Valentine’s Day is a day to express your love for someone special. Surprise that lucky person with a gift from the heart. And who said it has to be a significant other? See this quick, easy and inexpensive giftable that’s sure to make anyone feel the love.
Dining Room Ideas, Entertaining, Home Accessories Ideas, How To, Party & Event Ideas for the Home, Seasonal
How to Plan An Outdoor Dinner
Nothing goes hand in hand like great weather and outdoor entertaining. Here are a few tips that will make your guests want to linger long after the sun sets.
Spread the news
Unless it’s really a swanky event, feel free to skip the paper invites and send an email to your guests. Make it easy on them and ask them to respond only if they can’t make it.
What’s for Dinner?
Decide what type of shindig you’re throwing. A favorite is pot luck. Just ask guests to let you know what they’ll bring so you can plan the menu. (You don’t want to be faced with three potato salads and no dessert.) Even if guests are bringing food, you should plan on an appetizer to get the evening started. Make an easy antipasto appetizer by filling a generously sized tray with cuts of salami, olives, roasted bell peppers, assorted cheeses and a variety of crackers or slices of a baguette. Cheese platters are always a great option. Click here to find out which cheeses will keep your guests wanting more.
Set the Table
TIP: Paper napkins and plastic utensils may be more convenient, but you’ll elevate the tone of your event if you pull out cloth napkins and use real cutlery instead.
Break the Ice
Hot summer evenings demand plenty of ice. Don’t have an ice bucket? No worries. Just line any clean, attractive container with heavy duty plastic to make it waterproof and voila, instant ice bucket.
Liquid Refreshments
Set up a bar cart with essentials like chilled alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and of course nothing says summer like lemonade. Turn it into a classic adult beverage with a British flair by adding Pimm’s Cup No. 1 for a light, refreshing cocktail.
Pimm’s Cup (makes one drink)
- 1 1/2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
- lemonade (or ginger ale)
- lemon slices
- cucumber slices
- (optional: orange slice, fresh borage and/or mint leaves, apple slices, strawberry)
- Half-fill a tall glass with ice and a few slices of cucumber or lemon. Add measure of Pimm’s, then top up glass with lemonade or soda. Stir gently and add more ice if necessary. Garnish with slices of lemon and cucumber.
Candles Count
Make the evening magical by placing candles everywhere. They can even do double duty if bugs are an issue when you use these candle holders.
Use wireless speakers to liven up the evening with music. And if the evening gets chilly, warm things up with a fire pit. More than just a heat source, fire pits add instant ambiance. Outdoor Ashley HomeStore is appearing in-store soon and now online!
We understand that with a busy schedule, it can be hard to find time to relax and unwind. Just when we feel like the busyness of the holidays has passed, Valentine’s Day sneaks up on us. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for friends, teachers, a loved one, or even yourself, a heart shaped bath bomb is something anyone would be thankful to receive. Below are the foolproof instructions on how to make them.
What You’ll Need:
Heart Shaped Ice Cube or Baking Tray
1 Cup Baking Soda
½ Cup Citric Acid
2 Teaspoons Epsom Salt
¼ Teaspoon of Essential Oils (we chose rose and eucalyptus)
Dried Flower Petals (we used rose)
Rose Petal Witch Hazel
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients
Mix baking soda, citric acid, and Epsom salt in a large bowl.
Step 2: Add Oils
Once thoroughly combined, slowly mix in essential oils, distributing the scents evenly.
Step 3: Add Witch Hazel
Slowly pour in small amounts of witch hazel until the mixture is wet, but still holds its shape well.
Step 4: Place Dried Flowers in Tray
Add a few buds and petals to each mold in the tray.
Step 5: Pat Mixture into Molds
Tightly pack the mixture into the tray molds and let dry overnight.
Chocolates and flowers are great but the gift of relaxation and pampering is hard to beat. Watching love fizzle can actually be fun and beneficial with these DIY heart shaped bath bombs. Let us know how it works for you in the comments below.
Home is where the heart is, and it’s where our most precious memories are made. It’s also where we make some of the most important investments of our lives. Purchasing leather furniture is oftentimes one of those investments. It can make your home look and feel high end. Follow these easy tips to help leather survive throughout the decades and memories to come.
Weekly cleanings keep leather gleaming.
Dust often and use a vacuum cleaner crevice tool to clean seams. Clean weekly using a damp sponge or soft, lint-free cloth. Do not rub; instead, wipe gently. Follow instructions for any gentle leather cleaner you might use. Additionally, leather conditioners provide a barrier to stains and help extend the life of your leather. Before using any cleaning/conditioning product on leather, test it in a hidden area first.
Just [don’t] do it.
Do not use or place sharp objects on leather goods. Leather is very durable; however, it is not accident or damage proof. Do not place newspapers or magazines on leather furniture. The ink from these items may be transferred onto the leather. Do not use abrasives; harsh chemicals; saddle soap; leather cleaners that contain any oils, soaps, or detergents; or common household cleaners on leather furniture. Only use recommended leather cleaners. When in doubt, call a professional leather specialist.
