When you are ready to start choosing colors for your home’s decor, it may seem overwhelming.  There are so many to pick from but you don’t want to make your space look too busy or cluttered by choosing incorrectly.  Making sure you strike the right balance is a must, but many people don’t know where to start or what guidelines to use to ensure success in their endeavor.  To keep things simple, we suggest using a popular rule well known in interior design: The 60-30-10 rule.

What is the 60-30-10 rule? Using these numbers as basic percentages, you can break down how to properly distribute color throughout any room you want to decorate.  Three colors is a good number for a start.  No need to overwhelm the space with too many things going on.  The basic idea of the rule is to use 60% of the space for a dominant color, 30% on a secondary color and 10% on an accent color.

The dominant color, or 60% of your space, is usually reserved for wall color as this is the largest surface area in the room.  Using a neutral color is best since it will be more versatile if you want to change up the look of the room every now and then. Updating the accessories in the room is definitely easier than having to repaint all the walls.

The secondary color, or 30% of your space, refers mostly to any upholstered furniture in the room or even a large area rug.  It is also recommended to also choose a color that is more on the neutral side as well so that your large pieces complement the wall color as well as keep the focus on your accessories.  You can even play around with lighter or darker shades of the color you are currently using on the walls. 

The accent color, the final 10% of the space, is where you will be able to inject some fun into the room.  With the neutral foundation, you will have created in the space, choosing a color that pops will definitely draw the eye upon entering.  Using accessories in the same color family will keep you from having to use the same exact shade for everything.  For example, multiple shades of reds or blues will really shine when showcased properly.  Try to hang a picture or piece of art on the wall that ties in with your accent color to bring it all together.

Embrace the 60-30-10 rule today and see how easy it is to decorate any room in your home.

A house with carpet gives the homeowner and their visitors a welcoming feeling. Not only does it provide warmth and absorb noise, it also provides a dual sense of style and function.  Read on to learn about the benefits of having this material in your home.

The comfort that comes with having carpet on the floor can’t be beat.  With proper padding, carpet feels soft underneath your feet while also providing insulation to the room, making it a safer space for children to sit and play. While it provides better traction for young and old to walk on, any slips and falls that may occur will be absorbed by the material better than a non-carpeted surface.

If anyone in the home suffers from allergies or asthma, then carpeting may be a good choice. Carpet absorbs dust and allergens which are then easily removed through vacuuming, making for better air quality in your home.  Be sure to inquire about carpeting with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are emitted as gas and can cause irritation if inhaled. Proper cleaning and eco-friendly carpeting will ensure the air you are breathing is at its best.

The noise absorption that carpeting provides also makes it a good choice for your home. Installing this material in high traffic rooms and on stairs will help bring down the level of everyday noise that comes from visitors with their shoes on, running children and family pets. Your floors are protected from nicks and dents while you enjoy the lack of noise echoing throughout the house.

A feature worth looking into if the carpeted area is going to get some heavy use is stain-resistance.  Life happens. Pets have accidents, children spill drinks and sometimes guests tread dirt into your home with their shoes.  Know that there are choices for stain-resistant carpeting that still provide beauty and style.  Not only is it cost-effective, but it will last longer because the everyday messes that happen will be easier to clean.

Lastly, choose carpet for the style it provides to your home. It comes in all different lengths and colors to provide any look you want to achieve. Whether it’s a lighter carpet to make the room appear larger or a darker hue to add a sense of warmth, there are multiple fabrics out there to choose from.  Longer yarn can give the room a plush, intimate feeling while shorter lengths can provide a sense of durability in areas with high foot traffic. 

With so many benefits to carpeting, there is sure to be a room in your home that can be enhanced by this material.  Contact us today to find the best carpet for you. 

Making a fun and delicious family meal doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming. In fact the chicken can be cooked in the crock pot while you are at work. This receipt can be adjusted to feed two to four people. The ingredients do not have to be exact. If you want more or less of anything you can adjust.

Ingredients:

2-4 Boneless chicken breast (depending on how many people you are feeding, estimating one chicken breast for every one to two people)

1 Jar of Mild Salsa for every two chicken breast

Packet of Chicken Taco Seasoning

Tortilla Chips

Bag of Shredded Lettuce

1 Large Tomato

Sour Cream

Shredded Mexican Cheese, or Queso (heated in sauce pan)

Start:

Rub boneless chicken with the taco seasoning for chicken. Place chicken in crock pot and cover with salsa. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. After cooking, the chicken should be easily shred into smaller pieces.

