Flooring impacts the look, feel, and resale value of your home. With so many flooring options out there, it can be difficult knowing what type of flooring you should use. Below is a list of flooring types and their pros and cons. 

Hardwood Floors:

Pros: Hardwood floors are one of the most sought after amenities in a home. If you’re planning on selling your house, hardwood floors can increase the resale value. They are warm, timeless, and classic, which makes them highly desirable.

Cons: Because hardwood floors are so desirable and made of real wood, they are one of the more expensive flooring options. These floors are susceptible to scratches, stains, and fading in sunlight.   They also can be damaged or warped if exposed to too much moisture.

Laminate Floors: 

Pros: Laminate has come a long way from when it first was available. Now you can find laminate floors that mimic hardwood, marble, slate, and other more expensive flooring options for a fraction of the price. This is one of the more durable flooring options and is resistant to scuffs and scratches. If you have pets or children, this may be your perfect floor.

Cons: While laminate floors have come a long way, the quality of laminate you choose will impact how realistic it looks. One of the biggest concerns with laminate flooring is the fact that it is not waterproof. Laminate is not a great option for a bathroom, kitchen, laundry room where leaks or spills could be problems.

Tile Floors:

Pros: Much like hardwood floors, tile flooring is classic and timeless. Tile can be cheaper than hardwood floors and also boost the resale value of your home. Because tile is water resistant it is ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

Cons: Tile is generally a colder flooring option, which makes it less appealing to have throughout your home. It’s also more difficult to install, which makes it’s cost lean towards the expensive side. While it is easy to maintain for the most part, keeping the grout clean can be a challenge.

Vinyl Floors: 

Pros: Vinyl is one of the least expensive flooring options. There are a range of designs to pick from and it is an extremely low maintenance floor. Not only is it easy to clean, it’s extremely hardy and durable. It is also impervious to any water which makes it ideal for any space that may have spills or leaks.

Cons: Vinyl is a great flooring for certain rooms, but is not generally desirable for living spaces. Because it is a cheaper option, it may be difficult to find patterns that mimic hardwood or stone in a realistic way.

 

It’s amazing how much your flooring will impact the overall look of your home. Which is your favorite flooring type?

p style text-align left img src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 affordable-art-94825.jpg alt affordable art width 778 height 519 p p span style font-weight 400 It can be hard to find art that is affordable and matches your personal style. At some point in my life I hope to be able to buy original paintings and have an art gallery for a home. Right now though I rsquo m sticking to prints. If you look in the right places you can find lots of prints that will look great in your home. Below are some prints that we are loving right now. nbsp --more-- img class hidden src https static.rcwilley.com images more-tag.png alt span p p span style font-weight 400 img src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 woman-print.jpg alt woman print width 778 height 1044 span p p style text-align center span style font-weight 400 a href https society6.com product sasha-c7u print s6-2429121p4a1v45 target blank Sasha a nbsp from a href https society6.com target blank Society Six a span p p style text-align left img src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 feather-70328.jpg alt feather painting width 778 height 1506 p p style text-align center nbsp a href https www.rcwilley.com Furniture Home-Decor Wall-Art 110093275 -Water-Color-V-Feather-Wall-Art-View.jsp target blank Feather a nbsp from a href https www.rcwilley.com Furniture Home-Decor Wall-Art Search.jsp target blank RC Willey a p p style text-align center img style float left src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 skyscraper-print.jpg alt skyscraper width 778 height 992 p p style text-align center a href https 20x200.com collections all-available products berenice-abbott-downtown-skyport-pier-11-east target blank Downtown Skyport Pier 11 East River Manhattan a from a href https 20x200.com target blank 20x200 a p p style text-align left img src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 girl-yellow-wall.jpg alt girl yellow wall width 778 height 1036 p p style text-align center a href https www.etsy.com listing 97886030 swirl-giclee-art-print ref shop home feat 2 target blank Swirl a nbsp from a href https www.etsy.com shop ClareElsaesser ref l2-shop-info-name target blank Clare Elsaesser a p p style text-align left img src static.rcwilley.com blog 34 6597 carpe-diem.jpg alt carpe diem width 778 height 770 p p style text-align center a href https www.rcwilley.com Furniture Home-Decor Wall-Art 110079980 -Carpe-Diem-Canvas-Wall-Art-View.jsp target blank Carpe Diem a from a href https www.rcwilley.com Furniture Home-Decor Wall-Art Search.jsp a A U O target blank RC Willey a p p span style font-weight 400 You can also create your own a href https www.rcwilley.com CustomArt.jsp target blank custom art at RC Willey a . Upload your own photo or pick a print already online decide your framing options or if you want it on a canvas and order it right then and there. Where do you go to find affordable art to put the finishing touches in your home span p

