5 Pieces of Furniture Every Bedroom Should Have

The bedroom is your sanctuary. It is your quiet place. It is your alone place. It is your sleeping place. Are you looking for a way to update your bedroom and improve your comfort? Purchasing bedroom furniture will kill the two birds with one stone. Nowadays, new bedroom furniture is extremely stylish. There is a style for every customer. Back in the day, no one shared their bedroom with guests. It is more common for your guests to see your bedroom now. For example, you just purchased a new house and your friends want a tour. Maybe your home is a one story rancher and you have to pass your bedroom on the way to the bathroom. Don’t neglect or forget about your bedroom. New bedroom furniture allows you to reinvent your space. You can make your bedroom your own personal retreat.

No matter what design or style you choose, there are five furniture pieces that should be incorporated in your bedroom space no matter what. Of course, you want to get the most for your money which is why here at Kensington Furniture we have a large variety and selection of bedroom sets. Let’s explore the five furniture pieces that every bedroom should have.

1. A MATTRESS. Why is a mattress important? Well, a mattress is the only thing that you utilize every single day for over 8 hours a night. We would say that is pretty important. Not only can your mattress provide you with a better night sleep, but it can also improve your overall health. You are going to spend over one third of your life asleep. When you select a mattress, make sure you take the size, support, construction and firmness into consideration before you buy!

2. A BED. Once you have the perfect mattress picked out, buying the bed frame itself is the next step. A bed normally takes up the most space in your room and is the focal point of the room. There are many different sizes of bed frames so choose the one that is right for you. Once you know the size you prefer, the style of the bed is next to consider. Choose a style that you know you will be happy with for a long time. You will be sleeping on it for many years to come!

3. A DRESSER. A dresser provides both storage and shelf space for your room. Make sure that your dresser is scaled to your room. You do not want to have a huge dresser in a small room. Dressers come in many shapes and sizes so take that into consideration before you buy. Do you need to save space? If so, go with a vertical dresser. If you want to spread out your furniture, a horizontal dresser might be better for your room. You can display your favorite picture frames, vases and other accent items on your dresser. It is a popular trend to use your dresser as a television stand if you do not have the room for an entertainment center in your bedroom. 

4. A NIGHTSTAND. Having a nightstand right next to your bed allows for easy-access storage. For example, when going to bed at night, many people have their alarm clock, cell phone and even a glass of water on their nightstand. You can also place a lamp on your nightstand if you like to read in bed. The recommended height for a nightstand is about the same height of the top of your mattress. If there is only one person sleeping, only one nightstand is needed. However, if there are two people, you might want to consider buying two nightstands, one for each side of the bed (one for each person). 

5. A MIRROR. This might seem silly, but if your significant other is taking too long in the bathroom in the morning, you are going to want (and need!) a mirror in your bedroom so that you can get ready for your day. You need a mirror to dress yourself in the morning and to fix your makeup (or fix your tie). Including a mirror to your bedroom design adds to the aesthetics of the room and it can even be used as an accent piece. 

What other furniture pieces are needed to complete your bedroom design? Comment below to join in on the conversation. 

How to Clean your Microfiber Sofa in 7 Easy Steps

We understand that accidents happen. At one time or another, everyone will experience a spill or stain in their living room. One of the greatest aspects to microfiber fabric is how easily it can be cleaned. If you have a spill on your microfiber sofa, follow the instructions below to ease the cleaning process!

1. Vacuum your sofa. Make sure you vacuum thoroughly to remove dust, loose debris and any food or loose coins. Use your vacuum extension for this step.

2. Scrub stains with a dry brush. Scrubbing the stains with a clean and dry brush will lift up any loose spills from the fabric.

3. Remove all of the cushions. Remove the back cushions, the seat cushions and any loose accent pillows. Vacuum and brush off all sides of the pillows, even if they haven’t seen daylight in years. You may need to use the backside of the cushion someday so make sure it stays neat and clean.

4. Check the tag for care instructions. On every sofa there will be a tag with care instructions listed on it. There are four codes that indicate what can be used to clean it. They are: W for a water-based cleaning solvent, S for a water-free solvent, S/W for either a water-based or water-free cleaning solvent or X for neither (this means that the fabric is vacuum only). If your sofa is labeled with an X under the care instructions, do not attempt to clean it with anything other than a vacuum. Cleaning solutions on a X care sofa can stain, spot or even shrink the fabric.

