When you are a guest you want to feel welcomed and pampered, so why would you want any less for guests in your own home? You don’t of course! You want to provide a haven where they will feel like they are visiting a five-star hotel, regardless of the purpose of their visit.

Your Chicago furniture dealer can help you achieve a guest oasis in the midst of your home, no matter how chaotic is seems to be most of the time. If you truly have a dedicated guest room it is set aside for guests and ready at all times. It is not a catch-all for items you can’t decide what to do with or a repository for all your old furniture.

Your guest room must be clean, smell fresh (not like cleaning solution) and look inviting. It should be somewhere you would love to stay if you were away from home. When shopping at your best furniture Chicago retailer bring in your chosen color palette and some style ideas and let the designers assist you in preparing your guest paradise.

You don’t have to spend a lot. Some basic yet comfortable bedroom pieces, including a comfortable chair for reading or watching television mixed with some interesting pieces you already own can create the effect of being in an upscale hotel. Chicago furniture dealers will help you decide the scale and number of pieces to best meet the needs of your guests.

After shopping for the best furniture in Chicago for the key pieces, be sure to clean out the closets and buy some quality linens for your guests. Then don’t forget the posh and thoughtful touches: a basket of towels and soaps on the bed, some chocolates or mints on the pillow, and reading material, including some literature on local sites or events.

Attention-getting colors, large blocks of color and bold, bold, bold are the bedding trends we are seeing this year and they are the perfect compliment to the sleek, understated bedroom furniture that has become the rage.

Silks, cottons, or even fabrics with more texture like wool and organza find their way into bed coverings for the savvy sleeper. Whether you want something to wow the eyes or prefer bedding that is all snuggle and comfort, there is a bold pattern and a perfect color waiting for you.

Although trends come and go, as bold stripes in bedding will someday, your Chicago furniture dealer is here to stay with a custom design for any style of home and the perfect bed to match that gorgeous ensemble you saw in the downtown window and plan to build the entire bedroom around.

Whether it’s a soft, natural layered look that requires graceful lines in the accent pieces and a feminine headboard or bold, geometric stripes that call for contemporary lines and metallic accents, the dealers of the best furniture Chicago offers will have exactly what you need.

Leathers and plastics are even showing up as bedding accents – and what better way to bring in some texture and connect to your western Victorian or ultra-modern bedroom pieces. Chicago furniture dealers are happy to help you select any portion of your room décor and will gladly help you choose the perfect bed to cover with your ideal bedding set.

So when shopping for the best furniture Chicago has to pamper yourself in a bedroom oasis, keep in mind that custom means the professional staff will work to find exactly your style and to coordinate with any existing pieces or ideas you have.

We’ve downsized a lot since the Big 80s – cars, hair and many other things have been minimized. In the last decade furniture has begun to follow that trend as well. With the baby boomers retiring to smaller quarters, young professionals gravitating to smaller urban apartments and some of us just trying to save money by downsizing out homes, the need for slimmer furniture is at its peak.

Chicago, Illinois furniture retailers have noted and met this demand for smaller profiles in chairs and shorter sofas. Small-scale furnishings may not be in the majority but they certainly have their place in the decorating market.

Manufacturers and designers don’t limit their selections to seating; tables, beds and other functional pieces are being scaled down to fit into consumers’ homes. Your Chicago furniture dealer will likely have a slimmer version of what you now own if you need to save on space. Just don’t expect the price to be scaled down as well. Most pieces run about the same cost-wise as their larger siblings.

Rooms are getting smaller as well. The high ceilings and open spaces – such as the “great room” – so popular in the last decade are slowly giving way to smaller “purposed” rooms. Media rooms, offices, even crafting or scrapbooking rooms are showing up in today’s homes. Chicago, Illinois furniture buyers are looking for smaller pieces to be in synch with their smaller spaces.

So for those who have noticed their floor plans being a bit crowded, visit the designers at your custom furniture store in Chicago, Walter E. Smithe, for assistance finding pieces to perfect scale for your lifestyle. Whether you need to swap out the high-backed dining chairs for something lower or trade your eight-foot sofa for one a half foot shorter, they have the resources and ideas to make your floor plan work.

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 . . . .

Accent tables may not be the first thing you shop for to furnish a room, but they can certainly be the finishing touch and provide a hint of your personal style or even a touch of whimsy.

Your Chicago furniture dealer can offer you styles of accent table in a variety of styles and materials. If you prefer a classic or traditional style, wooden and detailed may fit in your décor. Those with a more modern or even a retro preference might look to metal or even acrylic in flowing shapes or transparent designs.

The fun part about the accent table it that it is what the name implies – an accent. This does not have to be a functional piece, but it might as well be. Why not perch a lamp or basket on top or fan your favorite decorating magazines across the surface? Buyers of Chicago furniture modern styles will appreciate the freedom in decorating that accent tables provide.

The accent should be on your personal style. If you are eclectic or eccentric you may want to mix in a few existing pieces or flea market finds with your purchased tables. A stack of antique hat boxes, an old steamer trunk, a brightly-painted milk can or any other fun items that can stand on their own can be pressed into service as an accent table. Chicago furniture dealers have many choices and ideas on how to best use accent tables to maximize your room space and personal style.

