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Autism Friendly Design Tips

Rockridge Furniture March 29, 2021

image source: https://yourkidstable.com/cool-down-spot/

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. https://www.autismspeaks.org/

Children with ASD range in levels of severity, each having different sensory and emotional needs. Designing your house with a child with autism in mind is not about adding restrictions, but more about adapting your home to the needs of your child. Here are 5 design tips to create a more autism-friendly space:

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Lighting: Lighting affects everyone’s mood and behavior. Black out curtains, low pile rugs to reduce glare, or desk or floor lamps near work areas, make it easier to manipulate the lighting depending on your child’s mood and daily routine.

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Storage with easy to read labels. Storage bins with easy to read labels, like pictures or words that your child can recognize, promotes independence and eliminates clutter. A clean and organized environment reduces anxiety and helps stimulate executive functioning.

image source: buybuybaby.com

Child proofing furniture. Adding rubber bumpers on furniture with sharp edges and corners is a smart and easy design installation. Also, securing tall pieces of furniture to the wall, like bookshelves or dressers, will prevent them from tipping over if your child has the urge to climb!

image source: bestbuy.com

Locks can save lives. Storing all household chemicals, like cleaning products and medications, in one cabinet with a high security padlock can stop those curious little minds from getting their hands and mouth into poisinous products.
Elopement is common in children with autism, it is when they wander away from the safety of their own homes or a secure location. This is extremely dangerous because they can get lost and injured. If your child doesn’t understand their safe boundaries, sometimes having a double sided deadbolt is the only way to prevent your child from wandering away.

image source: https://www.themomkind.com/create-calming-space-autism/

A quiet space. One of the most vital design adjustments to make for your child with ASD is designating a quiet area for them. They need a special place to recenter themselves after being over-stimulated. To create this quiet space, first learn what helps to calm them down, then apply it to that space. It doesn’t need to be an entire room, just make sure to define the space with a soft toned rug, or a small tent. The space should have dim lighting and cushions with different sensory textures. You can also provide noise cancelling headphones or a bluetooth speaker to play calming music.

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What Your Front Door Color Says About You

Rockridge Furniture March 23, 2021

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Did you know that you can express who you are through the color of your front door? Each color conveys a different meaning and communicates a certain tone. Here are our top 5 favorite colors and their meanings.

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A black door expresses a more modern vibe. It reveals that you are neat and tidy, but you also embody a sophisticated and trendy style.

image source: betweennapsontheporch.net

A green door shows that you value your health, the environment, and peace. It can also resemble wealth and prosperity.

image source: fineartamerica.com

One of our personal favorites, a yellow door screams creativity, confidence, and humor. Seeing a yellow door can’t help but make you smile.

image source: beginninginthemiddle.net

Painting your door red is an early American tradition. It means Welcome and shows that you love to entertain.

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A blue door is very inviting because it tells your neighbors that you are positive, friendly, and calm.

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5 Ways to Freshen Up Your Decor for Spring

Rockridge Furniture March 19, 2021

image source: https://ourcloverhouse.blogspot.com/

Happy Spring! It’s finally time to welcome the longer days, smell the blooming flowers, and freshen up your home decor. Here are 5 simple design tips to revive your home decor for the springtime:

image source: https://www.tidbits-cami.com/

Clean your windows.

Clean the outside and the inside of your windows, so your home can soak in as much sunlight as possible. If you have heavy drapes on your windows, replace them with light and airy ones.

image source: shiplapandshells.com

Switch out your toss pillow covers and throw blankets.

Changing the small things can go a long way. Spring is the perfect time to switch up the covers on your toss pillows and throw blankets. Replace them with lighter and brighter fabrics. If you love patterns, try nature-inspired fabrics.

image source: https://www.wilshirecollections.com

Freshen up your accessories.

Declutter and reorganize the accessories on your coffee table, fireplace mantel, or bookshelves. Freshen up your surfaces with colorful, glass vases filled with blooming flowers. Switch out your coffee table books for a more spring inspired theme.

image source: https://dailydoseofcharm.com/

Glam up your closet.

