Trends

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How Social Media Has Impacted the Interior Design Trends

Many of us remember spending weekends walking through furniture stores and inspecting throw pillows in department stores. We spent hours in hardware stores looking at paint swatches and silver faucet heads, trying to put together a vision that we could so easily picture in our heads. Before the age of social media’s instant gratification, it took lots of time to plan a design and fully execute it.

Today, we have Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, among many other social media outlets putting our vision directly in front of us. We scroll through social media and see pictures of our dream kitchen or our ideal bedroom. We spot the couch that would fit perfectly in the living room or a bench that finally matches the mudroom. Instead of having to go to a friend’s house, to the department store or even venturing beyond your own bedroom, you can design your dream home in a matter of minutes with a few simple clicks and swipes of your finger. The home industry has exploded in the past few years.

Likes, Shares, & Pinterest

Pinterest has been a huge contributor to the revolution that the home industry has experienced over the last few years. Pinterest has allowed home décor and interior design businesses with an opportunity to connect directly and easily with customers.  It has also given them an outlet to advertise their products and services on social media where people are actively seeking them. If someone is searching for a “red couch” on Pinterest, hundreds of results from different businesses will fill their screen simultaneously. In fact, 40 percent of consumers search online for the products they want.

Social Media’s Influence

How Social Media Has Impacted the Interior Design Trends

Social media has also allowed businesses to track how many people are interested in certain products or services through likes, retweets, and pins. Stores are able to publish their products to customers in an instant which allows followers to see each new product as it arrives. With online options being readily available, less people are coming into stores to look at products. However, it allows customers to show business exactly what they are looking for when they do arrive in the store which simplifies the shopping process and cuts down on the time customers need to spend in the store. Social media posts also help to help buyers find compatible items by showing things related to their searches and likes. This also helps businesses to connect with customers and to personalize their shopping experience.

Social media can also be held responsible for the major increase in the number of people interested in aesthetics and design. Social media has provided people with more resources to design their home and achieve their desired look. People are able to spend countless hours looking through thousands of design ideas from the comfort of their home, inspiring them to redesign their homes on a regular basis. Years ago, we would get our home to our “ideal” and leave it that way for several years.  Now, people are quick to follow and seek home décor trends, constantly re-doing rooms to fit their latest find. Social media has also encouraged people to share more which helps to influence different design trends.

If you have a vision for your home, contact Sherwood Studios, we can help you make it into a reality. Visit our Pinterest page for more home inspiration and give us a call when you’re ready to get started. Remember to check our blog frequently for other design tips and trick to crate your ideal living space!

We want to hear from you! Share your design ideas with us on twitter @SherwoodStoreMI!

Pet-Proofing Your Furniture

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If you have a dog or a cat, chances are you have had issues with them scratching, biting, or shedding on your furniture. Of course, you love your pets, but it can be very frustrating to come home to a chewed-up couch leg. You can yell at them until you’re blue in the face but that won’t necessarily deter them from doing it again. The best way to protect your furniture from an overly excited dog or cat is to keep them off it. If you have been struggling with this issue, here are a few ways to protect your furniture from your claw-happy pets:

• Couch Covers– Not your granny’s plastic covers-these couch covers are resistant to hair and dirt and look great on your couch.

• Get them their own furniture- Your cat or dog may be feeling left out if the whole family is curled up on the couch and they’re forced to sit on the floor. This will make them want to get on your couch even more. To remedy this, purchase a couch just for them.

•Grooming– If you have pet hair all over your couch, chances are your pet is not being groomed regularly. The grooming schedule will depend on your type of pet and the length of their hair. If your pet sheds a lot in between grooming, you can purchase a pet brush to remove any excess hair that could potentially end up on your furniture.

•Lint rollers– If you have a pet that sheds excessively, a lint roller will help to remove hair quickly.

•Bitter Apple Spray– This spray is a deterrent for pets that like to nibble on furniture. It is safe for dogs so it will not harm them. Simply spay this non-toxic mixture anywhere you want to keep your pets away from. If your pet likes to chew on things make sure they have plenty of chew toys.

Sherwood Studios is a full-service interior design studio and furniture showroom. With over 75 years in business, you can trust that your design needs will be met at our studio. Check out our furniture selection to browse our stylish yet functional sofas and sectionals.

Increasing Your Home’s Value + Benefits of Interior Designers

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Whether you have just bought your home, or you’ve lived there for years, there may be things you want to change. Home improvements are a great way to increase curb appeal, increase your home’s value and improve your quality of life. It is important when planning home renovations to be deliberate and plan thoroughly. Interior design is a way to create functional and beautiful spaces that work for your lifestyle and personal style. There are important factors to consider when making changes to your space. You may think that you know what’s best for your home, but a professional can offer services that will not only save you money but, time as well.

Here are some of the benefits of hiring a professional interior designer:

Money-saving

Everything comes with a cost, and it’s always smart to find ways to save money while working on your home. But when considering interior design work, many people fail to see that, much like other home improvement projects, it can be a smart long-term investment. Instead of thinking of home design as a place to pinch pennies, many savvy homeowners are seeing it as a way to save in the long run.