Place tortilla chips into serving bowls. Top chips with the shredded chicken. Then add the shredded lettuce and chopped tomato. Add a dollop of sour cream on top.  Sprinkle on shredded Mexican cheese.

Suggestion: Buy a block of Mexican Queso. Cube cheese or shred. Add cheese to sauce pan and pour ¼ cup of milk in. Melt cheese on low and continue to stir. The cheese will thicken and then you can pour over your taco bowl.

Let the crock pot do the hard work. All you have left to do is prep and serve for dinner!

We all know how important it is to recycle items and keep them out of landfills. There are other items we can at least re-use once or many times over before tossing them in the trash. Read on to get nifty tips for re-using, re-purposing and up-cycling things that we typically throw away. This will help the planet and yourself!

Clothing that is not worthy to donate, because they have holes or stains, are great for turning into cleaning rags. Do not buy cleaning rags, simply cut up old clothing and add them to your laundry room. This works especially well for clothing made from all cotton.

Old toothbrushes make great brushes to use when cleaning jewelry that contains diamonds or gem stones. They also work well when cleaning small, narrow areas like grout.

Wine bottles can be transformed into cool table top torches, perfect for any patio or garden. Look online to find tutorials on this easy DIY project. Decorative glass bottles can also be used to store hand soap and other liquids you use around the house. Simply buy the tops used for liquor and keep salad dressing or dish soap in them. These glass bottles make wonderful single stem vases for cut flowers. Use them in groups by placing them around a room or line them down the center of a dining table.

Save old newspapers to wrap and store breakable items in. Paper keeps delicate Christmas decorations and delicate china safe, when not being used. There are loads of other items that this material can protect. You can also cut up or shred newspaper and add it to a compost pile.

Transform old books into nifty little hideaway containers to keep valuables in. This is another activity that can be easily explained online. Basically use a utility knife to cut a square out of the pages, where jewelry and other small items can be stored away. Place them on accent tables or hide them amongst other books in a bookshelf.

Being responsible for the environment is very important to us at Carpets N More.  Click here to learn more about the specialty floor options we offer and ask us how we are committed to doing what is best for our world.

Tile will always be in style, whether the look is classic or contemporary or anything in-between. But do you know about the latest looks available in the tile world today?  Find out the most popular trends in tile right now! Learn how to incorporate the latest fashion in your interior.

One of our favorite trends right now is placing tile on an entire wall in the kitchen. Who says backsplash should only be 18 inches high? Since backsplash is the jewelry of a kitchen, there is no reason to only use backsplash tiles in small portions. In other words start the backsplash at the counter top and install it all the way up to the ceiling. This looks especially good on the wall behind the range.

Typically, above the range there are few (if any) upper cabinets. This is the perfect location to showcase a beautiful tile backsplash! Apply this technique in kitchens with few upper cabinets (this is also trending as well). Run the tile behind floating shelves to really open up and beautify this space.

The classic chevron pattern has been showing up more and more in tile installation. This requires long skinny tiles. In the end the result is nothing short of stunning. A classic look is created in an eye catching manner. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Tile that appears to be other materials is enjoying the limelight. Due to huge advances in digital scanning and printing technology, porcelain tile can now be made to look like a wide variety of materials.  Long tile can look like wood planks (with the pattern scanned from a wide variety of wood species and finishes). Instead of installing a wood floor with the maintenance associated with its care, try porcelain planks! 

No matter what trend speaks to you, we can help you with the process.  Visit us at Carpets N More and let us know what we can do for you!

Do you love to be on the cutting edge of home décor trends? Find out what these new trends are and how to best apply them to your home!

Two toned cabinets are becoming quite popular. This idea works great because by selecting two different cabinet finishes the space instantly looks custom! The variety of combinations are endless. Decorate with different dishes on upper and lower cabinets, or you can select two different finishes for one entire aspect of a room than the adjacent side. However, make sure to keep the cabinet styles and hardware the same.

Stainless steel appliances move over! Black stainless steel is here! That’s right you heard us correctly! This finish for appliances is becoming more readily available. Use this finish for a sophisticated or modern space. Enhance your kitchen by adding some futuristic sleekness!

