The Benefits of Home Bars

There is little doubt about it, in the long run, home bars cost a lot less than heading out to the local pubs every weekend.  Depending on the talents that you may or may not have, installing a home bar might be a reasonably priced way to increase the value of your home and maybe give your popularity a little boost as well.  No matter what type of set up you have in mind, there are home bar plans and pre-built home bars to fit most situations.  I've had no problem finding pre-built bars for sale.  I've shown a few popular ones later in this article and made comments about them.  What I did have a tough time finding was actual home bar plans that described how to BUILD your own bar at home.  Even Amazon came up short.  They did have one book that looked promising, and I was going to include it here, but it was out of stock and they didn't know if it would ever be published again.  What the heck???  Anyway, if you have been looking for do it yourself home bar plans, I was able to find a nice collection, and it is actually able to be downloaded for immediate access.  You can find some great plans for home bars (including Tiki bars) by following THIS LINK.  Drop me a line through the contact form if you have found any other favorite home bar plans and I'll include them here.

Home bars seemed to be all the rage when I was a little kid back in the 1970s.  Most of my parents' friends had bars in their homes and their group of friends would gather from time to time at each others' houses to hang out with each other.  Sometimes it would be for special occasions like New Year's Eve or a playoff football game, but other times they just hung out together.  The kids went off and did things to keep busy.  I remember learning to play bumper pool one time and going out in the yard at night to catch worms on another occasion.  I guess we did what we had to to pass the time.

I never minded going on those visits because I really liked actually looking at the bars.  I know that sounds kind of strange, but my Dad did carpentry work on the side and he actually built many of the custom home bars in their friends' homes.  It was pretty cool.

If you are able to build things on your own, you can save a lot of money, but modern home bars are not all that expensive when you consider how much other home improvements can cost.  Honestly, I was shocked at how little pre-built bars actually cost when I checked out the prices.

Before you build a bar, compare your costs to what a pre-built bar would cost. This Cherry Finish Bar Unit w/Wine Rack is available on Amazon. Click the image above to learn more.

Discount home bars are actually available for under $200 and I know that is a lot less than my Dad spent even back in the 70's for just the materials he used for building a really nice bar on his own.  Now, if you are looking to build a deluxe type bar rather than a simple home mini bar, your costs will obviously be higher.  The cheap home bars that come pre-assembled are basically rather short and straight, as opposed to L shaped corner bars that can actually be the centerpiece of a game room.  You can add all kinds of accessories like running water or set ups that allow you to keep refrigerated kegs of beer available.  You can also go all out and pick out a particular theme that you would like to build around.  If you have a favorite sport, your decorating might be based on that.  If you like neon lights to give the feel of a "real" bar, you can get those too.  Be warned, those home bar accessories are where you might end up dropping the bulk of your money.  Even bar stools can be pretty expensive.

Shown here are three popular pre-built bars that are currently for sale on Amazon.  I chose these three to show off mostly because I liked the way the look!  I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started checking out pre-built bars online.  To be honest, the idea of shipping costs sort of put me off until I realized that many of the units sold online offered free shipping as part of the purchase price.  There are a TON of popular pre-built bars for sale, but you'll have to check each one individually to see what kind of breaks they offer on shipping.  The prices are definitely comparable (or better) than any of the units I found for sale at retail outlets near my house.  The selection is also much better online.  You can find a nice selection of pre-built bars by clicking HERE.

 Pre-built Home Bars for Sale

Coaster Home Bar Unit, Black with Chrome Accents

City Chic Bar Cabinet - Espresso

Sixteenth-Century Italian Replica Globe Bar

If you would like to save some money, I would highly recommend checking out your local classified ads or sites like eBay and Amazon when it comes time to buy home bar accessories.  Just signs and lights for decorating your bar can be very expensive.  Shopping around a bit has its advantages.

There are some very cool things that can add an unbelievable amount of atmosphere to home bars.  Personally, I think if you have the room, you should have a pool table.  I really like playing pool with friends and this is another addition that you can usually pick up pretty cheap if you shop around. If you are willing to go with a second hand pool table, you can really save a ton. New pool tables can be fairly expensive.  With that said, I do have to say that I found some pool tables on Amazon that were priced lower than some of the tables sold locally. So if you are thinking of adding a pool table to the mix, it is worth looking online. Most of the ones on Amazon included free shipping.