Nothing says springtime than an updated and refreshed wardrobe! Give your closet the makeover it deserves. Besides organizing your closet, if you have a walk-in closet, update your light fixture to something more glamorous or add fun wallpaper. Incorporating new storage, like boxes or shelves, or just making sure you have nice, uniformed hangers can make a huge difference in your closet.

image source: https://decoratedlife.com/

Paint or wallpaper a piece of old furniture.

Spring is a great time for renewal. Dust off a piece of old furniture, like a small side table, shelf, or dresser and bring it back to life. Paint it a brighter color or cover it with vibrant wallpaper.

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5 Things Every Homeowner Should Do When Daylight Savings Begins

Rockridge Furniture March 12, 2021

Daylight Savings is almost here! Besides resetting the clock on your microwave, stove, and car, use this time as a reminder to reset other things around your house . Here are the top 5 things to readjust in your home during Spring Forward:

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Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you’ve changed the batteries recently, test the alarms to make sure they’re working.

image source: https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Air-Conditioner-Coils

Switch out the filters for your heater, air conditioner, vacuum, and air purifiers. Daylight Savings is a great time to remind yourself to eliminate the dust accumulated during the winter and change out or clean your filters for new and clean ones. This way you will remember to change them every year.

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Dust off your window treatments. You’ll want to take full advantage of the longer summer days, so dust off your curtains or shades and let the sun shine through!

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Prep your garden. Spring Forward means that spring is just around the corner, it’s time to pull out the weeds, clean out the flower beds of dead branches and leaves, and loosen up the soil.

image source: https://www.merricksart.com/

Update your wardrobe. Lastly, clean out your closet and switch out your outfits for spring attire.

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Design Tips: Choosing the Perfect Wallpaper

Rockridge Furniture March 2, 2021

image source: muralswallpaper.com

Wallpaper comes in many different styles, colors, patterns, and textures. You can cover a wall with a mural wallpaper of a rainforest, or you can wallpaper a black and white geometric pattern on all four of your walls, or you can even cover your entire room in a velvet flocked wallpaper. Here are 5 design tips that will help you choose the perfect wallpaper for your room:

image source: https://www.theglampad.com/

Match the wallpaper to the decorating style of the room.

First, you have to decide which decorating style you want for your room. If it’s a traditional style room, try stripes or an elegant floral pattern wallpaper. For a more modern look, go for a bold geometric pattern with metallic accents.

image source: https://www.livetteswallpaper.com/

Choose a pattern that compliments the size of your space.

Patterns affect the size and shape of the room. Vertically lined patterns can make your room appear taller because it causes the eye to move upward, perfect for a small space, like a bathroom. Horizontal patterns can create an intimate and cozy environment, great for a reading room or nursery. If you have imperfections on the walls, textured wallpaper can help hide them. The patterns on textured wallpaper will blend with your popcorn or orange peel walls.

image source: muralsyourway.com

Depending on how many walls you want to cover, will also determine which design of wallpaper will look best in the space.

If you cover all four walls, a simple and large-scale design will give the room an updated and contemporary look. If you want to cover only one wall, a mural wallpaper or a brighter, more intricate pattern wallpaper can enhance the design of the space. For example, in a home office, putting wallpaper on the wall behind the desk and chair will give your office a modern and sophisticated design.

image source: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/roll-call-how-to-measure-for-wallpaper-stsetivw-vs~80854181

Measure your space to determine how much wallpaper to purchase.

If you are covering the entire room, measure all walls and multiply the width by the height of each wall in feet. Then, add all measurements to get the total square footage. Don’t forget to subtract windows and doors. Always order one roll extra than what you need, incase of any mishaps!

image source: https://www.wallpapersingapore.com.sg/articles/step-by-step-guide-on-installing-wallpaper.html

Non-woven versus woven wallpaper.

Non-woven wallpaper is backed with paper and easily strippable which is a great option to have when you don’t want anything permanent on your walls. It’s also a fairly easy application, first you apply the paste directly onto the wall with a roller, and then you hang the wallpaper dry.

