Design Recipe: 10 Ingredients for a Festive Holiday Table

Creating a festive holiday table is easier than you think. Here are 10 must-haves to keep in mind while decorating for your next gathering.

1. Fabrics

Add a touch of elegance to your holiday table with fabrics. Tablecloths, fabric napkins, seat cushions, ribbons and slipcovers soften the hard edges of wood furniture and give your everyday dining set a luxurious feel.

2. Mix and Match Dishes

Create an eclectic look by mix and matching your dinnerware. Combine casual pieces with more formal sets. Short on inventory? Visit your local thrift store for unique pieces and be creative!

3. Creative Centerpieces

Centerpieces need not be complicated. A bowl of oranges, a vase of grocery store blooms, your favorite glass ornaments or even your mother’s reindeer figurine are all good choices. Combine different items to create an interesting tablescape. Remember to keep centerpieces low to allow conversations to flow across the table.

4. Candlelight

Adding candles to your table setting is always a good idea. The glimmering light is beautiful day or night, and its very presence elevates the sophistication of any gathering. Combine votives, tapers and pillars for interest.

5. Additional Seating

If your everyday dining set won’t accommodate your guests, dust off your table’s leaf and add a rustic bench or upholstered chairs from other areas of your home. Remember, more is definitely merrier during the Holidays!

6. Place setting

At a holiday table, each place setting deserves a little extra attention. Layer placemats and chargers with different sized plates and bowls for texture and interest. Be creative with your silverware placement. Include small candles at each setting along with fabric napkins with napkin holders for a special touch.

7. Favors

photo from partycity.com

Add some fun to your table by including a little something your guests can take home with them. Favorites include mini presents, candies, small plants or hand painted ornaments.

8. Area rug

If you don’t normally have an area rug underfoot, consider purchasing one or borrowing from another room. Area rugs will add color and comfort while creating a feeling of coziness.

9. Color

Think beyond traditional red and green. Choosing colors that complement your home’s decor and furnishings will give your table a sophisticated feel while bright, contrasting colors add a sense of excitement and whimsy. 

10.  Interest Overhead

Don’t forget to look up when decorating your holiday table. Drape greenery, garlands, ribbons or ornaments from your chandelier to bring your guests’ eyes up and create even more holiday coziness.

*all photos, unless otherwise noted, were taken from pinterest.com

September Customer Appreciation Sale

Hennen Furniture is proud to be voted the number one furniture store in the 2015 Central Minnesota’s Best Of. We would like to say thank you with our September Customer Appreciation Sale, going on now!

Big Savings Throughout the Store
You’ll find big savings in every department – up to 30% to 50% storewide. Take an extra 10% off all Sealy Posturpedic sets. We’ll even pay your sales tax! 

Thank You

The Hennen family has helped make furnishing your home easy and affordable since 1967. You’ve welcomed us into your homes just as we’ve welcomed you into our stores.

Your patronage has helped Hennen Furniture stay strong and family-owned, right here in Central Minnesota. 

Because of you we’ve grown from one little store in St. Cloud to 170 employees and three locations, including Willmar and Alexandria.

Our Promise

Bob Hennen gave us our start. He founded the business on hard work, honesty, family, fairness and doing what’s right. We promise to always hold onto these values as we continue to provide exceptional customer service to your family.

With three stores to choose from, we have the largest selection of quality brand furniture in Central Minnesota. Our everyday low pricing makes it easy to find what you are looking for – any style and for every budget.

From our family to yours, thank you for making Hennen’s number one in Central Minnesota!

Celebrating 47 Years with Your Family and Ours

Forty-seven years ago, Bob Hennen opened a small furniture store near Crossroads Shopping Mall. He admits that at the time he didn’t know much about running a business, but he did know a lot about hard work, honesty, family, fairness, and keeping his word. Much has changed through the years, but we still believe in the values that made Bob’s little furniture store a success.

Today, Hennen’s Furniture has grown from that one small store into a thriving, second generation family business. We now have three stores located in St. Cloud, Willmar, and Alexandria with more than 170 employees. We are proud to offer the largest selection of furniture in Central Minnesota with the best prices on all your favorite brand name furniture, including Flexsteel, Lane, Sealy, and Tempur-Pedic.

At Hennen’s Furniture, we always want to make sure we carry on Bob’s tradition of great customer service. For example, no one likes to be hounded by a sales rep while shopping, so at Hennen’s you will only find non-commission sales reps. Look. Shop. Have fun! And when you have questions, one of our sales reps will be happy to help you. Our goal is to make furnishing your home easy and affordable. To help better serve our customers, we also offer complementary in-home design consulting.

To thank all of our customers who have made the last 47 years possible, we are offering special anniversary sale prices. Now through Easter you’ll find huge savings throughout every department – up to 60% off – including*:

•        10% off your purchase
•        12-months special interest financing.
•        Free delivery on purchases $799 or more.
•        Our patio store is now open with 15% off all patio sets

You’ll also have a chance to win a leather recliner from Flexsteel. Stop in at any one of our three locations to register*.