For sports fans, you might want to consider installing a mounted television and/or sound system for when big games are going to be on.  Obviously the cost here depends entirely on what type of system you choose to enhance your set up.  Finally, having a dart board mounted in your game room is the perfect compliment to your bar if you are going to be entertaining friends.  The electronic dartboards that keep score for you usually come with plastic tipped darts that are designed not to damage things when they hit something other than the board.  A bonus is that they are usually really inexpensive.

This is just a small list of ideas.  Certainly home bars can be pretty much anything you want them to be.  They can be very simple or if you have enough money to spend, they can become very extravagant.  I wish I had photos of the one my Dad actually built.  It was an L shaped bar that had a sink built in to the lower level.  That level was also lit (by a very cool red light that matched the overhead lighting he installed).  The base had sliding doors that hid a ton of storage space.  I would imagine having that custom bar built now might carry a hefty price tag.  Like I said though, he was able to do the actual building himself.

If you are able to do the grunt work, you might want to just look around for some home bar plans to guide you.  You will certainly save a lot of money on labor.  If you just want to pay the money and get your bar, you should probably consider looking for home bar sets that come complete.  You may have to pay a bit for the convenience, but you will be able to get started entertaining right away.  Even for the higher priced home bars, the entertainment value is great if you like to hang out with friends.  If you are a regular visitor of "real" bars, your savings from not going to them could probably go a long way toward getting your own home bar up and running.  That would probably work as a good justification too if you have a partner who is on the fence about getting a home bar!

Once you have your home bar up and running, you will need to stock it with something to drink. The video below gives some tips on how to stock a home bar. Of course, this too can get as expensive as you are willing to let it get. If you stay very basic, you can get by with some basic staples that are used to mix up the most common drinks. If you are into creating fancy drinks, your supplies will cost more. The initial cost of stocking your bar could set you back a bit, but unless you have some very thirsty friends, maintaining your stock shouldn't be all that expensive.  In fact, if your friends are willing to contribute a bit, home bars could end up being a real bargain for those folks willing to put one in their home.

I don't personally watch a whole lot of television, but when I do, it is usually to watch a movie or something else I've been looking forward to seeing. TV pillows make watching television or reading in bed a more comfortable experience. They can be useful in numerous situations I suppose, but I like using them for what their name implies, kicking back and watching TV.

If you frequently experience back pain, a pillow for watching TV can sometimes provide much desired comfort. A tv wedge pillow with a head rest may be ideal. You can select a wedge that has the thickness that best suits your specific need. The head rest or head roll is helpful in reducing neck pain or discomfort. When searching for a tv pillow for bed you may want a pillow that offers more support than a simple wedge offers. If so, you should explore the many options of tv pillows shaped like a chair. These provide a place to rest your arms and often have a side pocket to store your remote. If the wedge or chair style of tv pillow doesn't fulfill your need there is also the option of a more flexible type pillow called double hinged pillow. This pillow offers more flexibility and also comes with a head rest option.

Just as adults may enjoy lounging in bed and watching tv, children might also enjoy the same activity. There are tv pillows available that will blend in well with the bedroom decor of a child. A tv pillow for a child can be a welcome source of comfort when a child is ill. A large floor pillow makes a good choice for a child's pillow for watching tv. Usually a child simply seeks comfort and something to cuddle with more so than a pillow to relieve pain.

Bedlounge Hypoallegenic (Regurlar Size, Green Color, 100% Cotton Cover): The Ultimate Back Wedge, Bed Rest, Back Support, Comfort Reading Pillow

My Pillow Pets Panda 18"

TV pillows usually have removable covers. You can select cover colors, patterns, and styles that compliment your bedroom decor. TV pillows have various types of filling. You can select memory foam pillows for maximum comfort. They are also available with hypoallergenic filling so almost anyone could find a pillow that satisfies their requirements.

