5 Tips for Modernizing the Home Office

This year, 2010 is the perfect time to start redecorating your home workspace. The trend for the next decade calls for color and simplicity (something that Amish Furniture Home is known for). There are five ways to implement the trend into your home office for a new modern look.

1. Use Color

The new decade calls for bold colors and the most basic hues on the color wheel. They are the red, blue, black and white—the primary colors. Find the boldest and brightest of these colors in your desk chair cushion, area rug for the floor or traffic rugs for larger offices. Use a neutral color to offset the bold accents. Because this is a home office, you cannot forget the supplies. Use them to accentuate your office. Look for bold colors in staplers, in/out bins, files, push pins, trashcans, pencil holders, sharpeners and other accessories.


2. Stay Away from Detail

Modernizing for 2010 calls for the clean look. This means staying away from ornate details in the furniture along with intricate upholstery patterns and a complicated rug design. For this modernization, plain and bold are the only requirements.

3. Clean Lines

Many people believe that modernizing entails space age, uncomfortable furniture. On the contrary, the modernization for 2010 only calls for clean lines and shapes that can be considered geometric. Above all else, the décor must be simple. This is actually a style of furniture that the Amish are known for—clean and simple. Amish Furniture Home has pieces that are made in this way. Look at the royal mission desk as an example of the lines needed to modernize your home office.

4. Go Natural

In the spirit of conservation and becoming more in tune to the environment, the new modern home office uses environmentally safe, sustainable, and natural materials. Materials like bamboo and wood from sustainable sources are safer on the environment than plastics and are more inviting than the industrial chrome of the commercial office. An example is the Caledonia File Cabinet for natural inspiration (shown right).

5. Clear the Clutter

Finally, the modernized home office must be clutter free. Look for pieces with plenty of storage space—drawers, shelves etc. Modernize with pieces like the Amish Furniture Home’s Arts and Crafts Bookcase that has plenty of storage needed to keep your home office de-cluttered.

Modernize Without Fear

The year 2010 is a perfect time to think about applying the new trend to your office. In addition to the tax benefit, the comfort, simplicity, and bold colors will be a muse to get your mind in the work mode. If you need another incentive, just ask your accountants—the new look may be tax deductible.

 Renting furniture seems like a viable option in a bad economy that is suffering from a credit crisis. In fact renting home furnishings is usually a losing investment in most circumstances and not an answer to no or bad credit. Investing in high end, solidly built heirloom quality furniture, if only a piece at a time, is a more stable financial decision. In some short term cases renting furniture instead of investing in permanent goods may make sense. Keep in mind this is renting with the intention of it being short term and not rent-to-own. For instance, your company has moved you to a job for a year. Even renting for home staging to sell or events can be financially sound. Instead of buying furniture that expensive movers will haul away in a few months, it very well might make more sense to rent. Mass produced furniture depreciates, while moving, packing and storage expenses keep going up. These situations are not common but do exist so here are a few tips to help educate you on renting vs. owning.

QUALITY VS. AFFORDABLE –

Even in temporary situations you don’t want to buy anything that falls apart. Rental centers are not apt to carry a handcrafted heavy duty finely built maple dining room set but are sure to have press board with photo-finish. Test out the furniture before you rent it. If it feels weak or uncomfortable in the store it will in your home.

BE A SMART CONSUMER -

When renting furniture you are entering in to a contract that is binding. Quite simply, you need to read it and understand it BEFORE you sign it. The details can haunt you and your check book for many months. How much do they require down? What is the agreed upon conditions of returning the furniture? Is there a hidden delivery fee? What is normal wear and tear? Are the items you are receiving pre-rented or new?

Even at a rental store you should be asking what the country of origin the furniture maker is located. Also ask for guarantees and return policies.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COSTS? –

Doe sit make more sense to buy used furniture for your short term use than to invest in renting? How many months are you staying in this situation? How much to buy a couch or dining room set? Divide it by the months you are staying and if renting is more then buy. This of course is under the condition that you can pay cash and not have to finance furniture, adding on interest. Consider even buying one good investment piece and supplementing with rental items. You will have something that is yours that makes you feel like your home.

