If home is where the heart is, then the patio is the smile that brings people in. Patios come in all different shapes and sizes, but their function is the same - a cozy outdoor space to be enjoyed by many people.
Can you remember the last time you saw your neighbors spending time on the patio? What about you? When was the last time you made it out onto the porch, or back onto the deck?
A patio that isn't used frequently is not living up to its potential.
You could be a few easy ideas away from cultivating a great patio space that can be enjoyed by you, your family, and even your neighbors. Who isn't looking to make new friends?
A tight-knit community is an aspect that is missing from most neighborhoods of today. And a beautiful patio space is a way to invite people to get to know yo ...
What’s better than an indoor rocking chair? Not much, really — except for maybe an outdoor rocking chair swing.
Did you know you could make a tree swing on your own? Well, you can! In fact, it may even be easier to do than you think.
If you’re ready to embark on a great DIY project that the whole family can enjoy, follow our kid’s rocking chair swing guide with step-by-step instructions.
What You’ll Need
Strong Rocking Chair
Big Sturdy Tree Ladder
Heavy Duty Drill (must be able to drill 1/2 inch holes)
100 Yards of Rope
2 Eyebolts (1/2 inch diameter)
2 Nautical Thimbles
4 Nuts and Washers
Optional Items
Sandpaper
Outdoor Paint or Spray Paint
Paintbrushes
1. Choose Your Chair
To get ready for your DIY kid’s rocking chair project, first, you must choose ...
Rocking chairs are all about comfort—it’s hard to find a truly uncomfortable modern rocking chair. However, we all define “comfort” a little bit differently. Here are a few things to consider if you’re trying to find the most comfortable rocking chair for you (or for someone you love).
Choose a modern chair.
Antique chairs are excellent for collectors, but they usually aren’t very comfortable for a variety of different reasons. Furniture was built smaller 100 years ago. If you’ve ever walked into a home built in the early 1900s, you’ll see what I mean. You’ll find tiny rooms and narrow corridors that make it a challenge to get today’s furniture into the home. That means that an older rocking chair may be too narrow or too short to support your comfort.
Even a well-built ...
Have you ever spent the weekend in a cozy cabin in the woods or mountains?
Maybe you have an annual beach vacation where you stay in a cottage on the shore.
It's easy to see what we love about hiking through the woods or feeling the sand between our toes, but there's something special about the end of the day too.
When you come back indoors and sip hot cocoa by the fireplace, there's a kind of magic to the cozy cottage that we miss when we come back to our real lives.
Wouldn't it be great if you could capture a little bit of that magic, and create cozy cottage home decor at home?
Well, with these 7 simple design ideas, now you can! Read on to turn your home into your very own vacation destination!
1. Pick a Theme
Close your eyes and picture your dream vacation. When you think the w ...
It's a story as old as parenting. Mom wakes in the middle of the night to the sound of her baby's cries. She gets up, picks up her fussy baby and sits in a rocking chair to start a late night feeding. Between nursing or the bottle, and the gentle motion of the rocking chair, the baby is soothed and drifts back to sleep.
It's a lovely story. And while it may seem like an anecdotal tale, the fact is there is proof to back up the claims that holding your baby, and rocking him or her, not only has benefits for a newborn but also for the new mom. Whether in a rocking chair or a glider, rocking provides health and developmental benefits for your newborn and encourages bonding between parents and baby.
Here's why a rocking chair for your nursery is perfect:
Health and Healing Benefits
N ...
Wicker remains one of the most popular types of outdoor furniture for the patio. Consisting of semi-thick fibrous material that's interwoven together, it's a highly durable yet incredibly lightweight solution. Cultures throughout the world have used wicker to create furniture for centuries, and even today it remains a popular choice among homeowners. But there are both pros and cons associated with wicker furniture that you need to be aware of, especially if you intend to use outdoors.
What is Wicker?
It's a common assumption that wicker is a special type of plant or fabric, but this isn't the case. Wicker is actually a method of weaving fibers together to create furniture. The actual material used in wicker furniture may consist of cane stalk, rattan, or variou ...
If you’re like me, you prefer to support your friends and neighbors with the dollars that you spend. The American economy has had it pretty rough lately, and I know I don’t like the idea of supporting jobs overseas, especially when I have some choices.
Fortunately, when it comes to my beloved rocking chairs, there are some great American manufacturers to choose from. I wouldn’t have it any other way since rocking chairs are such a big part of Americana. They’re our history and our tradition.
Here are five of the most popular brands, along with the most popular chairs that the brands produce. You’ll find a good selection of styles, manufacturing materials, and prices here.
1. Dixie Seating Company Rockers
The Dixie Seating Company is based out of Statesville, NC. They’re ...
There are few things in life as precious as the bond between mother and daughter. That bond isn’t always peaceful, and it isn’t always happy. Just ask the mother of a teenage daughter how it’s going, and you’re likely to get a very tired, rueful smile out of her! But ask that same mother if she has any regrets, and you’re also likely to get a very emphatic no. Through the good times and the bad, mothers and daughters are friends, confidants, and cohorts.
As the years go by, that relationship changes. In infancy, a mother is a caretaker, providing for her daughter’s every need. As she grows, as she starts school, a daughter wants to play make-believe. She pretends to be an adult. There are dollhouses, new friends and soccer practice, an exploration of the world around her. Adole ...
Looking for valuations for your antique rocking chair? We have partnered with Value My Stuff. Click image below to get started!
Is there anything more iconic and American than the rocking chair? Since the early 1700s, they’ve been a vital part of our culture, and just about everyone knows someone who owns an antique or a vintage rocker. These chairs are found in many living rooms or front porches, and they have a rich and varied history.
The origins of classic rocking chairs, as we know them today, can be found in early 18th Century America's gardens. Back then, they were little more than chairs set on runners. At first, they weren’t very popular. They came into use in mental facilities and hospitals to soothe and comfort patients. It wasn’t until the Shakers began to bui ...
Are you considering a new rocking chair, either for your use, for the use of your guests or family, friends and loved ones? Buying a rocking chair might, initially, seem to be a straightforward choice, but it’s more complicated than it looks.
Rocking chairs have an in-depth history that’s all their own. There is an endless variety of styles available, and some are more comfortable and useful than others. There are also quite a few sub-categories of rocking chairs, such as glider chairs, which can confuse the issue even further.
That’s why we’ve put together this in-depth guide to help you navigate the world of rocking chairs.
For whom are you buying the chair?
This is the very first thing you’ll have to look at when you start shopping for rocking chairs. Who will be using the ch ...