Room To Talk Blog

Make your dorm room the coolest place around! Just because you’re living away from home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a comfortable place to study, relax, and unwind. It may not seem like you can do a lot in your dorm, but there are a few things you can do to make a huge difference. Check out some cool dorm room ideas below! 

Cool Dorm Room Ideas

via House to Decor

Chances are there isn’t a lot of storage in your dorm room. If that’s the case, see if you can lift your bed using bed risers. You’ll have room under your bed to store boxes of out of season clothes, books, or shoes. 

via Society 19

Bring in lamps to soften the lighting. Lamps will minimize the harsh overhead lighting and will make your dorm feel much cozier. Add some twinkle lights around your bed to enhance the mood even more. 

Speaking of cozy, invest in your bed! Use a mattress pad for extra padding, get a comfortable blanket, a throw, and some pillows. 

via Society 19

Add your personality with posters, potted plants, and your favorite knickknacks. Make your posters look even cooler by framing them with washi tape. 

Good luck with school this year! Don’t forget that RC Willey has all the electronics you’ll need to help you succeed this year.

It’s never too late to create some curb appeal by adding front porch seating. Whether your porch is large enough for a full outdoor sofa, or it has just enough room for a simple chair, seating on your front porch will make your home feel homey and inviting. At RC Willey, we have a wide variety of patio furniture to fit any style of home. Check out some ideas below!  

Front Porch Seating

Find it here!

Find it here!

Find it here!

Find it here!

Find it here!

Find it here!

What do you have on your front porch? 

After a summer of bike riding, yard work, camping, and so many other activities, chances are your garage is a mess. If it’s anything like mine, you may not even be able to fit your car along with all the projects that have taken over. Take the time to organize your garage and get everything squared away before the cold weather comes and you’ll be ready to go as soon as next spring comes!

How to Organize a Garage

via Driven By Decor

First, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set aside enough time to get everything done. Whether it’s a full day or a full weekend, plan on finishing the project. 

Pull everything off the shelves and into the center of your garage. Sort into three piles - keep, donate/sell, and throw away. Don’t get emotionally attached to the broken baseball bat or the backpacking bag you’ve never used. This is your chance to clear out the junk!

Put everything together in like piles - yard work, sports, camping, etc. - and then assess the layout of your garage. Think through what actually will work for your life and your lifestyle before you start organizing. 

Make sure you label storage boxes and arrange things so you won’t have to dump everything out to get one item. 

TIPS: 

• Keep items off the floor as much as possible. Things will stay cleaner if everything has a place where it belongs. 
• Clean out the garage as you go. Keep a trash bag handy and a shop-vac around so you can get all the dirt up. 

Now that your garage is cleaned and ready to go, did you know you can get a garage heater at RC Willey? Keep your projects going year-round with one of these!

Whether you can’t wait to get your kids back into a routine or you’re crying at the thought of your kids starting school, the time has come. School is starting! Make your kids feel like school is a celebration by throwing a back to school party this year. Get your school supplies together and read on for some back to school party inspiration. 

Back to School Party Ideas

via Catch My Party

via Celebrate in Detail

via Satsuma

via Spaceships and Laser Beams

Good luck with this school year! And remember, if your student needs a laptop or tablet to help them succeed, RC Willey has electronics in enough styles and prices that you'll be sure to find what you need. 

As a mom of two little kids, I find myself doing loads and loads of laundry. Yesterday, I had just finished a load of laundry when my one year old rubbed his bean and cheese burrito all over my pants and shirt. They obviously ended up right back into the washing machine and we had another load of laundry waiting. With all these messes, stains are inevitable. Luckily I found the best stain remover and I wanted to share it with you. 

How to Get Stains Out of Clothing

via Purex

Fels-Naptha! This laundry bar has been around forever. All you have to do is get the bar wet, scrub the stain, and after letting it sit for a bit, toss it into the laundry like normal. You can find this pretty much anywhere in the laundry area and I promise you won’t regret having this bar of soap in your laundry room. 

RC Willey has such a wide variety of washers and dryers to fit any budget and home. Whether you want a front or top loader, or your laundry to be stacked or side-by-side, you’ll be able to find what you need!

Are you lucky enough to have a pool in your yard? If so, I’m jealous! Just because you have a pool doesn’t mean you use it though. If the area around the pool is less than appealing, chances are you haven’t been lounging too much. Take the time to make your pool patio a relaxing retreat!  

