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Entertaining, Home Decor & Furniture, How To Published: March 1, 2017 | Updated: August 16, 2024

How to Arrange Outdoor Furniture

All eyes are on outdoor furniture, and it’s no wonder why. Exquisite style merges seamlessly with all-weather materials for furniture you’ll love relaxing in throughout the changing seasons. However, just as you would with interior spaces, give careful consideration to furniture placement. Read on for a few tips on how to arrange outdoor furniture to best suit your landscape and lifestyle.

THE EYES HAVE IT

Your eye is naturally drawn to a focal point when you enter a room, even if that room is outside. The focal point could be a fireplace, a paved veranda, or a pool. If your outdoor area doesn’t have a natural focal point, you can create one with furniture. A sectional is a great place to start as it’s substantial enough to draw attention.

TIP: Measure your space before purchasing to avoid overcrowding.

MIND THE TOES

Similar to decorating inside, keep in mind the traffic flow. Consider how guests enter and exit your outdoor living space and place furniture accordingly. Try to position furniture so the heavy traffic areas are behind or to the side of the main seating area to prevent foot traffic in front of you or guests.

TIP: Use an outdoor area rug to define your space and provide comfort underfoot.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER


If your outdoor area is large, consider multi-purpose zones. You might have a sectional seating group in one zone, a poolside bar in another, and a dining table and chairs in the next. To increase eye appeal, coordinate the zones by keeping color and/or furniture styles consistent, so it doesn’t look like a mish mash. Even if styles are different, just adding color coordinated cushions and outdoor rugs can help bring it all together.

TIP: If you’re a grill master, make sure the cooking equipment is away from the main seating area to avoid enveloping your guests in smoke.

LESS IS MORE

Even in the great outdoors, you can feel cramped and crowded if there’s too much furniture. In tight spaces, think about ditching the large dining table and opt for a smaller seating group. You might enjoy a fire table with deeply cushioned lounge chairs for comfortable, casual entertaining. Even better, choose a fire table with enough space for drinks and nibbles.

TIP: Furnishings that can pull double duty are ideal for smaller spaces. Ottomans or tables with storage space can help keep the area tidy.

Don’t forget to pin your favorites!
Entertaining, How To, Our Friends Published: February 21, 2017 | Updated: August 16, 2024

Do’s And Don’ts From An Actual Airbnb Host

If you aren’t an Airbnb host yet, chances are good that someone in your social network is. Meet Rachael G., who along with her husband have rented out their Nashville home since early 2016. In addition to the added income, Rachael loves being in control of when and who she rents to, as well as the rental fees. Here’s a few of her tips for being a host and making guests feel at home.

Get the Proper Permits

Many municipalities require hosts to have a short-term rental permit. “We learned about this the hard way,” Rachael said. “The city monitors Airbnb. After reading reviews on our page, the city served us with a court date and we ended up being fined for failure to produce a permit.”

Know the Costs

Listing on Airbnb is free. They take a three percent host service on each reservation. More than one tax may be involved, depending on where you live. “We pay the six to eight percent city sales tax and a $2.50 occupancy tax for each night’s stay,” Rachael said. “Put aside money from each stay to cover all the taxes. If you don’t pay the city by the end of the year, they won’t renew your short-term rental permit.”

Identify your Audience

“We rent all year long but summers are huge in Nashville, mostly because of the (Country Music Awards) and Fourth of July. You can rent your house out every weekend if you wanted. But we’re being picky and renting only to couples, bachelorette parties (Nashville is second only to Vegas in this past time) and other all-chick getaways.”

Keep Your Keys Safe

“Guests are given a code to the lock box on our front door. We keep one key in it and if they lose it, we’re always nearby to get them back in. So far, there’s been no reason for handing out multiple keys.“

Lock Away Personal Items

“If you really treasure something, put it under lock and key. My husband and I stow all the important papers and valuables in two deadlock bolted closets.”

Make Your Home a Hotel

“We have separate sheets, pillows, comforters and towels for our guests and of course, we launder them after every guest visit,” says Rachael. “There’s also a dedicated space in our pantry and in the fridge for guests to bring their own items.”

Create a Guest Booklet

To make the Airbnb guest experience even more personal, Rachael created a booklet to help them get acquainted with the hosts, the home and the neighborhood. “We tried to cover everything a guest would want to know—for example, how to use the WiFi and TVs, where extra linens are stored, things to do and where’s the nearest Walgreens.”