5. Find a cleaning solution. The care instructions will lead you in this step. For a good water-based cleaning solution, try gentle soap, mild dish detergent, upholstery shampoo or even carpet cleaner. For a water-free cleaning solution, use rubbing alcohol, clear alcohol (like vodka), dry-cleaning solution, lighter fluid or even baby wipes. Make sure that you test the solution before pouring it all over the sofa. Test it on an area on your sofa that won’t be seen by your guests just in case you choose the wrong cleaning solution.

6. If the area that you cleaned isn't drying quickly enough for your liking, you may use a blow dryer to speed up the drying process. Water-based solutions typically take longer to dry out.

7. Once the area is dry, use a dry brush to go over the area that you had just cleaned. This will wipe away any leftover debris and will also loosen up the fabric. Don’t forget to reassemble your sofa! Put all of the cushions back on and enjoy your brand new looking sofa!

Here are some additional tips that you can use for certain spills and messes.

- Rubbing alcohol will best remove ink stains and watermarks. Put a little bit of rubbing alcohol on a towel or soft washcloth and gently dab over the stain.

- To get wax off of your sofa, place a paper towel over it and quickly run a hot iron over it. This will lift up the wax so you can just scrape it off of your sofa.

- Got gum stuck on your sofa? Freeze the gum by placing an ice cube on top of it until it hardens. Once it is hard, peel it off.

- If your sofa is super smelly from overuse or your pets, apply water and baking soda to your sofa. Let it dry and then vacuum the smell up.

- If your sofa is super dirty and you don’t think you can clean it by hand, throw the removable W or S/W cover into the laundry machine. Make sure the laundry machine is set on a delicate cycle and use a gentle detergent.

- If you cannot find the care instruction tag on your sofa, call the manufacturer of the sofa or a professional cleaner. You do not want to damage your sofa.

Do you have any additional tips for cleaning upholstered sofas? Comment below to join our conversation!

The Sleepover Survival Guide For Parents

"Fun is good!" - Dr. Seuss 

The time has come. You are throwing your first sleepover for your child and his/her friends. You want to make sure everyone has a fun time and that they go home telling their parents how nice your house was, right?!

We have compiled a list of 7 tips to help you throw the best sleepover EVER.

Clean. Your home is already super clean, right? Having your child’s friends over means that their parents will be over to drop them off and pick them up. Making sure that your home looks great will make you feel better and will also impress your guests.

Furniture. What are the sleeping arrangements for the sleepover? Does your child have a bunk bed that their friends can stay on? There are many furniture stores like ours that sell awesome furniture for children. The beds come in all shapes and sizes and are perfect for sleepovers. Berg Furniture makes elaborate kids furniture. They even make a bunk bed that has three beds in it! If you don't have enough beds for everyone, make sure you have a lot of extra pillows and blankets!

Food. Stock up on healthy snacks but also include some common junk food. You don’t want to be the health nut mom but you also want to make sure you aren't feeding them tons of sugar! For snacks choose vacuum ready foods like pretzels, popcorn and chips. Pizza for dinner is a simple choice that most children love.

Drinks. Juice, water and milk are the best choices for sleepovers. Stay away from soda because it could keep them up at night.

Crafts. Getting some craft ideas from Pinterest will give the kids something to do that is fun and exciting. They can make bracelets, create cards for a certain holiday or even paint picture frames.

Movies. Pick something that is popular now! Also, older Disney movies are always a big hit!

Breakfast. Making a small breakfast for your child and their friends will prepare them for the day. It is the perfect ending to the best sleepover EVER.

Now you are ready to host your first sleepover! Let us know how it went. Do you have any tips to include for the parents who are hosting their first sleepover?

5 Pieces of Furniture for the #1 Soccer Mom

“Soccer is a magical game.” - David Beckham

Soccer season is upon us and the excitement for MLS is back. For many of us in New Jersey, soccer season never ends. Between travel soccer, tournament soccer and middle/high school soccer, our soccer star children are always busy traveling from game to game. They are competitive, determined and more importantly, obsessed with the game of soccer. So why shouldn’t you be too? As a soccer mom, it is your job to transport and feed the soccer team. The number one soccer mom goes above and beyond and not only worries about her child, but thinks about the entire soccer team. A soccer mom is nonstop busy and must have the proper furniture in her home to accommodate all of her players that aspire to be the next David Beckham. What furniture pieces are essential? Let’s take a look!

The Perfect Mattress. Sleeping is the only thing that you do every single day for a long period of time. It is extremely important to be comfortable while sleeping so you can sleep longer and get a better nights rest. The perfect mattress differs for every single soccer mom. Do you prefer a soft or firm mattress? Whatever you prefer, the only way to know if you are going to like a mattress is to actually sleep on it (or lay on it for twenty minutes in our store!). Mattresses have come a long way and there have been many technological advances that have occurred in the past twenty years. Sleep longer on a perfect mattress so that you can get more done during the day!

