2 Furniture Rules for Keeping Your Couch Clean

Your furniture is an investment, and spending a little time taking good care of it can go a long way! The couch is usually the most frequented spot in the house, and sometimes spills and stains happen. By taking action immediately, you can keep your couch clean and fresh. Follow these two simple rules to keep your couch looking as new as the day you got it!

1. Vacuum your couch once every two weeks

• Using the attachment pieces of your vacuum on your couch allows you to get any dust or small particles out of cracks and crevices. Occasional gentle vacuuming keeps upholstered couches looking new and helps to prevent discoloration and set in stains. 
• Don't just vacuum the tops, make sure you pull off the cushions and get between the sides and back of the couch!

2. Remove stains as soon as they happen

When spills happen it is best to clean them immediately to keep them from setting in.

•  For upholstered couches, a mix of equal parts vinegar and water will suffice for couch cleaner in a pinch. Simply soak a paper towel in the mix and gently blot the stained area (do this only after you have removed any solids.) After blotting with the mix, blot with cold water to remove any extra vinegar! Allow to dry completely before sitting on that area of the couch.
• For leather couches is it best to use commercial leather cleaner rather than run the risk of damaging the leather. Contact your couch manufacturer to get the best directions on how to clean your leather couch.

For other tips and tricks around the house visit our Pinterest tips page:  http://pinterest.com/hudsonsfurn/helpful-tips/ 

Decorating Tips for Tight Spaces

Tired of feeling like you are living in a cramped space? Try these simple ideas to maximize your space.

1. Go Curvy

    - Avoid rectangle and square furniture. Try to use round tables and chairs to enhance the living space.

2. Lighten Up with a Rug

    - Using a light colored rug brightens up the room and makes it appear larger.

3. See Clearly

    - Clear tables and chairs help create openness in the room.

4. Top Priorities

    - Do not try and cramp all types of furniture into a tight space. Pick the key essentials that will get the most use in your day-to-day activity. 

5. Layer It

    - Adding a different mix of colors and fabrics gives the room more depth. 

To find the perfect furniture for your tight space, visit www.hudsonsfurniture.com.

How to childproof your furniture

Safety is a huge issue when it comes to children, especially around the house. The last thing you want to be worrying about is your children getting hurt on necessary household items, especially your furniture. Here are a few ways to childproof your furniture:

1. Chairs- Children naturally are curious and love to explore, which leads to climbing. Chairs are very common for children to want to climb on, and that presents a huge safety issue because the chair could fall on top of the child, or the child could fall off the chair. An easy way to solve this issue is to use chair locks. That way your children can’t move chairs away from the table.

2. Coffee tables- Once your child starts walking or crawling, a coffee table is the perfect height for them to bump their head on. The sharp corners of the tables are extremely hazardous to children. To fix this, install edge shields, or any type of cushion, around the corners of the table.

3. Entertainment Centers- Entertainment centers are great for decoration; However, they tend to hold a lot of items that are potentially hazardous for a child. Items such as a large TV, speakers, or a DVD player can top over and fall on a child. To prevent this from happening, push all these electronics as far back from the edge as you can. You can also anchor your TV down so it won’t tip over.

4. Heavy Furniture- Although you might think heavy furniture would be likely to stand up to the test of climbing kids, they still present a huge safety issue. When children climb all over it, there’s a chance it could fall right on top of them. To ensure this doesn't happen, install safety straps to secure the heavy furniture to the wall.

Klaussner Solutions Studios coming to Hudson's

We’re very excited to announce the addition of the Klaussner brand to our collection at Hudson’s Furniture!  This new line of Klaussner products will range from American made upholstered sofas and chairs, to leather and reclining furniture.

Along with the new line of furniture, we will also be adding a Klaussner Solutions Studio at our Melbourne and Lakeland locations. The studios will give our shoppers the opportunity to customize their furniture with more than 500 fabric options and 75 leather options using the Solutions Center kiosk. You will have the ability to design the sofa of your choice, and then view a digital copy of how the product will look prior to receiving your products! The kiosk will also give you the opportunity to check stock availability as well as the price in the store.

The new studio will be open to customers at the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 28^th at 3 pm at the Melbourne location. Customers are encouraged to attend the event and help celebrate the newest addition to our store!

