Whether you’re red or blue or just plain red, white and blue, campaign furniture may be just the unique touch you need to complete a historic look or spark a conversation. Your Chicago furniture dealer, without getting too political, wants to offer you the opportunity to bring a piece of history, or at least a replica of it, into your home.

If you’re not familiar with campaign furniture, let me enlighten you a bit. It really has nothing to do with politics, except so far as war and politics go together. Campaign furniture is actually thousands of years old, possibly invented by the Romans. About three hundred years ago the English decided it would be elegant, if not practical, to use in some of their war campaigns as the British attempted to conquer the world.

Now campaign furniture is among the best furniture Chicago buyers can find with historical significance. These campaign pieces were designed for easy travel. They could fold up or be dismantled to pack into the hold of a ship or the back of a horse cart.  Tables, chairs, desks, beds – almost anything a master carpenter could dream up and assemble without nails or screws might find its way into the tent of a high-ranking officer or ambassador.

Sometimes known as “knockdown furniture”, campaign pieces were very portable and took little time to set up. You might visit a Chicago furniture dealer to add one of these pieces to your décor as a novelty, but they can be useful as well as being a showpiece.

If may be difficult to picture a fancy wooden piece in the tents of our modern warfare, but we have to remember that the British liked to do things in style and the Romans did everything on a grand scale. We can just thank them for providing us with a novel decorating idea.

Buyers of the best furniture Chicago retailers offer are fortunate to be using these pieces as décor and not small comforts as they trek far from home on dangerous missions. Of course, we can choose to furnish an entire room with campaign pieces and never have to worry about breaking them down before the enemy advances or packing them into a cart for transport.

Most of the pieces were made of stronger woods like teak of mahogany, which could survive various climates, harsh travel conditions and insects. For us, these are just beautiful woods reminiscent of a bygone era.

Some antique campaign furniture never made it to the campaign. Some was just designed for country homes which were not used year-round. One very eccentric Roman emperor even had parquet flooring constructed and laid out in his tent. Those were the days . . . .

I’m in the middle of a mini-bathroom makeover due to a leaky shower. My parents are getting ready to renovate two bathrooms. Let’s be honest: we all want more from our bathrooms today than strict functionality. We want them to be fashionable, comfortable retreats which reflect out personal style as much as the rest of our home. Although you might not think about actual furniture in the bathroom, your Chicago furniture dealer has many suitable pieces.

When you prepare for a bathroom makeover the first thing to do is pad your budget. That’s because Murphy’s Law always applies to home renovation and bathroom renovation in particular.

I lived through a major bathroom renovation in my last house and it cost about twice as much as we thought it would. But the addition of a large custom closet for my clothing, a laundry closet and a Jacuzzi tub were well worth the mess and the stress! You know where to find the best furniture Chicago has to offer. Now do yourself a favor and find out where the best deals in fixtures are as well.

A few dollars can be saved if you do your own demo work, and, of course, you can save a bundle doing the entire project yourself. But that takes some knowledge and experience. Consider the possibility that you may encounter mold or water damage when you begin the demolition. This can add to your rebuilding cost.

Ventures into plumbing and electric work are best left to professionals. If you happen to have some licensed friends who owe you a favor, by all means give them a call! Other tasks like tiling and drywall can been done by the homeowner, but for a finished look I recommend a lesson. Many home improvement stores offer free workshops on these types of renovations.

With a bathroom space, your layout may be pretty well set, so think about smaller changes you can make such as cabinet and sink styles or how best to use the wall space. Well-placed outlets and good lighting and ventilation also should be discussed at the outset. Designers of the best furniture in Chicago can give you advice on room layout.

If it’s storage space you need, look at how you can work it into wall cabinets, closets or a vanity. Your Chicago furniture dealer will have ideas and samples of furniture-style sink stands and vanities you might want to incorporate. Make a mini-mock-up of the space – or better yet, a life-sized model out of appliance boxes. A friend advised me to do this before our first renovation and I was surprised at the difference in the real space and what I had pictured in my mind.

Keep in mind that even a small bathroom space can easily cost $4,000-5,000 to renovate. You may want to do the basic necessities and add in the niceties a bit at a time as your budget allows. As with any home project, choose something you like and that fits with your lifestyle. A bathroom is not as easy to trade out as a sofa.

Home design these days requires more than function. Home design must be a blend of personal style, convenience, comfort, and practicality. When incorporating today’s design trends into your home best furniture Chicago buyers will appreciate these tips.

Small handmade touches throughout a home can reflect your personal style and make your friends wonder if you hired a decorator. Mosaic or hand-painted tiles can create that designer look in a kitchen or bathroom.

For a sleeker look, borrow a page from last year’s Hollywood Regency design catalog and add silver accents to basic black and white. Chicago furniture modern style lovers will appreciate this trend.

When it comes to color, it’s a simple way to finish off a room. Choose a colorful textile in eastern design, a bright-colored religious icon or some pop art that will pop off your wall. Transitioning to pattern, look to stripes of all sizes and retro bubble patterns or classic patterns like Hound’s-tooth or Greek key.

The home office is also becoming a center of style within the home. Most of us prefer comfort and a space that’s pleasant to look at over function, so find your personal style and build it into the function. Incorporate textures in usable pieces like filing baskets and calendar or bulletin board frames. Then consider some green like a plant or piece of artwork to help warm up the space. Buyers of the best furniture Chicago will have no problem making this space their own.

Other ways of adapting a room to today’s trends can include changing the room layouts, furniture and fixtures for an aging population, which is a growing need with the large population of aging Boomers in our country.

