How Can You Declutter Your Toy Room?

 

In a home full of children, it’s common for your toy room to get cluttered. However, sometimes it can get a little overwhelming, and at times, you may even have trouble finding your floor.  After the holidays, it’s the perfect time for families to declutter and organize their toy room. 

 

Here are a few ways that you can successfully declutter your toy room:Storage for Kids Toys

 

Donate or Store Old Toys

One of the first steps to create a clean and organized room is to sit down with your child and select toys that they no longer play with. Together you can decide whether you want to donate them or store them away for future use. 

 

Organize Your Playroom

Does your playroom have the storage it needs to help keep it clean and organized? Try evaluating the layout of your playroom and divide it into about three or four zones. For example, you can have one area for books, another for dolls, and a crafts zone.

 

Each zone should then have some way to store each of the items. So, your book area should have a bookshelf to store books and other items kept in that area. You may also add a dollhouse to help store some of your child’s dolls and accessories in that area. Lastly, adding a toy chest would be a great way to store your child’s crafts!

 

Label Bins to Help Promote Organization

One of the most important ways to help your toy room stay clean is by making sure that your child understands where their toys go after they’re done playing for the day. Whether you dedicate zones for them to play in, label your bins, or cut out pictures of each toy and tape them to their appropriate basket, your child needs to be able to identify these areas. Once everything is properly laid out, your child will be able to help keep the playroom clean, organized, and free from clutter.

 

Dedicate Times to Clean the Playroom

If you want to keep your playroom decluttered throughout the year, you’re going to want to stay on top of cleaning it. Schedule times to clean the room together, so you can help teach your child how to put everything back in its appropriate places.

 

Adding More Storage to Your Playroom

At Carriage House Furnishings, we have Amish-made furniture for sale that will make a great addition to your playroom. Shop our showroom of solid wood furniture today and contact us online with any questions!  

4 Benefits of Having a Great Kitchen Island

With the new year quickly approaching, it’s often a common time to redecorate your home. If you’re looking to remodel your house, start with the kitchen!

Remember, your kitchen should offer great storage and functionality. One part of your kitchen that you should focus on is your island! 

There are several reasons to add an island to your kitchen. Here are some of our favorite reasons: Lahoma Island with sliding barn doors

Islands Offer Additional Storage Space 

If you’re adding a new island to your kitchen, make sure it’s one that offers plenty of storage. Some kitchen islands have storage with additional cabinets or shelving, which is great for busy kitchens or ones that lack storage. 

Kitchen Islands are Great for Kids

An island will allow your kids to help in the kitchen. The island’s height helps kids feel apart of the action, and it’s a sturdy spot to work! Children also enjoy gathering around the island to complete their homework or enjoy a nice afternoon snack. 

A Separate Work Station

One of the best parts about adding a new island to your kitchen is that it offers more room to prepare meals. If you typically have a busier kitchen, having an island will give you extra room to work while there are multiple people in your kitchen. To make things easier, you can store your baking sheets, measuring tools, and cutting utensils in your island so that everything is in one convenient place! 

A Focal Point of Your Kitchen

Not only is your island practical, but it also helps complete the look of your kitchen. When your guests enter your home, your kitchen island will be one of the main focal points. If your island weren’t there, your guests would be looking at your plain cabinetry. 

Since your kitchen island is a focal point, make sure you’re investing in a timeless piece. 

Purchase a New Island for Your Kitchen

Are you looking for a new kitchen island? At Carriage House Furnishings, we offer beautiful, handcrafted, solid-wood furniture that will meet your household needs. 

Browse our online selection of kitchen islands, and contact us today with any of your questions! 

Give the Gift of Amish Furniture This Holiday Season

Are you looking to give a unique gift this holiday season? Why not give a gift that will last a lifetime of comfort! Amish furniture and home accessories make some of the best gifts for your friends and family. They are a durable, timeless, and unique pieces to add to any home. 

Whether you’re thinking of asking for a piece yourself, or you’re looking to give the gift of Amish furniture this holiday season, here are some of our best suggestions: 

Wooden Rocking Horse for Children

If you’re shopping for a child or a parent-to-be, a solid oak rocking chair will look great in a playroom, child’s bedroom, or the living room. Any child will love using their imagination while rocking back and forth on their new toy. Bespoken Nostalgia for the Holiday Season

At Carriage House Furnishing, we have a large selection of Amish wooden toys that your child will love to play with. Not only will these toys last you through years of everyday wear and tear, but they may also become an heirloom for your child to pass on! 