Lounging in bed and watching TV is an excellent way to relax if you are comfortable sitting in bed. TV pillows make it possible for you to lounge in bed and comfortable enjoy your favorite television show or movie. With the choice of wedge pillows, bed loungers, or flexible back rest pillows you should be able to find the pillow that is perfect for you. The price range for tv pillows is pretty reasonable, which makes them an interesting possibility as a gift you can get for the entire family. If you are looking for just one more thing to add on to someone's Christmas or birthday present, one of these pillows can make a nice add on gift that will most likely see a good bit of use.

A canoe bookcase is a real novelty item that looks great in a weekend cabin or even in a den of someone who enjoys water sports or the outdoors.  The problem is, they can be sort of hard to find.  You don't usually find them at any of the local home supply stores.  Fear not though!  The internet has really shrunk down the size of the shopping world.

Although it may sound strange, it is both interesting and very practical at the same time. If such a piece of furniture is up your alley then you may be interested in knowing a few things about obtaining one. Some things to keep in mind when shopping for a canoe bookshelf are the types of wood used for these bookcases, the average costs and obtaining plans if you would like to build a canoe bookcase yourself.  When I first put this post up, the idea was to guide people toward the idea of making one of these for themselves, but since there seems to be a fair bit of interest in canoe bookcases and bookshelves, I thought I'd include some right here for people to take a look at and check out on Amazon if they were interested.

This first image shows what are actually nautical boat basket shelves.  These are handmade by the Amish, according to their listing, and because they are actually basket shelves, they cost much less than an actual converted canoe.  These could be a nice, low cost addition for someone who likes the idea of a nautical theme, but isn't really looking to go all out with the theme.  Also, as I mentioned, these basket shelves are not very expensive and the convenience of not having to build them is pretty nice.

Amish Handmade Medium Nautical Boat Basket Shelf. What a Unique Addition to the Nautical Home Decor. This Nautical Boat Basket Shelf Is the Perfect Nautical Gift Basket Whether You Give It Alone or Loaded with Other Nautical Gifts. A Highly Collectible Basket Shelf Amish Handcrafted with Great Attention to Detail. Colors May Vary (Brown, Black, Red, Blue, Green, Purple, Burgundy, Natural) Large and Small Boats Sold Seperately.

Canoe Bookcase 86" - Nautical Furniture - Nautical Decorative Gift Solid Brass Home Nautical Decor - Executive Promotional Gift

Canoe Media Storage Cabinet

4 Ft Canoe Shelf Green

The other canoe bookshelves/ bookcases shown here are more traditional and authentic than the basket shelves, but they are also more expensive .  They currently range from under one hundred dollars, well up into the hundreds.  I personally like the two that cost the least better than the others, but that's just me.  They are also available on Amazon.  In case you were wondering, I typically refer people to Amazon because I've found that they are a good company to deal with.  Let's face it, they are huge.  They are not going to suddenly disappear if you have some problem that comes up.  Click Here to see several more canoe bookcases.

Canoe bookcases can be obtained in several different types of wood. Some popular wood types include mahogany, Ash and White Pine. If you prefer to finish and stain your bookcase yourself, you can also purchased a canoe bookshelf in unfinished kiln dried wood in one of several sizes, depending on what you are looking for. You should also keep your budget in mind when shopping for a canoe bookcase as the price can widely vary depending on the size and type of wood used in its construction.

Canoe shelves can range in price anywhere from $500 to $2,000. The price does not only depend on the type of wood used or the size of the bookcase. The price can only depend on whether the canoe bookcase is hand crafted or whether the wood is unfinished or not. If you are handy, you may want to get a hold of some plans and build your own canoe bookshelf.

You can order canoe bookcase plans online. When you find the plans that you want, you simply pay for them and download them, usually in PDF format. Make sure that the plans are for the size bookcase that you want. It will include all instructions including supplies you will need.

If canoe home decor is something that really interests you, you can also find a number of other interesting items for sale that fall within this boat theme. The obvious and probably easiest way to follow this them would be to look for wall decor featuring canoes. A solitary fisherman sitting on a still lake at sunrise, with mist rising around him...you get the idea. But that is just the beginning. You can also find coffee tables, bookends, lamps, and even full sized chandeliers designed in a canoe theme.