Whatever you decide, whether it is to go all rental, all used or to supplement with one or two pieces of quality furnishings like the Amish create, stay away from rent-to-own centers. The interest rates are exorbitant but are hidden in months of payments that cause the final price to be triple its value. By the time you are done paying these mass produced items are no longer in existence. Also, if you are an apartment or house renter remember that you will be spending a great deal of income on a home and its furnishings that will not be yours. Renting may not be the answer to credit when it comes to furniture

 Sadly, the passing of Mike Tyson’s young daughter has brought to the forefront home safety issues.  Home can be one of the most dangerous places for a small child or infant and it is of major concern to safety and health officials. By following a few simple steps you can help to eliminate commonly overlooked areas in your home and increase your comfort and your family’s safety.

USED BABY FURNITURE - It is not just a sales gimmick crafted by the baby furniture industry to part you with your money. Used baby furniture may save you money but cost you injuries or even a baby’s life. A good rule is no furniture later than 1978.

1. The first step in insuring the safety of your infant is to check with the manufacturer or online to be certain that the item has not been recalled.

2. Obtain current guidelines for measurement such as distance between side rail bars. Currently they are 2 3/8 inches apart, with no large cut-outs on head and foot boards.

3. Is the paint loose or chipping and most of all child safe and lead free?

4. Cedar chests or toy chests should have hinge support to prevent the lid from slamming down on little fingers or heads.

Choosing solid wood handcrafted furniture protects your investment and your child. Solid hardwoods withstand generations of children and their teething episodes.

KITCHEN -

1. Kitchen chairs and stools should be positioned far enough away from stoves that if a toddler mounted them they could not reach hot burners or pots.

2. Have you put child locks on your pantries and custom made cupboards or cabinets?

3. Move all knives and sharp objects farther back in the drawers and cabinets.

LIVINGROOM -

1. Move all glass objects to the back of your Amish built tables. A heavy vase, object d’art or picture frame can be a deadly weapon when it’s pulled down on to a curious child’s head.

2. Cable all window shades cords and electrical cords up and away.

3. Be sure your big plasma or HDTV television is securely mounted to your custom built television stand or entertainment center. Home injuries to children have increased by a record 41% because of oversized televisions.

4. Are your bookcases secured? Solid wood bookcases are well built and steady but on carpet or uneven flooring an accident can happen. Simple wall brackets can secure any cabinet or book case.

5. Have you applied protective padding or rubber corners to your solid wood living room tables? The corners are sharp and can cause injury to a small child.

6. Have you protected your child from entering your fireplace area? Whether electric, wood or gas it is an obvious area that should never given easy access to.

BATHROOMS -

1. Amish crafted corner cabinets and bookcases make beautiful and functional bathroom furnishings to store prescriptions and toiletries in. Be sure to secure these items to prevent ingestion by a child. This includes prescriptions, mouthwashes, hair sprays, perfumes, etc.

HOME OFFICE -

1. Check for cords, whether from electrical or telephones. It is wise to unplug when not in use and wind up those cords. Dangling cords attract and easily go from playful toy to noose.

OUTDOOR FURNITURE-

1. Check for splinters that may have occurred with use and changes in the wood. While Amish outdoor furniture is finished by hand regular care and maintenance will prevent accidents.

GUN CABINETS -

1. Amish craftsmen build handsome gun cabinets complete with locking features. Remember -KEEP THE KEY HIDDEN AND AMMUNITION STORED SEPERATELY

• 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.

ANALYZE YOUR ENVIRONMENT- By reviewing your space and determining what design style and function you need for each room of the home you have begun your plan. Take in to consideration each member, including pets, guests both long term and short, along with future addition to your family when determining best usage and style for your space.

Ask yourself honest questions about yourself and fellow house mates. Are you really going to need a formal living room or is your lifestyle more of comfortable casualness? Are you private sort and creating a very personal home environment or are you a social family creating a home theater and game center for friends to pop in and relax? By asking these questions you can develop an accurate plan for investing in your personal atmosphere.