Large Sectional. With 11 players on the field at all times, a soccer mom must have a sectional large enough to fit the entire team in her living room! Let’s say your soccer team has 18 players, that means that you need at least 18 seats in your living room. Sure, an 18 seated sectional would be pretty obnoxious, but it can be done! Stay simple and get a normal sized sectional with lots of pillows so that your soccer players can sit comfortably on the sectional and on the floor if needed. A sectional will maximize the space of your living room or basement and it will provide an excellent hang out spot for your team!

Dining Table. After the game, a soccer mom will host the entire team at her house for pizza and soda. A large dining table will allow the team to socialize and eat without having to travel to different parts of your home. This also means less mess for you to clean up at the end of the night! If you are looking to purchase a large dining table, go with a solid wood piece that can withstand the strength of your soccer team leaning and gathering on it. You might also want to think about certain waxes and finishes that you can put on the dining table to help to keep it safe from scratches and dents.

Entertainment Center. Chelsea is playing Arsenal today and your soccer team is going to need a large television to watch it on! Set your entertainment center near your sectional and have a soccer watching party. Watch soccer inspired movies such as “She’s the Man” or “Air Bud 3” to get the team excited about their upcoming tournament. You can also use the entertainment center to display the awards that the soccer team won during their latest tournament.

Large Mirror. A soccer mom always has to look her best when she leaves the house because it could be a while before she returns. A large mirror will allow you to make sure your makeup is set, your hair is done to perfection and your soccer cap is on tight. Your soccer stars can also use the mirror to make sure that their game gear is all set and that they are ready to go to their next tournament. Get ready for a day filled with soccer!

TKO and Justin Timberlake

"I'm very thankful to be doing what I'm doing. I feel very blessed." - Justin Timberlake

Just like Justin Timberlake, we are very thankful to be doing what we are doing: Providing our customers with excellent customer service and stylish and affordable furniture! One aspect of our business that doesn't always get the attention it deserves is our TKO! TKO stands for The Kensington Outlet (NOT technical knock out, like in Justin's popular song). 

TKO is constantly being updated and new items are always being brought in. The great thing about TKO is that it is the SAME EXACT, HIGH QUALITY furniture that is displayed in our main showroom. Some of the items in our TKO include floor markdowns, which are at great prices! The only negative aspect to TKO is that once an item has been purchased, we cannot get another one at that price. So if you see something you like, jump on it! 

TKO is a fantastic deal for customers to get quality, affordable furniture. Don't believe me? Come on in and check it out! 

8 Decorating Tips for the Spring Season

“Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'” - Robin Williams

Spring has sprung! Today is the first day of spring and here at Kensington Furniture, we have been preparing for some time now. Spring is the perfect season to give your home a fresh, new look. Add elaborate color, energetic patterns and living accents to your home to transition it into spring. Your home needs a good spring cleaning. Why not redecorate while you are at it? The weather is warmer, there is more sunlight during the day because of daylight savings time and you are more energized because of the smell of blooming flowers.

Let us help you with your spring decorating. For some inspiration, let’s take a look at 8 spring decorating tips!

1. Add spring color to your space. Decorating with spring colors such as pastels and bright colors will bring out a spring mood in everyone that enters your home and sees your design. The natural sunlight will reflect off of these items and the room itself will be brighter.

2. Bring out the color in your furniture. What is the easiest way to do this? Add accent pillows and throw blankets to your sofa. Add colorful accent pieces to your dining room table. Hang colorful picture frames and other accents on your walls.

This desk got a makeover by Carolyn, our store stylist!

3. Give something old a makeover. Find an old piece of furniture that you are tired off and give it a new look. Paint an old desk or spray paint an old chandelier. Invite your friends over and have a craft day. You can find some pretty old but unique items at yard or estate sales. These items would be the perfect craft project for an April showers afternoon.

4. Add a modern piece to your spring design. Mix it up a little. Once you’re done adding color and different designs to your space, add something modern. A metal or glass table can do the trick. This will make the room look less formal and more inviting to your guests. Sometimes a perfectly decorated room can scare off your friends and they might not want to relax in that room because it is too tidy. Make sure your room is inviting.

5. Use something real. Using a natural and living piece to decorate with is an excellent spring idea. Fresh flowers and potted plants bring oxygen and excitement to a room. Do you want to teach your children a thing or two about responsibility? Have them water your plant or change the water in your vase as one of their weekly chores.

