Decorating these places becomes a challenge because most mainstream furniture makers design their pieces to fit the larger homes. Just because you have a small space, does not mean you have to forego the wood furniture. With these helpful hints, you can choose pieces that will not only fit but maximize your space.

Tips for Furnishing a Small Space

• Look for multifunction pieces. In a small space, storage is at a premium. Look for furniture that serves a dual purpose, like Amish Furniture Home’s Amies Coffee Table that has drawers and cabinets for storage.  Another option would be the Modesto Lift Top Coffee Table, which has easily accessible space to store TV remotes, magazines, laptops, and other items.  In small bedrooms, with little to no space for additional dressers, the Platform Bed allows for needed storage with drawers that line the base of the bed.
• Consider wall units. Instead of trying to fit multiple pieces in one room, look for a taller and wider case piece that can house your entertainment pieces, books, DVDs and CDs.   This entertainment unit maximizes storage while saving on floor space.
• Utilize corners or hallways.  Choose pieces like the Legacy Corner Cabinet, which will create space out of a difficult to use corner.  Utilizing a wider hallway or entry way for a bookcase or even a sofa table can also provide a place for keys, purses and other items needed on a daily basis.
• Living area turned bedroom space. Futons like the McIntosh Mission not only provide stylish seating space but also a comfortable bed for visiting friends or family members.
• Customize. Most of Amish Furniture Home’s pieces can be customized to fit your space.  This can go a long way in providing the exact amount of storage you need and to fit the space you have.

Once you have picked those specific pieces to furnish your space, another way to keep it looking great is to eliminate any clutter. Clear off flat surfaces and use that extra storage to “find a place for everything”.  The extra effort to put “everything in its place” will go a long way in maintaining the look of your small, but expertly furnished space.

• Create unity by grouping like items with like items. By grouping items by theme, color, shape, texture or material you get the biggest visual bang. You can create the illusion of hiring a curator who has organized your shelves to feel like treasures. You can create a visual pop by grouping like colors, such as white pottery, together. Placed against the dark wood of your custom stained shelving these items stand out. Grouping boxes, spheres, etc. create instant emphasis that cannot be duplicated when spread apart.
• Instead of placing a few smaller knick-knacks on the shelf try to choose big, bold accessories. Select items that you can see it from across the room. Smaller items achieve more visual presence when you gather them containers. An old jar filled with vintage marbles, seashells collected at the beach or even a basket of loose family photos create interest.
• Go for asymmetrical arrangements of three, five or seven objects. Also remember not to center them but place them off-center. Odd numbers are visually most interesting in interior design. Balance is good but if not done right can be boring. Use combinations of short, medium and tall objects to make the eye fall at various levels.
• A very powerful statement can be created when there is nothing but art or photos on display. Try leaning your collection or overlapping edges. Mix up frame sizes, shapes and styles.
• Shiny items add interest, too. Add glass, crystal and silver objects to make shelf arrangements literally twinkle. A mirror placed at the back or bottom of a shelf will also impact the visual effect of the objects placed in front or on it.
• In modern or contemporary settings always keep it simple. A more streamlined approach is the best fit for contemporary and modern spaces. Minimalism does not mean any decorations of collections, just well thought out ones. Modern contemporary is based on form following function and it is best to go with shelves decorated in an uncluttered look. 
• A little light on the subject is good. Illuminate your shelves by spotlighting the arrangements. If you did not opt for pre-installed lighting with your custom solid wood Amish bookcases or shelves, then add track lighting in the ceiling. A professional touch can be gained by discreetly tucking tiny up-lights behind a vase or other items, creating a backlight to the arrangement.

BOTTOM LINE – WHY DO YOU COLLECT? -

What motivates you to collect what you collect? Some people collect because of nostalgia, some as a way to make a décor statement, some collect in a more calculated way, as an investment. Does your collection trigger emotional responses or are you waiting for the day that you can turn it into cold cash? Understanding this will also help you to understand what triggers the decision to reach for your wallet and to fill that space on those custom shelves with another item. An investor cannot let his sentimental side play in to a decision to purchase while a collector of nostalgia will not really consider resale values if they really want it.

