How to Creatively Decorate with Books

Interior Design Tips Books – they’re not just for reading anymore. If you’re a bookworm or library enthusiast, they also make great home décor! They give your home a cozy look and project a sophisticated air.

Read on to learn how to creatively decorate with books:

Curate a coffee table stack

Make your living room look inviting with a stack of well-chosen books in appealing colors. Guests will love having something to flip through when they sit down. Art and travel books work especially well for this idea.

Color-code your shelves

Turn your library into a rainbow when you organize your books by color.

Install shelves in unexpected places

Try putting set-in shelving under a stairway or over a doorway to maximize space and give your home a touch of the unexpected. Bonus: if your fireplace is unused, you can put books there, too!

DIY furniture … made from books

Old books (hint: check your local thrift store) can become part of totally unique furniture. Try using them as the legs of a coffee table, a faux-headboard or the base for a lamp.

If you’re looking for some furniture to complement your book-themed décor, check out the wide selection we offer at Sherwood Studios. We have pieces in a broad spectrum of styles, from modern to classic, at a variety of price points. What’s more, we proudly offer full interior design services to homeowners in the Oakland County area. Call us today at 248-855-1600, so we can design the book-lined spaces of your dreams.

Tips for Buying a Sofa Online

Buying a Couch Online You’re probably used to buying plenty of things online, from clothing to groceries. But if you’re like many of us, buying a sofa online can seem risky. It’s one of the largest and most expensive pieces of furniture in your home, and you can’t exactly drop it in the mailbox to return if it doesn’t work out. Armed with a few good tips, however, buying a sofa online can be easy and stress-free.

Reviewers are your best friends

Don’t just go to the manufacturer’s website and look at the professionally photographed, flatteringly lit pictures. Read customers’ and bloggers’ honest reviews, and try to find photos of the sofa taken by a non-professional in an actual home.

Figure out dimensions

Will the sofa be able to turn a tight corner when the movers bring it to your house? Will it even fit through the front door? Don’t just eyeball door frames and hallways—take meticulous measurements before ordering the sofa.

Know the return policy backwards and forwards

Many retailers have strict policies for returns and exchanges, and some may even require you to ship an unwanted piece back at your own expense, not to mention slap you with a hefty restocking fee. Learn more about a company’s policies before your purchase.

Now that you know how to pick out a sofa online, check out the amazing selection of sofas available at Sherwood Studios to find one that fits your personal style and budget. We also offer full interior design services to homeowners in the Oakland County area, if you’re interested in building a beautifully designed room around your new sofa. Give us a call today at 248-855-1600 to find out more!

2018 Spring Interior Design Trends

Spring Home Ideas Spring is all about renewal – just look at all the flowers blooming outside after a long winter! It’s also a great time to update the interior of your home. Whether you’re putting your home on the market or just want a new look, spring is the perfect season to refresh your home décor. An on-trend design will increase your home’s value, so read on to learn about the top spring 2018 interior design trends.

Watercolor florals

If you hear “florals” and think of your grandmother’s fussy prints, think again. Spring 2018 is all about sophisticated watercolor strokes that make florals seem totally fresh.

Tropical patterns

This spring, the tropics are (literally) hot. Decorate with botanical patterns, flashes of hot pink and woven rugs.

Gold fixtures

Think beyond chrome and copper, and give your bathroom and kitchen pops of bright gold on faucets, lights and other hardware.

Textured ceramics

Vases and other home décor with rough, textured finishes are in for spring. For an of-the-moment look, embrace the Japanese concept of wabi sabi, which finds beauty in imperfections like cracks.

If you’re ready to give your home a fresh look for spring, browse the fantastic selection of furniture at Sherwood Studios. You’ll find on-trend pieces for every room in your house, no matter your budget or style. If you’d rather put yourself in the hands of a qualified professional, we offer full interior design services to homeowners in the West Bloomfield area. Call us today at 248-855-1600, so we can refresh and renew your home this spring.

Popular Interior Design Styles and What They Mean

Interior Design Styles Industrial, shabby chic, modern, eclectic—if you’re in the process of decorating your home, you’ve probably heard these terms before. However, you may not know exactly what they mean! Read on for a guide to some popular interior design styles and learn how you can use them as a guide to articulate your design vision and create the home of your dreams.

Modern

You’ve probably heard this one a lot. “Modern” design typically means clean lines, simple colors and materials like steel and glass. If you like a streamlined style without a lot of accessories, this one’s for you.

Mid-century modern

Popularized by the show “Mad Men,” this style refers to the design trends of the 1950s and 1960s. Functionality, organic shapes and simple fabrications are the hallmarks of this style.