Fresh Design Ideas from Broyhill at Hudson's Furniture

Did you know that at Hudson's you can now customize your furniture? 

You can choose between the standard sofa, apartment sofa, loveseat, chair and ottoman. Here we chose the loveseat. 

You can choose which style of arm you want, for the loveseat we chose the Track Arm. We also chose the Turned Leg option for the base.

As you can see above, Broyhill offers a large selection of colors and patterns to choose from. 

Once you finish, you can view a summary of your design. Print this page out and bring it into your local Hudson's Furniture store. To find a store near you visit http://hudsonsfurniture.com/current/stores/Florida_Furniture_Stores.aspx. And to customize your own Broyhill furniture, visit http://www.broyhillfurniture.com/Furniture/Design-Your-Own.aspx

Hudson’s Furniture awarded Florida’s “Distinguished Retailer of the Year”

We are proud to announce that our very own President Josh Hudson and Vice President Adam Hudson have been awarded “Distinguished Retailer of the Year" by the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Association for their outstanding work dedicated to the furniture industry!


“My father's business philosophy was to separate Hudson's Furniture from other furniture retailers by
focusing on selling quality brand name furniture and following it up with the highest standards of
customer service,” said Adam Hudson. “Josh and I continue to operate the business under that same principle. The key is to put the customers first, and that’s what we try to do.” The brothers are honored to receive this award, just as their father, Fred Hudson, did in 2000.

After being given control of the operation at a very young age, Joshua and Adam have maintained
Hudson’s reputation as the Southeast’s premier choice for fine furniture. During the ongoing recession, they have managed to produce some of the best numbers that Hudson’s Furniture has ever seen.

According to the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Association, the Hudson’s possess the
unique qualities that the award represents—“A retailer that has distinguished itself by contributing to the furniture industry through creative skills, management expertise, hard work and loyalty in a manner that has enhanced or influenced the furniture industry in the state of Florida.”

Congrats Adam & Josh!

Hudson's Furniture invites you to join them in celebrating the Grand Opening of their New Smyrna Beach location

Hudson’s Furniture is proud to announce that it has opened its 14^th location. The new showroom is located in New Smyrna Beach and we want you to join us at the Grand Opening Celebration Event, tomorrow Thursday, April 19^th!

Tomorrow night at the New Smyrna Beach location from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. you will find free hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, refreshments and door prizes. Your attendance will even guarantee you one-night only discounts exclusive to the new location! 

For more information on Hudson's Furniture and to RSVP for the event, visit http://hudsonsfurniture.com/event 

Hudson's Furniture's Biggest Tax Sale

It's our biggest Tax Sale in our 30-year history! Save 40-70% on our furniture, plus get an additional discount equal to the amount of your sales tax. Come and see us today, this sale ends Monday, April 16th. Visithttp://hudsonsfurniture.com/ for more details.

Arranging Your Living Room

Now that you have your new furniture, the next step is arranging it. Where you place your furniture in a room will ultimately set the tone for how you live in it. Here are seven must-know tips for arranging your living room, whether you’re relaxing with family, entertaining friends or watching TV.

The first step in arranging any room is determining just how much space you have to work with. You can use a tape measure to get dimensions or simply measure your foot and walk heel to toe across the room.

To add visual interest to a room you should incorporate a variety of furniture with different characteristics. For example, use an extra-large sectional with small armchairs and side tables to create an energetic vibe in your living room with various volumes.

When furnishings are out of scale you’ll notice that it just doesn’t feel comfortable or right. That being said, make sure you use scaled pieces to create balance. Note that similarly scaled pieces create a more serene atmosphere when used together.

There are two forms of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Decide which you’d like in your living room. While symmetry is very restful, asymmetry adds visual motion and excitement. Asymmetry refers to imbalance, for example to candles of slightly different sizes next to each other.

When designing your home, try thinking like an artist. Look at your space like a painter looks at a piece of art. One trick painters use is ‘triangulation’. In interior design, this can be utilized by placing two end tables on either side of a sofa with a painting above it.

Another trick painters use is the creation of depth in artwork. Paintings often have foreground, midground, background and vanishing point. Placing a chair at an angle can be the foreground. A cocktail table will provide a midground and a sofa with the wall behind it will serve as the background. A window or painting placed above the sofa will give you a vanishing point.