This is a great design niche for people who like a rustic outdoor theme, and obviously would work great in a cabin or lodge. It would also work just fine however for people who just want to set aside one room of their home to dedicate to their love of the outdoors. You might be surprised at all of the canoe themed items available online. If you enjoy outdoor adventure, why not be a little bit adventurous in your home decorating plans and give canoe decor a shot?  Check them out HERE!

A wardrobe armoire is one of the nicest and most elegant - not to mention convenient - methods of storing ones wardrobe. However, a good armoire is not a cheap armoire. Or is it?

While many wardrobe armoire units cost upwards of $500 to $1,000 or more dollars, in this article we will take a look at 3 armoires costing under (or around) $200.

(Please note that prices are subject to change and are accurate as of 1/26/2010. Prices listed on Amazon at the time you might visit are the actual prices.)

The Junior Wardrobe Armoire
from Prepac Furniture

Prepac furniture has made what could almost pass as a portable closet with this "junior" wardrobe armoire that runs for around $200. A nice solid black finish covers this 5 foot tall junior closet, which features space for both hanging clothes (in the upper portion of the unit) and for folded clothes, socks, and underwear in the shelves which make of the bottom half of the armoire.

Note that assembly is required for this wardrobe armoire.

A Wooden Cherry Armoire
also from Prepac Furniture

Here's another armoire from Prepac that's nice and yet won't break the bank. Costing in the neighborhood of $225 at Amazon (regularly priced at over $600!), this cherry armoire features both hanging closet storage as well as two full sized drawers. The closet space at top stands behind two double doors, which open into a space with a shelf that's adjustable as well as the standard closet rod for hanging your wardrobe.

This armoire weighs about 130 pounds and is marketed as t just both a wardrobe armoire, but also as a cabinet for storage or even an entertainment armoire, as it's big and sturdy enough to hold a TV and many DVD's or gaming systems.

3 Door Black Wardrobe Closet
From Amazon

Here we have a straight forward wardrobe closet: black, 3 doors, and with enough storage space to satisfy any guest or visitor to your home who needs ample storage space in a convenient wardrobe armoire. Costing around $200, this black wardrobe closet gets the job done if what are looking for is some extra closet storage space at a reasonable price.

As you can see, spending money on an armoire doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg! While most wardrobe closet furniture is high priced, there are some nice items at the lower end of the scale that provide an acceptable level of quality. Amazon and companies such as Prepac furniture are well known for supplying such wardrobe armoire units at a decent price. You can find some of the Amazon offerings below.

Please note that because of availability over time, the items shown may not match what is mentioned in the original post. While you are considering storage options and ways to display things tastefully in your home, don't assume that everything has to be complicated and/or expensive. Sometimes some thoughtfully placed, simple white shelves can be used to display items that are dear to you and reduce the clutter that sometimes occurs across every flat surface in a room.

I'd like to share a personal side note that may be relevant to some of the people reading this entry. When my first child was on the way, my in-laws were kind enough to purchase an armoire for the nursery. It came unassembled and with directions that were in a foreign language. I think it was Chinese. Thank goodness there were diagrams drawn in the instructions as well! My personal advice to anyone taking on such an assembly project is to make sure that you have a helper available. It isn't that the job is all that difficult, but trying to hold things in place while aligning screws and such is about a thousand times easier if you have an extra pair of hands around. I also suggest laying out everything and picturing how it will function once the project is done. It can save you a lot of time.

Armoire - Composite Wood Wardrobe - Cherry (cherry) (31.5"w X 58.75"h X 22"d) Use it as a Wardrobe, a Storage Cabinet or as an Entertainment Center. CDC3359 Features: Contoured MDF top and side moldings 2 Full size drawers and double...

PrePac Junior Wardrobe with 3 Drawers The 3-drawer Wardrobe is the perfect all-in-one solution for small bedrooms or guestrooms that need some additional storage Features include a 2-door...