Woven wallpaper is backed with fabric and is recommended for high traffic areas because it’s more resistant to grease and moisture, and it can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Depending on the brand, there are two ways to apply woven wallpaper, the “paste-the-wall” or the “paste-the-paper’ method. The latter is harder to apply on your own, so it’s best to have a couple of friends help out or hire a professional.

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5 Decorating Styles Defined

Rockridge Furniture February 27, 2021

image source: khayni.com

Interior design has a vast array of unique styles, inspired by history and the ever-evolving environment. Here we will define 5 of the most popular decorating styles.

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Traditional style celebrates comfort and elegance. It breathes history and antiques, greatly inspired by 18th and 19th-century European decor.

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Modern interior design style is an ode to early to mid 20th century. It focuses on sleek lines, mostly wood, leather, stone, and metal textures, and geometrical shapes. The overall tone is minimal, but bold.

image source: https://jcathell.com/

Transitional style is a mix of both traditional and modern design. It has the sleek and minimal look of the modern aesthetic, but also conveys the sophisticated and more comfy vibe of the traditional style.

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Contemporary design is about the now and is always evolving. It has more freedom than modern design and leans towards round and softened features. Contemporary style has clean lines, a light and airy tone, and a luxurious feel.

image source: https://maincompany.com/

Industrial interior design style has a cool warehouse vibe that showcases the natural, unfinished look of its materials. From metals, to raw woods, to exposed pipes and bricks, the industrial design is inspired by rugged textures and vintage and antique pieces.

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5 Future Home Design Trends

Rockridge Furniture February 19, 2021

image source: centuryroofandsolar.com

Advanced technology, eco-friendly building materials, and energy efficient options are paving the way for new home designs. Here are 5 future interior design trends that are already changing the course for home design:

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Sustainable Home Gardens

Creating a sustainable home garden is a lifestyle that benefits your health and your savings. More people are gravitating to the idea of using less chemicals and practicing greener alternatives to grow their own food.

image source: zippboxx.com

Built-In Storage Spaces

Homes are being designed with built-in storage spaces, like drawers built underneath the staircase. People are looking for more space so they can have their own gym, a home office, and a home theater system, instead of wasting the extra square footage on storage.

image source: landscapingnetwork.com

Solar Panels

We are going to see more solar panels on roofs. With the need to save energy and the demand for a more green planet, installing solar panels are becoming more accessible to homeowners.

image source: farmhousehub.com

Home Office:

The home office won’t be a last minute add-on. A couple of years ago, you had a home office because you had an extra room to spare, and maybe you used it once in awhile to sort out your mail, pay your bills, or file your taxes. But now, more companies are transitioning to remote working.

image source: https://www.pcmag.com

Smart Home

Homes are now being built with the Smart Home technology in mind. We’re already seeing this trend with Google Home. You can control the temperature, lights, security system, alarms, cameras, etc. on a touch pad on your wall or through your smart phone.

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Design Tips: How to Hide the 5 Most Common Household Eyesores

Rockridge Furniture February 10, 2021

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Did you know that hiding even the smallest home eyesores can actually elevate your interior design? Here are the 5 most common, unsightly household details that you can easily hide:

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Fuse Box

Hide your fuse box with a mirror or an art piece. Make it easy to remove from the wall, in case you need to get inside.

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Radiators

Transform your radiator into a modern display shelf. Hang a wooden shelf just slightly on top of the radiator and display your most beautiful knick-knacks to distract your eyes from the eyesore below.

image source: aristair.com

Outdoor AC Unit

Cover your outdoor AC unit with a custom planter or a picket fence. This also helps reduce noise pollution.

image source: http://www.blissbloomblog.com/

Thermostat

Just like the fuse box, cover your thermostat with wall art. Install hinges on the wall, so you can easily swing your framed piece open when you need to adjust your thermostat.

image source: https://mymodernmet.com

Cords

TV cords, cable cords, computer cords, charging cords, etc, we’re surrounded, but our home doesn’t need to drown in electrical cords. Conceal your tv chords with a cord cover that you can simply stick to the wall. For all those messy computer cords, store them in a basket under your desk.

