The Sealy® project began by defining the market opportunities for all innerspring beds.  In-depth interviews with consumers and sleep experts provided inspiration and direction for a revolutionary bed design and, more importantly, shaped our thinking about the mattress purchase and ownership experience. Consumers wanted a brand that acknowledged the bed as more than a piece of furniture to sleep on, and spoke to the emotional aspects of rest.

Well, those Sealy® visions have come to life, and they are available now!  It all begins with the right support and Sealy® has developed a patented “Titanium Steel Innerspring” coil unit that retains 98% of it shape for the life of your mattress.  For the first time ever, Sealy® Posturepedic® now incorporates a lumbar support in the center third portion of the mattress called “CoreSupport™”.  CoreSupport™ is comprised of tightening the stitching in the middle of the quilt, adding the use of the power-packed memory foam for cushioning your lumbar and Titanium Steel Innerspring coils for support.  In addition to supporting your lumbar region Sealy® has developed a strong side support called “SitRight™”.  This edge support allows you to sleep all the way to the edge of the bed without rolling off, and keeps the edges from breaking down over the years.

Another feature that has been welcomed is the new handles!  Sealy’s® incorporation of “LiftRight™” handles finally make turning a mattress end to end a pleasure.  Some of the better models have handles that almost go all the way around the mattress!  If you have a mattress that slides off the box spring during the night, Sealy has invented the “StayTight™” non-skid box spring, so once your mattress is in place it will never slide again and your sheets will be held tight to the mattress.

It’s no coincidence that the new 2011 Sealy Posturepedic is the most anticipated product introduction in bedding history!  With all of these exciting new features, you are able to sleep better with the confidence that your back is supported and you investment will last for years to come!

Along those lines, a retail salesperson will be able to virtually carry every item in the store under their arm.  All sofa fabrics will be current (no more reelections…).  No more walking back to a catalog room and fumbling for the right catalog (probably missing anyway…).  Also, a salesperson will be able search their iPad for a category and item, then check with supplier on availability.

So, thanks Apple for changing the way furniture is sold!

Large retail buyers were looking for exclusives and all buyers were looking for great values, which is tough to find right now as manufactures are forced to push through price increases during the coming months.  Market attendance seems to be at an all time low due to retailers either not being able to afford to travel, or buyers are staying home to mind the store.

Sealy recently enlisted the design expertise of IDEO (pronounced “eye-dee-oh”), who is an award-winning global design firm that takes a human-centered approach to helping organizations in the public and private sectors innovate and grow.

The Sealy project began by defining the market opportunities for all innerspring beds. In-depth interviews with consumers and sleep experts provided inspiration and direction for a revolutionary bed design and, more importantly, shaped our thinking about the mattress purchase and ownership experience. Consumers wanted a brand that acknowledged the bed as more than a piece of furniture to sleep on, and spoke to the emotional aspects of rest.

As much as we would love to divulge the exciting new Sealy/Royal Heritage mattress design by IDEO – we were sworn to secrecy by Sealy.  So, stay tuned, as the world of mattresses will change on March 1st forever!

Furniture has always played a large roll in Christmas decorating.  Where else but the living room end table would Mom put her favorite decoration of two elves helping Santa that she’s had since she was a child?  And doesn’t the nativity scene look perfect on a server or sofa table?  What end table doesn’t have a ceramic Christmas tree?  And a coffee table just doesn’t look right without a beautiful arrangement of poinsettas.

Remember the old radio and TV consoles of the 50’s and 60’s?  Those were always decorated for Christmas with candles and pine garland, or a couple of reindeer.

The dining room table is always a focal point for Christmas decorations.  Most tables are decorated with a holiday runner and a beautiful centerpiece.  Sofas, love seats and chairs are also the perfect place for holiday decorations.   A festive Christmas pillow or beautiful holiday throw are a wonderful touch.

Isn’t it better to dream about visions of sugar plums while waiting for Santa Clause in our comfy bed covered in holiday sheets and comforter?  Children would easily go off to bed when their beds are decorated with Christmas trees and holly!

