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.