Be Flexible

“Flights get delayed and canceled. Guests enjoy the city too much and don’t leave on time. Things happen!”

If you have an Airbnb hosting suggestion, share it here.
Dining Room Ideas, Entertaining, Home Accessories Ideas Published: February 6, 2017 | Updated: August 20, 2024

How to Plan An Outdoor Dinner

Nothing goes hand in hand like great weather and outdoor entertaining. Here are a few tips that will make your guests want to linger long after the sun sets.

Spread the news

Unless it’s really a swanky event, feel free to skip the paper invites and send an email to your guests. Make it easy on them and ask them to respond only if they can’t make it.

What’s for Dinner?

Decide what type of shindig you’re throwing. A favorite is pot luck. Just ask guests to let you know what they’ll bring so you can plan the menu. (You don’t want to be faced with three potato salads and no dessert.) Even if guests are bringing food, you should plan on an appetizer to get the evening started. Make an easy antipasto appetizer by filling a generously sized tray with cuts of salami, olives, roasted bell peppers, assorted cheeses and a variety of crackers or slices of a baguette. Cheese platters are always a great option. Click here to find out which cheeses will keep your guests wanting more.

Set the Table

 
You don’t want to use paper plates but also don’t want to risk breaking your dinnerware? An easy solution is to set the table with melamine plates. Melamine is shatterproof and BPA-free.

TIP: Paper napkins and plastic utensils may be more convenient, but you’ll elevate the tone of your event if you pull out cloth napkins and use real cutlery instead.

Break the Ice  

Hot summer evenings demand plenty of ice. Don’t have an ice bucket? No worries. Just line any clean, attractive container with heavy duty plastic to make it waterproof and voila, instant ice bucket.

 
Tip: Don’t forget to place tongs or a scooper next to your ice bucket to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Liquid Refreshments

Set up a bar cart with essentials like chilled alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and of course nothing says summer like lemonade.  Turn it into a classic adult beverage with a British flair by adding Pimm’s Cup No. 1 for a light, refreshing cocktail.

 

Pimm’s Cup (makes one drink)

  • 1 1/2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup
  • lemonade (or ginger ale)
  • lemon slices
  • cucumber slices
  • (optional: orange slice, fresh borage and/or mint leaves, apple slices, strawberry)
  • Half-fill a tall glass with ice and a few slices of cucumber or lemon. Add measure of Pimm’s, then top up glass with lemonade or soda. Stir gently and add more ice if necessary. Garnish with slices of lemon and cucumber.

Candles Count

Make the evening magical by placing candles everywhere. They can even do double duty if bugs are an issue when you use these candle holders.

 
That’s Entertainment

Use wireless speakers to liven up the evening with music. And if the evening gets chilly, warm things up with a fire pit. More than just a heat source, fire pits add instant ambiance. Outdoor Ashley HomeStore is appearing in-store soon and now online!
Crafts, Health & Wellness, How To Published: February 6, 2017 | Updated: August 16, 2024

DIY Valentine’s Day Bath Bombs

We understand that with a busy schedule, it can be hard to find time to relax and unwind. Just when we feel like the busyness of the holidays has passed, Valentine’s Day sneaks up on us. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for friends, teachers, a loved one, or even yourself, a heart shaped bath bomb is something anyone would be thankful to receive.  Below are the foolproof instructions on how to make them.

What You’ll Need:

Heart Shaped Ice Cube or Baking Tray

1 Cup Baking Soda

½ Cup Citric Acid

2 Teaspoons Epsom Salt

¼ Teaspoon of Essential Oils (we chose rose and eucalyptus)

Dried Flower Petals (we used rose)

Rose Petal Witch Hazel

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

Mix baking soda, citric acid, and Epsom salt in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add Oils

Once thoroughly combined, slowly mix in essential oils, distributing the scents evenly.

Step 3: Add Witch Hazel

Slowly pour in small amounts of witch hazel until the mixture is wet, but still holds its shape well.

Step 4: Place Dried Flowers in Tray

Add a few buds and petals to each mold in the tray.

Step 5: Pat Mixture into Molds

Tightly pack the mixture into the tray molds and let dry overnight.

Chocolates and flowers are great but the gift of relaxation and pampering is hard to beat.  Watching love fizzle can actually be fun and beneficial with these DIY heart shaped bath bombs. Let us know how it works for you in the comments below.