But what exactly is meant when refereeing to a country or cottage-styled home?

Continuing with our design style theme, we will explore the different types of country and cottage designs, and how these styles are represented in homes across the U.S.

If you have ever visited  a home on the Great Lakes, then you probably know what a Classic Costal design is. Designed to look like a beach house, homes that are designed with a Costal look will embrace a relaxed approach and display nautical themes.

However, there are different variations to a Costal theme. Gulf Coast styles bring together Art Deco and vibrant colors, with wicker and rattan, sending you back in time to the ‘50s. Done correctly, Gulf Coast styled homes can be a very cool place to live or visit. Pacific Coast designed homes tend to be influenced heavily by Asian influence, and will be decorated in deep finishes with very comfortable fabrics.  Similar to the Classic Costal look, Atlantic Seaboard designed homes have louvers and shutters with a color palette similar to that of lighthouses.

Emphasized by natural woods with deep finishes, Americana style homes are very simple when it comes to ornamentation but tend to have a very patriotic feel. Fabrics are muted colors and are adorned with starts and stripes. This style of home can be a perfect place to spend a Fourth of July or other patriotic holiday.

On the other hand, a Cottage-styled home typically has lots of wicker or iron pieces of furniture and gets its style from the natural surroundings that encompasses it. Cotton and linen fabrics found in the home will have a floral or checkered pattern giving the home an almost country like feel.

Finally, Rustic and Lodge styled homes are designed with a rugged approach but still offer the advantage of relaxation. Earth tones are predominant here, while exposed wood in very light finishes are adorned with Native American artwork, wood carvings and natured inspired accessories. Fabrics that line the beds and couches will usually have a hand-woven feel.

Whether its Rustic, Classic Coastal, or Country styled homes, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their immense selection of cottage styled furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and give your home the vacation style feel you have been looking for!

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!

If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonlywill be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.
Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely built with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed in deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.

When looking to give your room a traditional look that will last for centuries, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!

Wabi-Sabi

Reclaimed wood is one of the most popular trends in green design.  The reshaping of recycled wood falls under the Japanese art form, Wabi-Sabi, an art devoted to finding beauty in imperfection.  This new spin on an old design philosophy presents both contemporary and traditional items that are sure to brighten any space.

Paint it “Green”

The green movement no longer only applies to the construction of furniture.  Now, the green movement extends from your floor to the ceiling, literally.  New chemical-free paints – which contain no volatile organic compounds – make spicing up your interior an eco-friendly exercise.  Today, chemical-free interior paint has expanded from only a few shades to the entire spectrum of the rainbow and beyond.  You can paint your rooms and feel good about your effort to reduce the damage inflicted on mother nature.

LED is a Y-E-S

While compact fluorescent lighting is a better choice for the environment than the old incandescent bulb, it gives off a drab, bluish glow.  Fluorescent bulbs used to be the only environmentally sound choice, but now a brighter option is in the making.  New LED bulbs, made in the same shape and size as incandescent bulbs, will soon hit the market.  They give off a brighter, more natural light than incandescent lights while offering much more durability than the older models.

When giving your room an eco-friendly boost, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those eco-friendly furniture pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can enjoy the environment all the time.

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!

Avoiding Color

Don’t be afraid to experiment when painting your walls even though many believe the myth that bold colors negatively affect your home’s resale value.  Use colors that thoroughly express your tastes and personality instead of slapping on a coat of beige to “make the room look bigger.”

If you are reluctant to paint your rooms in bright colors, just try the accent effect where you only make one or two of the walls stand out while keeping the others more conservative.

Weak Windows

Window treatments are an easy, cost-efficient way to really put a good touch on a room, but many times, the curtain frame is hung too low or the curtains do not fit the window.  This either makes the ceiling look low or the curtains appear cheap.

Six inches to one foot above the window molding is the best range to hang your curtains.  This allows more light into the room and it makes ceilings look taller.  Also, curtains should hang from the curtain rod to the floor.

Floating Rugs

A rug should either be large enough to provide a surface for all of the furniture to rest on or the right size for the furniture to perfectly frame it.  Rugs that are too small for a room end up creating an island that really breaks up the design and the scheme of the furniture.

Accessory Overload

Accessories should be nothing more than small additions.  They are not meant to control their settings.  Crowding your tables with frames, candles, and vases is overkill.

Display your accessories so that your favorite pieces receive the most attention from visitors.  You can even keep these items in a rotation so that you can always add something new to the room.

Poor-Fitting Furniture

There should be three feet, if not more, separating larger pieces like sofas from the rest of the furniture so that people can easily pass through the room.  On top of that, try not to fill big spaces with little pieces since it really disturbs the flow of your décor.

When protecting yourself against design follies, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their vast selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can have the ultimate decor for your home!

