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.

Fall Design Trends

With fall just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about simple redecorations to keep the style of your house in sync with the season!  Try as many of these ideas as you’d like, no matter what you’re sure to get a fall inspired room.

Update your throw pillows. A simple change in throw pillows can go a long way. Compliment your sofas and chairs with plush throw pillows. Make sure to choose a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. For the complete fall look, try a deep red or orange.

Layer your area rugs. This is a simple way to add color and texture to your floors! Choose from different styles, patterns, and colors. The extra padding will also keep your feet warm during the colder months.

Change up your window shades. It’s time to take the breezy and airy curtains down and hang up something more suitable for winter.  Try a deeper color window treatment, or one that offers insulation and a feeling of coziness.

Place candles around the house. Fall means shorter days, and less sunlight. Candles are a great way to add light and style all in one. Place various heights and colors next to each other for a more personal look.

Last but not least, swap out your summer bedding. With the cooler months coming in, it’s time to dig out your heavier comforter and blankets.

For more design ideas, check out our Pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/hudsonsfurn/design-ideas/

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!

Come home to a clean house

When returning home from a nice relaxing vacation, there’s nothing worse than walking into a messy house. With the chaos of packing and planning your trip, it’s easy to get behind on cleaning. Here are a few quick things you can get done before you leave to ensure you have a more relaxing return home.

Be sure to put fresh sheets on the beds. There’s no greater feeling than climbing into a bed with fresh, clean sheets on it! Putting clean sheets on the bed will you relax and get back into your daily routine with a good night’s rest, especially after a long trip home.

Load and run the dishwasher. Take a quick trip around the house and gather up dishes left around. This way you’ll have clean dishes for when you return, and you won’t be up at 5 a.m. washing dishes for breakfast the next morning!

Take the trash out. There’s nothing worse than coming home to the smell of garbage. Make a quick trip to the dumpster or load up your trash cans so your home doesn’t start to smell while you’re gone.

Wipe down countertops. Take a wet sponge and quickly wipe down your kitchen and bathroom counters. This is a quick and easy way to make sure there are no spots or crumbs anywhere!

Clean up any extra clutter from packing. It’s easy to throw clothes everywhere in the chaos of packing, especially packing with kids. Putting away these extra clothes takes no more than 5 minutes, and is a sure way to leave your bedroom floor spotless when you get back home.

Hudson's Furniture Donates Thousands to Children's Miracle Network

Last March, Hudson's Furniture Store hosted their Customer Appreciation Night. At the event they announced they would take a portion of their proceeds and donate them to the Children's Miracle Network. The event turned out to be a huge success as they were able to give $2,000 back to the community. This money is going to help thousands of children in the Central Florida area. 

“Having children of my own, the work of this foundation really hits close to home. Giving back to the community is very important to us at Hudson’s, and we seize any opportunity we come across to help out,” said President Joshua Hudson.


The Children’s Miracle Network raises money for 170 different children’s hospitals across North America. The foundation has raised more than $4 billion total to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care for children. Hudson's furniture is proud to be able to donate to the Children's Miracle Network, and give back to the children of Central Florida. 

Painting Ideas: Simple ways to add your personal touch on your home

There are many different ways to customize your home to make it adhere to your style. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to do this is by painting! A quick and easy paint job can turn the style of your home from drab to fab in no time.

1.  Add texture to your wall. Transforming your plain walls with a sophisticated finish is a simple way to style to your room. Painting over crinkled tissue paper is a simple way to do this. Add a layer of paint on the wall, apply the crinkled tissue paper, and then finish it off with another layer of paint. 

2. To create a classic, elegant background, paint parchment stripes on your wall. First mark the stripes on your wall with a water color pencil. Then, simply put a small piece of tape on the stripes to keep it all straight. Last, mix your paint with one part water, and one part glaze in separate containers to get two separate colors. Now you’re ready to paint your stripes!

3. Transform a plain accent wall with a distressed paint job. Using simple household items, this is an easy way to create an antique finish on your walls. Paint your walls with a toilet brush to create rough streaks to give your walls a distressed look.

4. Spice up your furniture with an antique look. By adding your favorite stencil to your furniture pieces, you can easily get an antique feel to your room.  First cover your furniture with an oil-based primer. Once it dries, paint your favorite stencil on with a satin finished paint and blot with a towel.