6. Hang colorful mirrors. Colorful mirrors not only act as a place for you to check your makeup or your hair, but they also act as wall décor. Don’t limit your wall décor to picture frames and shelves. Get creative. Add a few abstract pieces to surprise your guests.

7. Add some patterned pillows. If your sofa is a neutral color but you still want to bring out the spring in your design, adding a few patterned pillows will brighten up your living room. Brightly colored and elaborate patterned pillows are popular year round.

8. Don’t forget about the Pantone color of the year. Include some radiant orchid colors in your design. The color looks great with other bright colors or in a neutral colored room. After all, radiant orchid is the Pantone color of the year!

What advice would you give to our readers who are looking to redecorate for the spring season?

Modern Sofas are Making a Comeback

“The artist in me cries out for design.”

- Robert Frost

What is the first piece of furniture that the majority of our customers buy for their living room? If you guessed a sofa, you are correct! For many, the centerpiece of their living room is their sofa or sectional. A living room is not complete without one. Sofas are presented in many different styles but today we are going to focus on one that is making a comeback: the modern sofa.

Sofas are made from a variety of different materials such as wood, stainless steel, iron and fabrics like leather and microfiber. The fabrics that design the sofa can be plain or with prints and patterns. You can get a sofa in basically any color imaginable. All of these factors go into the design of the sofa. But what is modern design?

First introduced in the late 19^th century, modern design was the first of its kind. When it was first introduced, it was tremendously different than what has ever been designed before. Dark wood legs and richly and bright colored fabrics adorned small and sleek furniture frames. Modern furniture is very simple looking and nowadays it has been making a comeback!

Modern furniture is built for the typical busy person who has a demanding, modern life. People who have smaller homes tend to love modern design because most modern furniture pieces are smaller than other designs. It is trendy, comfortable and functional.

 

Many furniture vendors have been mixing contemporary and modern design to create a whole new and different look. It combines functionality and comfort to create the perfect sofa. If you don’t necessarily like the modern colors, you can always go with a modern frame and dress it up by adding colorful accent pillows and other accessories.

What do you think of modern design? Would you use modern design in your home?

10 Tips for Decorating with Area Rugs

"Design is where science and art break even."

Tired of your boring living room? Want to protect your hardwood flooring or brand new carpet? A rug is not only used for protecting your home from spills and falls, but they are also used for decorating. Adding a rug to your space can complete your design. It can define your room and add color, warmth and flair.

How can you make sure you are purchasing the perfect rug for your space? Read the following tips so you will be prepared to give your home a new and exciting look using accent rugs!

1. Rugs can define or separate a space. If you have an open floor plan in your home, use a rug to separate your living room from your dining room. You can also use a rug to separate your foyer from your living room.

2. If you would like more than one rug in a room, use different sizes. Don’t just put two huge rugs in one room. Decorate your room by adding one small rug and one larger one. If your rugs are the same size, it will divide the room.

3. While you can mix furniture styles, try not to mix rug styles. Ensure that the rugs that you choose for a room complement each other in style. The colors could be contrasting but you want to make sure your room is harmonized.

4. If you are looking to add a rug to a furnished space, choose one that will bring out the color of your current furniture and accents. If your room is already bright and colorful, choose a neutral colored rug with a basic pattern.

5. An accent rug can make your room calmer or more exciting. If you have a neutral colored room with neutral furniture, an elaborate rug can bring excitement to that design. If your furniture is already exciting enough, a neutral colored rug will calm down the space to balance the design.

6. Use a rug as the focal point of your room. Matching the rug color to the wall color is a very popular trend. Build off of the colors of your rug when designing.

7. Choose a rug shape that would best fit the room. The way you arrange your furniture has a great deal to do with the shape of the rug you should choose. If you have a sectional, a rectangular or square rug will add to the design perfectly. If you have a sofa and chair, any shape rug can complement your design.

8. Measure your space before you buy! Don’t waste your time and money by buying a rug that is either too big or too small for your space. Allow a minimum of 24 inches of rug from the perimeter of the table. If you are looking to cover a large portion of your space, we would suggest buying a rug that is 3 feet smaller than the width and length of your room.

9. Looking to place a rug in your hallway or foyer? Choose one that is between 18 and 24 inches. It should also be 4 inches thinner than your hallway.

10. Make sure you use a rug liner so that your rug does not slip and slide while you are walking on it. Before buying a rug liner, make sure the one you are purchasing goes with the type of floor you would like to place the rug on!

Do you have any other decorating tips when it comes to using rugs to add flair and excitement to a room? Comment below to join the conversation!