Industrial

As the trend of renovating warehouses and lofts continues, this style remains popular, with elements like exposed brickwork and old timber.

Shabby chic

This cottage-inspired style includes plenty of painted, weathered furniture, muted florals and vintage accessories.

Eclectic

If you like pieces from a variety of different styles, this one could be for you. Rather than haphazardly throwing pieces together, eclectic interior design relies on color, palette, texture and composition to bring cohesion to a room.

Now that you know more about popular interior design styles, check out the amazing selection of furniture at Sherwood Studios to find pieces that suit your style. If you’d rather let a pro make your vision a reality, 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 design the interior of your dreams.

Furniture Must-Haves for New Home Owners

Important furniture for new homes Congratulations! You’ve just bought a new home. Now that the paperwork is all taken care of and you’re settling in, you’re probably thinking of buying some new furniture.

However, you might not know where to begin! Your new home is probably a different size and layout than where you were previously living, and we’re willing to bet you’re ready to update your interior style. Read on to learn more about the furniture must-haves for new home owners.

A comfy bed

We spend a third of our days in bed, so it makes sense to get the best-quality bed you can afford. Find one that’s comfortable and well-constructed, and remember that you’ll have it for a decade or more!

Living room seating

Whether you prefer sofas, loveseats, chairs or a combination of the above, seating for relaxation and conversation in your living room is key.

Drawers, drawers and more drawers

Good storage pieces are essential to any home, including dressers, side tables with storage drawers and sets of bathroom drawers.

Ready to get started? Browse the wide selection of furniture we offer at Sherwood Studios. We’ve got pieces for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, you name it! Furniture is available at a variety of price points and in styles from modern to classic. What’s more, we offer full interior design services to homeowners in the West Bloomfield area – a fantastic service if you’ve just moved in. Give us a call today at 248-855-1600, so we can help you furnish the home of your dreams.

Must Know Interior Design Trends for 2018

Must Know Interior Design Trends for 2018 The new year is a perfect time to give your home an of-the-moment, stylish look. Whether you’re planning to sell your home in 2018 or just want to refresh your space, an interior design update is a great way to start off the year. Read on to learn more about some of the top interior design trends for 2018.

Lavender accents

Love it or hate it, 2017 was all about millennial pink. In 2018, shades of lavender and lilac will predominate, giving homes a calming, relaxed vibe. Try accent pillows or rugs in the on-trend shade.

Maximalism

After years of the less-is-more aesthetic, in 2018, more is more! Try mixing bold, contrasting patterns. Consider it the backlash to the pared-down look.

Back to nature

Natural materials will be huge in 2018. In a reflection of the locavore, farm-to-table trend in food, which shows no sign of disappearing any time soon, interior designers and architects are seeking materials that reflects an area’s geography and landscape. One example of this trend is using limestone walls in bathrooms, or using furniture made from locally sourced wood.

Velvet

You may have noticed velvet dresses, pants and accessories on the 2018 runways, and now the trend is coming to interior design. Velvet sofas and armchairs, whether vintage or newly upholstered, are having their moment.

If you’ve decided to update your home for 2018, a professional interior designer can make sure your space is inviting, comfortable and stylish. If you’re in the West Bloomfield area, we look forward to creating a space you’ll look forward to living in every day! Contact Sherwood Studios today at 248-855-1600.

Interior Design Trends for the Fall

Here at Sherwood Studios, we think that fall is a great season to do a little design updating around your home. With the colder months creeping closer, you’ll be spending more time inside your house, and fewer hours out and about—why not cozy up the place a bit so you can enjoy the fall season?  Interior Design Trends for the Fall

We’ve taken a look at some of the top interior design trends for fall, and picked out a few of our favorites. Use these for inspiration as you think about ways you can revamp your home’s interior this season.

Texture & Color

The Seattle Times says that the minimalist décor days are in the past: this fall season, we’ll be seeing lots of colors and patterns, in warm, rich tones that are perfect for the fall. If you want to keep your decorating budget to a minimum, grab a few new throw blankets or toss some new pillows onto the couch in warm colors and mix and matched patterns. If you want to go all out, reupholster the whole living room set in a pattern you wouldn’t ordinarily choose!

Emerald

The color of the season: Emerald. Whether you weave this into your design with new arm chairs, updated bedspreads, or refreshed window treatments, think of emerald as your style guide. It’ll give your home a warm, cozy feeling—out with the gray, and in with the green!

Color Blocking

If you’re still into the modern or midcentury modern look, add some color blocking to your fall décor. You can do this with paint color, wallpaper, and more. Use warm tones that complement each other, but don’t be too matchy-matchy! House Beautiful says that color blocking is the new black for the fall season.