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5 Design Tips When Enhancing Your Color Scheme

Rockridge Furniture February 2, 2021

image source: https://www.pinterest.com/cutsandcrumbles/_created/

Are you tired of the color palette in your home? Even if you’re not starting from scratch, but simply updating the color scheme in your space, follow these simple color tips to help get you started.

Start with color inspiration.

Look at decor magazines, art work, or social media platforms to find color inspiration. Ask yourself, can I live with these colors in my home? How do these colors affect my mood? Do these colors fit my personality and my lifestyle?

image source: https://stylesourcebook.com.au/boards

Create a color mood board.

A color mood board is an organized way to layout all your ideas and inspiration, so you can see what will work for your space. Magazine cutouts, paint chips, fabric swatches, photos, can all go on your mood board. Don’t feel like you have to jam all your ideas into one gigantic board, you can always create a mood board for each room in your home.

image source: https://thefairmountflat.com/blog/60-30-10-rule-for-decorating

Follow the simple 60-30-10 color rule.

If you have too many colors in mind and you’re feeling overwhelmed, then edit down your color palette and follow the simple 60-30-10 color rule.

60 percent is the main color of the room, which often covers the walls, area rug, and sofa.

30 percent is the second color in charge. You would use this color on chairs, side tables, and window treatments.

10 percent is your fun and bold accent color. The color should be on decorative pieces, like accent pillows, throw blankets, stylish lamps, vases, artwork, etc.

image source: https://intentionaldesigns.com/2017/04/27/monochromatic-bedroom-of-your-dreams-in-6-quick-steps/

Try a monochromatic color scheme.

If you’re aiming for a more classic and modest color scheme, a neutral monochromatic color scheme is your best choice. It’s based on one neutral color – like white, beige, grey, etc – and uses its various shades and tones to add depth and character. To keep your space from appearing dull and boring, add texture and patterns through decorative accessories, accent chairs, throw pillows, and rugs.

image source:

http://ksmithinteriors.com/blog/2016/7/25/the-right-way-to-test-paint-color

Sample your colors before committing.

When choosing a wall color, always test out the paint directly on the wall before committing to a paint color. The texture of the wall, the way natural light hits or doesn’t hit the wall, and the type of lighting in the space, all should be factored in when deciding the paint color.

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Design Tips: Decorating Your Living Room in Layers

Rockridge Furniture January 25, 2021

image source: etsy.com/shop/MumeStore

To design a beautiful and comfortable living room, it’s essential that you have all the necessities, like a rug, a sofa, and personal touches. If you don’t know where to start, begin by looking at your living room in layers. Focus on these 5 layers and your living room is on its way to becoming your own luxurious retreat.

image source: etsy.com

Layer 1: The rug is the anchor of the room. It’s what holds the space together. Sometimes, a bold rug is all you need to add character to the room. A rug is especially important when it’s an open floor plan. It visually defines the area, separating it from the dining room and kitchen.

image source: elledecor.com

Layer 2: The next layer are the main furniture pieces, like the sofa, accent chair, and coffee table. This layer establishes the main purpose of the living room, to sit and relax. Mix and match colors, styles, and silhouettes. This layer sets the tone for the other layers to follow.

image source: https://www.homestolove.com.au/

Layer 3: Furniture layout is the most overlooked layer. The layout manipulates the energy in the space. Pay close attention to the natural flow of your living room and work with it and not against it. For example, position your sofa so that it faces the entrance of the room, so you have a clear view of who’s entering the space.

image source: https://decoholic.org/

Layer 4: This layer is about adding your own personality to the living room. Art work, house plants, books, and accessories like family heirlooms or things you’ve collected while traveling, all add a personal charm to the space. Just remember, keep the accessories to a minimum so you can actually appreciate what you display rather than being overwhelmed with an array of knickknacks.

image source: amazon.com

Layer 5: The last layer, texture, is like the icing on the cake. Adding a layer of cozy textures, like plush toss pillows, soft throw blankets, velvet ottomans, etc, is the extra touch that every living room needs to feel and look inviting.

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