Friday 28 August 2015

HOMEWORK STATION TIPS

by Greeley Gallery Furniture




With school in and the kids hitting the books, you’ll be asking, “Do you have homework?” If they do, you’ll need a game plan for after school studying. Here are some tips on how to get started on a homework station that fulfills your kids’ needs.

Pick the right spot
Choose a location in the home for work and study. It needs to be a quiet escape. Ideally, it could be their room, but a den, basement office, attic office or even a secluded kitchen nook all can serve the purpose handily. Ask your kids what their ideas of a perfect homework station are and incorporate as many of them as possible. This will help get their buy-in so they’ll use it more often. Include favorite colors and posters, as well as educational items like maps, globes, books, art supplies, computers, printers, chalkboards/dry erase boards and calendars.



Get it together for comfort
Clean up the clutter. Remove toys and items they’ve outgrown. Paint the study area their favorite color. Up comfort levels by putting down an area rug. Get cushiony chairs with ergonomic features. An afghan rack with throws is another great idea, so they can keep warm during long winter nights. Lighting is very important, too. Use floor lamps, pendant lights and desk lamps to illuminate the area. These help prevent eyestrain and headaches.




Set the scene with a desk. The bigger the better―kids need lots of room to work. Add bookshelves, file cabinets and storage bins for keeping all supplies organized and within reach. Decorate the walls. Include a wall clock, decorative canvas prints and a corkboard for pinning A+ work, photos and more. You can accent the work surface with a desk clock, photo frame and a favorite souvenir.



What’s next?

Once the homework station is ready, turn your focus to the next project―an area where you can keep organized. Get a desk and a comfortable chair. Wrap around desks are ideal because they give you more room to work. Don't forget to get a file cabinet. It's the perfect spot for keeping important papers and supplies you'll need to access throughout the school year.



Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  Ashley Furniture 

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Back To School Ideas

by Greeley Gallery Furniture




Back-to-school is for many of us synonym of supplies, lunch, home works, mess and lunch again! When this time of the year is coming, we start to stress, to be tense and we are trying to be organized (which is not that easy sometimes!). Here are some organizing tips to help everyone being more relaxed at the back-to-school:

Make a space for children’s backpacks
In the lobby or anywhere else, take time to make an exclusive space to put the backpacks when child come back from school. It could be a storage bench, a wall shelf with hooks, a big basket or a large storage box.

Create a study area
To facilitate the productivity and reduce the homework time a study area is a must. Ideally, it should be a quiet place without any source of distraction like TV, video games, tablets, cell phone or any toy. The room could be filled with bookcases, a bench and/or chair, a work desk and maybe comfortable furniture where to read and study like a small sofa or a recliner.



Prepare in advance
To save time and avoid stress in the morning, preparing in advance is a good thing! The day before or even during the week-end, we can prepare lunches, sport clothes and organize backpacks for the upcoming week.



Choose outfits the night before
If we are still lacking time in the morning, choosing the outfits the night before could make the difference!


Content provided by: +Tailbase 

Thursday 20 August 2015

DIY GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS

by Greeley Gallery Furniture




Your sink cabinets are jammed with virtually every foam, spray and spritz cleaner on the market. And yet, you’re not satisfied with the results.

Time to get back to basics.

Wonderfully multipurpose, natural cleaning agents (e.g., baking soda) cost pennies on the dollar compared to brand-name products—and they work just as well (if not better).

There are endless possibilities for a green clean. Here are our five favorites:

Dispose of Odors.
Garbage disposal smelling like, well, garbage? Pour a half cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar down the drain. Boil a kettle of water and pour boiling water down as well. Then add two cups of ice and one cup of rock salt to the drain. Run through the disposal. Lastly, cut a lime or lemon in half, and run both halves one by one through the disposal.



Unclog Drains Naturally.
While they might get the job done, products like Drano are terrible for the environment and dangerous in contact with your skin. A natural alternative: Pour ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar down the drain. Let sit for at least 25 minutes. Pour in 2 quarts boiled water. The fizz you hear is the baking soda and vinegar working magic. If the water is still sitting in the sink, plunge it down to reveal your clean-as-a-whistle drain.



Nip Those Fleas.
Got pets? Then you know too well the dog days of summer can mean one thing: pesky fleas. Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax powder on your rugs/carpets and other areas where fleas may fest, such as a cat climber. Use a stiff brush to work the Borax into the rug/carpet. Let the Borax sit at least six hours (overnight is even better). Vacuum thoroughly. (A ½ cup of Borax powder will give your laundry detergent a power boost, too.)




Make That Stainless Steel Sink Sparkle.
Pour undiluted white vinegar—a gentle but powerful disinfectant—into a spray bottle. Rinse sink with water. Sprinkle baking soda over wet surface. Scrub with a soft-to-medium brush. Spray vinegar over remaining residue. That fizzing sound is cleaning in action. Rinse sink thoroughly. For even more shine, buff with a bit of olive oil, using a soft, dry cotton cloth.



Polish to Perfection.

Spare your finished wood furnishings that furniture spray buildup with this smart solution: Using a funnel, pour 2 tbsp. olive oil, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and ¼ tsp. lemon oil (or fresh lemon juice) into a spray bottle. Shake well then spritz onto microfiber cloth and rub in evenly in the direction of the grain. Remove excess polish with a clean, dry cloth and behold the beauty of your like-new furniture.




Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  Ashley Furniture 

Tuesday 18 August 2015

Home Decor: Trends For Fall 2015

by Greeley Gallery Furniture




As the cold gusts of wind hit and temperatures drop, we know a new season has begun. Not to worry! Chase away the cold with a cozy decor that warms the soul.


Go Bold

Nothing says fall like bold colors. From emerald green and tangerine to canary yellow and deep berry; pick hues that depict the perfect autumn-inspired color-palette. Despite being bold, these colors are also suggestive of comfort and hearth, which will wrap your home in a soothing blanket of warmth.  There really is no need to purchase new furniture to keep up with current trends. You can simply introduce fall colors in small doses with accent such as decorative pillows, throws, rugs, ottoman and accent chairs. This is an easy and cost-effective solution.



Add Texture
Although color has a significant impact on fall trends, texture is also all the rage this season. Don’t be afraid to mix different textures, as it will be easy on the eyes and exciting to touch. Try pairing opposite textures such as a smooth and supple leather sofa with tweed pillows. Also, combine a fluffy down comforter with a tightly woven area rug. The idea is to create contrast both visually and to touch.




Introduce Glamour
A glamorous aesthetic is not about oozing with fancy. Forget about floor-to-ceiling rhinestones, mirrors and metallic! In fact, if you are aiming for a chic look this fall, understated elegance is your friend. How can you achieve this look without going over the top you might ask? Think button-tufted headboards, breakfront dressers and metallic picture frames. You can also attain an upscale look with the use of modern furnishings – their clean lines make them intrinsically elegant.



Break Out Your Fall Decor!
Last but not least, pulling out your fall decor is an irrefutable way to keep your home cozy and spark that holiday mood.  Keep it simple; include harvest colors and foliage. You can either buy or make your crafts with the use of pumpkins, candles, vases, leaves, fall vignettes, acorns, straw, baskets etc. Be creative and have fun with it!




Content provided by: +Tailbase