All furniture arrangements should have a certain gestalt, or ‘totality’ or ‘form’. For instance a long, narrow living space can be split in two by creating different zones of function. Create one half for the sofa and the function of conversing, and the other half for a dining set and function of dining. Dividing rectangular rooms into squares according to their function helps to make us feel more comfortable and less formal, which is exactly what we want for our living room!

Simple ways to add curb appeal to your home

Everyone wants to make a great first impression. So why not make one at home? Your guests and neighbors will want to know what’s inside.

First, add some symmetry to your entrance way. Not only is it an easy way to please the eye, but it’s fool-proof. Whether it’s a light fixture or potted plants, a balanced arrangement will create a welcoming pathway to guide visitors inside.

Replace simple hardware that is outdated or old. Think along the lines of coordinating finishes more than mix-and-match. For example, oiled-bronze finishes suit traditional homes, while brushed nickel suits contemporary ones.

A super easy way to spruce up your entry way is to add some color to your front door. Consider repainting it or perhaps buy (or make) a new wreath to hang.

Install outdoor lighting to add safety and curb appeal. Illuminate a walking path or landscape. (Opt for low-voltage lighting.)

Create an instant graden to liven up your entryway. There are many options at garden centers. You can purchase a ready-made container or create your own with your favorite plants. Staggered, asymmetrical arrangements work best to create a dynamic, garden feel.

Add window boxes to bring color and appeal to your home exterior. Choose any type of box– from copper to wood. Mix and match plants and flowers to create your personalized color scheme.

Although it may take some time, consider replacing gutters and downspouts. Eventually they get run-down and may convey a sense of neglect. You may also want to look into a nicer (but a bit pricier) look by using a copper system.

Tile or paint your doorstep. Find a contrasting pattern or color that accents your porch for an easy, permanent welcome mat.

What’s your home decorating style?

We all have a certain style to fit our personalities, habits and likes. Why shouldn’t our homes reflect it?

By expressing yourself at home -where you sleep, eat, play, and lounge- you give visitors (and the rest of your family) a chance to see a part of you through different distinguishing elements. It can be hard at times to get started, and you may be worried that changing your home to reflect your personality is a huge time investment. Another common issue may come to mind- you spot things literally everywhere that you love… but it doesn’t go well together. Don’t panic, we’re here to help you with that. Let’s get those creative juices flowing with this list of styles from TLC Home. All you have to do is pick and choose.

Traditional Home Decorating

Traditional home decorating — frequently associated with older generations — has been updated with a look that young families can embrace. Learn how to create a cozy room in the traditional style.

Country Decorating Style

Whether you like simple American country or the more elaborate French provincial design, there’s a country style for you. Learn more about the widely varied country styles.

Cool Contemporary Decorating

No longer strictly cold and austere, contemporary decorating still embraces clean lines but can be warm and welcoming, too. Learn more about how contemporary designs have pushed into the environmental arena as well.

Eclectic Decorating

Do you already have a number of objects and pieces of furniture you love but don’t fit into one coherent design style? Find out how to combine your favorites and create a style that reflects you!

Decorating Retro-Style

A room can provide the perfect platform for vintage collectors and flea-market shoppers to display their most treasured finds. Discover how to decorate a room retro-style.

Decorating with a World Flair

African, Indian, Asian, Scandinavian…styles throughout the world are as varied as the countries and their unique cultures. Find out how to create an interior design plan that celebrates the world in your own home.

Arts and Crafts Decorating

The natural colors and patterns of wood and stone are the inspiration for Arts and Crafts Decorating. Simple and clean lines give rooms a sleek yet warm look. Find inspiration in an Arts and Crafts design.

Casual Chic Decorating

This country style is a blend of patterns and colors that is inviting and homey. A mix of patterns and textures make a room rich and welcoming. Learn how to create a comfortable, casual, and chic design.

Southwestern Decorating

The wide-open spaces and spare look of the Southwestern landscape inspire Southwestern design. The furnishings may be minimal, but a Southwestern room is filled with character. Find out how to incorporate your favorite aspects of this style into your own home.

Spacious Decorating

A spacious and elegant design can unify areas of a home with an open floor plan that are used for different purposes. The design flows easily from seating areas, to the dining room, and even into the kitchen. Get tips on how to give your own space a feeling of spacious unity.