Outdoor living spaces have become a much bigger part of our homes in the past few years. This might be a simple arrangement of furniture at the fire pit or a complete gourmet kitchen customized for the outdoors with pizza oven, grilling station and wine refrigerator. Special lighting, rugs, or even an outdoor television can make a back yard an oasis. Your Chicago furniture modern retailer can offer ideas for you outdoor space.

Everyone likes a new look for spring and you can accomplish it even if your budget is stretched tighter than a drumhead at the moment. All you need is your imagination. But your Chicago furniture dealer would be glad to give some advice as well.

To freshen up a room without breaking the bank, try painting. For about $100, sometimes much less, you can change the entire look of a room and accent architectural features. Try a bold color on an accent wall or just a brighter white for the trim.

Consider reusing, repurposing or recycling older pieces, yard sale bargains or even odds and ends that look like junk.  A wooden palette can painted as modern art. An antique quilt can become a slip cover, wall hanging or tablecloth. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to come up with an entirely new use for something. If you already own some of the best furniture Chicago retailers sell, mix in the old and new for a more eclectic look.

Slipcovers are the perfect way to freshen up furniture or change the color palette seasonally. Look for durable, washable fabrics and then have fun jazzing up you space with bright pillows or a graphic blanket tossed over the back of the sofa. Can’t find the exact color or pattern you want? Use dyes or tea to change them. You could even go a bit crazy and tie-dye your slipcovers. There’s nothing like a retro look for spring!

For big effect, cluster colors within your room. This could be a collection of colored glass, books or photos on a shelf or even dishes on a buffet or in open cabinets. A grouping of color provides visual impact and focus in a room. When shopping at your Chicago furniture dealer, take note of decorative accents and use of color.

Don’t forget textures. These can be layered in with fabrics and inexpensively and easily with natural elements. An odd-shaped rock, a framed leaf, shells, or a glass bottle filled with sand can all add a casual elegance and will cost little or nothing. Plants are also a healthy way to add texture and color – they help clean your air, after all.

To enhance your best furniture Chicago style, mix up your accessories.  Borrow a piece from the living room and showcase it in a bedroom or bathroom. Try placing items in unexpected places. Most importantly, keep your space comfortable and make sure it reflects your personality since you are the one who will look at it every day.

Ready to spruce up your living room for spring? It’s easy to do with style, if you can choose a style, that is. There are so many and each can reflect your personal lifestyle and design preference. Or you can base your decorating style on budget and current style.

Here are eight different styles to consider. Some may require a total makeover, and others may blend seamlessly with the style of your home’s architecture and your present furnishings. If you are on a tight budget, you may want to look at an eclectic or cottage style that could be achieved with pieces you already own or those you could buy secondhand. Buyers of Chicago furniture modern and contemporary will be glad to know their favorite furniture retailer offers design advice.

*Mid-century modern style take cues from nature and is rather minimalistic. If your home has large windows this might be a good look to try. Also, stick with an open floor plan and use elements of nature to bring the outdoors in. Finding a classic mid-century piece, one design site suggests an Eames chair, can be a starting point. Lots of woods pieces and organics will complete the room.

*A Contemporary look leans more toward rounded lines and neutral colors, using accent pieces to bring in color. To achieve this look you can begin with a neutral wall color in the gray or taupe range and sprinkle in bright-colored decorative pieces or textiles. Lamps or small furnishings should boast metallic finishes and clean lines. When shopping for the best furniture Chicago offers remember to check for accessories as well.

*If you already have a lot of pieces that you love, head for the eclectic side of decorating. You can comfortably mix time periods and styles if you connect your look with textures, colors or patterns. Keep the backdrop simple with a neutral color on the walls and look for commonality among your favorite pieces: similar wood trim; texture of upholstery; color; etc. Don’t be afraid to throw in your own unique touch.

*A look that’s easy to complete with attic cast-offs, grandma’s quilts and second-hand treasures is the Cottage look. Graceful curves and painted furnishings as well as old-fashioned striped, checked or floral textiles are the hallmark here.  Adding beadboard to the walls and painting in pastel colors will provide the backdrop you desire. Add in several frivolous or frilly pieces just for fun.

*Modern style also utilizes a base of neutrals, but incorporates asymmetrical elements and geometric shapes. Glass and metal surfaces or accessories will provide interest and graphic textiles or art a bold accent. When shopping for Chicago furniture modern style, remember that geometric shapes provide interest.

*If you prefer a bit more old-world, try on a Spanish flavor. Very colorful and flavored more rustic than contemporary, this style plays up architectural elements such as fireplaces and archways and blends a beautiful array of yellows, oranges, blues and greens – anything you would expect to see if you visited a Spanish village. Stucco walls make a powerful statement for not much money and distressed or dark woods bring in the old world flavor. Search out accessories that look like they came from the Spanish market – colorful dishes and pottery, wrought iron pieces and bright tapestries.

*Romantic style is very feminine and features light or sheer fabrics and pastel colors. Similar to the cottage style, but more polished and less busy, lace and ribbons on lampshades or curtains and overstuffed chairs and ottomans rule.
*Traditional style doesn’t have to look like your mother’s living room when you were growing up. If this is your taste, just update the basics. Stick with clean lines and symmetrical arrangements, more formal window treatments .  Also note your fabric choices – traditional covers tend toward damask and sometimes floral. Add a few favorite pieces to update and personalize your look. When shopping best furniture Chicago, look at the various showrooms to see what most closely fits the style you plan.