Traditional living rooms without TVs or gadgets are coming back full circle. More and more families are choosing to have living rooms devoid of screen time, in order to really interact with one another. These living rooms are the places where beautiful family memories will be made and cherished. Families are living their lives together and being present to really enjoy with family and loved ones. These living rooms also make an excellent place to read an actual book or take a quick cat nap.

Formal dining rooms are also making a comeback. Creating a space where beautiful home cooked meals can be enjoyed without distraction is something that is becoming more important in today’s society. Slow down, have more dinner parties and live your life interacting with family and friends. Like the living room, having a formal dining room free of distractions, keeps us present to make memories with everyone we eat with!

Mirrors are also a hot trend in glamorous kitchens. You can check your hair and makeup while cooking and admire your kitchen while at the stove. The mirrors add sparkle and glitz to this previously utilitarian space we call the kitchen. More people are enjoying preparing home cooked meals, especially since it’s so easy to have the ingredients shipped to your door. People are enjoying their time using their kitchens and loving the space they created!

We would like to send special wishes to all mothers — thank you for all you do!

When you are having guests over but space is limited there isn’t much else you can do but offer what space you do have for their stay. That doesn’t mean their stay has to be uncomfortable or cramped! When having houseguests over these small gestures and deeds go a long way to making the home you’ve opened up to them feel like theirs.

Before you invite guests over, look at the room through their eyes.  Is the room warm and welcoming?  Is there adequate lighting?  Does the space feel updated and clean?  Adjust the room until you are happy.  Make sure the room is aired out, add a lamp or two (or change the lightbulbs if they are burned out!), give the room a deep clean, have a professional clean the carpet.  If the carpet is dingy or outdated, have this replaced.  

Do you have proper bedding and pillows? Have you ever invested in an air mattress from the last time you went camping? Be sure to buy one if you haven’t already, they are worth it for the comfort of your guests and can be reused in a myriad of ways. Find bedding that is comfortable for the temperature you keep your home and for the time of the season. And finally, be sure to provide pillows for your guests. And no, not just the throw pillows from your couch! 

Next, think to the small comforts you enjoy in your bedroom. These are things that will help your guest feel both welcome, and at home. Using your couch or a love seat as the head of the bed will allow your guest to lean comfortably against it while they read a book or magazine you left out for them in case they enjoy a night time read before turning in for the night.

And finally, be sure to think of the things they might have forgotten. You know, those things you usually get at the hotel when you panic and realize you’ve left your hair dryer or shampoo at home? Put together a toiletry basket, complete with shampoo and conditioner, body wash, a razor, hand sanitizer, toothpaste and a toothbrush, and anything else you can think of that might be useful to your guest that they may have forgotten.

These small but thoughtful ways to prepare your guest for their stay in your home are sure to put them at ease and make them feel more welcome. One final thing that nobody can live without—don’t forget to leave out the wifi username and password!

Have you ever wondered which type of floor is the best for the life you lead?  Should you choose carpet?  Or would hardwood work better in your home?  Are there situations where laminate would be better than natural stone?  How can you decide?

We have you covered!  On our website, we offer a powerful online tool that will help everyone with these choices. This tools shows how to match lifestyle needs with interior selections, finishes, requirements and much more. Once the quiz is completed you will see helpful suggestions to help you achieve a balanced home that fits right into your life style.

The quiz asks relevant questions regarding your lifestyle. It takes into account the daily activities and interests in your life. It also asks questions regarding to the people who live in the household and encompasses everyone’s needs. Asking the right questions about who lives in the home and what they do in turn offers suggestions about what types of materials will work best in the home. The suggestions cover floor type, lighting and added space needs.

The quiz determines your needs and helps you create a plan. Whether the plan is to turn a spare room into an office, arts and crafts area or a home gym, this tool gives you a starting point and a direction to go. The suggestions offer answers to existing questions and may cover aspects that you may not have thought about yet!

A home should be a reflection of the family or individual, as well as providing for the needs of the family and pets that live there. The information in this online tool goes beyond making finish selections for you. It gives options and explains each. A home should work with its inhabitants and make everyone comfortable, from extended family to guests and pets!

The quiz lets you know what materials to utilize, how to use them and even suggestions for your lifestyle.

Find out today what your home needs to help create the optimal interior environment!  Try the Lifestyle Quiz today!