At one time or another it has happened to all of us, but the great thing is it doesn’t have to anymore! When working with limited space, finding a way to set up your bedroom can be very tricky. The following steps will help you not only add more comfort and style to your bedroom, but it will save you from mornings filled will toe throbbing pain:

1. Sketch the layout of your bedroom on a piece of paper. Include measurements and placement of all radiators, doors, and windows.
2. Get the measurements of all your furniture. You can either write it down or if you are creative enough, make cutouts of each furniture piece.
3. Place the cutouts on the paper and move them around until you get the desired layout you want. Make sure the spacing between furniture pieces is big enough, giving you the peace of mind knowing that you won’t be bumping into anything when you wake up.
4. Make sure your room is clutter free! Clearing out clutter from the corners of the room will give you better energy flow. Exposed electrical equipment emits electromagnetic waves, which can hinder a peaceful night of sleep. Instead, hide wires from electrical equipment in units with doors.

When designing the perfect layout for your bedroom, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those perfect bedroom pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so you can start your mornings off pain free!

Take into consideration the things that make you feel at ease when staying the night in an unfamiliar place.  This is the most important factor to focus on when creating a perfect guest room. It will also give them a warm and comfy feeling knowing their comfort was thought of when you invited them to stay the night in your home.

1. Keep it clutter free. Remove any furniture that might give the room a cluttered feel. Guests will feel more at home if they feel they have enough room to move around in.
2. Don’t furnish the room by placing all your unwanted furniture in there. This too can make a room feel cluttered and seem very thoughtless to your guests.
3. Give the bed all the comfort you would want if you were sleeping on it. Provide extra pillows and don’t skimp on the linens. A thick duvet isn’t a bad idea either.
4. Provide a nightstand next to the bed. This could be a great place for a lamp for reading purposes. Placing a bowl of candy, magazines, or books there is also a great way to make them feel wanted.
5. Hang a mirror on the wall so they have a place to freshen up.
6. A clock radio, wastebasket, iron and ironing board, and Kleenex are also something that should be provided.

When providing your dearest friends with a home away from home guest room, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to find the perfect pieces of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection that will give your guest a home like experience.

The days of matchy-matchy dining rooms are finished! Today’s furniture buyers want to reflect their families’ personality by mixing and matching different pieces to create a unique dining experience. All the dining room furniture you buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee should be something you love that is a reflection of your home and personality.

When combining different styles of furniture for your dining room, the first thing you need to consider is the table, the centerpiece of any eating experience.  Because of this, the rest of the design will play off of this focal point. Tables with darker finishes tend to be used for formal settings while lighter finishes and glass or stone tops lend a casual feel. If you plan on using the dining room for every meal, a glass top table is also easy to clean and maintain.

Next, consider the chairs. Even in a formal dining room setting the chairs don’t have to be identical. Wood, leather, upholstered, and even metal are just a few of the different styles of chairs from which you can choose.  And when mixed and matched, these varying choices can add a style all of their own to any dining room. Mix and match back styles, use different styles for the side and arm chairs, apply coordinating fabrics to add some excitement to your seating. Side chairs can also be placed throughout the dining room for a unique look.

Finally, the serving pieces can be constructed from different materials than your table and chairs. Painted sideboards, china cabinets, and buffet tables will give them an eccentric one-of-a-kind look and add an interesting style to your dining room. Finish the table off with a centerpiece that matches the color or style of your curtains and there you have it–a dining room that is a reflection of you.

When giving your dining room a personality that matches your family, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and get those just right dining room pieces from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and start enjoying your dining experiences today!

Whether you are buying a new desk or chair, knowing what to look for can be the difference between enjoyable working area or a painful one.   Follow this guideline for buying office furniture from purchased from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee and set up your perfect office today!

1. First, always measure the area you are going to set up as your office before you go out to buy. Knowing these measurements will help you decide what furniture you can purchase for your home office.
2. Comfort and functionality always trumps looks. You are going to be spending hours at this desk so make sure it is the right height and size for you. Larger desks does not always mean better. Find something you can sit at comfortably.
3. Think about the materials the desk is constructed out of. Always look for durability. Metal desk are known to hold up longer than wood desks. This is great especially if you have young kids. Wood desks can sometimes be more executive looking, but can get banged up and chipped. Also metal desks are much more easy to clean.
4. Set a budget. Knowing your limit will help you decide what you can and can’t afford. This budget will help you avoid impulse buying.
5. Pick a chair that is comfortable, adjustable, and can roll easily on all different types of floor coverings.  The chair is the most important thing you are going to buy. You will be sitting in this chair for hours so do not skimp on this purchase. A little pain in your wallet will be far less than that great pain in your back.
6. Finally, research. Go online and do some research to see what stores have what offers. This will save you a ton of time and allow you to make great purchases.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.