How to Refresh Your Home on a Budget

how to refresh your home on a budget

Most of us have experienced the feeling of looking around our home and no longer being satisfied or inspired by its interior. Maybe you’re tired of the old, outdated style your home came with, or perhaps the wall color you once loved now feels drab and lifeless. 

Regardless of your reasons, it’s inevitable that at some point, you’ll feel ready to refresh your home with new and inspiring updates. However, sometimes our budgets aren’t quite as big as our motivations for change.

Here are a few easy ways to refresh your home on a budget!

Change Up Your Bedding

You can bring more life into your bedroom design by addressing the centerpiece of your room, which is usually the bed. If it’s been a while, it may be time to change the bedding. This simple act can transform the vibe of your bedroom and create a fresh new atmosphere. Incorporate comfortable layers, cheerful colors, and different textures with a blanket, duvet, or summer quilt. This is a great way to switch up your child’s room or the spare bedroom as well!

Add a Statement Wall

A statement wall is an incredible way to make a major change without spending much time or effort, and they have a special knack for making your design look richer and more dynamic.

Consider a playful pattern, or simply paint one wall your favorite color. If you’re worried about making a serious commitment that you might regret, you can take advantage of many beautiful removable wallpaper options.

Lay Down a New Rug

Rugs add warmth and definition to the spaces they’re in. So, if you’re looking to redefine your space, there’s no better way to do it than with a new area rug!

Of course, the colors and patterns of the rug you choose are important, but the placement of your rug makes an impact as well. Laying your rug diagonally can bring additional movement and visual interest to the look.

Replace Your Hardware

It’s incredible what a difference faucet, appliance, and even door handle hardware can make on your overall aesthetic, and your options are plenty and affordable. You can add trendy brass pulls and a matching faucet, patterned ceramic knobs, or mix and match your metals to add layers of visual intrigue. The possibilities are endless! 

Switch Out Light Fixtures

Like other aspects of your home that you use regularly, your light fixtures can easily become worn and dated. Changing your outdated light fixture or switching to one that better suits your style will completely alter the tone of any room. If you choose wisely, you might even be able to decrease your energy consumption. Technological advances are helping homeowners reduce the cost of their utility bills by simply switching to LED lighting!

Swap Out Your Window Treatments

Upgrading your window treatments is a rewarding home improvement project that is often overlooked. You’ll want to make sure that you choose something that fits your needs, whether for energy efficiency, eco-friendliness, or better light control. Switch up your drapes for a new pattern that ties into your color scheme. If you have blinds, consider adding fabric curtains in some of your rooms for added impact. By choosing the right window treatments for your home, you can reap the benefits for years down the line.   

Rearrange Your Furniture

One of the easiest ways to make a change on a budget is by switching your furniture around. This could be as simple as rearranging your couch and chairs or grouping furniture in a way that encourages conversation. Consider moving some furniture from a bedroom and using it to mix up things in your main living areas. An armchair or a side table from a different room can change up the feel of the space and add a new element.

If you’re looking to add some new furniture or accessories to your home for a summer refresh on a budget, Sherwood Furniture can help! We are currently in the process of relocating, and EVERYTHING MUST GO! We are offering 50% off on all furniture and accessories just in time to spruce up your space for the summer season.  

Call us at (248)855-1600 to learn about our current sale and get your hands on some high-quality furniture that will last you years to come!  

Six Essential Furniture Pieces for Your First Home

smiling couple relaxing on sofa in new home

Receiving the keys to your very first home is a huge milestone and an incredible feeling. After you get over the pure bliss of your first home purchase, there will be plenty of furniture items you will need to buy.

It’s time to do away with mismatched dining chairs and that old couch with the sunken cushions. Spending a little extra money on staple pieces that will grow with you and your family is an important and necessary investment.

Here are six essential furniture pieces for your first home!

1) Nesting Tables

The perfect way to provide extra room for snacks and beverages during a get-together in your small starter-home, nesting tables can be put together neatly and stylishly for everyday use. As your family grows, each table of your set is sure to find its own space in the home, whether it’s as a surface for your little one to color in their bedroom, a spot to rest your coffee in your home office, or as a living room end table. Depending on the nesting tables you purchase, they can even be moved outdoors during summer afternoons.