 

Often, your living room is where both your family and your guests spend the most time. It’s important to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere that will help your guests be at ease and make your home a place people want to gather. Below are five suggestions on how to create an inviting living room. 

via The Everygirl

1. Choose furniture that will appropriately fit the size of the room. Furniture that is too small may make the room feel cold and empty, and furniture that is too large can feel suffocating and overwhelming.

2. Display artwork. Including paintings, prints, or photographs on the walls helps a living room feel intentional and finished.

via Apartment Therapy

3. Incorporate curves in your design. Whether it’s a round rug, oval coffee table, or soft edged cushions, a curve is softer and more inclusive than a hard line.

via Vintage Revivals

4. Use a variety of textures in your rugs, pillows, couch, and chairs. This will be visually appealing and the softer the textures, the more cozy the room. Don’t be afraid to layer rugs or blankets. A cozy throw on the couch is always welcome as well!

5. Open curtains during the day for natural lighting and at night use lamps. Overhead lights can often be harsh and too bright, and nothing affects the mood of a room more than lighting.

Assess your living room today and decide how you’re going to make it a cozy place where people will gather. Let me know how it goes!

It’s important to have a designated workspace in your home. Whether you work from home full time or simply need a place to file and sort paperwork, you can make almost any size of space into a home office. Click on the images below for more information 

For a tiny space:

 

With a little more room:

 

To fill an office: 

There are endless options of how to make a usable work space in your home. Tell me about your home office in the comments below, and check out all of RC Willey’s home office options.

Gathering with friends and family to watch the big game is always easier when you have seating for everyone. Being completely honest, I watch football more for the ads, the snacks, and the conversations than for the actual game. My family is split about 50/50 on who likes the game and who just likes the company, but regardless of where we stand, we love lounging on our couch and spending time together. 

Try a sectional if you have a large group coming. Not only do they fit a large room, they fit a lot of people. If you’re lucky you might get the corner seat - my favorite spot in the house.

If you’re watching the game solo or with a small group, there’s nothing like a recliner to relax in. Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy the game!

Whether you’re hosting a large party or small group, RC Willey has all the seating options you need. Check out your options here and let me know what you are going to pick for your game day!

 

I was confident as a sophomore in college that I could throw the perfect dinner party. My roommate and I invited ten people over and decided that we should make homemade ravioli, despite the fact that we had 1. never made ravioli before and 2. did not own a pasta roller. A couple hours before the party, we started the process and quickly realized that there is a reason people buy pasta rollers. By the time our guests arrived, we had unintentionally thick ravioli, dough all over our clothes, no table settings, and a sink full of dishes. I vowed never to make dinner for another person again. Thankfully, I have since changed my mind on dinner parties. I love cooking for people and have learned a few things through trial and error that will help you throw a decent, if not perfect, dinner party. 

1. Serve something you are confident making. Now is not the time to experiment. Your guests will prefer having a simple meal cooked well than a complicated dish half cooked.

2. Make a playlist for the evening and have music playing when your guests arrive. It doesn’t have to be loud, but it will make any silence feel cozy rather than awkward.

3. Don’t apologize for the food, the atmosphere, or the guests. If you step on someone’s foot, go for it. Otherwise be confident and no one will notice small imperfections.

4. Clean as you go. That way you won’t be putting your guests in the uncomfortable position of debating whether or not to start doing your dishes.