We have enjoyed serving your family and helping you furnish your home. Thank you for your patronage! We look forward to serving you in the years to come.

From your friends at Hennen’s Furniture.

*See store for details, some exclusions apply.

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Leather Furniture

The classic look and feel of leather will never go out of style and is a great choice for any home. But many homeowners shy away from purchasing leather furniture for reasons that are simply not true.

It’s time to break through the myths and give leather furniture a good long look. Here are six things we bet you didn’t know about leather furniture.

1. Leather furniture is a great choice for families with young children or pets.

Quality leather furniture is far from delicate and will wear better and last longer than fabric covered furniture, making it an excellent choice for all types of families. Genuine leather wears like iron, growing richer and more supple over time. Look for genuine leather if you know your furniture will see a lot of hard use. 

Real leather wears so well that in many cases the leather will outlast the padding underneath. To extend the life of your leather furniture, choose pieces with removable cushion covers whenever possible, so the padding can be replaced when needed.

2. Genuine leather furniture is a smart investment.

While genuine leather furniture will cost more initially, it will last 3 to 4 times longer than fabric covered furniture. And since the look of leather never goes out of style, the leather couch or chair you buy today could easily be passed down to the next generation.

3. The price of leather furniture is based on the method used to dye the leather.

The quality and ultimately the price of leather furniture is based on the method used to dye the leather. Pigmented leather is the most economical option. The dye is applied directly to the surface of the leather along with a protective coating. While the end result looks great and is budget friendly, the leather will not have the buttery soft feeling that most people expect from quality leather furniture.

High quality leather furniture uses a process called dyed in the drum. In this process, the color permeates the entire piece of leather for a lasting finish. Sometimes an aniline coating is added as a protective sealant to prevent staining, but this can make the leather stiff. Leather left untreated is the best choice if you want your furniture to have a buttery soft texture.

4. Caring for leather furniture is easier than you think.

It is true that leather furniture requires slightly different care than fabric furniture, but it is not as difficult as you might think – no more complicated than following the care instructions for cleaning your flat screen television.

To keep your leather furniture looking its best, wipe it down regularly with a soft dry cloth to remove dust. You can use a regular vacuum to remove dust and debris from crevices just as you would any other piece of furniture. You should also apply a leather conditioner once every 6 – 12 months. This will keep the leather soft and supple and will prevent it from drying and developing cracks.

If you have a spill, clean it up with a dry cloth. You may use water for sticky spills, but use it sparingly. You should never use household cleaning products on leather furniture.

5. Leather is comfortable and cozy year round.

Leather is not cold in the winter, or hot and sticky in the summer. Genuine leather is a natural material, which means it breathes. Worried leather will not be cozy enough in the winter? Leather can actually absorb your body heat in 12 seconds, so you will be warm and cozy no matter what the temperature is outside.

6. Leather can heal itself.

Sometimes leather can develop minor surface scratches, but unlike wood these scratches can be buffed out using a microfiber cloth and a leather conditioner. Leather is a natural material, so with a little extra care these scratches will heal over time.

All the brands

Hennen Furniture offers all your favorite and high-end leather furniture brands. Whether you are looking for leather recliners or sectional couches or a new desk chair for your home or office, we are sure to have what you want in stock with many styles and colors to choose from. Visit Hennen Furniture today and take a look at leather.

Preparing Your Home For A Holiday Celebration

The holiday season is a time to be thankful and gather with friends and family. When trying to make time to spend with all of your loved ones, your home can become crowded with decorations and guests. With the season right around the corner, it is important to plan ahead for your celebrations and make sure you make the most of your space.

Add Additional Seating

There are many ways to add seating to your home without spending a ton of money. By adding cushions to the floor, your younger guest will be able to find a seat anywhere in the room, without sitting directly on the ground. Keeping folding chairs in a closet is a great way to add seating when you need it. You can take out one chair at a time, or set all of them out for your guests. Sneaking seating can also be added and pulled out when needed!

Set Up A Buffet Table

Food is an important part of any gathering. It is common to place all of the food on the dining room table and pass each dish around. To create more seating and avoid clutter on the the table, set up your food buffet style and allow guests to create their own plate before taking their seat. By having a buffet table, you avoid having to reach over other people for food and no longer risk spilling food or breaking dishes. For more styles of tables, check out the selection at Hennen!

Always Have Extras

As a host, you will never know when someone is going to invite their significant other or bring a friend from out of town. Always plan ahead when it comes to the amount of food you will provide. It is also nice to have small gifts on hand so there isn’t anyone left without a gift to open. Gift cards or a bottle of wine are always good options. If there are no additional guests, they can always be used later on or for personal use. You can also purchase e-giftcards and print them out from home!

By following these tips, you will be prepared for the holiday chaos and be able to spend more of your time with your family and friends, enjoying your celebration!

Do you have any other rituals you do to prepare for the holidays? If so, share with us with a comment below!