Modern Home Decorating

Being able to keep a nice looking home doesn’t really need to mean a lot of dollars. There are many ways that you can try and save while being able to keep up with your home’s appearance.

Check out home decorating stores for crafty pieces. Michaels, Joann’s, and Hobby Lobby for example have a wide range of cute accessories that have been beautifully handcrafted. Look for cute, seasonal home décor, such as vases, wreaths, baskets, candles, frames, plaques, and silk flowers. These stores even have weekly discount coupons.

Thrift It. Need a cheap coffee table or a unique home décor accessory? The thrift store, garage sales, and antique store are both wonderful resources for thrifty furniture and home décor. Every table, coffee table, side table, bookcase, and desk can be sanded and repainted for a whole new look. In fact, many of the older furniture pieces you have on hand can get a new life with a fresh coat of stain or paint.

Look for discounts. In fact, ask for them. Furniture stores who want to get rid of their old stock for example will be more than happy to offer you a discount on your purchase. If you find the item is damaged somehow, you will have the perfect opportunity to ask for a discount.

More informaiton related to this article can be found here

One of my favorite home decor stores, Hobby Lobby, will open a branch in Fort Myers soon. The reason why I like this store so much is because they have branches all over the country and they have more than 60,000 crafting and home decor products in their inventory. It should open in late spring or early summer so it’s going to be just in time for the decorating season.

While there are already a number of craft stores and home decor stores in the area, my motto always has been something along the lines of never getting enough choices. The more places I can shop for home decorating ideas then the better it is for me.

So to those in the area, can you guys check it out and let me know if they have anything unique or eye-catching in their selections?  Thanks!

Article from News-Press

One of America’s favorite home decor and fabric chain store Jo-Ann is being bought by Leonard Green for a cool $1.6 Billion dollars. While the deal is still being finalized, analysts say that it should be completed by February of next year.

What does this mean for home decorating enthusiasts that shop at Jo-Ann? Well, this is very good news as a huge infusion and being taken under a corporate mantle can allow the retailer to focus on expansion and store upgrades making everything easier for everyone.

We’ll just have to see what the new year has in store for Jo-Ann and it’s 75 stores across the United States.

“East Meets West Meets Simple” this is the slogan of Simplicity Decor.  The store was featured in Sandow Media’s Home Accents Today and I must say, this is one of the friendlier Home decorating stores that I’ve read about.  A lot of stores nowadays are gunning for sophisticated and chic while Simplicity Decor stays true to its name and offers simple yet elegant pieces for your home.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview:

Describe your store: We have two floors. Small gifts, jewelry and accessories are displayed on the first floor, and furniture and larger accessories are on the second. We try to merchandise in a way that gives our clients ideas about how to use the products in their own spaces. We are an expert in small spaces, showing customers how to right-size their furniture and accessories. Our use of colors in the store and displays has earned us a reputation in the community as color experts. The smaller items are presented in a marketplace-type setting. Our displays always look plentiful, fresh and attractive. We use lots of signage to help our customers navigate and to create a friendly environment.

What makes you different from the competition? Fresh, colorful, inviting displays. Unique product assortment, community involvement and excellent customer service. I strongly believe that I am here not just to make a living, but to try to make a difference in the lives of others. I am here to give them my love, my passion and, most of all, myself. This is the driving force behind my actions at Simplicity Decor.

It’s really refreshing to see a store that focuses on the customer rather than focusing on the bottom line. Of course it’s still a business but having that friendly touch has made this store a really popular one in the area.

For the complete interview, check out the full article on Home Accents Today

Everyone knows about all the deals that they can get when shopping online.  To a lot of people though, nothing still beats the feeling of going to a real store and handling the merchandise yourself before purchasing. Not only will you get an idea on what they really look like, you can also check for damage without going through the hassle of shipping and so on.

This season, home decorating stores are innovating to compete with big online retailers.  Since they’re having trouble competing with online stores price-wise, these local stores are doing everything in their powers to attract the customers back.

The next time you’re out home decorating, check out your local stores, you’ll never know what sorts of promotions they’re running.

Read the whole article over at Dallas News

Photo from: Island Home Furniture

For those that aren’t familiar with Angie’s List, it’s a service that takes reliable feedback and ranks companies according to what the consumers really think about them.  No fancy marketing stunts, just honest to goodness screened feedback on companies.

This year, a local interior painter from Swampscott has earned one of the coveted Super Services Awards given by Angie’s List.  Millions of consumers across the United States rely on Angie’s list to make their decisions on certain services and vendors so if you’re on that list, you’re pretty much golden.

Blyth has been named this week’s Best U.S. Bond and in this economy, that means that they must be doing something right. Blyth is the parent company of a couple of direct marketing brands which are Sterno and PartyLite. Both brands are known for their candles and home fragrance offerings.

In a time where most companies are barely keeping afloat, this home décor company has surpassed expectations and has generated revenue of almost a billion dollars in the past twelve months. This makes them, in my opinion, one of the safer choices when shopping for holiday presents this December if you want something to give for home fragrances and home decorations.

“

This Week’s Best U.S. Bond: Blyth (BTH) 5.9% YTM due on 11/2013.

Blyth is one of the leading marketers of candles, home fragrance and home decor products. Headquartered in Connecticut, it sells products on a global scale. Blyth is the parent company for the Candle Company of America which owns the well known brand Sterno and PartyLite which is a direct marketing company. It offers products via Internet, mail catalog, direct sales, and wholesale channels. For the last 12 months, Blyth has generated $920 million in sales of which over 30% came from overseas markets. Initially formed in the 1970’s, Blyth went public in the early 1990’s.

“

Source Seeking Alpha