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Today, the home represents
more than just a place to crash at the end of the day. For many
people, home is their favorite place to relax and unwind, read,
meditate, entertain family and friends, exercise, watch TV, play
on the computer, and of course, sleep. But because it serves
so many functions (and especially if you have a large family),
the home can quickly become cluttered and chaotic.
Arguably the most important
thing you can do to create a stylish (and functional) space is
to buy quality furniture that is not only good-looking and durable,
but works with your lifestyle as well. Today's home furnishings
offer lots of options to help you clear up clutter and store
as much as you can out of sight, which will make your home appear
more peaceful and roomy.
Go vertical! When square footage is at a minimum,
look up! It may seem counter intuitive to buy bigger furniture
in a small space, but one effective piece of furniture can take
the place of a lot of small pieces taking up valuable room. Instead
of using a small TV stand in your family room, go for a large,
wall-unit entertainment center that will beautifully frame your
television and smartly stow your DVDs, gaming equipment, books,
and various A/V components all in one place.
If you have a projection
screen instead of a regular-sized television, consider adding
tall bookshelves on either side of the screen or along the side
walls to neatly organize all your entertainment components.
If you have a TV in your
bedroom, invest in a piece of furniture that will support and
display your TV proudly and provide storage solutions as well.
TV consoles are available in a variety of styles and finishes
to coordinate with your bedroom furniture, and many have drawers
and cabinets below for components, DVDs, and other items you
want to keep tucked away. If you want to hide the TV when it's
not in use, some consoles have a "power lift" feature
that raises the TV out of the console at the touch of a button,
then lowers it back inside to keep your flat panel TV safe and
dust-free.
Invest in a bed with
storage options. The
bed is obviously the biggest piece in any bedroom, so if clutter
is a concern, choose one that has built-in storage options! Today's
options aren't just for kids' rooms, either. Many bed frames
combine clean, modern lines and lots of storage space for shoes,
blankets, extra pillows, magazines, toys, or anything else you
want to keep off the floor. Whatever you choose, make sure you
pick a frame that is not only stylish, but also well made. Invest
in one that will hold up after many years of use.
If a new bed frame is
not an option, consider buying several simple, shallow baskets
that slide under the bed to store shoes, handbags, out-of-season
clothes, and other items.
Similarly, your other
bedroom furnishings, such as dressers and armoires, should help
you organize your belongings effectively. If your bedroom is
small, invest in a taller piece of furniture that maximizes the
amount of storage available within its space in the room. You
might also consider a tall bookshelf that can be outfitted with
baskets, cabinets or drawers to organize everything from magazines
to photos to extra socks.
Don't forget tables
and other furnishings. Side
tables and nightstands are very functional pieces to have throughout
the home. Not only can they serve as a place to set up lamps
and decorative items, but many tables have drawers and/or cabinet
doors to hide books, magazines, lotions, pens, toys, and much
more. Additionally, look for coffee tables that provide storage
or shelving within them; similarly, ottomans of various sizes
can serve as extra table space or seating, and many open up to
store blankets, toys, or magazines.
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