Basic Spring Cleaning Tips and the Fun After!

No need to fret if you have yet to begin your spring-cleaning. It’s a daunting task
that never seems to end and can take up a lot of time, but there is still plenty of time
to get it done, as spring doesn’t seem to want to show up yet, and staying inside to
clean seems more appealing than facing the confusing weather.

You have empty boxes, new cleaning supplies, and the “I think I can” train playing
over and over in your head, but you just don’t know where to start, though you’ve
done this numerous times before.

We aren’t here to tell you exactly what to clean, and the best technique to do so, we
just want you to follow these basic tips and reminders to help get you started and
make your spring cleaning as easy as possible, if possible.

Before:

• First thing’s first: make a plan! Make a list of every room and write down the
tasks you want to accomplish for each one; be as specific as possible!


• Give yourself time. Spring-cleaning is not just your every day tidy-up tasks;
it’s the real deal. If you want every square inch truly clean, you simply need
to give yourself time.

• Prepare yourself with all of the necessary supplies you’ll need. When you
have a good rhythm going, it’s not the best time to realize you’re out of paper
towels.

During:

• The best way to start is to de-clutter, but that doesn’t mean just moving
things to storage, it means any of these three things: keep, toss, or donate/
sell.

• Always clean from the top down, otherwise you will basically be doing each
task twice.

• Reorganize. What you don’t need is gone, and everything is squeaky clean, so
now is the time to rearrange and reorganize.

After:

• Sit back, relax, and enjoy your “new” home. You deserve it!

Visit www.hennenfurniture.com for any of your furniture and home décor needs.

Changing the Feel of Your Home With the Seasons

In Minnesota, the seasons are always changing. When the seasons do change, it’s the perfect excuse to change your home décor and the general feel of your home, as well. Rather than looking at the same colors, themes, and decorations all year-round, use these ideas on how you can bring the change in seasons inside your home.


Spring

•  Keep spring colors and accessories light, both in feel and color.
• Use flowers to add color, scent, and liveliness to the room. Flowers go hand-in-hand with spring, so displaying them inside will allow you to enjoy the season indoors, as well as outdoors. (Don’t be afraid to put them everywhere!)
• De-clutter. Rooms can fill up with extra blankets and things used when stuck indoors throughout the winter. You’ll want to bring airiness and freshness to each room for spring.
• Brighten up the room with lighter wall colors, brighter curtains, colorful throw pillows, and bright area rugs. Use both bright colors and pastels. 
• Play with patterns of all kinds, but especially floral.

Summer

• Hang string lights both indoors and outdoors to always be able to enjoy summer nights.
• Get creative with sand for fun centerpieces.
• Play with stripes and use them throughout the room, for example, for fabrics or on walls.
• Fruit baskets can make beautiful decorating pieces.
• Lighten dark furniture with lightly colored slipcovers.
• Use nautical décor and themes throughout a room.
• Don’t be afraid of bright, bold colors.
• Use light curtains, rather than drapery, and pair them with sheers.

Fall

• Mix neutral colors with warm tones, both on walls and throughout your décor.
• Get creative with pumpkins: put floral arrangements inside, layout different shapes and sizes, place candles inside, etc.
• Use mason jars for, well, just about anything.
• Start adding layers to your furniture as the crisp weather rolls in; for example: adding wool, cotton, chenille or cashmere throws over furniture.
• Accessorize with autumn’s hues and fall foliage. You can do this by creating arrangements using small trees, branches and colored leaves, or sprinkling autumn leaves over your mantel or any flat surfaces.
• And don’t forget the traditional cornucopia filled with fruit, vegetables, gourds or flowers!

Winter

• Create winter arrangements using pine greenery, pinecones, birch, bare branches, and bright-colored berries. This will also add a wonderful fragrance to your home.
• Vintage ice skates and old sleds make for the perfect vintage, winter décor piece.
• Use cool colors throughout your home, but don’t overdo it and increase your winter blues, so add pops of cheery color.
• Adding a fluffy area rug to your wood floors will add a cozy feel to the room.
• Add some sparkle to act as a beautiful snow dusting on flat surfaces, or as part of your centerpieces.
• Play up your fireplace mantel and make it the focal point of the room, since that is more than likely where a lot of your attention will be throughout the winter cold winter months.
• Candles and string lights will add a cozy feel and keep light in your home during those short winter days. 

Of course there are numerous different ways you can bring the seasons into your home, but these general ideas will be a good place to start.