5. Have dessert of some kind, even if it’s just fruit, and serve it away from the table. A change of scene helps keep the evening interesting and comfortable.

The best advice of all is to relax and remember that you’re feeding your friends. No one can complain about that. If you have more suggestions on how to host a dinner party, please leave them in the comments below!

 

If there’s one thing you need to host the ultimate game day party, it’s a good TV and sound system. With all the options of televisions and soundbars, you can feel as if you’re there for all the best parts of the game, with the added bonus of endless snacks and no line to the bathroom. It’s a win-win.

 

The first thing you need in order to have the perfect game day is the perfect TV. Size matters, so make sure you’ve measured your space and know how big of a screen you can fit. The last thing you want is to feel like you’re stuck in the front row of a movie theater or on the back bleacher with binoculars. Remember that screens are measured diagonally, from corner to corner, and everything looks smaller in the store than it will on your wall at home.

 

The second thing you need is a soundbar to help out your sound. As televisions get thinner, it gets harder to get a good sound from them. It’s a tradeoff you may not be thrilled with, but don’t worry, there’s an easy fix. Soundbars are an effective and subtle way to improve the sound of your television. Not only will you be able to hear your TV better, some models have Bluetooth connections and can be used as speakers for your music as well.

Don’t be stuck with a bad view this season! Check out all television and soundbar options at RC Willey, and let us know what else you’re doing to prepare for the big game!

My dining table is small, and it can be hard to fit more than four people comfortably around it. In a pinch we can squeeze six chairs in, but that’s pushing it. Most of the time this isn’t a problem at all, but there are times I wish we had more space. 

That’s why I’ve been considering replacing my chairs with this bench for my table. It seems like it’s just the chairs that are taking up space, not the people. With a bench, I think I could easily fit one more person on each side of my table. It will be so much easier to have conversations over dinner if we can all sit around the same table! Not only that, but I love how benches look in a kitchen.

Would you ever use a bench at your dining table? Check out all the dining chair options at RC Willey and let me know which ones are your favorites!

I didn’t realize how many clothes didn’t fit me until I decided to organize my closet. I had been reading an article online about living as a minimalist and the man in the article owned 50 things. Total. I was inspired but it didn’t take long to realize that I cannot be a minimalist. I like my books and my camping gear and my art supplies too much. Also my clothes. Basically, I would fail as a minimalist. I was inspired to get organized though. Not being the best at organizing, I turned to the web for ideas on how to begin and these were the five most helpful suggestions. 

via Pinterest

1. Everything you own should have its own place. Figure out where that wandering extra phone charger should live and put it there!

2. Notice where the clutter in your house seems to gather and figure out a way to minimize it. My entryway is a hotspot for the stroller, coats, keys, shoes, and things that I need to take out to the car. I got hooks for the coats and keys, decided the stroller should live in my laundry room instead and vowed to take everything that needs to go to the car out before it even hits the floor.

via Pinterest

 

3. Label your boxes. You shouldn’t have to open every container to figure out where the stamps are.

4. Get rid of any duplicates. I’m not sure why I had three copies of the book Jane Eyre, but I can definitely survive with just one.

5. As soon as you see anything ripped, broken, too small, or too big, toss it. There’s no need to store something you’re not going to use.

If you have any other suggestions for getting organized, please share! I’d love to know how you not only get organized, but stay that way.

According to The Family Dinner Project, a nonprofit dedicated to making family dinners a priority again, “recent studies link regular family meals with the kinds of behaviors that parents want for their children: higher grade-point averages, resilience, and self-esteem.” All in all, family meals are worth the effort! Conversations can be difficult to start around a table, though, and that’s where The Family Dinner Project can help out. They have hundreds of conversation starters on their website to help your family start talking and bonding.  Here are a couple of my favorites: 

“How is this year at school different from last year?”

“What is your favorite childhood storybook? What is special about it? Who used to read it to you?”

“What is your most unusual talent? Demonstrate it!”

“If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?” 

Here’s to hoping that everyone can become a little closer to their families this year. If you have other tips on gathering your family around the table, please share!