INVENTORY YOURSELF- While buying furnishings and accessories will be necessary, one cost effective tool is working with what you may already have, or what friends or family may be willing to donate to your home. By carefully documenting every piece of furniture and accessories you have to work with you have effectively warehoused your collection like a designer inventorying their stock for the client.

INVENTORY YOUR WANTS- Next list the reasonable wants that fit in to your newly analyzed design plan. While many people believe they must buy more furniture for cheaper prices, in fact the opposite is true. The bulk of your furniture should be considered an investment. Are you investing in furniture that can grow and change with your life? A well furnished home is one that can grow and change as you and the family do.

Remember that wise home design means choosing a few high quality pieces that will last rather than disposable furnishings that must be replaced in a few years. By carefully choosing pieces that you can live with and that will last your investment will pay for itself. Quite simply, as your tastes change over the years you can change out paint schemes, accessories, rugs, art, lamps, etc and effectively and inexpensively create an entirely new back drop to your high end investments like hand crafted Amish furniture.

Whether you were fortunate enough to have invested in the Amish custom-built six piece corner computer desk for home or office or you had just enough space for a hand built Mission computer station, there are some electronic essentials on the market today that will amplify your office environment.

From picking out your solid wood computer center to adding all the gadgets, putting together your own personal workspace can be one of the most fun and rewarding things you can do. Gadgets, especially electronic gadgets, are enhancing our life and our work domain by leaps and bounds. Surprisingly, many gadgets that used to be cost prohibitive are decreasing drastically in price, making them affordable on almost any budget.

Some of the hottest and most affordable electronic doo-dads include:

PHOTO ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER:

 No more trips to the drug store to copy a picture, these new printers have features such as scanners and LCD screens, along with auto-correctors for red eye and other errors like color and tone. Many of them are so advanced they can detect what type of document you scanned and crop the JPEG or PDF.  Some of the latest photo printers are so compact you can pack it up, take it with you and hand out printed photos at the event in under half a minute. (Cost-around $100)

GREEN POWER STRIPS:

Using a single switch you can squelch the electric vampires in your house. By making a central charging station at your computer center with the flip of a switch all connected gear is off and no longer draining energy. Some of the newer strips even come with a remote for hard to reach spots like under your desk. (Cost – around $20-50)

USB SWITCHERS:

One printer and two computers can cause conflicts in a busy home or office. The USB switcher allows two PCs to connect to any USB device that needs sharing. (Cost – around $50)

FLASH MEMORY:

The costs of memory cards and sticks have plummeted. These devices are some of the most practical, low-cost investments for any tech traveler. 1,2,4,8 and even 16 gigs - they are not only brilliant ways to transport and share data like documents, pics, videos and music but are added back up in case of loss on a hard drive. (Cost: $10 and up)

COOLING HUBS:

The last thing you think of is the last you would want to happen to your laptop. Unless someone has told you or worse, unless you have fried one, you would not realize that those little devices get mighty hot. Overheating is notorious for destroying a laptop. With a good cooling hub the stand keeps the airflow moving under the notebook and many even have additional USB ports, which no notebook ever seems to have enough of.  (COSTS: average $49.99)

WIRELESS ROUTERS:

Believe it or not, you may not always want to be sitting at that beautiful computer center. Attaching a wireless router to your Internet modem will cut the ties that bind and allow you to move about the room or building, still connected to the Internet. The newest routers host faster and wider signal broadcasting for more reliable and secure connection. Some are energy conserving and some are being developed by the world of open source designation. (COST: $49.99 and up)

EXTERNAL  HARD DRIVE/ STORAGE DEVICES:

Until you have lost everything on a hard drive you assumed would never fail you, you cannot appreciate an external device that allows to not only protect and back up files but to even transport and share them.  (COST: From 300 GB to 1TB they range in price from $79.99 – app. $150)

 

1. There is something universally awesome about shelves. No matter what you place on them, from precious porcelain figurines to old books, with simple organization and a few proper display tricks, you can make them look like museum pieces. A shelf or shelving unit, when properly arranged, makes everything look well placed and intentional. While shelves can be constructed from glass, plastic, particle board or metal the most durable is solid wood shelves. The Amish design and build the most desirable and strongest shelving options available on the market. Made from Native hardwoods like cherry, maple, oak and hickory and stained to match any décor they are available in a wide range of custom sizes.

