Elevating Your Home: Affordable Luxury Furniture & Decor

3 KEY TIPS FOR PERFECT SIDE TABLES

Side tables are like the supporting players to a leading-lady sofa. They rarely get the glory, yet they're vital in their own low-key way. They can help to give a space a well-rounded, polished look apart from being functional to place your lamps or a perch for drinks and floral arrangements. They also whisper of a homeowner who pays attention to details. 

That said, they can be tough to get right sometimes. They come in many different styles, sizes and finishes. And because you typically need two rather than one, you want to be doubly sure you choose winners. So, to help you find them, we have got 3 essential tips for the perfect side tables. Read on! 

SIZE MATTERS!

Before you start your hunt, be sure to get the measurements of your bed, sofa or lounge chair that you plan to place the side tables at. You wouldn't want the pairing to be disproportionate. 

Height, in particular, is one of the key factors to have a heads up on. You would aim to have your side tables to be lower or in the same height as your armrest. Simply for the comfort of reaching out for things on it without bumping your hand or to place a stylish lamp at the perfect height. See our guide for picking the perfect lamp for your interior! 

No armrest? Pretend that you are reaching out for a glass from the table to determine if it is of a comfortable height. 

CLUTTER CONTROL

Looking to tuck a small side table to boost functionality points, try one that can tuck to your couch or a nesting set! They are especially great when you have guests over and need more table space in the living room or for an engaging layering visual effect. 

For small clutter, drawers sure come in handy! 

SHAPE PERFECTION

Round and oval tables are pretty much fail-proof. They add another shape to a room that typically has a lot of rectangular pieces, like a sofa, coffee table and chairs. 

Clean lines and shapes balance out the accompanying furniture's softness. Some smart choices: glass, acrylic, metal and wood without much carving. 

If your furniture is modern, you can go with something more ornate.

Just make sure they fall in step with the height and scale guidelines above so that they are conversation pieces rather than nuisances. 

Find your pair of winners from our collection here!

5 STYLING GUEST ROOM TIPS

Friends visiting from out of town? Renting out a spare guest room while you're away? Whatever the reason, spoil your guests and show off your hosting abilities with these 5 simple steps. Read on! 

BREATHE LIFE INTO THE ROOM

Flowers and green plants add an immediate freshness to any room, and your guests will experience a warm welcome with the greeting of our potted friends. Pop flowers into a tall vase and accentuate alongside with shorter houseplants like cacti and succulents. If you’re not the biggest fan of live plants, try fake ones or low-maintenance terrariums, which do the job just as well.

CREATE HEAVEN ON A BED

We can’t deny it, fluffy cushions are the best. Predict the sleeping or lounging habits of your guests and fill the guest bed with extra cushions, pillows and throws. They instantly beautify the star of the room and are multi-functional; providing added comfort for reading or for propping up tired legs after a day out and about.

PROVIDE BEDSIDE ESSENTIALS

Guests are used to having a certain set of necessities within reach in their own bedrooms. Provide them with a bedside table to keep these nearby - a reading lamp, charging port and drawer space will enhance their overnight experience. We’ve all had that hotel room peeve: the power sockets for charging up your mobile device are by the TV, causing you to make the awkward decision of sitting in front of a blaring screen to use your phone simultaneously. None of that!

Up the cosy ambience with a room scent by adding a reed diffuser or scented candle.

PROVIDE IN-ROOM ENTERTAINMENT

That said, if you haven’t got a TV in the guest room, chances are your visitors will look to their phones or iPads for entertainment during their downtime. Reading materials, an audio dock and games are tidbits you can use to keep your guests occupied, all while having the full home-stay experience.

SET UP A MINI PANTRY

It’s natural for your guests to want a good amount of privacy within the room. Some guests may be shy to walk around the entire apartment to reach communal areas like the kitchen and living room, so it’d be an added delight to bring these things to them.

Think about the basic necessities they’d need. A pitcher of drinking water, a coffee machine and easy snacks will be sufficient to give them comfort and save them the hassle of leaving the room in the middle of the night. 

And of course, the perfect reason to park and style up a bar cart like the ones you have seen on Pinterest!  

Featured pieces for a cosy guest room are: Andre Corbeille Bed, Etienne Mirrored Side Table, Antoine Steel Metal Lamp, Sydney Acrylic Service Trolley, Yves Artsy Mirror, Langford Book Boxes, Faer Horse Porcelain Bookend. 

6 ESSENTIALS FOR A STYLISH LIVING ROOM

Putting together a stylish living room can be really effortless. All you'll ever need are 6 essential pieces to achieve that. And if you want to, layer on more pieces to complete a living room masterpiece without breaking a sweat! 

Read on to see our list of essentials for a stylish living room.

The Ultimate Essential
If there is a piece that one can not go without in the living room, it will have to be the sofa, whether it is a leather sofa or fabric sofa, a trendy velvet sofa or a chesterfield sofa in Singapore. Surely that's the whole idea of the living room furniture in the first place. Don't you agree?  

Pick the best sofa for yourself with our guide here.

 
Perfect Sidekicks
Apart from literally being by the sides of the sofa, mirrored side tables or end tables are ideal sidekicks for storage or for your cup of drink while you are on the couch. Handy!