Do you want to purchase capsule chairs but do not know how to properly go about the selection process? If so, then allow this article to help you make the right choice. These chairs come in many different styles, designs, sizes, and colors. They are also constructed from a wide variety of materials including fiberglass, plastic, aluminum, and many more. Some models even come with upholstered cushions to offer maximum seating comfort. With that in mind, shopping for one would surely be a confusing task especially to first-time buyers. So, to ensure that you will find the appropriate chair for your home comfort needs, here are some factors that you have to thoroughly evaluate.

•    User – It is important that you determine who will be using the chair. If you are buying the chair for your kids bedroom furniture, then you have to choose one that is child-friendly. It is best that you acquire a capsule-style chair that is specially designed for children. Like for the instance, the Offi Kapsule chairs. These are kid’s chairs that are designed by Karim Rashid. Since these chairs are compact, they are the ideal choice for homes with limited spaces. In addition that, they are multifunctional, and they feature soft contours to ensure that your kids will have a comfortable surface to sit on. Meanwhile, if the chairs will be used by adults, there are myriads of stylish and elegant options to choose from.

•    Style – This is yet another important factor to take into careful consideration. As mentioned earlier, these chairs are sold in a plethora of style variations; hence, you really have to choose accordingly. For instance, capsule modern chairs are the perfect complement to contemporary interiors. Meanwhile, chairs that exude a classic feel in them are best suited for traditional inspired settings.

•    Space – Of course, the available space at home is certainly a vital consideration when buying such kind of chairs. Basically, the size of the chair that you should purchase will be dependent on the available space in the area where it will be placed. That said, those with small living spaces should opt for the space-efficient capsule stacking chairs

Closely examine your needs and space requirements to ascertain that you will spot the capsule-style chairs that will completely satisfy your personal specification.

Masquerade masks are usually thought of as accessories for costume parties or New Year’s Eve celebrations, but they can be a great idea for other purposes such as decorating.  Using unusual objects that are inexpensive and flexible as a part of your decor can be a great addition to most rooms.  For some people, the idea of taking on a blank slate like this may be a bit of a challenge, but for creative minds, these can serve as a blank canvas, just waiting for you to make into your own unique creation.  Even left as is, they can act as an unusual wall decoration that will, at the very least, be a conversation starter.

Some people choose to buy masquerade masks in bulk because you can get them for much cheaper, especially if you’re someone that loves the idea of masks and creative decorations.  You can decorate the masks individually as a hobby, much like people build model airplanes or sew quilts.  After you’ve decorated each one, you can add them to your room to spice it up a bit.  One thing to note however is that these can  sometimes be difficult to find in bulk lots depending on where you live.  Fortunately, even sold individually, these are pretty inexpensive when you compare them to other items that get bought as home decor.

It would be great to see a wall covered in hanging masquerade masks that are each decorated individually of each other.  The detail would be amazing and would reduce the need for expensive art or wallpaper in a room.  Using such a mural as a centerpiece of a room would be completely unique and awe inspiring.

Luckily plain masquerade masks are cheap in bulk, as are the decorations that usually accompany them.  There are very few rules when it comes to decorating masquerade masks so you will be able to match the theme of a room pretty easily.  Since they’re inexpensive, you can let your imagination run wild when decorating your masks.  If one doesn’t turn out as planned you can just toss is or use it for inspiration for other mask designs.

Another idea is to use individual masks to create areas of focal interest in large rooms.  Often details are lost in large rooms filled with a lot of furniture or decorations.  However, if you sneak a hanging or propped-up masquerade mask that is brightly colored into a mundane room it will immediately bring life to the surrounding decorations. Placing a mask in an unusual location will also draw interest from visitors as a built in conversation piece.

Think outside the box when it comes to decorating your home.  It can be cheaper and surprisingly effective.  Don’t be afraid to try out new things or let your imagination run wild!

I'll be honest with you, when it comes to furniture, my first choice is almost always going to estate auctions if I can. I've mentioned them before in other posts. If you have a way to move the furniture (like a pick up truck), you can scoop up amazing deals on both antique and modern furniture. The reason is, nobody likes to move furniture, especially not estate sale companies who are going to have to find a way to store everything until they can get it sold. The problem is, these sales are often few and far between, and many people don't have trucks! So, if you can, always check estate auctions first for your furniture needs, but if you want a brand new item, or an estate auction just is not a practical option for you, you might find some useful information in this post.