WHEELING AND DEALING -

While it can be a bit wearing for dealers to hear from every customer “Is this the best you can do?” they are aware that it is part of the business. Don’t sell your deal short by not making an inquiry about price, especially if you are buying more than one item or are a regular. The golden rule should apply here as well as common sense. Treat the dealer like you would want to be treated. Learn the rules of shopping etiquette and buyer bewares before shopping.

BUY THE BEST AND LEAVE THE REST -

Beginner mistakes can cost you time, money and valuable shelf space. Examine each purchase well and unless you are certain that there is no other one like it and it’s so rare that damage is not an issue, leave it! We have been in the machine age for 150 years and chances are good that they made one right behind that one and in this internet world things are easier to acquire. Patience, dear collector…patience. On the other hand, don’t be so fearful of mistakes that you miss out on great finds.

EDUCATION PAYS FOR ITSELF-

Whatever you feel is worth collecting should be worth educating yourself on. There are websites, books, clubs and magazines on any subject. Auctions, flea markets and antique malls make great hands-on experience playgrounds. Price guides are great tools but do not rely on them for up to the minute or even regional prices. Instead use them as references.

HAVE FUN WITH IT -

If your collection is something worth spending time and money on then why not enjoy it every day? Investing in a great and very sturdy hardwood bookcase, shelving unit or curio customized for your collection by Amish craftsman will insure that you can.

PLANTER BASKET GIFTSET-

If mom is a gardener she can find reports and inspiration at the National Gardening Associations website http://www.garden.org/regional/report . Write this site on a card and place it inside a custom stained cedar planter, along with new gardening tools, gloves, seeds or plants.

MAKE A WISH -

What mom really wishes for is a relaxing spot to call her own. This wishing well is available for gardens or yard decors ranging in size from 30″ wide to 50″ wide. It can be placed on a patio, as an accent to a water feature or even indoors as a planter. Don’t forget to include a bag of pennies for tossing!

MAKE MOM A ROCK STAR -

So you think your mom can’t rock? Her kind of rocking may not be to heavy metal but she can certainly rock out to solid wood! With a good book, or a grandchild on her knee, she can watch the world go by from her porch with a customized old fashion rocker. The Amish crafters build Adirondack Rocking Chairs, crafted from aromatic red cedar which has a natural resistance to rot. Custom stained, no mom could resist this heirloom rocking chair.

RELAXING GLIDERS AND SWINGS -

Moms are stressed. It comes with the territory. Therapists have long known that the act of rocking, swinging and gliding is beneficial to a human’s mind and body. The pendulum action is soothing while also making you more focused. Set on sturdy frames, the Straightback Deluxe Glider or the Suspended Swings provide an enjoyable gliding or swinging experience. Customized from aromatic red cedar, which has a natural resistance to rot, these are available in varying shades of stain.

BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH ON THE DECK -

The Elegant Chat set is perfect for holding a casual breakfast or brunch buffet on Mother’s Day. Later it will be a well used gift, serving snacks at pool-side parties, relaxing in the cool of the evening or playing cards with friends out on the patio. Constructed from aromatic red cedar, this wood has a natural resistance to rot. This solid wood, custom-made and custom stained set includes a generous 36″ round table and four straight-back chairs.

LUNCH IN HER BACKYARD PARK -

A simple Picnic Table Set is a great addition to any yard, patio or deck. This design features moveable benches that are independent from the table. This style gives you more options for varying seating arrangements. Pack a picnic basket full of mom’s favorite items (and those are always things she didn’t have to cook herself!) and hold a picnic in honor of her.

Your mother deserves something for Mother’s Day that is not only worthy of her but useful. Life is stressful and mom’s never take time to relax and care for themselves. While swings are not usually associated with adults and are usually found in the backyard or playgrounds, exclusively for children. In fact, swinging for adults can be very therapuetic and relaxing. A swing that is set in motion will oscillate like a pendulem, gently rocking and comforting the person seated in or on the hanging seat.

Swinging may seem a minimal way to actually work through stress but medical professionals have proven that children and adults with Sensory Integration issues, ADHD, and Autism all benefit from daily movement and stimulation. Occupational therapists often use different types of swings and swinging techniques to help regulate patient’s bodies. Swinging therapy helps them to focus while increasing body awareness. Besides that, the Amish swings are attractive, whimsical, nostalgic and just plain fun!