A Gift for Those Who Love the Outdoors

If you have someone in your life that loves spending time outdoors, our outdoor Amish furniture makes the perfect gift. From rocking chairs to bistro sets, there are plenty of outdoor furniture options to choose from. Your loved ones will be impressed with our outdoor furniture quality and it will be a gift that they can use all year long. 

Giving a Gift to Your Organized Friend 

Everyone enjoys being organized. That’s why you can never go wrong with giving a gift that will help them keep their homes organized. Whether it’s a wooden jewelry holder or a wooden storage chest, they’ll be sure to enjoy this useful gift. 

A Gift for the Book Lovers in Your Life 

Do you have someone in your life who usually has their nose buried in a book? What better gift to give them than the gift of a solid wood bookcase! A nice bookcase offers great storage to keep their books and hold other trinkets. Our Amish solid-wood bookcases will blend seamlessly in any room in the house. Solid Wood Bookshelf

Give the Gift of Amish Furniture This Holiday Season

At Carriage House Furnishing, we have durable solid-wood Amish furniture and other decors that will make the perfect gift! Shop our online showroom to get more gift inspiration, and give us a call at 717-768-8712 with any questions! 

4 Simple Ways to Update Your Home Without Renovating

As the seasons change, you might be tempted to start making changes to your home. And although a complete renovation may sound tempting, it’s not always convenient. Home renovations can be messy, expensive, and very time-consuming.

So, to avoid all of the chaos, we wanted to provide you with a few simple ways you can change up your home without needing a full renovation!

Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Adding New Cabinetry to Your Rooms

A simple way to change the look of your kitchen or bathroom is to paint your cabinets and switch out your hardware. You’ll be amazed at how much different your room looks by changing the smaller, outdated features. Not only is this easy, but it’s also very affordable, and something that you can do yourself!

If you’re looking to add more cabinetry, you should consider adding a large corner cabinet or a pie safe for some extra storage.

Decorate Open Shelving Pieces

If you have a blank wall, or you’re trying to fill up extra space, add an open shelving unit to your room. For example, a large open bookcase would pair well against a blank wall. You can then decorate by adding books, candles, or photos to make it stand out for when your guests enter the room! Open shelving is a great way to show off some of your more elegant and unique possessions too.

Create an Outdoor Room

The fall is the perfect season to spend some extra time outdoors before the winter comes. Even if you don’t have a large front porch or backyard patio, you can still find space to create your outdoor sanctuary. You just need to be inventive!

Create a cozy and relaxing space by adding an outdoor rug, table, and sturdy outdoor furniture. You can then add a couple of throw cushions, pillows, a fire pit, and outdoor decorations to make the spot your own.

Invest in Durable Furniture

At Carriage House Furnishing, we have durable, handcrafted Amish furniture that will add value to your home without the need of a renovation. Don’t forget to browse our online furniture and start shopping for your new piece today!

Adding a Rustic Chic Charm to Your Living Area

You spend a lot of time in your living room. Whether you’re gathered around the television waiting for the game to start, or you’re taking some time to unwind and relax. Your space should always be enjoyable for you. One of the more popular household decor trends is decorating your home with rustic charm. 

Here are a few ways that you can add a rustic-chic charm to your living room to make it feel warm and cozy: Rustic Furniture

Add Rustic Wood Home Decor 

Most rustic home decor often shows a little wear and tear. Decor pieces may look like they’re fading and have imperfections, which adds more uniqueness to your room. Experiment with different designs, shapes, sizes, and wood finishes to add eye-catching pieces into your living room. Shop online for rustic chic wall decor to find your perfect piece! 

Choose Quality Over Quantity in Furniture

When decorating, sometimes less is more! You don’t want to clutter your room with pieces that you aren’t going to use. When shopping for furniture, look for sturdy, solid wood, furniture to add to your space. Handmade Amish furniture will last you a lifetime and will tie your entire room together. Plus, their neutral wood finishing will blend seamlessly into any color scheme that you have created for your room. 

Add a Dark Wood Coffee Table 

Enjoy your favorite cup of coffee while watching your favorite morning show around a dark wood coffee table. The dark food finish will add a cozy feel to your living area and will be the perfect piece to add to your room of rustic decor. You can even decorate your coffee table by adding decorative books for your guests to enjoy, or get creative using unique vases. 

Decorative Wood Accent Furniture 

Farmhouses are known for having unique wood furniture displayed all around their home. One way to make a statement in your living area is to add a wooden corner cabinet or a hutch to store decorative pieces and blankets. Use decorative, vintage glassware to decorate your cabinets, or accessorize the area around them. They are also useful to help store extra blankets and extra throw pillows. 