Select the perfect sidekick for your sofa here.

 
Feet Hugs with Rugs 
Either to cozy it up or to anchor your selection of furniture visually, a luxury rug or a modern carpet is piece that provides feet hugs, and is a foolproof crowd pleaser.

See our styling tips for a statement rug here and the stylish collection of rugs.

 
Cushions, Cushions, Cushions
The best thing ever for comfort, style and coziness while being on the sofa? Nothing beats a lovely mix of designer throw cushions or luxurious sofa pillows if you ask us!

Give your sofa a quick refresh with a new set of decor cushions combination with our home decor styling tips here.

Amp it up with Lamps
We can not emphasize enough on how important it is to have a standing lamp or table lamp in your spaces. Apart from being just a light and ambience provider in the evenings, buy lamps in furniture shops or online decor stores that help add visual texture and dress up the living room. 

Kickstart your ambient search with our collection of stylish lamps here.
 

Wall Art 
Styling a room is not just about the lateral space. Your walls will need some tender loving care too. Create a visual focal point in the living room with a piece of art, painting, wall mirror. wall art sculpture or even an eclectic feature wall with a mixture of frame artworks and mirror!

Take your pick and buy mirror online over here for a curated collection of wall stunners.

For more lovely decorative pieces and trinkets to spruce your living room, head on over to designers' favorite home and decor store in Singapore to see our NEW lifestyle and decor collection!

4 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND - THE HOMEBODY EDITION

After a long week of hustle, sometimes all you want to do is stay home. We totally get it. On the blog today, 4 things that you can do this weekend while staying home. 

1. BE A COUCH POTATO

Best thing to do while staying home? On a comfy couch of course! Catch up on your drama series or snuggle up with fluffy cushions while reading your new book. 

For tips on caring for your fabric sofa, see a basic guide here. 

2. WORK ON HOUSEKEEPING

Clean your home and declutter! A good way to incorporate a work out and get fresher, cleaner space! Who wouldn't like a clean home? End your cleaning session by lighting your favourite scented candles for a lovely finishing touch.

3. REARRANGE YOUR DECOR

Been looking at Instagram and Pinterest for those #homedecorgoals? Get started with it! Restyle your shelves or console by swapping decor from different rooms. Spruce it up with conversational starters or flowers for a quick freshen up!

See our 6 essentials for console styling here. 

4. STAY IN BED 

Indeed. Just because you can, you should. After all, technology makes it possible to do everything without you having to leave your cosy spot. That includes having you check out our new AW17 collection and more here. 

You're welcomed. Have a good one! 

CARING FOR YOUR FABRIC SOFA

Up on the blog today, a quick guide on caring for your fabric sofa, especially velvet, the fabric that is going to be the furniture trend in 2018. Read on! 

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VELVET SOFA

Luxuriously soft and exuding quality, velvet modern chesterfield sofa is undeniably stylish and increasingly popular in fashion and interiors.

The term ‘velvet’ refers to the weave and not the fabric itself; silk, cotton and synthetics are most commonly used to make velvet. Woven on a specialist loom, the fabric creates a short dense pile which contributes to velvet’s distinctive look and feel. Throughout its life velvet can become crushed and loose its sheen, and regular care is required to maintain its look and feel.

Basic care

Vacuum regularly with a clean small brush attachment to prevent surface dust and small particles from settling. Doing this will also help with reversing any wear and maintaining the lushly textured pile. 

You can also dry brush with a soft-bristled hair brush or a dry microfiber cloth to remove hair or fuzz. This especially works if you need to clean it in a jiffy! 

Spills & Stains care

Due to its delicate nature, dry cleaning is recommended for big spills and stains. Water and liquid can stain velvet easily and needs to be dealt with quickly. Soft blot with a dry cloth and avoid rubbing and putting pressure on the fabric. Once you’ve blotted the surface, use a hairdryer at a safe distance to lightly dry the affected area to avoid marking. Finish by brushing the pile to avoid matting.

For dry stain, vacuum or dry, soft bristle brush to gently brush. 

LINEN / COTTON / POLYESTER SOFA

Basic care

Similar to velvet, vacuum regularly with a clean small brush attachment to prevent surface dust and small particles from settling. Use a dry brush or a dry microfiber cloth to remove hair or dust. 

Spills & Stains care

Gently blot wet stain with a white cloth and be really careful that you’re not rubbing the stain. For spot cleaning, use water and a white cloth. A cleaning solution of any sort requires a spot test on a small area of the fabric that’s unseen, to make sure it doesn’t cause discoloration.

If you’d like to clean an entire sofa or another piece of linen furniture, you can sprinkle baking soda on it and then vacuum using a brush attachment. This can help remove stains and debris without the need for water or chemicals. On top of that, it can also remove any lingering odor that might be hiding in your linen furniture.

Meanwhile, if you’re unsure of how to clean your linen upholstery you should contact a professional. Rather than making a D.I.Y job out of it, let a professional handle it.

Despite their stylish and cozy look, some homeowners are still sceptical about owning a fabric sofa. We totally understand why. To help with the resilience to dust and stain, spraying a layer of fabric protectant bi-weekly or monthly may be the best option.