2) Wooden Chest of Drawers

Especially if your bedroom is on the smaller side, a wooden chest of drawers is the perfect spot to store your clothes. A classic piece that will always remain in style, this chest can be placed in your entryway, living room, or dining room in the future. Filled with winter gear, placemats, and extra serving ware or your collection of remotes, this piece has a purpose regardless of where you place it.

3) Simple Loveseat

A lovely option for a small living room, a simple loveseat with a classic shape and neutral hue will always have a place in your home. Whether you pair it with a larger couch down the road or move it into a guest bedroom, office or study, this piece will see plenty of use.

Add color with bold pillows or a patterned throw blanket, allowing your style to change according to the season and your mood.

4) Café Table and Chairs

Don’t have a dining room in your first home? A café table and set of chairs can be placed in the corner of your kitchen or living room, adding a touch of elegance and the perfect amount of space to enjoy your meals.

As your home grows and your family expands, this table set can provide extra seating on your patio or a spot for your children to enjoy breakfast and after-school snacks in your kitchen nook.

5) Comfy Footstool

Regardless of how large or small your space is, there is nothing better than putting your feet up and relaxing after a busy day at work. Your home will never lack the need for a footstool, so treat yourself to an attractive option that suits your design style.

Whether you love the look of leather poofs or fabric footstools that open to provide storage space within, this piece provides a place to rest your feet, set books, remotes, and trays of snacks while also providing extra seating when guests come to visit.

6) Office Desk

If you work from home or your child is learning remotely, a nice desk is another must-have for your new home. Executive desks are larger and have a lot of drawers for storage, and they tend to work best in bigger home offices. If your new home is short on space, a sleek writing desk should do just fine since they tend to be smaller. Either way, it’s a good idea to add a desk to your list to have a central location to complete your daily work or so your child can complete their homework assignments.

At Sherwood Furniture, we offer high-quality furniture selections and professional interior design services, including furniture design, window treatments, floor coverings, fabric selections, custom fixtures, and more!

Contact us today at (248)855-1600 to set up a consultation with our professional interior designers and turn your first home into a beautiful oasis.

Design Tips for A Kid Friendly Living Room

Kids playing in a stylish living room fit for both parents and children.

We all want to boast a beautiful living room. After all, it should be the one room in your home where you can relax with your family, enjoy your favorite television show after a busy workday, and entertain guests. However, it shouldn’t be the one room in your home that lacks style, organization, or upkeep. 

Having children doesn’t mean your living room – or the rest of your home – must lack style. There are plenty of ways to make your living room look elegant and clean while staying kid-friendly and safe.

Here are some tips to help you maintain a clutter-free, organized, and visually appealing living room, no matter how young your children may be!

Consider Unique Paint Options

Fingerprints, markers, crayons, and other imperfections can make your walls look dirty and unmaintained, taking away from the overall beauty of your living space. Once the marks are on the wall, there’s no going back – unless you paint your walls with a washable paint sheen! Colors in eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss are all great options for families with young children, as imperfections can be washed away easily with soap and water.

Don’t feel limited to traditional paint options, though. Chalkboard, magnetic, and dry erase paints are wonderful accent wall options that allow your kids to draw as much as they want on the walls coated in one of these fun and family-oriented options! It’s a great way to encourage creativity and spend time with your kids.

Protect Your Furniture

Kids are notorious for eating, drinking, and jumping around on the furniture. Take advantage of couch and chair covers to ensure your furniture investments are protected and maintain their like-new appearance. These slipcovers are easy to take on and off and even washable. Use them to cover your furniture during play dates, and then whisk them off with ease before your dinner party.

Another family-friendly furniture option is leather. Both durable and comfortable, leather furniture is less likely to reveal stains, spills, and other imperfections than fabric material.

children in pajamas jumping around in the living room

Install Kid-Proof Flooring

Spills, dirt, allergens, and crumbs can easily accumulate when you have young children and make your floors look extra dirty. Make sure you install floors that are easy to maintain and clean up should your child spill their glass of orange juice everywhere. Durable, stain-resistant carpeting is a wonderful way to cover your gorgeous hardwood floors until your kids are older. Plush and warm carpeting can also protect your kids from bumps and bruises should they fall.