Visit www.hennenfurniture.com to get the things you need to make these changes happen.

Furniture as an Investment, Rather Than an Expense

Saving money is always a plus, however, some things shouldn’t be purchased based on the lowest price tag. For example: furniture.

Think of it this way: would you rather buy a few cheap pieces that will quickly wear out? Or would you rather invest in high quality that will work and look great for years to come? In the end, it will probably have been cheaper to invest.

Sure, some pieces of furniture can be great finds at thrift shops, garage sales, and even on the side of the road with a “FREE” sign taped on, but there are three key pieces of furniture/furniture sets that should be treated as investments:

       1.  A sofa

A sofa is not only one of the first things people see when they walk into your home, but it is also a piece that gets used all the time by everyone, so quality should be priority. Generally, with the proper care, sofas should last about 10 to 15 years. Of course that timeframe depends on the amount of usage and how it’s used. 10-15 years is a very long time to own something that gets used every day, so it’s important to take that into consideration when making the decision to buy based on price tag, or quality and longevity.

       2.  Dining table and chairs

A dining set is another set of furniture that gets used every day by everyone. Often time they are also the first thing people see when they walk in, therefore, purchasing the set should be carefully thought out based on quality. Another important thing to keep in mind is that it needs to be durable and easy to clean, as there will be spills, scratches, and other inevitable accidents.

        3.    A mattress

Paying more for a quality mattress should be a no-brainer because a quality mattress can improve both your physical and mental health. Though your mattress may not be seen or used by everyone, unlike the dining set and sofa, it’s used by you every day/night and should meet all of your physical needs. On average, your mattress should last anywhere between 8 to 10 years, again, depending on many elements that can increase or decrease the longevity of it, so treating it as an investment will pay off in the long run and benefit you in many ways.

So start saving up your money so you can get the quality furniture from Hennen Furniture that you deserve!

Radiant Orchid: Pantone's Color Of The Year

We are just weeks away from 2014, and what better way to bring in the New Year than decorating with the trendiest color of 2014? The Pantone color of the year 2014 is Radiant Orchid and it will definitely start your year off vibrantly! The color is a mix of fuchsia, pink, and purple. The decorating possibilities are endless, but it depends on your decorating style. Whether you like to make a bold statement, or just a pop of color here and there, here are ways to design for your style:

Bold Statement

If you’re looking to bring in the New Year making and bold and vibrant statement, consider using Radiant Orchid as the focal point in any room. For the living room, try painting one wall Radiant Orchid and the rest a neutral color, such as gray or tan. Maybe add a few Radiant Orchid throw pillows or rugs as well! For your bedroom, go all out and have Radiant Orchid on the walls, the bedspread, the pillows, and the rug! When mixed with a few neutral colors, Radiant Orchid won’t be overdone. 

Pop of Color

If you’re looking for more of a subtle look, bringing in Radiant Orchid will be the perfect pop of color for any room! For the living room, keep the walls neutral and add the Radiant Orchid to your pillows, blankets, lampshades, or rugs.  For your bedroom, keep the Radiant Orchid to your bedspread or rug only. Painting the walls a light or dark shade of gray will make your room trendy! For the dining room, leave the Radiant Orchid color to the chair upholstery, table centerpiece, or place mats.

Radiant Orchid is sure to make a statement, whether bold or subtle, in your home in 2014. Utilizing this color will add a trendy touch to your home as well. For accent furniture to pair with Pantone’s color of 2014, check out our website!

How To Arrange Your Furniture For A Holiday Gathering

The Holiday season is only weeks away and a lot of time will be spent with friends and family! Making everyone feel comfortable is more than just good food and good company, it can also depend on the layout of your furniture. Here are three different ways to arrange your furniture for the type of Holiday gathering you’re planning to have:

Lots of Friends and Family

If you’re having a large gathering, it would be best to arrange your furniture in an open and spacious way. Try not to have furniture or large coffee tables in the middle of the room and keep your sofas and chairs close to the wall. Also, try to make sure you have plenty of seating so everyone can feel comfortable! This layout will make everyone feel involved and welcomed!

A Mix of Adults and Children 

If there will be an almost equal amount of children and adults at your gathering, it would be best to create spaces with your furniture. Place your sofas and chairs in the middle of the room and create mini living rooms. Maybe have a coffee table and a comfy area rug for the children to color or play games on. You could place this play area on a different end of the living room. This will give the adults and children more privacy without being completely separated. 