Organization

One of the most important jobs of a professional interior designer is to put an effective plan into place. Instead of haphazardly tackling projects in a nonsensical order, interior designers strive for efficiency. This helps avoid costly mistakes, like remodeling an area only to realize that it needs to be torn up again for a new addition. A good plan will account for every detail of each room and tackle jobs in an orderly, straightforward fashion. It can really payoff to be decisive about what you want and take care of it the right way.

Better Resources

If you were to tackle your home redesign all by yourself, there are issues that you may run into you may not be prepared for. A professional interior designer has the connections to find the best people to help with updating your home.

When redesigning your home, it is also important to consider the resale value. On average, homeowners under the age of 37 occupy their current home for about six years. If you design your home to blow you away, it should do the same for others when it comes time to sell, especially if you find yourself in a competitive market. It’s always smart to think long term.

Time-Saving

These days everyone is busying with work, school, and side hustles. Redesigning a home is another task that will consume a lot of your time if you take on this project alone. With the help of a professional, you can work on other more important tasks.

Finally, consider the time you can save by delegating responsibility to an expert. Put the design of your home in the hands of the right person and see how much more rewarding and relaxing the decorating process can be. Interior design work is a valuable service that, if done right, can really pay off in the end.

Sherwood Studios offers professional interior design services that include furniture design, window treatments, floor coverings, fabric selections, custom fixtures and more! Sherwood Studios’ professional team will prepare a thorough presentation personally created for your design needs. We will work with you to find the best contractors and accents that best suit your home and style. Contact us today to set up a consultation with our professional interior designers!

An Updated 2019 Neutral Color Palette

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As the seasons change now is a great time to create a new look for your home. When deciding to make a cosmetic change to your home it is important to have a knowledge of your personal style. Learn what colors and themes you like. Designing your home should reflect your personality and give your guests an idea of who you are.

There are no rules in design and decorating but there are some guidelines and tips that you can follow to make redecorating your home easy and fun.

Below is a list of popular colors in 2019:An Updated 2019 Neutral Color Palette

  • Hazelnut, soft clay and mustard- These colors are great for a warm earthy color scheme. If you are looking to add more rustic qualities to your home these colors are a great place to start.
  • Muted pastels, cool grey, and soft blue are unique colors that can give a room a more subdued minimalistic look. Lighter colors help to open up space and these particular colors are great for gender-neutral rooms.
  • Dark green, Charcoal, and Navy are colors that work well in large rooms, with moderation. Darker colors work best in well-lit rooms along with lighter accent pieces.

An Updated 2019 Neutral Color Palette

Spring is a great time to usher in new changes in both your life and your home. By making some simple changes to your home you can improve your mood, create positive energy in your home and show off your new designing skills.

If you want to transform your home into an elegant space that will be the envy of all your friends, seek a professional. At Sherwood Studios, we are dedicated to your satisfaction. We specialize in a wide variety of décor services that are specifically tailored to your individual needs. Sherwood Studios is a full-scale furniture store and premier interior design studio in West Bloomfield servicing clients across Southeast Michigan.

Visit our promotions page for a coupon on your next home design project!

Improve Your Mood by Redecorating Your Bedroom

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According to the US National Library of Medicine, we spend one-third of our lives sleeping. This means that almost one-third of your life will be spent in your bedroom. Why not make the most of it? It has been shown that our surroundings have an impact on our overall mood. Your bedroom shouldn’t just be a place where you sleep. It should be an extension of your personality and unique space. When you come home after a long day of work you want to arrive to a room that will make you feel good.

Redesigning your room can be simple and inexpensive with the help of these tips.Improve Your Mood by Redecorating Your Bedroom

Cutting the Clutter

One of the first steps when redesigning a space is to get rid of the garbage or items that do not belong. Everyone has a little hoarder in them and that is okay. An easy way to get rid of unwanted items is to decide on whether you have used it within the last 6 months. If you have not used it in that time, chances are it is just taking up space in your room and in your life.

Color Your World

With the clutter out of the way, you can decide what look or ambience you want to create. By selecting a color scheme, you can start to establish a theme for you bedroom. Your theme will be dependent on your personal preference, style, and what you are looking to accomplish.  Lighter colors like yellow, peach, and orange are energizing and is ideal for pops of color. If you want to create a more calming environment grey, blue, and green are more soothing.

Decide how you want to incorporate these colors into your bedroom. Throw pillows, sheets, comforters, and curtains are a great way to incorporate the colors into your room.

Get A Plant

Plants are not only visually pleasing but can do a lot to improve your health. Plants release oxygen which can refresh your air and help your breathing. According to researchers at Kansas State University plants have proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and decrease recovery time for surgical patients. The study showed that surgical patients that had a plant in their room had significantly more positive health outcomes than those without plants.

Redecorating your bedroom can become overwhelming and sometimes it is unclear where you should begin. To maximize your results consult a professional. Visit Sherwood Studios in West Bloomfield, Michigan for your interior design needs!

