Have you ever had a room that was so cluttered with furniture you felt like Dorothy in Oz when she and her friends reach the enchanted apple orchard? Perhaps you feel the drawers are ready to fly open and bombard you with T-shirts and stray socks just like the tree pelted Dorothy and friends with apples.

Choosing bedroom furniture is important for just that reason and many times dressers are where we go wrong.  Deciding what, if any, dressers to purchase requires evaluation in several areas. The first area is the amount of clothing and accessories to be stored. The second is the available floor space in the room. Once these two factors have been determined, the questioning can move to size and style. When shopping furniture retail Chicago buyers want a variety to choose from and Smithe offers buyers of Chicago furniture modern and tradition beautiful custom pieces.

First, look at the amount of closet space you have. If there is sufficient hanging and shelf space in your closets to accommodate most of your clothing, dressers may not be necessary, or you may be able to get by with one smaller piece. Depending on the size of your closet, you might even want to consider placing a dresser in the closet for easy access and added floor space in the bedroom. Let’s face it, as buyers we want the best furniture Chicago retailers carry and we want it to fit perfectly in our room and our lifestyle.

If closet space is at a premium, you must decide on the style of furniture you prefer and evaluate whether one larger piece or multiple smaller pieces would better fit the size and style of the room. Several tall, dark pieces can be quite overwhelming in a small room (like Dorothy in and the apple trees). On the flip side, a large room with one or two small, low pieces may appear stark and under furnished. Sometimes the best furniture Chicago buyers find is when they seek help from an experienced decorating team at their Chicago furniture modern/traditional retailer.

Estimate the number of drawers needed, choose the furniture style you prefer and begin comparing pieces and sizes. Sketching out a scale model of your room with the pieces you like will give you a good idea of whether your dream pieces will fit in your available space. (Often they won’t except in your imagination!)

Take advantage of the decorating services offered at your furniture retail Chicago dealer.

Wondering how to furnish your bedroom to create a relaxing retreat and still meet all of your storage needs? There are many areas to consider and when you stop by your Chicago furniture dealer the experienced staff will help you find the perfect fit for your space and lifestyle.

One thing to assess is your storage space. How much of your clothing and accessories can be stored in the closet? Will you need a bureau (or two), an armoir, a vanity, nightstands, a lingerie chest or jewelry chest?  A few larger furniture pieces will allow buyers of Chicago contemporary furniture or traditional pieces to have more options in arranging the room and keep the room feeling more open and relaxed.

The scale of the set also must be considered. A more traditional, heavy or dark wood or a bed with posts or a massive headboard may feel oppressive in a small room with a low ceiling. Lighter colored wood, metal or even more contemporary upholstered pieces can work well in a smaller space. When looking for the best furniture Chicago buyers can rely on their favorite Chicago furniture dealer to find or create the perfect piece to meet their needs.

Knowing the size of bed you prefer will be a good starting point. Once you determine how much space the bed will use, other pieces can be worked in to meet your storage needs and compliment the space and style of the room.

Your Chicago furniture dealer has a huge variety of styles and sizes to choose from as well as a friendly staff to help add your personal touch to what should be the most tranquil room of your home.  When buying a bedroom set, shopping with pictures of a style you like and the measurements and layout of your bedroom will be helpful. Also, think through your storage needs so that you have enough furniture to accommodate everything but aren’t investing in unnecessary pieces that will take up extra room.

With a little planning, choosing the perfect bedroom set can be a simple and enjoyable experience for buyers in Chicago of contemporary furniture or those seeking a more traditional look.

When it comes time to furnish a new house, condo or apartment, it’s always a big decision what furniture will be the most aesthetically appealing, practical, balanced and complimentary to the rooms’ size and shape- and it should be.

Choosing a dining room set may be the most difficult since you’re usually not drawn to a specific table and chairs, as you would be to a bedroom set or unique sofa set. To begin the selection process, there are a few odds and ends that need to be figured out. First, how many people are you looking to seat? If you only live with one roommate, a four-person table should suffice with room for guests; but if you’re married with four children, you’re going to want a larger set, with maybe 8 seats, giving room if expanding the family is in the future and for sporadic guests.

Next, you’re going to want to measure the dimensions of the space you’re trying to fill. Knowing the space you have to work with is crucial since you don’t want to overcrowd the area- bringing me to my next point. Leaving space around the dining set is very important. Diners need room to maneuver around the table, and walk behind others who are seated.

The shape of the table needs to compliment the shape and size of the room, giving it presence. For instance, if you have a square-shaped room, a round table would soften the space and compliment it nicely. If you’re looking to give your dining room a more modern look, a square -shaped set should accomplish that. A higher table with more stool-like seats can also give a more contemporary look to a standard dining space. You can find a great selection of Chicago contemporary furniture at Walter E. Smithe.

Lastly, if you choose to dine in your kitchen, you may want to opt for a hardwood kitchen set that can be multi-purpose for things like baking, wrapping Christmas presents, office work, or cutting/ chopping ingredients. If you like  to dine in your living space, choose something that blends nicely with your sofa set and coffee table.

To top off the look, chose the right lighting. Dimmer lights and neutral-colored lamps make for a more sophisticated, relaxing setting while bright lights and colorful lamps create a more fun, upbeat ambiance.

To find your perfect dining room set Chicago, visit Walter E. Smithe, best in Chicago furniture sales.

They say that having a pet can reduce your stress measurably. But that’s only if you don’t have to worry about that cute, furry creature will do to your furniture.  If you saw “Marley and Me” then you know exactly what I mean. I know from my own experience that pets, and little boys, are the enemy of a sofa with pale fabric or a silk-covered wing chair. I’m thrilled that I found a place that makes the best furniture Chicago has to offer, and if I need my furniture tailored to be pet-proof, they can accommodate. Continue Reading

A small living space has one obvious advantage and one obvious disadvantage. The benefit being there’s less space to clean/furnish while the disadvantage is exactly how it sounds- its small. So how do you furnish this small living space while still having sufficient walking room and avoiding a claustrophobic feel?

To fill this area most efficiently, many interior designers and home decorators would suggest opting for a 3-piece sectional sofa. Although many tend to think they’re the bigger of the bunch, there are smaller versions available. Most sectional sofas are comprised of a regular sofa or love seat and one or two chairs combined.

In searching for the perfect  sectional for that small space of yours, it is recommended to take price and desired  seating occupancy  into consideration.  Now, its up to you whether you prefer a leather, suede, microsuede, or regular cloth set, but that will pretty much determine how much you’re going to shell out. Choosing top-of-the-line materials and upholstery could cost you a pretty penny, but then again, you’re actually buying less pieces with a sectional, so you’re most likely saving money had you gone with a typical 3, 4 or 5-piece sofa set. Also, if you’re willing to do some research, there’s a pretty good guarantee, you’ll find a piece that fits right with your budget.

In terms of desired seating occupancy, its pretty understood you’re not going to be able to fit Extreme Makeover’s volunteer team in your living room, but choosing a sectional sofa could definitely appease available seating issues, comfortably fitting 6 to 7 persons.  Adding a sectional to your space also gives you more room to work with. Just enough couch, with just enough extra space.

Visit Walter E. Smithe, your premier Chicago furniture dealer for all of your furniture needs. No matter the size of your living space, Walter E. Smithe will have plenty of options to suit your situation. If you decide to go with a leather sectional, Smithe will have the Chicago leather couch to complete your home. Dress up your home in Walter E. Smithe, the best furniture Chicago has to offer.