Invest in Stylish Storage Options

With children, you are bound to end up with a plethora of toys lying around the house. Instead of banishing toys to their room, you can incorporate stylish design pieces that can hide them. Finding furniture that doubles as storage is a great way to save space. An ottoman, coffee table or bench with interior storage can make it easy to quickly turn your cluttered living room into an aesthetically pleasing space. A few pretty baskets lined up against the wall are also great for stashing toys and clutter in a pinch and look much nicer than plastic bins!

The goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment for children but still maintain a unique sense of style and functionality! 

Sherwood Furniture offers professional interior design services for families looking for fine furnishings and design assistance in the West Bloomfield, Michigan area. Visit our showroom at 6231 Orchard Lake Road or call us at 248-855-1600 to get started on your living room upgrade!

How to Choose the Perfect Bedroom Paint Color

A happy couple choosing the perfect bedroom color

Our bedrooms are our sanctuaries, our places of rest. They are our escape away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, so we must do everything to create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in this precious space.

When decorating your bedroom, you must select colors that match the type of serenity you want to feel when you’re in the bedroom. Choosing the wrong colors can affect the quality of sleep you receive, so the decision is not to be taken lightly.

Here are some tips on choosing the perfect bedroom color for you!

Understand Color Temperature

All colors have a temperature. Warm colors are more stimulating, while cool colors are more relaxing, and all people react to warm and cool colors differently. Some people are soothed by warmer colors, like soft yellows or pinks, while others find them too stimulating. When looking at warm and cool colors, you must determine how you feel, select your favorite colors from those spectrums and explore the different shades.

Shades of blue-green, blue-violet, and grays generally produce a more calming or relaxing effect. Bright, active colors, like red and orange, are attention-grabbing colors and typically the ones you want to avoid for a calming bedroom where you wish to relax. Consider what colors make you feel stress-free and relaxed. Then explore the various shades available in those colors.

Determine the Mood

How do you want to feel when entering your bedroom? Do you want a romantic vibe to your space? In that case, dark, deep, cool colors are a perfect choice. You can play around with dark shades of blue like navy or even a charcoal color on your walls paired with brighter furnishings. This will create a more intimate, romantic feel to your space.

If you’re looking to be welcomed with a sense of calm and serenity when you walk into your bedroom, you will want to choose colors that give off a sense of freshness. A champagne or robin egg blue can make the room feel bright and peaceful.

Consider the Room Size

The size of the space you’re working with is important because color affects how a space feels in terms of size. Painting your small bedroom dark charcoal will make it feel like a closet, while a light gray will make it feel more open. However, if you have a smaller room but you love darker colors, that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize them. You can always paint an accent wall in a deep color while keeping the others more neutral. You will still get that rich color without shrinking the size of your room.

Larger bedrooms often have several windows and plenty of natural light flowing in. The natural light will allow you the opportunity to go with a deep, dark color.

If you choose to go light or neutral, white is always an option, but opt for one that has a bit of warmth. Pure white can come off as cold or too plain, while a creamy white will add a touch of warmth to the walls.

Keep in mind that cool colors make a small room appear larger because they pull the wall away from the eye. Using a cool color accent wall in a narrow room will make it feel wider. Warm colors make rooms appear smaller because the wall is pulled towards the eye. A warm color on a wall at the end of a long, narrow room will make the room feel smaller.

Picking the wall color is only one small part of the bedroom design process. If you want to take your room to the next level, Sherwood Studios can help. Our experienced interior designers offer bedroom design services that can transform your space into a perfect sanctuary, from furniture design to wall and window coverings. 

Call us today at  (248)855-1600 to learn about our interior design services

How to Tastefully Incorporate Floral Patterns in Interior Design

Cozy stylish bedroom with floral accent wall

With spring in the air, floral prints are coming out of hibernation and creeping back into stores and magazines. Floral prints can be tricky to work with, and many people overdo them, unintentionally creating a tacky aesthetic. They have a reputation for being associated with older home styles. Country kitchens tend to use florals on the wallpaper, Victorian styles have floral prints on everything, and retro spaces often go for artsy floral prints.

Although floral patterns can be difficult to implement, they can be a classy addition to any space, even in modern interior design.

Here are a few simple ways to bring some tasteful floral patterns into your home without going overboard!