If you’re looking for a unique mission console table, console cabinet, curio cupboard or unusual narrow tables for entryways and halls, then you need to see the remarkable Amish designs handmade by Dutch Crafters.

Heritage Pine Collection

If you thought that a mission console table was a basic simple piece of furniture in raw pine, then you need to see the Heritage Pine Collection that includes not just narrow tables but complete cabinets that are narrow enough to fit very small spaces yet are really practical, like the catch-all cabinet that has a narrow table top but also has 6 drawers and a central cupboard where you can store anything from curios to linen tablecloths. The great features of this unit are so numerous that it must be seen to be appreciated, but although it’s pine, you can choose a rich custom paint or a natural stain finish to match your other furnishings. And although it’s handmade and detailed with care, it costs under $300.

Cottage Collection

This Mission Natural Console Table is available on Amazon. Click the image for details.

The mission console table styles by Dutch Crafters also includes a homey series of furniture called the Cottage Collection, and in this line there are some narrow tables that have drawers with doors, also made from pine by hand in the Amish mission style, but with a country cottage feeling, hand painted with decorative motifs that vary from American country cottage to French Provincial. Choose olive green stain or rustic wood, select a daisy motif or soft pine branch leaves as a decorative theme. Accent any hallway or entry, no matter how narrow, but a small cabinet that costs under $500.

Mt. Eaton Collection

Need something simple but upscale? Try the Dutch Crafters elegant Mt. Eaton Collection that keeps the simplicity of a mission console table style but adds glass accents and doors to create curio cabinets and entryway narrow tables that can house or showcase your collections of ornaments, books, glassware, fine china or any other items that you don’t want to hide away. One of the most beautiful designs is called the Amish Mission Style Console Picture Frame Curio Cabinet that comes in a variety of solid hardwoods, different stains and two glass side doors, all gorgeously accented with black Mission hardware. Narrow tables that fit in a hall or entry and have a wood frame, a glass top, a mirrored back panel, two adjustable glass shelves and this much handcrafted care for just over $400 are very difficult to find. But the makers of Amish mission style furniture at Dutch Crafters offer that and much more.

Deck furniture has come a long way since those old folding aluminum chairs that many people grew up using.  Decks are built to be functional extensions of the home itself, and as such, they should be furnished with something you would be proud to show off to visiting guests.


Of course there are special considerations to take into account when purchasing deck furniture.  Because most deck furniture will face the rigors of outdoor use, it must be made of weather resistant materials.  In the past, finding furniture that could withstand the elements while still looking stylish was a bit of a challenge to say the least.

Today there are many options available to home owners that look great but still hold up well.  There are a many very nice looking plastic options available for purchase today.  Resin deck furniture is one of the most commonly seen types of outdoor furniture.  It is very sturdy while still being light weight.  It is water resistant and, if you add a couple of cushions, quite comfortable.

Wood deck furniture is also popular, but you will need to ensure that it has been properly treated if it is going to be used outside.  A few of the more popular types of wood used for this purpose are cedar, redwood and teak.  My informal check of prices showed that teak deck furniture was more expensive, but your results may vary, especially if you are willing to consider purchasing used deck furniture from your local classified ads or from online sources such as eBay.

The lovely set of furniture shown in the gallery images below is available on Amazon.

Redwood deck furniture is an especially popular option that holds up well to the test of time. I personally have a lot of childhood memories tied to the redwood patio furniture we had in our back yard. It held up so well that I still have my Mother's redwood picnic table in my back yard. It has held up well for over a quarter of a century now and is still going strong. I myself like the rustic (or maybe it's vintage) look, but it all comes down to individual preferences and doing what you can to find the best quality and value.

The styling of deck furniture today is also much improved compared to the old standard chairs that were so common years ago.  It is not uncommon today to find all sorts of furniture stylings from gliders to rockers available for use as both patio and deck furniture.  Making these different types of furniture available to guests can really enhance the experience of hanging out on the deck.

