With the popularity of the HGTV show Fixer Upper, decorating in farmhouse style has become a very popular trend these days. If you love natural, hardy materials and vintage-inspired accessories, this style of interior design could be right for you. Here are some tips for decorating your home in farmhouse style.

• Matchy-matchy is a no-no: The key to creating a farmhouse look is to make it appear as though the room has evolved over time, even if you bought everything on the same day. All furniture items and accessories should incorporate different materials and be of varying styles. This creates the charm so characteristic of farmhouse style.

• All the right materials in all the right places: While you can always bend the rules, especially with the eclectic farmhouse style, aim to incorporate wood floors, sliding barn doors, butcher block countertops, painted wood tables, vintage metal and wicker chairs, soft slip-covered sofas, and copper and brass fixtures in your farmhouse style home.
• Texture, texture everywhere: The cozy, laidback feel of this interior design style is owed in part to the high level of texture. Wood plank or beadboard walls, exposed ceiling beams, open shelving, weathered wood finishes, and vintage textiles like wicker and burlap add graininess and depth to the room. This is exactly what you want when decorating in the farmhouse style.
• Vintage accessories galore: Do you have some antique family

  heirlooms? Display them on floor-to-ceiling shelving to add instant farmhouse character and texture. Even if you don’t have heirlooms, you can shop for vintage accessories to incorporate into your home. Look for antique lamps and light fixtures, old barcarts to display books and tea towels, vintage apple-picking ladders you can convert into bookshelves, and a charming armoire to use as a pantry in your kitchen.

Decorating your home in farmhouse style is a process that may not be possible to complete in one day. Collecting a diverse mix of antique and antique-inspired décor takes time.

As your home design evolves into the farmhouse style, be sure to stop by Smith Village Home Furnishings to help you create the look you’re going for. Our Farmhouse Collection has gorgeous TV consoles and hutches for your living room, and many of our other furniture collections have assorted pieces for other rooms in your home. Check us out in person or online, or call us today at 717-200-2018 for more information about what we offer!

When the weather starts to warm up, do you crave outdoor living? If your backyard currently leaves much to be desired, follow these tips for creating an outdoor room just in time for spring.

• Choose the right furniture. You want to be equally as comfortable outside as you are inside your home. To accomplish this, you must choose your patio furniture carefully. Look for a combination of comfort and durability with weather-treated wicker and wood, quick-draining cushions, mildew-resistant pillows, and upholstery that won’t fade in the sun.
• Provide some shade. To make your outdoor room more comfortable, make sure you have a covered area to retreat towhen it’s hot or raining. You might build a Southern-style porch, install a retractable awning, erect a pergola or canopy, or set up a cantilevered umbrella. The chance to relax in the shade helps you make the most of your outdoor room.

• Incorporate a heating option. When you want to extend thebackyard fun into early spring and late fall, you need a way to keep warm. Your options include setting up a gas patio heater or putting in an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Whichever you choose, this source of heat and light is sure to be the centerpiece of your outdoor room.
• Remember lighting. A roaring outdoor fireplace might not provide enough light for backyard parties after dark. From tabletop lanterns to wall sconces to lights hanging from the trees, you can create whatever aesthetic you want with versatile outdoor lighting options.
• Consider your flooring. The options range from concrete patios to wood decks to stone pavers. For covered porches, you can even lay down an all-weather rug for greater comfort underfoot. Remember, the material you choose changes the aesthetics and maintenance requirements of the space.
• Address privacy concerns. Spending time outdoors doesn’t mean you must put up with your neighbor’s prying eyes. Create privacy with walls, fences, hedgerows, trees, vine-covered trellises, curtains, screens and more.
• Decorate your outdoor room. Once you’ve added all the practical elements, it’s time to think about decorations. A fountain, pond or other water feature could add the tranquility required to use your outdoor room as a meditation space. Potted plants are also a must for softening hard edges, defining borders and adding life to your outdoor living space.

As you strive to create the perfect outdoor room this spring, be sure to visit Smith Village Home Furnishings for the patio furniture you’re looking for. We have outdoor dining tables, chairs, chaises, sectionals, heaters, fire pit tables, umbrellas and much more! Check us out in person or online, or call us today at 717-200-2018 for more information about what we offer.

If you came of age in the 80’s, like I did, you probably remember Bruce Springsteen’s iconic album, Born In The U.S.A., and irritated your parents by loudly singing along to cuts like “Dancing In The Dark,” “I’m On Fire”, “Glory Days,” “My Hometown,” and of course the title track.  Many of the songs referenced small town life and America’s manufacturing roots.  It seemed to be a simpler time then. Continue reading Made In The USA →