Pay Attention to Color

Mastering color in interior design is a journey on its own, but when it comes to implementing floral patterns into a modern style, it can go one of two ways: bold and sassy or neutral. If you go for a bold color, use it as an accent item. For instance, you might do one bathroom wall with bold flowers while leaving the other walls neutral. Combining florals with neutral tones can give off a more modern sensibility. You can also incorporate the colors from the floral print into the rest of the room as smaller accent pieces or use bold flower prints on items like throw pillows. 

Focus on Scale

Another key aspect is the scale of the floral print. If you are using wallpaper or a bedspread with a floral print, the print is on a larger scale. If you have some small floral accents on the headboard, they’re on a smaller scale.

If your floral print is larger scale, you’ll want to design the rest of the room to have a clean look using solid colors so that nothing clashes with the floral print. Smaller-scale floral prints can get away with being used across similar items throughout the room, like different pillows or vases in the chosen print.

Think About Pattern

There are several dos and don’ts for mixing patterns, but when it comes to floral prints, you have a wide variety of patterns to choose from. This can make decorating with florals feel like a daunting task, but you usually want big and bold floral patterns for a statement look and smaller flowers for a more accented look. If you go for a big and bold print on an accent wall, it should have close-ups of large, detailed flowers. Smaller prints work well on pillows, vases, and window treatments and should be more abstract.

Make it Match

Try picking your favorite floral pattern and repeating it throughout a room. You can match the wallpaper with curtains and upholstered pieces for a bold look or choose just a few key furnishings across the room for something more subtle. If going all-out with florals isn’t your desired look, consider using a single motif as the centerpiece of your room. Amongst the solid and neutral colors of your space, a floral print can feel like a piece of art. It can add just the right color and texture to a room without feeling overdone. 

If floral patterns are calling your name, but you’re having trouble implementing them into your space, our interior designers at Sherwood Studios can help. We offer various interior design services and have the knowledge and resources to transform your space into a true work of art. From bedroom design to your home office, we have you covered.  

Call us today at (248)855-1600 to learn more about our interior design services! 

Tips for the Best Home Office Layout

A young woman working at her home office desk perpendicular to the window for natural light.

Working from home has become the new normal for many employed people. Our home office workspaces have quickly become the place in our home where we spend the most time. To ensure your space is working as hard and efficiently as you are, it’s important to design your office with a few key principles in mind.

Here are a few helpful design tips to help you achieve a functional and aesthetically pleasing home office layout.

A Properly Placed Desk

The desk is the most important feature of any home office, but putting it in the wrong spot can hinder your productivity. Placing it at a bad angle to the window can create screen glare, your back to the door can cause stress, and facing a wall can be uninspiring. The best place to put your desk is a section of the room where your back can be facing a wall while still having a view of the door, but not directly in front of it.

It is recommended to place your work desk as close to natural light as possible. Some people like to face the window, but this can become too distracting. If you can’t handle a front row window seat, turning your desk perpendicular to it can give you the natural light you desire without the complete distraction. If the most productive placement puts the window behind you, meaning light will hit your monitor, add window treatments to block the glare.

Layered Lighting

Although natural lighting is great for productivity in your workspace, you can’t always rely on it to be there for you. It is important to place various artificial lighting options in your space strategically. Recessed lighting in the ceiling with dimmers for ambient light and task lighting over desk and seating areas are great ways to incorporate necessary artificial light. You cannot just rely on overhead lighting. It is much better for your eyes if you have a table or floor lamp close by as well. Not only will these help you see your screen more clearly, but there are many stylish options to choose from that can spice up the look of your office.

A Multipurpose Seating Area

Seating beyond your own desk chair is crucial to a home office setup. Whether you must meet with clients or the inevitable family member that wanders in, a bench or a table with chairs is necessary. Create a small seating area for guests and company to separate your personal workspace from meetings and nonwork-related discussions.

An Office Space for Two

If you share your home office with a spouse or coworker, it is important to section off your space. Try dividing the room with an oversized built-in desk, with his-and-her sides. Design your individual section the way you like it with custom storage and a comfortable desk chair. When designing an office for two people, style is just as important as function, as one person’s aesthetic could be distracting or off-putting for the other.

Built-In Storage

When crafting your perfect office space, built-in storage is a must. You don’t want every item on display, from printers to extra monitors and a plethora of chords. A wall of built-in bookshelves and cabinetry or large drawers under your desk space can easily hide Wi-Fi boxes and office supplies. Open shelving can also provide an opportunity for you to show off your personal style with beloved books, photos, and artwork.