Complete Your Room With Amish-Made Furniture 

No rustic chic living room is complete without a handmade piece of Amish-made furniture. At Carriage House Furnishing, we have durable furniture that will great in any room in your home. Shop our online showroom, or give us a call at 717-768-8712.

 

How to Protect Your Wood Furniture From the Summer Heat

The sun’s powerful rays can impact even the highest quality of material. The summer, is the most important time to look into how you should be protecting your wooden furniture to make sure that it stays looking as good as new for years to come.

Here are a few ways that you can prolong the life of your indoor and outdoor wood furniture:Protecting Wooden Furniture

Utilize Your Blinds and Shades 

The best way to help maintain your furniture’s original condition is to block out the sun altogether! If you’re worried about your inside furniture dulling, make sure that you are covering your windows with the proper blinds and shades to protect your furniture from the sun, even at its strongest hours.

Rearrange the Furniture in Your Home 

Most homes will have a few rooms that draw a lot more sunlight than other places. If you have furniture displayed in a room that receives a lot of direct sunlight, try rearranging the furniture. Dark-stained wood tends to show signs of sun damage faster than lighter pieces, so be sure to keep this in mind before you start moving pieces.

Also, keep this in mind for your outdoor furniture too!

Cover Your Furniture Up

If you have valuable outdoor furniture that you want to make last, invest in furniture covers of various sizes to help protect your outdoor wooden tables and chairs. Most covers are usually made of polyester, vinyl, or canvas and will help protect your furniture from water, UV’s from the sun, and other outdoor creatures. It’s always best to choose a cover that offers complete coverage from wind, sun, and rain.

Think About a Sealant 

The summer weather can be unpredictable at times, so it’s always best to take precautionary measures to keep your outdoor wooden furniture protected. Applying a water sealant to your furniture will help maintain the look of wood and give your furniture protection against the rain and other moistures. If you’re not sure what sealant to use on your wooden furniture, you can always ask a professional.

If you’re looking for a quality selection of unique wooden furniture pieces, Carriage House Furnishings has what you need! We carry a wide variety of indoor and outdoor wooden Amish furniture for every home. Visit our showroom or browse our online selection today!

 

How to Make the Most of Your Nightstand

Although nightstands take up very little space in your room, a narrow bedside table can significantly improve your bedroom’s organization and functionality. Some nightstands have larger surfaces to hold items such as a lamp, an alarm clock, and your phone. While other nightstands serve as a decorative addition to your room.

If you want to learn how to make the most out of your nightstand, try following a few of these organization tips!Tips for Redecorating Your Bedroom

Eliminate Items You’re No Longer Using

Your nightstand can become a magnet for unnecessary items. Nightstands have limited space, so it’s important to remove things like old books and papers that no longer serve a purpose being near your bed. By eliminating these unnecessary items, you now have room for your bedtime essentials.

Organize Your Nightstand Shelves

Having a nightstand with built-in shelving for extra storage, having a shelf instead of a drawer gives you a little more room for creativity when organizing. Try adding a decorative storage container on your shelf to tuck away larger items like electronics or tissue boxes.

Only Store Your Essentials in Your Drawers

Any items you keep beside your bed should serve a purpose. Include anything you might need before going to bed or while waking up in the morning. Some things you may include are phone chargers, a flashlight, or maybe your current read.

Decorate by Hanging Art or a Mirror

Now that you’ve organized your nightstand, it’s time to decorate it. One unique way to save space on the top of your nightstand is by hanging a piece of art above it. Instead of hanging the pieces above your bed, this look is unique, different, and eye-catching. 

Add Small Trinkets to the Top

Adding small trinkets to the top of your nightstand is another excellent way to style your bedroom. Although they may be small, these items can transform your nightstand and make it feel complete. Try adding useful things like a small decorative bowl to store your watch or jewelry at the end of the day!

The right nightstand can bring your room together. Instead of the area around your bed looking plain and simple, accessorize your nightstands with the essentials to make your space feel complete. At Carriage House Furnishings, we have a diverse selection of hand-crafted bedroom furniture that will be the perfect addition to any bedroom. Browse our online collection or in-store to find your one-of-a-kind, eye-catching pieces today! 

4 Reasons to Purchase Amish Furniture

Buying new furniture for your home is an investment. Of course, you want to purchase pieces that are eye-catching and look great in your home. However, you’ll also want your furniture pieces to last you for a long time too. It’s hard to find high quality and durable furniture pieces that will last a lifetime; however, when you purchase Amish made furniture, you can count on having it for decades. Let’s take a look at the benefits of handcrafted Amish furniture to help make your purchasing decision easier.