5 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Green Colors

"There are only two kinds of people in the world, The Irish and those who wish they were."

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all of our readers! Did you know that the first color associated with Saint Patrick was blue? Over the years, the color green grew to be the favorite color for this holiday. In the United States, Saint Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish and Irish American cultures. We have been celebrating the unofficial holiday since the late eighteenth century! Get in the holiday spirit and decorate your home with the color green.

Green signifies growth. It is universally associated with nature and can be a very popular color when decorating. However, you must be careful not to overdo it! There are more shades of green than any other color. It is also the second most favorite color in the world. Greens range from yellow-green to aqua or turquoise. When decorating, you must be sure that you mix in your colors with neutral tones to properly harmonize the room. Too much color can sometimes be overwhelming. However, not enough color can be boring. You want to make sure your room design is somewhere in the middle.

Let’s take a look at 5 ways you can decorate your home with green, without going leprechaun crazy!

1. Use green in your bedroom. Is green your favorite color? Use it to decorate in your bedroom. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, after all. This green upholstered bed is just the right green to decorate with. Is it too much for you? Limit the green by choosing a white bedspread with different colored pillows. Upholstered bed frames are becoming more and more popular because of their functionality. Do you like to sit up in bed and read? Does your husband like to sit up and watch television before he falls asleep? Forget leaning back on your uncomfortable wood or metal frame. An upholstered bed is comfortable to lean back on while sitting up in bed.

2. Use green throughout your home with accent chairs. We are big advocates of accent chairs. They give a little mix to your boring living room and provide extra seating in your home. If your room is currently neutral and boring, give it a little color just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day by adding one or two green colored accent chairs. If you don't want to go with all green, pick a pattern that has a variety of colors instead.

3. Use green for an accent drawer. Do you have a wide hallway and want to furnish it so that it doesn't look so plain? Accent chests are the perfect piece of furniture to provide storage and shelf space. The accent chest decorations are more elaborate than simple drawers and they are very functional. You can display pictures, vases and other accents on them while using the drawer for storage.

4. Use green for accent pieces. Green accent pieces can range from lamps to pillows to vases. Accent pieces come in all sizes, shapes, colors, shades and patterns. They bring excitement and flair to a boring room. If your room is already busy with accent pieces, adding one that is a neutral color can even out the room.

5. Use green in your living room. Besides your bedroom and bathroom, your living room is probably the most widely used room in the house. Your kids are always playing with their friends in there. Your husband is always watching the game in there. You are always reading the latest best seller in there. Sure, you can argue that the kitchen is also widely used, but maybe you get take-out a lot and eat in your living room in front of the television instead! Using green as the base color for your upholstered sofa is an exciting choice. You can be daring and go with a brighter color green or you can play it safe by choosing a more earthy green tone. You can match the pillows to the color of the frame or go with a totally different color instead.

How do you use green in your home décor? Do you decorate your home for Saint Patrick’s Day?

How to Make Your Home Clutter-Free With Furniture

“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” - Phyllis Diller

One thing that all of our customers have in common is the fact that they are BUSY. They are moms/dads, professionals, students, and many other important roles! Cleaning is not going to be the top priority on their "to-do list!" This means that their home is not always the tidiest home on the block.

How can you make your home clutter-free with furniture? One way is to use furniture that can double as storage. We found a few pieces on our display floor that would be the perfect match for someone who needs to know how to organize their clutter by using furniture!

Storage Beds: For the perfect storage in your bedroom, choose a storage bed that has drawers in the footboard of the bed. You can use these drawers for clothes, accessories or even toys in your child’s room.

Cocktail Tables: Look for a cocktail table with drawers for additional storage in your living room. Do you like to read a lot of magazines but you never want to throw them out? Put them in the drawers. You can also use these drawers for coasters, your television remote or for more books.

End Tables: Many end tables have drawers but if you have a lot of clutter, choose one with the most storage room. You have many different options when it comes to end tables since there are so many models of them!

Storage Ottomans: Perfect for toys or a blanket in your living room, a storage ottoman not only provides you a place to rest your feet but also additional seating! If you are having all of your friends over and you don’t have enough seating, push the ottoman against the wall and use it as a place to sit!

Bookcases: Bookcases aren't just made for books anymore! Display your awards, your favorite books and your trinkets in your bookcase.

If closet storage is not an option, there are many other furniture pieces that you could utilize for storage. Be creative and think outside of the box. For example, a television stand with a lot of drawers could act as a dresser type of storage in your living room.

Using furniture to store the extra clutter in your home not only provides a place for you to put your things but it also acts as an additional accent piece in your home! What do you use for additional storage in your home?