At Sherwood Studios, we have the home office essentials you need to complete your workspace. Our home office design team has the tools and knowledge to craft an amazing office for you or your loved one. We cover all the elements needed to design your dream office, from window treatments to floor plans. 

Call us today at (248)855-1600 to learn more about our home office interior design services! 

The Importance of Lighting in Interior Design

Contemporary living room with accent lighting over fireplace and task lighting over large coffee table.

Lighting is a crucial yet overlooked area when crafting your dream home interior. Lighting affects how the size of a room is perceived, creates ambiance, and can influence your mood. There is more to lighting design than simply choosing a stylish lampshade. In fact, there are three fundamental elements of lighting design, and when implemented correctly, these elements can transform your space into a masterpiece.

The Three Elements of Lighting Design

Ambient Lighting: Ambient lighting provides the general illumination of a room. This light can create a sense of warmth and depth in your space. You can achieve ambient lighting by using dimmer switches in overhead light fixtures such as recessed lights, track lights, or chandeliers. Adding lanterns and wall sconces to your space can also render an ambient lighting effect.  

Accent Lighting: The main purpose of accent light is to add style and personalization to whatever space you are designing. Accent lighting includes anything from shelf or cabinet lighting to art and toe kick lighting. If you want to highlight the architectural features of your home, like a fireplace, collection of items, or a painting, accent lighting can help draw attention to those things.

Task Lighting: Task lighting is designed to create a shadow-free environment while performing daily activities in your home. Whether you’re cooking, watching TV, or reading a book, task lighting ensures everything is properly illuminated. This lighting can include desk lamps, floor lamps, cabinet lighting, and ceiling pendants.

Interior Design and Lighting

You cannot experience the interior architecture of a home to its fullest if you don’t have proper lighting. The three elements of lighting design work in conjunction with color selections, room size, availability of natural light and furniture selection.  

Here are a few ways lighting is important for interior design and how it can transform your space.

Functionality

When it comes to lighting, it needs to serve a purpose, or else it is wasteful. Consider the style of lighting you want to ensure you get the best directional or luminescent type for that setting. Look into task-specific lighting for desks and other work areas where functionality is more important than overall room illumination. Chandeliers are used in large, open foyers, entryways, and rooms because of their centrally themed placement and because they provide excellent illumination for the room. Wall lights visually add length and size to an entryway hall while also lighting the way.

Color Management

Proper lighting can be used to enhance colors within a design. It can also add to or subtract from the colors in a room. Darker colors make a room feel smaller and cramped, while light-colored walls do the opposite. When selecting colors in the design phase, testing them with different lighting types is beneficial. Some lightings such as directional lighting may soften the wall colors, and the light emitted may be warm or cool depending upon the bulb type.

Space

Both natural and artificial lighting help with the illusion of space. If a room does not have sufficient lighting, it will feel cramped. This can be worsened by close-proximity furniture arrangements in a smaller setting. Corner lamps, wall sconces, and centrally hanging lights on the ceiling help brighten a room if natural lighting is not available, and they help create a visually larger space. Natural lighting is preferred above artificial lighting because it shows off colors better and adds to the visual space of a room by bouncing off reflective surfaces. Consider skylights or large windows if you want more natural light or use sheer drapes and curtains to allow the maximum amount of light from your current windows.

Here at Sherwood Studios, we understand the importance of proper lighting when designing a space. That is why we offer modern and contemporary home accents that will light up your interior and breathe life into your space.

If planning out a home design project sounds overwhelming, there is no need to fret. Our talented team of interior designers can help you plan and create your dream space! We will assist you in mapping out a proper lighting plan to assure your home has practical and functional illumination.

Call us today at (248)855-1600 to speak with a design professional and learn more about our interior design services!

Common Design Mistakes to Avoid in Your Dining Room

Dining room table with low lighting fixtures and upholstered chairs

All the hard work and preparation that happens in your kitchen makes its way into the dining room. From full course meals to intimate family dinners, holidays, birthdays, and more, the dining room is where we bring people together.

It is important to have a cohesive and practical design that suits your family’s aesthetic and caters to your guest’s needs with such a high-traffic room.

Here are some common design mistakes to avoid when remodeling your dining room.