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small little wingless insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm-blooded mammals.  Humans are the ideal host.  They can be light tan or burnt orange in color.  Just after molting most of them are plane white.  Bed bugs have evolved over millions of years as nest parasites – inhabiting the nest of birds and bats for instance.  Some of them have learned to adapt to the human environment and live in “our nest”.

They are called bed bugs because they prefer to live in our beds, mattresses, sofas and other soft furniture.

Bed bugs feed for about 5 minutes, then go into hiding for about 5 to 10 days then feed again.  If there is no food readily available (human blood), bed bugs have been known to lie dormant for months waiting to feed again.

Are Bed Bugs Dangerous to Humans?

Not really.  Other than a mosquito bite type look or a small rash, there is not much danger to bed bug bites and they are not known to carry any diseases.  In extreme cases people can have an allergic reaction.  Bed bugs bite by injecting a small amount of their saliva into the human host which results in a painless reaction.  Quite often the bite does not manifest itself for an hour or two, maybe much longer.  Therefore, sometimes it is hard to detect that you have bed bugs right away because you don’t have symptoms.

How do Bed Bugs Get in to Your Home?

Although studies have shown that bed bugs can travel in one’s luggage, the most common way to bring them into your home is via used furniture and mattresses.

How to Eliminate and Prevent Bed Bugs?

Once you detect that you have a bed bug problem you may want to call a pest removal professional first as they can help in the detection and recommend a removal process for your particular situation.

If you decide to do it yourself the first step would be to remove the coverings on any item of furniture or mattress that is infected.  If you are able to wash the fabric in hot water do so, if not, wash normally but set the dryer on hot – at least 120º.  If in the winter, you may take these coverings outside and leave in the freezing weather for 24 hours.

Then vacuum the mattress or sofa all over especially in the folds and cracks.  Then use insecticides to kill the bugs.

Preventing Bed Bugs by Encasing Your Mattress and Box Spring.

You could encase both the mattress and box spring as a proactive measure.  As soon as you put the encasement on your bed any bed bugs trapped inside will eventually die, provided you do not unzip shortly after putting them on.  Some people encase their new beds as it prevents bugs from getting in and makes it easier to clean.

Bed bug covers can be purchased online and from most reputable retailers.  Make sure you are buying “bed bug specific” and that you cover both the mattress and box.

Many times people classify contemporary as a distinct style that doesn’t encompass other design styles. Commonly, and un-knowingly, they think furniture considered contemporary is something they are most likely to find in an upscale art gallery in New York city. What they fail to realize is that the word contemporary simply means “of the present time,” and this can encompass a broad range of designs.

“Artsy” furniture, the most common label for contemporary furniture, is likely to be found in urban locations and lofts. This furniture often has flare and is extremely simple. Furniture pieces in this category are not always adorned with straight lines, but typically showcase curved lines to give them a unique look and shape. Leather and microfibers are usually the upholstery of choice in this case.

If you are looking to stay within the contemporary style but want more of a straight lined look, then look for pieces that are of Danish or Scandinavian design. Contemporary Scandinavian designers often use straight lines in their designs and leave their pieces unadorned and crafted of walnut and teak. Sometimes their pieces will have gentle curves, but these will not be at a premium.

Finally, minimalist styled furniture takes the contemporary look to the extreme and is known for its use of straight lines. The Minimalist approach was inspired by Bauhaus design and puts emphasis on free space, functionality, and economical design. You won’t find a lot of furniture in a minimalistic room. Instead, you will find one of two pieces accompanied by a lot of space.

Whether its straight lined or curvy lines, minimalistic or urban, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of contemporary furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the modern style you are looking for!

Keep it clean and simple

Today’s current fad is a contemporary style. The modern-and-chic look is one of simplicity, where only a few items are used to bring life to the room. Use colors sparingly in this instance, and stay away from over-using pastels. Go with a calm color for the walls.  This will allow for wall murals or cozy rugs to stand out more, adding style to the room.