2. They resolve organizational and display issues in every room in the house. In the library they catalogue books. In the bathroom they house towels within reach. In the dining room shelves display fine china and serving pieces. In the bedroom they add storage. By the front door they hold keys, mail and shoes. In the kitchen they create a pantry. In the laundry room they hold supplies. In the office they can showcase awards or hold your files.

3. Shelves do not need to be deep in order to be useful. A good standard for shelves is 15 inches in depth. They can fit into the most wasted of spaces and create a useful space. Under windows, under stairs, under eaves or in awkward corners a shelf can be stood or hung. By learning to group by sizes, colors and even textures you can make visually appealing collections from items that would have normally been struggling to find a storage place.

4. They add architectural detail to a room without the added cost of construction. Even a plain shelf can have a piece of trim tacked on by anyone with a few small nails and a hammer to create a decorative piece of furniture. Best of all if you rent or if you redecorate they are not permanent and can be moved to the next space.

5. Shelves can serve dual purposes. Low shelves placed under a window, topped with a thin pad, can serve as seating. A small shelf placed by a bed can hold favorite books, magazines, night creams and more while serving as a nightstand. Small dining rooms can utilize shelves in place of sideboards, making china displays fashionable as well as functional. Remember that a shelf is only as strong as what it is constructed from. That is another reason to consider the construction quality of Amish built shelves an shelf units.

Inside everyone lurks a closet artist but thanks to the storage opportunities created with Amish furniture that closet can be a custom built armoire wardrobe. The hobby of producing art and creating crafts is a valuable stress relieving activity. Whether as homemakers, students, professionals or laborers, we are usually called upon to produce but not called upon to use our imaginations and creative parts of our brains.

Using both our minds and our hands to create simple artistic projects at home we can enjoy healthy therapeutic results. Even the most primitive artistic endeavors hold the ability to help you relax, use your creativity and focus on something besides the daily grind. Arts and crafts can also become a way for some to make extra cash and to create memorable and thoughtful gifts. 

Many times we do not start projects because we dread the mess and clean up to follow. By organizing your materials in well labeled, stackable, easily spotted, easily removed boxes and containers it makes clean up and re-organization a very simple and time efficient job:

- If you do projects that are a bit messy such as painting, remember to protect the bottoms of the drawers of your Amish armoire wardrobe. By placing sheets of easily wiped sheet liners or even shallow trays or baking sheets inside the drawers you can protect your treasured furniture piece from damage.

-  Not only using a lift out tray for messy paint supplies but for a special project like a beaded jewelry kit, you are also organizing your unfinished projects into an easy to lift out container.

- Notebook binders with poly sheet protectors make ideal storage for project ideas, small half-done projects, brush organization, etc. Use index tabs to identify.

The best way to protect the durable ARESISTOVAR finish on your dining room table is to invest in elite custom dining room pads. An inexpensive and impromptu way to protect your Amish dining room table’s work surface is plain white butcher’s paper. The large rolls of paper are inexpensive, fit right inside the closet and you can cut off exactly the length you need for protecting your work surface. Best of all kids love to do projects, from finger paints to tracing their entire bodies, on this large blank canvas.

The Amish built doors are strong and can be utilized to add to your storage space. Wall organizers can be mounted inside to hold paper and fabrics. A small café curtain rod can also be mounted after sliding on your spools of ribbon for easy cutting. Hang a measuring stick next to it for measuring length and a pair of scissors on twine so you are never without your cutting tool. Tea cup hooks or C-hooks can be placed inside to hold other items. By hanging a picture wire across one door interior you can even hang large and cumbersome sketch pads over it.

Remember to use common sense before mounting or attaching anything to your heirloom furniture. Also remember that although your doors are ruggedly built all hinges have a weight limit.