Oversized Table in a Small Room

You are limited by a strict set of dimensions when it comes to the size of your dining room. That is why design plays an important role in how your space will function. If you know you are working with a relatively small dining room, adding an oversized table is not practical. It will make the room feel cramped, and guests will not be able to comfortably move around the chairs. It is suggested to have a bare minimum of three feet from behind your chairs to your wall.

Uncomfortable Seating

If you want to host fabulous dinner parties or wine and cheese nights with friends, how do you expect them to stay and chat for hours while sitting on the world’s most uncomfortable chair? It is easy to be fooled by stylish modern seating, but if you prioritize style over comfort, you’re going to have a lot of empty seats at your next dinner party. A chair with an upholstered back and a fully upholstered seat is a great choice for guaranteed comfort.

Placing Light Fixtures Too High

A dining area is an intimate space, and you want the lighting to be about three feet above the tabletop or six feet off the floor. Light fixtures can be installed lower as they’re above a table and no one walks under them. While a high-placed chandelier might seem elegant and expanding, it might leave your dinner plate in the dark.

Wrong Size Rug

A dining room rug should encompass all the furniture, including the chairs—even when people are sitting in them. As a general rule, add sixty inches to your table’s length and width to find a rug that will comfortably accommodate all your dining chairs. Additionally, an indoor-outdoor polyester rug is a great choice for an area where food is served because it’s easier to clean than a natural-fiber rug like wool. 

A Cluttered Space

There is no need to showcase all your belongings in one space. This will give your room an overcrowded and unpleasant feel. A large empty surface, such as your dining room table, is an open invitation for piles of paperwork and junk mail. For a cohesive, clean-looking room, it is important to resist the urge to make your dining table a storage area for unwanted items.

Bare Walls

A mirror or piece of art can be the space’s focal point to tie the room together in a small dining room. Mirrors make the space feel larger, but art can be just as wonderful and eye-catching. Make it a large statement piece instead of a cluster of multiple frames, and you’re good to go. Even large dining rooms need art and a mirror if more than one wall is available. A mirror hung over a sideboard or console, with a large statement piece of art on an adjacent wall, gives the space a slightly more complete feel.

Whether you’re doing a complete dining room remodel or simply switching out some furniture, Sherwood Studios can assist you. We offer complete dining room interior design services, so you can avoid making any common design mistakes in your space! We have a wide selection of dining room furniture and work with our clients to turn their dream room into a reality.

Contact us today at (248)855-1600 to learn more about your dining room design options.

Furniture Shopping Tips to Know Before Hitting the Stores

Woman Shopping for New Couch Looking at Price Tag

Buying brand-new furniture is an exciting adventure. Whether you’re furnishing a new home, upgrading from hand-me-downs, or got a sudden urge to give your place a makeover, new furniture is going to make your space feel fresh, fun, and comfortable.

When you finally walk into your local furniture store and see all of the attractive displays and variety of options, you can feel a lot of pressure to choose the right new pieces for your home. Use these furniture shopping tips from the pros to help make your experience fun and fruitful!

Set a budget.

Before you start shopping and get mesmerized by all the beautiful pieces, give yourself a set range for what you are able and want to spend on furniture. Having a budget will keep you from wasting time considering pieces you can’t afford and focus on those that are feasible for you. When you arrive at the store, let your consultant know what your budget it is, so they can point you in the right direction.

Determine your wants and needs.

After you’ve set your budget, make a list of the furniture pieces you want to buy. Then, divide them into categories of what you absolutely need and what you can live without for the foreseeable future. Your list will help you stay focused as you shop and allocate your budget appropriately (here are some helpful tips for when to splurge and when to save on furniture). As you distinguish between what you want and what you need, really take the time to consider your priorities. Remember; you don’t have to get everything all at once.

Assess your current space.

New furniture pieces must suit the size, style, and needs of your home as it is now. The last thing you want is to spend thousands of dollars on a couch, have it delivered, and then discover it clashes with your other living room furniture or doesn’t fit through the door. Taking a photo of the rooms you’re buying furniture for can serve as a good reference for style, size, and layout at the store. It’s also a good idea to take measurements of the space where you expect your new pieces to go and the pathways they will need to make it through to get there.

Consider your lifestyle.