 

How to Decide Between a Leather or Fabric Sofa

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Leather vs Fabric SofaYour sofa is one of the most important furniture purchases you’ll make. The time you’ll spend sitting on it—reading, watching TV, visiting with friends and family—makes it worth putting some serious thought into your sofa choice.

Should you go with a leather or fabric sofa? Here’s our handy guide:

Choose a leather sofa if …

  • You want your room to feel extra-stylish, whether you go for a sleek, modern look or a vintage feel.
  • Someone in your family suffers from allergies. Leather sofas don’t harbor allergens like dust and pet dander.
  • You don’t want to clean your sofa often. Leather sofas typically don’t need more than a bit of dusting and a quick wipe. Fabric sofas require more maintenance, including yearly steam cleaning.
  • Your family is spill-prone. Leather sofas, especially in darker colors, don’t stain as easily as fabric sofas.

Choose a fabric sofa if …

  • You’re on a budget. Fabric sofas are usually less expensive than their leather counterparts.
  • You want a bright color or bold pattern.
  • Coziness is a priority. Fabric sofas are softer, and will feel warmer even when the room is cold.

Now that you’ve decided whether to purchase a leather sofa or a fabric sofa, check out the selection available at Sherwood Studios. No matter your budget or style, we’ve got the right sofa for you. Need help furnishing and decorating your home? Consider our full interior design services. Call us today at 248-855-1600 to get started.

Decorating With Baskets

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Home Decor Baskets aren’t just handy for storing things—they’re also stylish accessories that can take any room to the next level of interior design. Here are our tips for decorating with baskets:

Get organized

Storing things in baskets is a great way to make any room feel tidy and put-together. For example, place throw blankets in a basket next to a couch, or stack coffee table books in a basket to free up room on the table itself.

  • Pro tip: avoid using wicker in bathrooms, as it can get moldy. Use wire instead and consider on-trend colors like rose gold or black.

Add texture to a room

Baskets are a great way to vary the textures in the room. For example, wicker or distressed wood baskets can contrast with plush upholstery materials.

Think outside the (storage) box

While baskets are an obvious storage solution, you can also treat them like works of art in their own right! Consider collecting an assortment of baskets in bold patterns and complementary colors and displaying them on your wall as you would display paintings.

Go green

Air plants are easy to take care of, as they don’t need soil or much watering. They look great in wire baskets placed on the wall.

Now that you know all about decorating with baskets, shop for furniture for every room in your home at Sherwood Studios. We have pieces to suit every style and budget. Need help designing your space? Consider our full interior design services! Call us today at 248-855-1600 to find out more.

How to Choose the Best Lampshade

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Table and Floor Lamps MI Lampshades are a great way to give any room in your home a style boost, and they’re easy to switch out. However, if you’re not an interior design pro, you may be “in the dark” as to how to pick one!

Here’s how to choose the best lampshade for any room in your home:

Complement or contrast

Consider the overall style and color scheme of the room, and decide whether you want the lamp to stand out or blend in. For example, if your room is decorated in shades of gray, you could pick a lampshade in the same hue or go for a bright pop of teal or orange.

Pick the right size

Your lampshade should be about two-thirds of the height of the lamp base, plus or minus an inch. Proportion is key, so get out that measuring tape.

Know your shapes

Think outside the “big and round” box and consider lampshades in a variety of shapes. For example, the elegantly sloping sides of a bell-shaped lampshade can complement a curved base, and a drum lampshade will have a contemporary look.

Now that you know how to choose the best lampshade for any room, shop for a wide variety of table and floor lamps at Sherwood Studios. No matter your style or price point, we’ve got a lamp for you. Need help furnishing your space? Consider our full interior design services! Call us today at 248-855-1600 to get started.

Three Tips for Decorating a Rental Apartment

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Interior Decorating Tips Just because you rent your place doesn’t mean you can’t express your unique style and personality.

Here are three tips for decorating a rental apartment:

Look for wallpaper alternatives

We know that bold wallpaper is a top trend right now, but it can be a sticky mess to remove when you move out. If you want to give your walls some flair, go for decals or stencils, or try out some of the new peel-away wallpaper that comes off like a sticker.

Choose versatile pieces

When you’re renting, you may move to several different places within a span of a few years. There’s nothing worse than buying a perfect sofa only to find that it won’t fit in your next place. Choose pieces that can work in a variety of spaces, like gateleg tables or modular sofas that can be either right- or left-handed.

Pick attractive storage pieces

Many rental apartments don’t have much storage space, so choose pieces that let you add your own. Go for an elegant bed with storage underneath, get a coffee table with storage shelves and grab a cute wicker basket to store magazines or pet toys. The possibilities are endless!

Do you prefer to have a pro decorate your rental apartment? Call Sherwood Studios today! Not only do we have a broad selection of furniture available for purchase, we also offer full interior design services to renters and homeowners. Contact us so we can make your interior design vision a reality!