Although most outdoor deck furniture will be designed to take on the elements, you can keep them looking great even longer if you spend just a bit more and purchase protective covers for your outdoor furniture.  During the winter months, if no one is going to be sitting outside, consider storing them in a shed or garage.  With proper care, the deck furniture you purchase today should be able to last a number of years and still look good.

You can often save yourself some money by shopping at the right time of year.  You can sometimes find great deals on discount deck furniture when the summer season is ending and stores are trying to clear out inventory.  Keep an eye open and consider buying at cheap prices for the following year's summer season of fun.

Have you ever been getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist who loved to talk?  I guess that seems like a strange question, but that is what brought this topic to mind for me.  I was in for my regular visit and the lady cleaning my teeth was almost bouncing off of the walls with excitement over the amazing discounted prices she paid for some outdoor dining furniture.  She talked and talked as I grunted in agreement and tried not to drool on myself.

OK.  I guess that makes her sound a little bit crazy.  To be fair, she had been searching for some patio dining furniture for weeks and said that she was getting really frustrated by the high prices she found everywhere she went.  It was either decent quality tables, chairs and complete sets with very high price tags or affordable junk that was not worth bothering with because it would fall apart within a couple of seasons of even light outdoor use.  What happened was that she was present when the manager told the people in charge of the home and garden section of a major retailer to mark all of the outdoor furniture down immediately.  I think she said a delivery was coming in earlier than expected and they needed the room.  She lucked in to a mark down of 75% and nobody else knew about it!  Part of the reason she was so excited that day was that she had bought a ton of discounted outdoor furniture and her husband was making multiple trips to pick it up that very day.  She bought way more than she needed, but she could probably re-sell any extra at half off its original price and end up with what would essentially be free outdoor dining patio furniture.  That is a pretty sweet (and rare) deal.

For the longest time, we had second hand furniture pretty much everywhere.  Indoors, outdoors, you name it and someone owned it before we did.  I think for individuals or couples just starting out, this is usually a pretty good idea because especially for newlywed couples, there are so many other things to spend your money on.  Once you have moved on a bit though, buying some decent outdoor furnishings can really spruce up the way things look outside your house.   Having complete sets that actually match gives a much different perception than a jumble of mixed and matched hand me down pieces.  That formula tends to end up looking like a cluttered mess.

Most people do not ever just fall in to a deal like that.  Her timing was fortunate and perfect.  Obviously, the selection was already picked over just by the time she left.  You can use the same basic idea though if you decide to purchase furniture for your patio or deck.  Cheap outdoor furniture does not stay around very long.

There are all kinds of little things you can spend your money on around your house and the wide open spaces of your yard, patio or deck can make even a complete set look small. It has been my experience that buying a better quality product that is built to last is usually a much better strategy than going for low quality merchandise just to save fifty bucks at the time of purchase.

Outdoor dining furniture has to be able to withstand the elements.  Furnishings made from higher quality materials will do a much better job of holding up and continuing to look good.  If you do not have an area to store these items over the winter, you should at least consider investing in some outdoor furniture covers.  Storing everything inside the house or a shed is a better option, but not everyone can afford to purchase  a shed, and bringing in furniture can be a major hassle if your home is on the small or cramped side.  If you have cushions, outdoor settings in the winter should really be avoided if there is any possible way that you can bring them out of the cold.  I usually wrap mine up in large garbage bags after I have cleaned them and let them dry.  At that point, I store them in the shed.  I personally have never had any problems with this method, but read all of the instructions that come with your purchase.

If you can somehow manage to get yourself to an end of the summer season sale like the one I described above, by all means, do it.  These really do get picked over extremely quickly though.  Checking online for special sales is also a great idea.  They tend to have a larger selection in my experience that isn't depleted quite as quickly.  If you do find a sale, make the most of it.

When I was single, I never really thought about home decor.  If I could find what I wanted and the place wasn’t a total hole, that was enough.  Being married though led the way to my learning a few things.  My wife is not high maintenance at all, but occasionally we will end up with some type of decorating magazine sitting around.