Retailers with Chicago furniture modern pieces also carry items made from repurposed and recycled materials which add a point of interest to a room. Many of these pieces are unique and unusual, so can become a conversation focal point in your décor.

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.

The air is warmer and the sun in streaming through the window – highlighting the dust motes in the air and the grime on the outer window pane. It’s definitely time for spring cleaning. The problem is the actual cleaning doesn’t usually provide the emotional satisfaction we need. Chicago contemporary furniture dealers have many pieces and designs to help you make a change for spring.

The drive to freshen and update our décor, bring in a lighter color or new accessory or just make any kind of change is almost unavoidable this time of year. A small change like finding ways to let in natural light or trying out a fresh paint color can give you the sense of renewal you crave. If it’s drastic change you seek, there are many places to find ideas and advice on total room or home makeovers. Your Chicago furniture dealer can offer many ideas or help turn your own ideas into reality.

The Whole Living channel is presenting renovations segments at 11 a.m. Mondays through the month of April. It can be found at Sirius 112 and XM157. Your favorite magazine can be the perfect place to pick up spring redecorating ideas. Sometimes just looking at the cover is an inspiration. Buyers of Chicago contemporary furniture also may want to look at trends online.

Retaining your personal style and comfort is key in creating a welcoming and stylish home. The radio segments of Whole Living will address how to create a balance of all these aspects. Once you have a fresh idea, visit your Chicago furniture dealer for help in bringing it to life.

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.

Cozy kitchens are what we strive for, but when the space it too small “cozy” can easily cross the line to “crowded”. Among the many ways to maximize kitchen space, several revolve around clever use of light. Your Chicago furniture dealer offers these ideas to help you use your small space to its full potential.

Starting with a palette of white or another pale, reflective color will make the room seem larger. Bringing in as much natural light as possible begins with: sheer curtains or even bare windows; frosted glass doors to brighten and open up the space; reflective surfaces on appliances and countertops; replace cabinet doors with glass or leave them open altogether; clever use of mirrors to create the optical illusion of twice the space.

Keeping the furniture to scale and choosing pieces that are thin or visually lights, with clean profiles and metallic or light-colored surfaces will continue the feeling of space and light throughout the room. Another enemy of small spaces is clutter. When visiting your Chicago furniture dealer, be selective in what is kept on the countertops and use attractive containers or baskets not only to help decorate but to store items that might clutter surfaces. Tiered hanging baskets or open stackable bins will add interest to the room and draw the eye upward, adding the illusion of more space.

Women are very conscious of the effect of wide striped in clothing, but that widening effect can be just the ticket for a small room. Integrating a large pattern or wide boards on the floor will broaden the room visually. Even a low contrast patterned or striped rug can achieve this effect. In comparing furniture retailers Chicago customers will likely find one who will offer design services to help with these space-saving tips.

If it is structurally possible, consider removing a partial or complete wall from the kitchen and allowing for flow into adjoining room. This not only can be beneficial for increased space, but may be just what your need to get more family time or allow entertaining on a larger scale.

Using between-the-wall space can solve storage needs in a small space. Creating shelves which are flush with the wall and use the space between studs will save actual room space. Such shelving can be trimmed out to match the woodwork and blend perfectly into the room.

Decreasing the size of the stove hood can really open up a small kitchen. Small appliances that are frequently used can be mounted under the cabinets rather than left on the countertop. This gives the room a cleaner look overall and frees up premium counter space for working. Chicago furniture retailers have many options to offer customers in range hood placement.

Do you dream of April in Paris, or just wish you could dream in a room that looked like it should be in Paris? Decorating with a destination in mind can be affordable and fun when you borrow ideas from others who have tried it, take time to search for pieces you love from affordable sources, and are willing to go to Plan B when your first choice is too pricey or unavailable.

When shopping Chicago furniture sales, always keep in mind the piece and style you want. Don’t buy something just because it is on sale. If your goal is to transform your bedroom into a Parisian apartment then go for it!

Of course, you have to decide on your own interpretation that that Parisian feel, but some of the traditional or recognizable elements include striped walls (or at least one accent wall), an elegant chandelier, white-washed or pale wall colors, black or dark-finished furniture, and some bold textile pattern. Your Chicago furniture dealer can help you choose the perfect pieces to blend with this look.

Often the bold pattern involves a floral or toile. This textile print can be coordinated or echoed from quilt to rug to upholstery. Drapes, traditionally, are monotone or two-tone, opulent and full to the floor and of silk or satin. In finding the best furniture Chicago carries, you often find design services which will help you coordinate the entire look of your room.

In a Parisian bedroom, a sitting area is very common. A simple wooden frame, upholstered occasional chair paired with an elegant side table keeps things simple. A wall grouping with black and white photos or floral prints can dress up a corner and offer an oasis-within-the-oasis. Your favorite Chicago furniture dealer has pieces available in the French tradition.

Most importantly, remember to fill the room with things you love. Even if a piece isn’t particularly Parisian, if you appreciate the way it blends with the theme and it makes you smile, add it in. When it comes to Chicago furniture sales and buying the perfect piece, this is your creation and your idea of Paris.