Avoid hazards you can see

Keeping the room safe doesn’t just mean ensuring the edges of furniture pieces are rounded and protectors are in the plugs. You have to protect your little one from things that cannot be seen. This means staying away from synthetic materials that give off formaldehyde gas. Items like press board and plastics are the culprits in this case. Instead, choose furniture made out of natural wood that is not finished. It’s pretty much guaranteed that during your baby’s gumming stage, s/he will come in contact with the crib or other pieces of furniture. Be sure to stay away from painted or stained materials for their safety as well.

Natural Baby Bedding

Toxins can also be found in bedding. Your baby’s skin will be in contact with nursery bedding for many hours each day. A baby’s skin is very sensitive in the early years, so it’s important to keep their skin safe from substances that cause irritation. Choose natural fabrics like cotton instead of synthetics. This also goes for crib bumpers, pillow inserts, covers and changing pads.

Safe walls for little hands

On the theme of non-toxic products, it’s important that the walls of the room are safe from any artificial materials. If you’re choosing wallpaper for the room, look to have it professionally installed with non-toxic wallpaper paste. If you choose to paint, zero-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) is your best bet here and can be customized to match almost any color you need.

When designing a safe and hazard free nursery for your new arrival, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of children furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your baby’s nursery is a safe place to be!

Plan for the long term

Your focus when planning for longevity needs to be solely on the furniture pieces. This is where designing a room time-and-time again can become very costly.  Kids are very hard on furniture. That’s a fact. Buying quality, well-built pieces is vital here. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank and buy the absolute best. But look at the manufacturer’s warranty and take it into consideration when deciding what to buy. Also, heavier woods are sturdier and will last longer, but can be more expensive. Woods like pine are not as high quality, but will save you money.

Stay with the traditional

With the amount of TV and movies your children are exposed too, it’s hard to say what characters or themes they will like from one day to the next.  So when your child decides it’s time for a new style in their room, simply change the wall hangings or the painting scheme. This is something that can be inexpensive and easy to change. Kids outgrow themes on a daily basis, so if you purchase a new bed with every theme, plan for a lot of spending.

The sooner, the better

When designing for a nursery, stay away from gender specific colors like pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Thinking long term means using neutral shades for paints, and then adding bolder colors to the accent pieces. Accent pieces can be changed down the road and are fairly inexpensive.

Wall stickers are also a great way to decorate. They peel off very easily and are inexpensive as well.

Finally, multi-stage pieces will also help when planning for the longevity of the room. For instance, cribs that convert into toddler beds will last for years and serve a multi-purpose.  As will a six-drawer dresser with a changer on top instead of just a changing table.

When designing your child’s room for longevity, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you know your child’s furniture will last a lifetime!

1. Maximize the sense of space by painting the room in a pale color. White, beige and cream are just a few examples.
2. Use ceramic or wood flooring that runs in a diagonal pattern. Diagonal lines appear longer than lines running perpendicular or parallel.
3. Get rid of the headboard and footboard. Headboards and footboards push the bed off the wall and take up space.
4. Use a metal mattress frame and keep the bed close to the floor. Large frames give the sense of a large mass and appear bulky.
5. Sleep sofas or a nice futon can be great for utilizing space. Couch during the day … bed at night.
6. Don’t use too much furniture. Excess furniture can choke a room and its traffic pattern. A bed, nightstand and a dresser is all your room needs.
7. Storage pieces that rise vertically, like a highboy, are better than pieces that jet out horizontally.
8. Minimize the use of patterns in things such as rugs, curtains and wallpaper. Patterns such as polka dots, flowers, stripes and plaids can really fill up a room and take away the sense of space.
9. Refrain from placing a large amount of pictures on the wall. Many designers state that one wall should be left bare to give the psyche a chance to relax.

Designing for a smaller bedroom can be very simple, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those ideal bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection that will give your bedroom never-ending space!