Your furniture needs to be functional, which means you need to be thinking about how you’re going to use it as you’re shopping. Do you have kids or pets running around? You should probably be looking at pieces made with sturdier materials and stain-resistant fabrics and colors. Are you the one in your friend group who’s always hosting get-togethers? Then you’ll want pieces that allow for good traffic flow and comfortable, conversational setups. Picture how you plan to use your new furniture and let that guide you in your selections.

Check the quality.

Furniture that won’t last is a waste of money. Before you decide on a piece, inspect it thoroughly to ensure it’s built sturdy and with lasting quality. Don’t be afraid to really move it around and get a good look at it from all angles. It will be helpful to conduct some research ahead of time about what to look for when evaluating furniture quality. Reading reviews of brands or specific pieces you’re interested in is another good research tool as well.

Ready to get started on your furniture shopping endeavor? Check out the amazing selection of home furniture at Sherwood Studios! We have pieces for every room in your house, at a variety of price points and in a broad spectrum of styles. What’s more, if you prefer to leave the big decisions to a pro, we offer full interior design services to homeowners in the West Bloomfield area.

Give us a call today at 248-855-1600, so we can help you furnish the home of your dreams!

6 Ways to Cozy Up Your Home for Fall

Furniture & Interior Design Studio in West Bloomfield, MI

The transition from summer to fall feels the same pretty much every year; like it happened in the blink of an eye. One minute you’re watching Fourth of July fireworks, and the next you’re digging out the rake from the back of the garage.

Now that the air is crisper and the leaves are turning, it’s time for your home interior to catch up with the changing seasons. At this time of year, that means going from bright and airy summer spaces to warm and cozy ones. Here are a few easy ways to tweak your interior design to achieve that snug and inviting autumn look!

1) Bring out the throw blankets.

Nothing makes you want to snuggle up inside more than the sight of a soft blanket draped over the back of a couch or recliner. Throw blankets are a great way to take your space from summer to fall. You can use blankets to work seasonal colors, patterns, and textures into your interior, as well as provide some practical warmth for the cooler days ahead.

2) Update your throw pillows.

Another inviting touch of décor that offers an opportunity to work in different fall elements is your throw pillows. Swap out pillows on couches, chairs, and bedding with light colors and summery patterns or sayings with ones that are fitting for autumn. Just a few quick substitutions and you’ll have a new level of comfort and visual interest for the new season.

3) Layer in area rugs.

As the temperatures get cooler, area rugs are a practical and visually appealing way to add some warmth and cushion underfoot. Update your floors with fall colors and textures and give them a little extra protection from increased holiday foot traffic at the same time. By layering two area rugs on top of each other, you can also bring in a dimensional element—just make sure the bottom rug pokes out so both can be seen.

4) Infuse your space with autumn scents.

Smell is a powerful trigger that you can use to make your home feel like an inviting fall haven. Candles are the obvious choice for giving your interior a fall aroma, plus they’ll help create a soft and cozy ambiance. But if you’re not a candle lover or they’re impractical for your space, then wall plug-ins, scent diffusers, and potpourri will work just as well.

5) Create displays with fall plant life.

Warm and appealing arrangements of seasonal plants, flowers, herbs, and natural features are a simple way to bring the spirit of fall to your space. For pops of color, focus on fall florals like dahlias, mums, and hydrangeas. Balance out the brilliant autumnal hues with earthy elements like branches, pinecones, and seasonal greenery such as eucalyptus and olive. Don’t forget to polish off your harvest look with seasonal veggies like corn stalks, gourds, and of course, pumpkins.

6) Prep your fireplace.

If you have a fireplace, it has probably spent the last several months gathering dust. As you’ll be using it much more often in the coming seasons, now is the time to get it ready to do its job. Start by giving it a good cleaning and stocking up on wood, gas, or propane. Once you’ve affirmed everything is in good working order, spend some time on the mantle. Decorate with fall accessories, like seasonal florals, artwork, candles, and other décor. It will serve as the perfect focal point for your cozy autumn look.

Whether you’re refreshing your home for a new season, new life stage, or just because you feel like it, Sherwood Studios has everything you need to create the new look you have in mind. Head out to our West Bloomfield showroom to shop furniture and décor of all styles. Need help getting the details just right? Ask us about our interior design services and we’ll set up a consultation.

Visit our store or contact us today to get started on your new fall interior!