The Amish craftsmen create swings with or without independent frames for suspension. Whether you want to suspend your solid wood swing from the ceiling of your porch or from a strong wooden frame, a hand-crafted hickory, red oak, cherry, walnut and quarter sawn white oak swing will last a lifetime.

The generous 5-foot swing seating allows for more than one adult or child to swing at a time. These swings come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles. The Deacons Bench Swing is a vertically slatted design with interesting architecture. It also can be custom ordered in separated rocker seating. The Adirondack style (available in a smaller 4 foot concept) swing sets are made from aromatic red cedar which has a natural resistance to rot.

If you are looking for a set in the yard or on a porch but do not wish to suspend it from a structure why not try an arbor? These sturdy and stunning arbors are available with sunrise designs on the side; making a beautiful impression when walking through any garden. You can then add a custom built five-foot swing in several wood options for relaxing and entertaining. The Sunrise Arbor walkway is a full 78″ wide.

The tripod settee is just what you would expect in a traditional swing set frame. Three legs on each end of the trestle support the swinging action with a stable foundation for carefree swinging. Now mom can enjoy the feel of a traditional porch swing even if she doesn’t have a porch, or doesn’t want to have suspension applied to her porch roof.

Because the Amish crafters design in either a free hanging, tripod or arbor base, their swings can be set up anywhere. Thinking of everything the woodworkers applied shelves on each side for snacks or beverages – or the Mother’s Day brunch you’re going to make her.

Why worry about travel safety and soaring transportation prices this year when you can plan for a vacation to paradise in your own backyard? For less money than you would spend on a cruise for two you can convert your patio into a private resort setting using handcrafted custom patio furniture from the Amish. These durable and handsome pieces of outdoor furniture will provide you years of entertaining, not just a quick weekend trip. When you convert your patio into a resort setting with long lasting solid wood Amish patio furniture you will be anxious to get home every evening to relax in your own retreat.

Step one is to determine your budget for this year‘s outdoor expenses. There are very funky and fun ways to convert the drab patio into a rendezvous on a small budget. With an investment in a few central pieces you can build from there and add on each year. This investment has a guaranteed pay off, with evening after evening of amusement in your own private backyard.

Step two may be to determine your decorating theme. The theme will determine the style of furniture you will be investing in, just as in your living or family room. Even though your patio may not be enclosed it is considered an outdoor room; in essence an extension of your own home. You may wish to create a tropical decorating theme or a traditional grill/picnic area look. The “Chat” set is perfect for pool-side parties or playing cards out on the patio and looks great with the either traditional or tropical themed accessories. The “Chat” set includes a huge 36″ round table, along with four custom, form fitting, slat-back chairs. The Amish woodworkers craft this patio design from aromatic red cedar, a wood naturally resistance to rot. The traditional “Picnic Table” set is a great addition to any patio, deck or backyard. This very practically designed set has benches that are independent from the table, giving you more options in seating arrangements. Topped with a red plaid tablecloth and a picnic basket, all you need is the ants!

Choosing benches, swings, easy chairs in cedar or rustic hickory create a warm and inviting area even under a wide open sky. You can even enjoy the feel of a traditional porch swing even if you don’t have a porch. A strong wooden tripod or arbor base holds the swing so it can be set up anywhere. The tripod base has three legs per side to provide a stable foundation for carefree swinging along with shelves on each side for snacks or beverages. The covered arbor is another beautiful option that features side panels with decorative cutouts and cup-holders. Furnishing add-ons such as a cedar planter or end table will tie an area together.

Stay home and enjoy your summer savings. Thanks to Amish ingenuity in no time you will be able to create the atmosphere of a relaxing retreat. Whatever ideas you may have for decorating for outdoor living there are plenty of available accessories at online and brick and mortar stores in your home town. Hang up a hula skirt and a beach umbrella in your drinks and travel agents will be booking trips to your backyard resort!

Royal Doulton is an English pottery company that has produced collectibles and tableware since it was began almost two centuries ago in 1815. London born Royal Doulton has grown and expanded since its origins over 200 years ago. Today Royal Doulton produces not only porcelain and collectibles but fine dinnerware, glassware, giftware, jewelry, linens and much more.