Amish Furniture is Made of Durable HardwoodAmish Made Furniture in Pennsylvania

Unlike composite wood products, hardwood won’t wear, crack, or break down as quickly as other wood products. When cared for properly, hardwood can last for decades without damage. Amish furniture is made to withstand everyday use, so it makes the perfect addition to any household.

Select Unique Amish Furniture Pieces

Every piece of Amish furniture is handcrafted, making them a one-of-a-kind purchase. These unique pieces are made using natural wood grain and different coloring variations, giving you durable furniture pieces made from the finest materials. Shop our online showroom to see how we construct our wood furniture pieces.

Solid Wood Will Always be In Style

Since Amish furniture pieces can come in a variety of different woods such as cherry, pine, and oak, these timeless pieces never go out of style. Depending on your taste and preferences, you can find pieces that will blend seamlessly into any of your rooms. Amish furniture pieces can also be made to be more rustic, distressed, contemporary, traditional, or formal to help match your design taste.

Amish Furniture Pieces Are A Justified Investment

You can rarely say that your furniture gets better with age; however, when you purchase a furniture piece made from solid wood, it’s true that it only gets better as it ages. When you purchase one of these quality pieces, you’ll be confident that it can last from generation to generation. We encourage you to take your time finding the right piece for your home!

At Carriage House Furnishings, we offer beautiful, handcrafted Amish furniture that will meet all of your household needs. Browse our showroom online and fall in love with your new piece today!

Outdoor Seating Ideas For Your Yard

No matter the size of your outdoor space, it’s always a great idea to have outdoor seating options available for you or your guests. Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to have an evening drink with your friends, or somewhere to sip your morning coffee, your dream spot is achievable. To get started, let’s look at some outdoor seating ideas that will allow you to sit back and relax all spring and summer long!

Create a Cozy, Secluded Outdoor Space

Outdoor Table and Chair SetHaving a secluded area in your yard is perfect for those moments when you need to take some time for yourself. Start by adding a dining set like our Poly Bistro Table and 2 Chairs to create the perfect setting to sip your morning coffee with a good book. To brighten up your space add hanging string lights and decorate the area by strategically placing lanterns and candles around the seating area. For an extra touch, add a colorful outdoor rug to tie the space together!

Add Some Pops of Color

To spice up your seating arrangement in your yard, incorporate pops of color to help brighten up your yard. Plus, you can play around with different patterns and complimentary colors to make your area feel like another room in your home. Try incorporating colors and patterns through outdoor rugs, pillows, and seat cushions!

Gather Around the Campfire

Fire pits are a great way to keep your guests warm during the cooler nights. If you usually host a lot of night-time get togethers, a fire pit would be a great investment for your yard. To offer maximum comfort, add lounging chairs like our Poly Fan Back Chair and a basket of blankets will help your guests sit back and relax.  

Hangout for Awhile

Sometimes you just need to kick back and take in the fresh air. There is no better place to relax than rocking back and forth on a swinging bench. The rocking of the bench is soothing and often can make us feel calm and relaxed. Swing alone or accompanied by your loved one!

If you’re looking to add more outdoor seating to your yard, Carriage House Furnishing offers high quality Amish outdoor furniture that will tie together any yard. 

Browse our collection online or in store to find sturdy pieces to add to your yard!

Why You Should Consider Switching to a Built-In Garbage Can

Whether you’re running out of space in your kitchen, or you don’t want your garbage can on display, then built-in garbage cans are the perfect option for you! They are sleek, convenient, and look great in your kitchen. Here are a few more reasons why you should consider adding a built-in garbage can to your kitchen!

It Keeps Garbage Out of Sight

When you think about your dream kitchen, it’s doubtful that your garbage can is something that you picture in it. Regardless, you’ll need to have a garbage can in your kitchen, so you might as well keep it hidden! Built-in garbage cans are easy to use, and they blend right into the kitchen. Usually, these fixtures will have multiple false fronts that allows them to blend in naturally in your kitchen.

Helps Control Garbage Odor

The last thing that you want is to have an unpleasant smell lingering around an area where you handle food. Built-in garbage cans help eliminate odors and neutralize unpleasant scents. To further reduce unpleasant scents, you can use odor-controlling garbage bags and add lids to the top of your cans! All of these tips combined will help keep your kitchen smelling pleasant.