Once your new style is adapted by your painting technique, complete the remodel with furniture to match. Check out all of our different styles of furniture at http://hudsonsfurniture.com/.

Smart Design Ideas for Small Spaces

Making the most out of small spaces is easy with these simple design ideas. All it takes is a little creativity to optimize your living space.

1.  For tight kitchen spaces, consider open shelves instead of cabinets. This will give you an open feel to your kitchen, as well as provide you with plenty of organization space.

2.  To create a work space in a small bedroom, add a small nook with a desk. Add shelves above the desk to create more storage and to be sure not to let any space go to waste.

3.  Narrow wall shelves are the perfect solution to a crammed bathroom! Invest in small baskets and containers to store extra towels and bathroom accessories.

4.   Use light colors for furniture and walls. Keeping the major color pallet in the room light will make your room appear bigger. Add darker and brighter colors as accents, such as pillows or wall decorations, to make your room look less bland.

5. Use a curtain divider to turn two spaces into one, or to add more privacy.

6. Utilize any and all space you can! Use the extra space underneath your stairs for added storage.

7. To make your walls appear larger, use floor to ceiling length window treatments. This is perfect to make your living room appear more spacious.

8. Add mirrors to walls and closet doors. The reflection will make your room appear bigger and is a quick and easy way to visually expand your space.

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 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.

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.

Get Organized! Essentials to help you get through the Holidays

This time of year can be stressful for all of us, especially when you begin to feel guilty about skipping on your not-so-necessary traditions (the gingerbread house became a hassle more than an hobby when your kids hit 16, admit it.) But here it is, a few tips to help you through and to let you know that it’s ok to ditch some habits for the sake of your stress level.

Organization

Food Storage Containers are key, so remember to stock up on all sizes so you can give some leftovers to family or store and freeze for a quick meal later on in the week.

Collapsable Tarp Bins are great for storing christmas blankets and stuffed animals. Regular bins can also store ornaments and decorations to pack away for next year.

Cut Down

Decide whats most important on your To-Do list. Ask yourself what you would be sorry if you missed. This way, you don’t feel like you’re running around wasting precious time during the holiday craze.

Differentiate between obligations and choices. Keeping up with the Jones’ lighting display, for instance, is one thing you can cut out. Going to that miserable company party every year isn’t necessary either. Cut yourself a break once in a while — odds are you’re doing enough already.

Schedule & Simplify

Scheduling prep time is one of the most important steps that people overlook. Schedule time to shop, cook, bake, clean, decorate and wrap. With these items on your agenda, you won’t have to stress by looking for gaps in your busy schedule to squeeze them in.

Simplify Gift Giving. Who doesn’t like getting gift cards? And e-cards are just as thoughtful as pricey, time-consuming Christmas cards mailed from the post office. Remember, setting a budget before getting elaborate will help to give you an idea of whether you’re doing too much or just enough.

Entertaining at home during the holidays

Plan the flow. From the moments your guests arrive to when they sit down at the table, to when they walk out the door. Try to envision the flow of activity at your home. A good example of what a average event consists of is: guests arrive, welcome toast, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, main meal, musical interlude, dessert, presents.

Set up a day in advance. It’s best to know ahead of time if you may need extras of something. It never hurts to see your table set up the day before so you have time to make any changes that may come to mind a few hours before if need be. This can also make a huge difference in your stress level that day because you know all too well that you have enough on your plate already.

Stick to the tried-and-true. Stick to dishes you have made in the past that were big hits. For one, you don’t want to have any mishaps in cooking times, under or overcooked food, or not-so-tasty meals that your all-too-polite friends and family feel obligated to eat. And again, you’ll be more relaxed when you have confidence in what you’ll be serving.

Give a parting gift. Whether it’s something small like pretty cellophane-wrapped cookies or a small holiday tchotchke. Something showing you care that they can look back on and remember the holiday spent at your house is perfect to give out to your guests.

Relax. It’s the holidays and your house probably looks great. Just sit back and enjoy the company, food and drink. Also, an added tip is to light some candles. Somehow, candles always have the ability to set the holiday mood. Humans have had a love affair with fire since its discovery – it’s an archetypal symbol of community, heart, gathering, warmth.

Have a great time. After all, if you’re enjoying yourself it will be that much easier for your guests to have fun.