A Small Gathering

If you are planning on having just a few friends and family members, it will be best to create a small and intimate space. To do this, you can place your furniture close together and across from one another. Try mixing the sizes of your furniture and have a large sofa and a few small chairs or vice versa. This layout allows for conversation and intimacy and having different sizes of furniture will still give people space if they need it. 

Whether you are having a large or small gathering, you can create a comfortable impression and feeling with the layout of your furniture. Your Holiday gathering will be a success! To find the perfect furniture for your gathering and layout, visit our website or stop by one of our three locations!


photo credit

Sit Back, Relax and Watch The Football Game On Your New Furniture

There are still twelve weeks left in the regular NFL season so why not enjoy those twelve weeks relaxing in comfort watching your favorite football teams? Some football fans prefer to lounge while enjoying the game, while others like to make a party out of Sunday and Monday night football. For either preference, having the right furniture can make or break the relaxation and quality of your football-watching experience.

For a recliner or a reclining sofa, there are certain qualities that make it a great piece of furniture to make watching football even better! Here are the top 3 qualities:

1. Comfort

If you enjoy lounging while watching football, a comfortable recliner would be the best option for you. You wouldn’t have to share the space with anyone else and you are able to fully relax. Aspects of a recliner that make it comfortable can vary from person-to-person, however, most of the time, padded cushions make the most comfortable recliners. Another aspect that makes a recliner comfortable is the angle of how far back it reclines. You don’t want it to recline too far that you won’t be able to see the game, but you also want it to lean far enough back that you are able to relax.

2. Size

For those who like to watch football with a group of people, a large reclining sofa is the best option. A large sofa gives enough room for multiple people to sit down comfortably. Also, in that group, there may be someone who enjoys lounging, who would benefit from the recliner in the sofa. With a large sofa, your guests will be able to comfortably watch the game and enjoy the company.


3. Material

The material of your recliner or sofa is important depending on how you spend your time watching football. If you like to lounge, the material is not as important of an aspect. If you like to watch football in large groups, the easiest material would be leather. The reason for this is because leather is an easier cleanup. Usually, football game gatherings involve a lot of food, beverages, and sometimes spills. Having leather furniture will make those spills easy to clean and the only thing you will have to worry about is cheering on your favorite team!

With these twelve weeks left in the regular season and these qualities in mind, come find the perfect recliner or reclining sofa at any of our three locations or online at http://www.hennenfurniture.com/ and cheer on your teams in comfort!

Fall 2013 and Winter 2014 Home Decorating Trends

With the changing seasons, it’s time to change your decorations! We want to help you create beautiful designs for your home so you can impress your guests for the Holiday festivities or you can relax in style and comfort when the weather cools down.  Whether you want to repaint your walls or just add seasonal accessories, here are the latest trends to make your home perfect for fall and winter!

Fall

Trending fall paint colors range from neutral to bright, perfect for any personality or style! Depending on the look you’re going for, certain colors set a different tone to each room. Here’s how:

Neutral Colors like grass-green, lettuce green, chocolate brown, rose dust, and oyster gray add elegance to any room and allow you to add a pop of color through your accessories such as throw pillows, lamp shades, or rugs! These colors are great for fall and bring a little bit of the outdoors into your home.

Bright colors such as golden yellow, coral, purple orchid, red, and teal are great colors for those who want a sophisticated and vibrant room! These colors, paired with neutral accessories set the tone for a modern home and add a little twist to the traditional fall colors.

Bringing the outdoor fall colors inside doesn’t mean you have to paint your walls.  You can stylishly decorate for fall using ideas such as:

• Pumpkins and gourds on your selves, fireplaces, or tables
• Cornhusk accents in the kitchen or on your tables
• Leaves made out of paper
• Framing the leaves from outside

Winter

Although winter hasn’t arrived yet, it’s always nice to plan ahead on your decorations!  One great trend Candle holders wrapped in the sleeve of an old sweater

• A rug made from strips of old sweaters
• A sweater lampshade
• Sweater napkin rings
• A sweater wreath

A second trend for winter is to add shimmer to your home.  Whether the shimmer is bold or subtle, it is the perfect way to add a touch of winter to your home. Add shimmer in these simple ways:

• Throw pillows
• Blankets
• Lamp Shades
• Vases
• Candles

Updating your home with the changing seasons can be as easy as recycling an old sweater or as bold as changing the color of your walls! No matter how you want to decorate your home for fall and winter we have products that will match the tone you want to set! Visit our website or come see us in stores to find the perfect furniture for your decorating needs!