Just as the Amish carry on time honored apprenticeships that carry their integrity and artisanship into each and every generation, the Royal Doulton company has a rich history and a time honored namesake. John Doulton was born in Fulham in 1793. Doulton’s trade was learned as an apprentice at the Fulham Manufacturing Company, a stoneware manufacturer.

Later, John Doulton began working with Lambeth Pottery’s owner Martha Jones and foreman John Watts. Lambeth was a tiny pottery located in Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, a borough of London, England. Together they formed Jones, Watts and Doulton in 1815. Martha Jones left in 1820 and by 1826 the company was Doulton & Watts.

Primarily producing salt-glazed pottery, Doulton realized there was money to make in glazed piping to replace the older porous brick sewers. Not as elegant as one would consider Royal Doulton, John Doulton built a practical pipe factory that helped with the health concerns of the community. The demand for these sanitary ware products was so great that within three years Doulton founded factories in Dudley and St Helens.

At the tender age of 15, Henry Doulton, the second son of John, realized his talent for pottery making and joined the firm. John Watts retired from the company in 1854. At this time John Doulton began experimenting with a more decorative pottery line and began using many glazes and decorative effects including faience, impasto, silicon, carrara, marqueterie, chine, and rouge flambe. Henry Doulton, following in his father’s creative footprints, took full control of the company upon the passing of his father in 1873.

Your Royal Doulton figurines, dinnerware and collectibles deserve a showcase equal to their heritage and value. The Amish craft hardwood display options in a timeless elegance, second to none. China cabinets, curios, bookcases, corner cabinets, shelves and more. Options such as antique leaded glass accent in the pediment, glass shelves, mirrored back and recessed lighting are a standard high end choice. Surrounded in well made heirloom quality design, your Royal Doulton collection will be a decor feature for generations.  

The unusual events in the world economy have many people looking for new ways to earn money and one idea is to convert one or more rooms of your home into a Bed and Breakfast. American homes that welcomed weary travelers date back to the earliest days of Colonial America. The country was young so comfortable and safe lodging options were few and far between in the rough and wild 1700s. Relying on word of mouth and the kindness of strangers, early American travelers in need of a bed for the night often sought out rooms in private homes.

As transportation went from man power to horse power and then to rails, hotels became more common. The Great Depression created the opportunity for less than wealthy travelers to save money while creating an income for home owners. With non-existent interstates travelers were forced to drive through towns, passed homes that provided safe haven for the night for as little as a few dollars. These homes were often a type of boarding house for transients as well as long term residents. The modern Bed and Breakfast is a specific form of boarding house where the guests normally stay only on a bed-and-breakfast or half-board basis (bed, breakfast and dinner only), and where long-stay residence is unheard of.

European influence, spawned by world travel post-WWII, created the romantic idea of the more refined and often historic homes being converted to upscale bed and breakfasts. From farm homes to historic mansions American were converting residences to accommodate paying strangers for the night. The 1980s-90s saw a rapid growth of B&Bs ranging from down home themes with shared bathrooms and simple homey furnishings to chic renovated historic mansions with plush furniture and wine tasting.

Regulations and laws vary from area to area but the most common regulations B&Bs must follow pertain to safety issues like fire resistance, fire escape plans, and smoke detectors in each guest room. Of course kitchens and food preparation are monitored for hygienic operation.

While regulations vary quality never should. Investing in Amish built hardwood furniture is a wise business decision. Not only is it available in every design from traditional to modern it is durable and made to last for generations. No one will ever care for your belongings like you do and the well constructed design of native hardwood beds, tables, chairs and desks can withstand the ever changing flood of guests that your B&B will see over the years. From full bedrooms with whimsical four poster canopies, clocks and fireplaces the unmistakable quality of Amish designed and hand built furnishings will undoubtedly earn you high marks and recognition from your B&B guests.

Anyone can “make a bed” but to truly make your bed into an elegant, comfortable place on which to lie down actually takes quite a bit of thought, design and craftsmanship. The pier bed crafted by the Amish has all that combined with the common sense of plentiful storage, solid native hardwood beauty and the good looks of well thought out design. Sizes range from double to queen to the much coveted king-size beds and these large and graciously proportioned bedroom suites are everything a well appointed boudoir needs.