Allows You to Sort Your Waste

There is more than one way to dispose of your waste. Besides throwing it away, you can also recycle and compost certain products! You can recycle products such as plastic bottles, paper, glass, and more. You’re also encouraged to compost items such as vegetable waste, coffee grounds, and fruit scraps. Purchasing a double trash cabinet allows you to sort your garbage accordingly, and makes it easy for you to dispose of your waste.

Easy to Manage Garbage 

Built-in garbage cans are very easy to manage. Garbage cans easily slide in and out of the frames they are placed in. Plus, you can use any drawer space around the storage area to keep extra garbage bags, so they are always close by when you need them!

If you’re looking for a new way to store your garbage can, Carriage House Furnishings offers built-in cabinet garbage cans that conveniently tuck away the garbage in your kitchen. Browse our collection online or in-store to find your one-of-a-kind Amish built-in cabinet garbage cans today!

4 Ways to Create a Unique Farmhouse Kitchen

Farmhouse kitchens have become very popular across many households. There are plenty of different ways that you can creatively incorporate new pieces to your kitchen to create a more functional and cozy space. Let us help spark some ideas to get you started creating the farmhouse kitchen of your dreams!

Add a Neutral Colored Bookshelf

Although bookshelves aren’t usually found in the kitchen, adding unique furniture pieces are a great way to make your kitchen stand out! You can use a bookshelf to incorporate neutral colors and natural woods into your kitchen. Also you can dress up your bookshelf with different antiques, baskets, cookbooks, metal accessories, and even plants. Our medium sage-colored bookcase is a great way to add a pop of color, while still sticking with your neutral color scheme. Plus, the storage cabinets at the bottom are perfect for storing kitchen towels or cleaning supplies.

Incorporate A Wood Hutch

A wooden hutch is a farmhouse kitchen staple that you can’t forget to include in your kitchen. A hutch is a great piece to have in any farmhouse kitchen because it’s an eye-catching and vintage-looking piece. The 3 Door Hickory Hutch with Glass Doors is a great way to store your glassware, silverware, and bakeware. You can also get more creative and transform it into a bar or coffee station!

Accessorize with Farmhouse Signs

Adding signs ties your entire kitchen together. You can personalize them by using quotes that define your family, or you can keep it simple and add signs that say “market” or “farmhouse.” Signs are a great way to incorporate more wood or rustic metals into your kitchen too! Check out our farmhouse style signs to help get you started.

Add a Rustic Island 

People are starting to repurpose old dressers to create unique kitchen islands. You can use the dresser drawers for extra storage! Repurposing dressers can be a timely process. To save time, consider adding a light-wood kitchen island. Our Lahoma island has drawers for storage and even has sliding barn doors! 

At Carriage House Furnishings, we offer a beautiful selection of high-quality kitchen furniture to help you create your perfect farmhouse kitchen. Browse online or stop into our store to find your perfect pieces!

Creative Ways to Organize Children’s Toys

If you’re a parent, then you know how challenging can be keeping track of your children’s toy collection. Even if you have a room dedicated to storing their toys, they somehow still end up scattered all around the house. It can be overwhelming, trying to keep track of all your child’s toys. Try these easy storage ideas to help keep children’s toys organized.

Add Baskets to Your Bookshelf

Bookshelves aren’t limited to just storing books. If you add storage baskets to the shelves, they can be a great way to organize toys. Adding labels to your baskets can help your child put away their toys neatly while keeping them sorted. Eventually, as your child gets older, you can remove the baskets, and transform it back into a bookshelf!

Rotate Your Child’s Toys

One of the best ways to declutter your toy room is by going through your child’s toys and deciding what toys they are currently playing with. Just because your child owns many toys does not mean that they all need to be in the playroom. Invest in a toy chest that you can sleekly store in any room and rotate your child’s toys every few weeks. Rotating their toys is the perfect opportunity to re-introduce toys that your child may have forgotten about, limiting the need to purchase new toys to add to their collection.

Store Toys Within Furniture

Another creative way to store your child’s toys is through your furniture. If you own an ottoman or a cushioned chest, you can also use it as a toy chest. It’s a great solution because you can hide your toys in the seat and use the top for decorative items. This kind of storage is an excellent addition to any bedroom, living room, or mudroom.

Make Use of Your Toys

If you own a dollhouse, store all your dolls within the home, so all pieces are stored together. If your child has a play kitchen, store all the kitchen accessories within the accessible compartments. This is a convenient way to make some space in your room while keeping all like items together.

If you’re looking to organize your playroom, Carriage House Furnishings can help you find your perfect piece. We carry a wide range of Amish wooden furniture, including children’s toys and furniture that will endure any playroom.