Pool Patio Ideas

via Architectural Digest

Create a seating area with chairs that will allow you to take advantage of that sun! Include some umbrellas to add shade and some side tables so you have a place to put your drink and book. 

via Kansas City Star

Think through your landscaping and include greenery. Planters or pots of flowers will add an earthy feel, as well as pops of color. Be careful about planting trees too close if you aren’t interested in scooping leaves out of the water. 

via Structured Settlement Advisors

Put a firepit in so that your night swims can end with s’mores!

via Livabl

Include storage options, like this storage bench, to hide away your swim toys. And speaking of pool toys, wouldn’t this basketball hoop be such a fun addition? 

via Bontrager Pools

Don’t forget the outdoor speaker! What’s a pool party without some fun music? 

What do you have on your pool patio? 

Butcher block countertops are an affordable, natural-looking countertop and can add a lot to the overall look and feel of your kitchen. You may love the look of butcher block, or you may love the price, but before you make your final decision, know the pros and cons of butcher block countertops.  

Butcher Block Countertops

via Domino

Butcher Block Pros

These countertops are easy to restore. Because wood is softer than other countertops, nicks, stains, and scratches will happen. If the rustic look isn’t for you, simply use fine-grit sandpaper and sand out the imperfections. Remember to oil your countertops after sanding and you’ll never know the difference. 

The softness of the wood will actually make your kitchen quieter as well. Plates, glasses, and pans will not make as big of a clatter when you set them down. 

Wood looks great with a variety of materials and appliances. It’s easy to mix and match textures and styles with butcher block countertops. 

via Domino

Butcher Block Cons

You will need to oil your butcher block about every six months to keep the wood from drying out and cracking. Make sure you are using food-safe oil or wax, but stay away from cooking oil as it will damage the wood. 

Standing water is your enemy. Excessive water will damage the wood of your butcher block. 

You will need to use hot pads before putting a hot pan or tray on your countertops. 

What do you think? Would you put butcher block countertops in your kitchen? If you are redoing your kitchen, check out all the appliances available at RC Willey. You’ll find something you love!

I generally pride myself on keeping our home smell like there is no animal living in the house, but the other day I walked in and caught a whiff. There was definitely a dog smell in our house and I immediately set to work figuring out where it came from. After giving my dog a bath and letting her dry off outside, the smell was gone! Thank goodness. 

Is there a dog smell in your home? Are you tired of having your house smell like a pet store? There are a few simple things you can do to keep your home smelling fresh and clean. 

How to Get Rid of Pet Smell in Your Home

• Keep your pet bathed and groomed.
• Vacuum up any dog hair, including on pet beds and any furniture your pet may sit on. 
• Sweep and mop your hard floors frequently. If you pets shed you may need to do this more often. 
• Use an air purifier to trap allergen particles and keep the air in your home clean. 
• Immediately pick up and clean any messes in your home. If needed, use a pet odor eliminator. 
• Wash your pet bed frequently. Most beds have a removable cover you can toss into the washing machine. 
• Open your windows and let the fresh air in!
• Change the air filter in your home. 

Good luck keeping your home smelling nice and clean!

With summer coming to an end, it might be hard to find some activities for your kids to fill the last few days. End this summer on a high note and create fun memories with your kids, all while enjoying the great outdoors! 

Outdoor Activities for Kids

Go to a new park or splash pad

Find a kid-friendly hike

Sidewalk chalk - put out some mallets, water, and paintbrushes for a new chalk experience

Create an obstacle course

via Women's Day

Yard games like corn hole or horseshoes

Night games - classics like kick the can, flashlight tag, and fugitive can never go wrong!

Picnic in the mountains

Make a movie

Homemade slip and slide

Water balloons

What are you going to do with your last few days of summer?

Hanging art can be intimidating, especially if it’s an especially large work of art. What do you use to anchor it to the wall? How do you center it correctly on the wall? How do you get the frame to be level and not crooked? If you’ve got a large piece of art just leaning against the wall because you’re secretly afraid to hang it, have no fear! We’re here to show you how to hang large art.  

How to Hang Large Art

via Decoomo

First, this will be much easier if you have two people. Have one person hold the piece of art up to the wall where you want it. Mark where you want it with a light pencil mark, making sure you have centered it correctly on the wall. 

Measure where the hanging hardware is on the back of your art. If there are two pieces of hanging hardware you’ll need to measure how far apart they are as well as the distance from the top of the frame to the hardware. If your art has a wire, make sure you pull it tight to get a correct measurement.

Using your initial pencil mark of where you want your painting to go and the measurements you’ve taken, tap in the hardware you'll be using to hang the art. Depending on the weight of the art piece you’re using you may need to use different anchors for safety. 

Hang your artwork! If needed, use a level to make sure your art is perfectly straight. 

Empty wall in your home? Check out all the wall art at RC Willey and get started hanging your next piece of art!