15 Tips for Buying Living Room Furniture

Found at http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/15-tips-for-buying-living-room-furniture/index.html

Save time and avoid costly mistakes. Start a furniture hunt knowing the best choices for your living room.

By Kristen Wingard Brought to You by Havertys

You don't have time to wander aimlessly around furniture stores. Next time you're looking for living room furniture, keep these expert tips in mind. Then the only decision will be choosing a favorite piece in your finished room.

1. Find Your Furniture StyleIf starting from scratch, first decide if your space is going to be formal or casual. Look through magazines, watch design shows and choose a look: chic and sophisticated, comfortable and casual, etc. Find one element to design the room around — perhaps artwork or a pillow — and keep it with you or in mind while shopping.

2. Hardwood Frames (Hidden Strength)For furniture built to last, buy pieces with hardwood frames. Hardwoods increase the strength and durability of the piece, standing up to everyday wear and preventing warping and distorting. Over time, cushions or fabric can be updated as long as you have a lasting frame.

3. Measure Twice, Buy OnceMeasure door and window openings before purchasing pieces to ensure they can fit in the room. Also, take into account narrow doorways, hallways and staircases. Maneuvering through sharp turns can be a challenge for larger furniture pieces.

4. Neutral for Now and LaterBuy neutral sofas that can be updated quickly with pillows and throws when seasons or tastes change. Patterns on such a large area might grow old over time so go with a must-have pattern on a chair instead.

5. Consider Furniture Arrangement OptionsContemplate multiple furniture arrangements and solutions before making purchases. Weighing several options will ensure you choose the best one. For example, would an open bookcase and a smaller piece with doors conceal the kids' toys and media equipment or do you need open bookcases with cabinets on the bottom with doors for that purpose?

6. Long-Term Furniture SolutionsThink long-term and go green. Will you still love this piece years from now? Can it go in other rooms should you decide to replace it later on? Can you see it working in other houses should you move?

7. Durable Furniture FabricsCotton duck, denim and microfiber are great choices for families with kids and pets. Consider slip-covered pieces with washable fabrics or order extra yards of fabric to sew a protective cover you can layer on top of the cushions to protect the piece from spills and pet hair.

8. Allow Enough Space for FurnitureAllow sufficient space in your design for furniture that has moving pieces such as footrests, swinging doors and drawers. These require additional space and will affect walkways.

9. Don't Forget to Look UpNote the ceiling height and hanging light fixtures of a living room when purchasing larger pieces such as entertainment centers and bookcases.

10. Keep People CloseWhen creating conversation areas, furniture should be close enough to allow people to talk comfortably when seated. These pieces should face each other when possible rather than sit side by side.

11. Use Delivery Time to Your AdvantageUse the waiting period wisely to finish other living room projects like painting, finalizing the flooring, installing electrical outlets in the floor, adding crown molding, etc.

12. Design a Custom LookTake a look at furniture collections that allow you to pick from an assortment of fabrics. Havertys has many groups that offer this option. Also, modular sectionals are great for designing an arrangement to suit your space.

13. Entertaining SpaceWhen looking for a new entertainment center, don’t forget to measure all your electronics including speakers, game systems, DVRs and DVD players. Designs can vary so get the actual dimensions of the TV, not just the screen size, as well.

14. Finishing Living Room TouchesFinish any look with throw pillows, lamps with interesting bases and shades, a beautiful area rug and comfy throw blankets appropriate for the season.

15. From Site to Store to HomeHow many seats do you need in your living room? Come up with various room layouts before finalizing your furniture choices.

May Daze Sidewalk Sale

Saturday, May 1st
10:00am - 4:00pm
Join us on the front sidewalk and then come inside for refreshments too! There will be live music and fresh flowers for sale at the Depot. And stop by The Glass Angel for a mosaic birdhouse demonstration. Properties on Parade will be open for visiting spaces that are currently available to occupy. More info on that http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/downtown-33324-bodycopy-saturday.html
Benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Alamance County.

Items in the sale include furniture, lamps, rugs and accessories. These items have been donated by our consignors. More donations are welcome. The proceeds go to a great cause...children!!!

There is a special room set up inside the store for smaller things as well! The money you spend stays right here in Alamance County!!!

"Move that Bus"

Join LSM 227 (Programming and Event Management) on

Sunday, April 25, at the Burlington Municipal Building, located at 425 South Lexington Avenue, for the first

MOVE THAT BUS

fundraiser supporting the MS Society of North Carolina and

The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington.
To participate, get together a team of six to pull a 30,000 pound bus 25 feet.

Suggestions for building teams:
Athletic teams
Fraternity or Sorority
Dorm/Hall
Club/Organization
Group of friends

You may compete in one of three divisions:
all-male
all-female
co-ed (must be three males and three females)

Cost to participate: $60 per team ($10 per person).

All proceeds benefit the MS Society and Boys and Girls Club
Trophies will be awarded to fastest times in each division.

E-mail movethatbus425@gmail.com with questions.

Registration forms can be found by clicking the link to the right.
by Alex Coffman, Student
Last Updated - 04/20/2010

Company Shops Market Secures Financing

Fidelity Bank Approves Loan to Build Co-op Once Investment Goal is Reached:

Your community-owned, local grocery store is one step closer to opening!

Once owners invest a minimum of $800,000 (only $300,000 left to go!), a bank loan of $1.1 million will be required to secure the funds needed to open the store. Fidelity Bank has agreed to provide this loan, backed by a USDA guaranty, once the $800,000 owner investment goal is reached.
Heres the step-by-step list of the funding-to-open process for the co-op:
Find bank to loan $1.1M – Done
Secure USDA warranty for loan – Done
Raise $800,000 in investment from owners – More Than Halfway There
Receive loan – Hopefully A Quick Process
Open in 6 months! – Home Free

Fidelity Bank was selected, in part, because it is a local bank that has supported the co-op since early stages. Additionally, Fidelity Bank is offering a great incentive for CSM owners who open a checking account with them.

Top Five Reasons to Shop Local - Provided by the Small Business Council of the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce

1. Community Well Being - Local businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors, and by contributing more to local causes.
2. Local Decision Making - Local management means that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.
3. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy - When shopping locally, you create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvements and promote community development.
4. Job and Wages - Local businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits.
5. Environmental Sustainability - Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers, which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

"The Perfect Piece" Accessory Sale

Done...check it off the list!!! And WOW, what a great response!!! Thanks to all those that participated. Bella's House was able to raise $949 for the finding a cure to Autism.

The initial key chains were the most popular sellers. Girl's gotta have a key chain!!! And the ECU polka dot cooler was in such popular demand that we are placing orders. Let me know if you need one too!!!

April Showers Bring May Yard Sales!!!

April is especially busy at Bella's House. A little trunk show in Greenville at ECU this week. We will have lost of fun items and accessories as well as an extremely large amount of jewelry that we have ordered just for this event. The AZD's have invited me to help them raise money for "Autism Awareness". I can't wait til Friday!!!
Then, the 13th Annual Herb Festival for the WRC...visit our booth...April 23 and 24th!
Then, Downtown Burlington will be having a "May Daze" event on Saturday, May 1st.
I love being so busy!!! On top of all this I will have to say that the store looks better than ever right now. Beautiful furniture, wonderful bargains, and a large variety of items!!! Check it out for yourself. Tuesday - Friday 10:00-5:30 and Saturday 10-4