I started looking at one of these one day and actually started getting interested.  Once the intitial horror of that realization passed, I decided that one of the “themes” I really liked was country home decor.  Our house doesn’t exactly fit that right now with all of the cast off shoes and bookbags lying about, but I learned a little bit as I read and some day, when I’ve got an extra home out in the country, I could see myself liking it a lot.

The article I was reading included plenty of country home decor pictures.  Country home decor has a sort of cottage feel about it.  Lots of hardwood floors and a very rustic feel to the whole thing.  I started thinking about what my cottage home will look like.  After studying a bit, I think I’ve developed a pretty good image.  You may use it for your own designs at will!

My country home will be a log cabin design but with plenty of stone included in the plans.  I don’t know why, but the image of the old guy on the front of Led Zeppelin’s Zoso Album pops into my mind when I type that.  That isn’t quite what I mean.  When I was back in college, one of my best friends invited me to spend a weekend fishing at his grandparent’s house, which was located way the heck out in the country.  I think it was Potter County, Pennsylvania.  When you walked out the front door and across the yard, there was an old dirt road, then a small hillside, and then the river.  I think it was the Allegheny.  The place was beautiful and I can still remember what it looked like when you faced that ancient house from the river.  It was the definition of rustic.  It looked weathered, but it had a strength and charm about it that could not be denied.  I think that sort of defines country home decor for me.

When you approached the house, it felt welcoming.  The screened in porch was made from wood and had been painted a light gray.  On this porch sat antique wicker furniture and a couple of rocking chairs that I think had been purchased from some Amish craftsmen across the state.  When you rocked in those chairs, the floor squeaked, but it was like music when it blended with the sounds of crickets, birds, frogs and the other local wildlife.

Inside, the furnishings were pretty plain, but the decor certainly was not.  All around the kitchen there were images of farm animals.  I can remember roosters, cows and ducks being stenciled along the top edges of the wall and even on some of the shelves.  There were a couple of cookie jars (with cookies in them).  One was an apple but I cannot remember what the other one was now.  It might have been a strawberry.  There were blue gingham curtains on the windows.  I think they really completed the country kitchen decor for me.  I also remember that the kitchen smelled like cinnamon.  I could easily imagine some great apple or pumpkin pies coming out of the old oven they had.  Even the old stove looked rustic.  It wasn’t made of iron or anything.  It actually looked like the one I’ve seen on older episodes of Rachael Ray’s cooking shows, except it was white and I think Rachael’s was sort of a light yellow color.

I don’t know if all of the country home decoration was entirely on purpose or not.  It seems to me that part of the charm of the whole “country cottage” decor is that it is so simple and unpretentious.  My friend’s Grandma actually made the cross stitched wall hangings and there really was a “Home Sweet Home” needlepoint hanging above the doorway.

If you are going to go for this type of country decor in your own home, I think you could use some of the things I just described as a start.  Basically, it is a simple theme.  In my opinion, it is one of the easiest overall decors to grasp.  It is essentially very simple and I think that is part of why people are so attracted to it today.  In case you haven’t noticed, a lot of people are running around like they have just consumed three pots of very strong coffee.  All of the wonderful technology that has become available has just given people more “stuff” to keep track of and handle.  Thanks to all of the “smart” innovations, you can barely escape the sound of ringtones and I think it is starting to get to people.

If you’ve got some antiques, they go great with this decor.  You do not want to have a bunch of shiny laminated surfaces.  Think more neutral or muted colors and finishes.  That doesn’t mean boring by any means.  Just not very flashy.

One of my hobbies is hitting estate sales and auctions from time to time.  I have seen some amazing old wooden tables that would fit perfectly into a country decor dining room being sold off for rock bottom prices.  The reason is usually because the sellers want to get things out that very day and if you are not prepared to haul away such a large piece of furniture, you are out of luck.  When I say cheap, I mean seriously cheap.  At one recent auction I saw an antique oak table sell for around twenty dollars and I heard a few people commenting that they would have bought it if they had a truck.  Make a note to yourself to visit these events and bring a truck!


You are probably getting the gist of how to decorate with a country style by now.  Use quilts, maybe get yourself a couple of old hook rugs.  Look for vintage hardware for your cabinets.  Use your imagination and think country!