For more interior inspiration, view our interior design page here at Sherwood Studios. To consult with an expert about your home’s fall décor, call us today at 248-855-1600. We look forward to working with you!

Mixing Different Wood-Washed Furniture

When it comes to furniture styles and trends, mixing and matching is in! From colors to patterns to textures, there are endless options for your home, which can be overwhelming. Here are some tips and tricks for mixing multiple wood tones.

Undertones

While matching can look a bit boring, you do want wood finishes that complement each other. To choose the right undertone, determine if the woods have warm or cool colors. Then you can either isolate a common color feature, such as woods with a similar reddish tone, or choose to offset the woods, such as a darker-colored wood accentuated by warm, neutral-colored wood.

Go for contrast

To break up the wood look and balance the materials in the room, use a colorful carpet or décor item. This helps the pieces stand on their own and can be easier on the eyes. Using white is also a great option to calm the look of wood on wood, as white and wood is always a winning combination.

Don’t overdo it

While mixing and matching can be fun, try to limit the number of different woods you use in each room. Using just two or three finishes can help the space feel more balanced and cohesive and can also help prevent you from feeling too overwhelmed by all the possible options and combinations.

If you’re looking to furnish part of your home with different wood pieces and you live in the Southeast Michigan area, be sure to stop by Sherwood Studios! We are a full-scale furniture store and premier interior design studio with a wide variety of pieces that are sure to be just what you’re looking for. Contact us today and let us bring your furnishing dreams to life!

How to Fashionably Disguise Your Air Conditioner

Ductless cooling systems are gaining popularity due to the fact that they are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and completely customizable. Homeowners are able to cool and heat specific areas of their home to the temperature they desire so they don’t waste energy cooling a room they aren’t using. Chances are you have seen the small indoor devices installed high on walls in homes, offices or restaurants.

Although ductless air conditioners offer many benefits, from an interior design point of view, they present several challenges. These A/C units need to be placed high in a room so that cool air can have the greatest effect as it drops to the floor. But how do you work the unit into the room’s decor? How can you make them not stand out or look tacky?

Here are some good places to install your unit and a few great types for how to design around it:

Above a doorway

Since this spot is difficult to use for traditional storage space, it can work well for an air unit. If the air conditioner and door are both white, chances are it work well together and you will be less likely to notice it.

Above an armoire

Another great spot is above an armoire or cabinet since it is usually difficult to reach and would otherwise collect dust. If you are looking at the cooling system from a lower angle, it can actually have the same minimal visual effect as recessing it into a false beam or wall.

Above a bookcase

If you place the air system above an open shelf that shares the same width, it will look like one vertical element instead of a box hanging in the middle of a blank wall.

If you are staying cool this summer with a wall-mounted cooling unit, try to make it flow with the rest of the room and get creative with the placement. Looking for more interior design tips? Visit our blog page often. Here at Sherwood Studios, we offer elegant, sophisticated and high-end contemporary furniture and interior design services. Contact us today at 248-855-1600 if you have any questions. We can’t wait to help you turn your dream into reality!

Four Next Big Trends to Incorporate in Your Home

It’s important to feel comfortable in your house because after all, there is no place like home. Not everyone has the budget to make their home look like a glossy magazine image but you can add simple features to you home to make it look trendy.

To make sure you are ahead of the style curve, we are going to go over the next four biggest trends.Not everyone has the budget to make their home look like a glossy magazine image but you can add simple features to you home to make it look trendy.

Incorporate metallics

Rose gold, bronze, silver, brass and gold have been popular for a while and it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere anytime soon. Bronze in particular will be a big trend, according to a high-end London interior designer. Just a touch of metal can make a space instantly more glamorous, just try to not go overboard or your home could end up feeling like a hall of mirrors.

Add more textures and layers

Fabrics with a lot of textures can really create a timeless and chic look in any room. Interior design is all about layering and the art of finding the right mix of color, shape and texture. When you are redecorating your home, don’t be afraid to play with different textures of fabric and add layers to create depth and richness in a room.

Natural influence

Interior style is going to go back to nature with soft, warm and calming tones as well as natural tiles with geometric patterns and shapes. Also try to embrace the greenery and reconnect with nature within your home by adding a fresh succulent.

Marble

Yes, marble has been trendy for a while but it will most likely remain popular. There will probably be a broader color scheme featuring browns, greens and blacks instead of the typical white and black marble.

If you are looking to redecorate your home this summer, contact Sherwood Studios so we can help you keep up with these trends and many more!