The Pier Bedroom Suite literally includes everything you need for your bedroom. Each side of the bed has a “pier”, which, in fact, are actually side armoires that are 22 1/2″w x 22 1/2″d x 81″h. Each pier comes with a set of three dovetailed, full extension, drawers for books, writing implements, socks, underclothes, etc. Above each of these roomy and well-constructed drawers is a pull-out shelf to be used as a night table, desk, or even a snack table. There are two more adjustable shelves behind the door of the side armoires.

Centered above the bed as a sort of headboard, is a beveled mirror highlighted by two touch lights placed strategically in the bridge of the pier. There is even more storage in the headboard for books, glasses, laptops, etc. Unbelievably, there is even the well thought-out option of adding additional under the bed storage drawers for winter clothing, shoes or whatever you treasure.

The pier bed wall unit has the Amish collection’s signature form and construction. With more option than the famous Murphy bed any apartment dweller could benefit for a lifetime by a single purchase of a pier bed wall unit, especially with the additional under bed storage options. This bed can be disassembled and moved, if needed, yet give any room the appearance of a custom built bedroom. Hotels, motels, efficiency long term stay dwellings, assisted living facilities could also benefit by the durable bedroom choice of a pier bed wall unit built ingeniously by the Amish.

While homeschool families utilize the whole world from home to yard to neighborhood and beyond, as their classroom, at some point even the freest thinking parent-teacher must dedicate a room or sections of a room to the home school. Logically, home schooling families quite often use the dining room table as command central. Even “out of home” schooling families use their dining room table for homework assignments, craft projects or as the family gathering place.

A visit to many of the home schooling forums shows one consistent wish from many of the home school mom-teachers – a giant dining room table for them to work at. Dining room tables like the ones crafted from solid woods by the Amish provide high quality, high endurance, and wear tolerant spacious work places for large family classrooms. Add an armoire or dresser dedicated to supplies, some sturdy solid wood chairs and quite functionally a dining room is converted into a one room school house. Some great tips gathered from these forums on how to best utilize the dining room as a classroom are:

1. Keep the table covered with a protecting pad and a plastic table cloth. The Amish have available elite custom pads to add many years to the table top. This investment will pay off after years of small hands pressing pencils into wooden surfaces or science experiments gone awry.

2. Cut a piece of white board to fit the table top as a giant dry erase surface. Local home improvement stores carry very low cost sheets of white laminate paneling. They can even cut them to size. Place these panels on top of the elite custom pads and pass out the dry erase markers. Kids become very enthusiastic at the chance to write on furniture! This also saves on paper product costs and consumption.

3. Since most families can’t afford to give up their dining room as an eatery why not redecorate the dining room with the theme of your studies? This is particularly fun for unit study type curriculum. Africa this month? Why not coordinate the napkins? Add some giraffes and elephants as center pieces. There are very inexpensive ways to keep the flow of your home while providing a homemade education to your children. Oceans next month? Why not a giant fishbowl as a living centerpiece? Just remember you may not want to serve fish sticks for awhile!

4. If you have opted to top your dining room table with a glass top why not use pictures under the glass as study points? One section of the dining room table can be algebraic equations, another section geographic pictures and another spelling words.

5. The second most desired item observed in the home school forums was an organizational element such as a bookcase, armoire, china cabinet, hutch, dresser or chest of drawers. With the well built, solid wood, dove tailed construction of Amish furniture it is easy to find sturdy organizing elements that match the woods, stains and designs of the Amish built dining room table. Sturdy shelves or cabinets for books, supplies and items like nature collections is important, no matter how small the space.

6. Be sure you have good windows and or good lighting in the dining room. Poor lighting makes the eyes work harder and the child grows weary faster.

7. Do a daily clean up of the dining room. Keep it a focal point of your home. Never let the table become only a place to collect things that need to be put away. A few minutes a day will pay off in peace and function. Keep the room a place that inspires good family meals when appropriate and good creative thinking always.

8. Remember that while Homeschooling is about “togetherness” it does not mean you have to be tethered to them as they work. By utilizing the dining room you are more able to multi-task why the children are working on school. They will know you are right there, in the near-by kitchen or living area but they will learn the much desired art of independence. Homeschooling children are best known for there self reliance, and if you can be multi-tasking and keeping a watchful eye the house and school run smoother.