No sun, hun.
Keep leather furniture out of direct sunlight and at least two feet from heat sources to avoid fading and cracking.
Visit Ashley Furniture for more information on caring for leather.
Bedroom Ideas, Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture
Shine On: Make Metallic Work in Your Home
Metallic accents add an instant statement to every room and lately, we can’t stop adding them everywhere. From cushions to dressers, we’re here with easy ways to add some glimmer into your life. Let the decorating begin.
Crafts, Home Accessories Ideas, How To, Living Room Ideas, Recipes
Refreshingly Simple—DIY Reed Diffuser
Do you have a vintage vase or bottle that you’ve been holding onto for years? Maybe it’s time to put those accents to work. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for turning your ancient artifacts into a breath of fresh air.
Supplies:
- Any narrow-necked vase or bottle that is essential-oil safe
- 1 cup light, unflavored oil (corn or canola work best)
- 1 tsp essential oil (scent of your choosing)
- ½ cup alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
- Tan, black or brown rattan reed diffuser sticks
Step one:
Combine ingredients in a glass measuring cup.
Step two:
Stir gently to ensure the scented oil mixes with the other ingredients.
Step three:
Pour into your vessel until about 1/3 full (save remaining mixture in an airtight container until needed).
Step four:
Place reeds in the vase or jar. Make sure they’re long enough to extend several inches above the opening to allow the fragrance to escape.
And that’s it! Place your diffuser wherever a touch of fresh air is needed. Periodically flip the reeds to release the fragrance anew.
What combination of essential oils do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section.
Dining Room Ideas, Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture, How To
How To Choose The Right Dining Table
Style. Shape. Space limitations. Seating accommodations. With so many factors to consider with a dining table, we offer a few suggestions you’ll love.
Health & Wellness, Home Decor & Furniture, Living Room Ideas
New Year’s Resolutions Part 3: Getting Fit with Your Furniture
The intention to get in shape is a common New Year’s resolution. What many people don’t realize is that it doesn’t have to take a lot of time and money spent at the gym to do so. Walking often is a great way to keep your metabolism up, and there are many body weight exercises that can be done from the comfort of your living room furniture. The following are a few suggestions on how to multipurpose your living room set for exercise.
Bedroom Ideas, Dining Room Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture, Living Room Ideas, Seasonal
New Year’s Resolution #2: How Do You Want Your Home to Feel?
Carry the energy of new beginnings with you by creating a home that reflects your personality and how you want yourself and your guests to feel when they walk through your front door.
Colors
Wall colors are a great and fairly simple way to create a mood. Tranquil pastels cultivate the feeling of a calming sanctuary, while brights like red, yellow, orange or lime will give off a more exciting, energizing vibration. If you’re a fan of multiple colors or just have a style all your own, go ahead and experiment with color combinations or even wallpaper styles that reflect your unique personality. Every room in the house can have its own unique vibe – there are no limits to the possibilities!
Textures
Textures are another aspect to take into account when decorating, and are not just limited to textiles. While there are many styles of pillows and throws that will add a finishing touch to a room, subtler textures like the fabric of your upholstery and even your solid pieces like living room tables and entertainment centers inevitably add to the feeling your home gives off. For a relaxed entertaining space, incorporate elements like natural wood-finished furnishings. For a more sophisticated entertaining space, choose pieces with clean lines and polished finishes.
Layout
You might be surprised at how much the placement of furniture affects the feeling of a room. If a room feels small, try rearranging the furniture to open up walking paths.
Now that you have an idea of how you want your home to feel as you walk through the door, you are on the right track for starting the year off with new year resolutions for your home. What other goals do you have this year?
Home Accessories Ideas, Home Decor & Furniture, Home Office Ideas, How To
Create a Home Sweet Home Office
Typically, the words “cozy” and “workspace” don’t go together, but today we’re going to be bending the rules. The following tips are a great way to add some warmth, personal style and creativity to your desk area.
#1: Add texture and warmth
Adding a throw over your chair is a great way to add comfort and dimension to your workspace. You can fold it over your chair back or lay it face up over your seat for added comfort. Faux furs offer the warmth needed for an office and allow you to share your style in a practical way.
#2: Keep it personal
One of our favorite ways to keep a smile throughout the work day is to have photos of loved ones around. By adding photo frames to your desk, you surrounded yourself with positivity, no matter what chaos the work day may bring.
#3: Add creativity, without the clutter
A trick to adding creativity to a smaller space without making it look messy is to go vertical. By using taller, rather than wider, decor you can add an equal amount of personalization but use a fraction of the space. For this workspace, orchids and ferns add a touch of color and complement the earthy sophistication theme.
With these three simple steps, you can transform your workspace and your mindset while making the space comfortable and unique.