For most of us, a house is a long-term investment, both financially and emotionally. True, you’ll make changes along the way, even major ones, but you’re not likely to tear the whole thing down and rebuild from scratch. Our hope is that the structure we spend our lives in – our home – will stand the test of time.

In this day and age of the disposable, that yearning for something more durable and timeless can apply to furniture too. And so, if it’s furniture you seek that will stand the test of time, there’s no better choice than custom-made.

Never considered custom-made furniture? Well, if you’re looking for reasons, we’ll give you our top three.

Quality

Hands down, the most compelling reason to buy a custom-made piece is the quality. It out performs the prefabricated box store item by leaps and bounds.

Quality goes beyond basic construction; it’s infused into every detail including the basic ingredients. From the use of sustainable wood and fabric choices, to nontoxic glues and stuffing, custom furniture makers care about every aspect of the quality of their product.

Quality also means durability. Let me tell you a story. My mother has had the same sofa for over 30 years. In that time, it has witnessed our family’s history and, although it has required some upkeep, like a reupholstering and slight reshape to reflect changing tastes, it has endured gracefully. Through numerous holiday celebrations, family get-togethers, TV binge-watching marathons and even a marriage, that custom-made sofa my mother bought 30 years ago has been an investment that is still paying dividends in comfort.

Of course, custom furniture is pricier compared to the big box store variety that has quite literally been designed to fall apart in a fairly short period of time, so if you add up all those sofas you’ll be buying every eight to ten years, the custom-made option makes sound economic sense! Think of it as an investment in the quality of your life.

Unique/Personalized

Custom-made also means personalized. From shape and fabric, to colour and trim, every detail is according to your specifications, making it truly your own. Who wants their home to look cookie cutter, like it fell out the IKEA catalogue? No, you want to show your personality and unique style and custom furniture allows you to do just that.

Look for canadian upholstery brands such as Palliser, ElRan, and Decor-Rest to have access to a large selection of leathers, fabrics, and configurations and at dining room manufacturers like Canadel and Bermex for a complete customization of your dining room set.

Green

Beyond the fact that custom-made furniture is made to last, and therefore not likely to end up in a land fill anytime soon, something that cannot always be said about the product offerings by large retailers and manufacturers, it’s a greener choice by how it is made. In many instances, the materials used are obtained locally and from renewable sources, thereby reducing the carbon footprint through shorter transportation times and promoting a sustainable exploitation of the environment.

Local sourcing also means supporting the local economies, which means your purchase can represent a more ethical choice in that many of these companies also support fair wage policies for workers and are closely tied with their communities.

So, go ahead, buy custom-made for these reasons and many more! Your friends are sure to be “green” with envy.

Custom furniture is our speciality! Come in and speak to your local expert today.

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

Just like your wardrobe, your home can enjoy a bit of a spring update, and with the interior design and décor trends we’re seeing for 2019; it definitely won’t be hard to incorporate a few of your favourites.

The key in “décor trends” is to take those you love and toss the rest. Make your home your own by incorporating your unique style, family favourites, cherished heirlooms, and a few fresh updates so it doesn’t start to feel stale.

Trend #1: Sustainable Materials & Shopping

Think less is more with this trend. You don’t need 42 throw pillows or an overstuffed living room with too much furniture. Focus on what matters most and buy, use, and incorporate those things. Upcycle furniture to reduce what goes in the trash, or choose products that have been manufactured sustainably. Locally made Canadian furniture is a great option if this trend is one for you.

Trend #2: Nature-inspired

Bring the outside in! Add plants to your decor, blur the lines between outdoors and in with your furniture as well as through your fabric choices. We’re also seeing a big resurgence in floral fabrics and wallpapers.

Trend #3: Embrace Your Curves

Women have known this for years and we’re glad to see the interior design world has caught on. Curves are in! Curved furniture and uniquely shaped items are making a big statement in 2019.

Source: Reena Sotropa In House Design Group

Trend #4: BIG and Bold

Patterned and bold backsplashes (goodbye boring white tiles) are back. So are BIG beds – upholstered headboards or giant four-poster beds, giving you a sense of comfort and cozy. We’re also seeing BIG bold colour choices (like black for a bathroom!) with walls going from basic white to literally everything in the rainbow. When it comes to art; more is more and the bigger, the better. Forget the gallery wall, how about a GIANT piece of art that dominates the entire wall?

Trend #5: Mix ‘n Match

This is definitely a trend we see sticking around for a while. It works so well and really allows you to make your home your own. We’re seeing mixed materials, furniture styles, fabrics, colours, patterns, and even metals (goodbye entirely brassy rooms!).

These two rooms show us how individual this trend is. Both are mixing colours, fabrics, styles, and yet are completely unique.

Trend #6: Acrylic

Acrylic furniture has been coming into the interior design scene for the past few years and for good reason. Acrylic is almost essential for small spaces since it gives us usable space without crowing our sightlines. Acrylic is also great as a foundation for your home decor to build up layers (see mix and match!) with vases, coffee table books, flowers, and more. This is one material trend we don’t see going anywhere anytime soon.

Trend #7: Comfort is King

This is a trend we should embrace forever. Comfort is indeed King (or Queen!). Think comfortable sofas, chairs you want to spend hours in, soft carpeting underfoot, rooms that make you want to stay, linger, and enjoy.

This room incorporates many of the trends we’re seeing for 2019 in home décor, upholstered bed, wallpaper, bold use of colour, and oozing comfort.

Which trend do you want to embrace in 2019?

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

When it comes to our homes, there is nothing worse than having it look dated before you’ve even finished the remodel or renovation. The goal with any home should be to make it your own with items that make you happy (or spark joy as the kids these days call it); and allow you to function at your best because the furniture items you’ve picked for your home function in the way(s) you need them to.

When it comes to embracing “what’s on trend”, it doesn’t mean you should go rush out and buy everything you want, it means find the trend that speaks to you and embrace it for your home. With that in mind, let’s look at the three trend themes dominating the 2019 landscape.

Bold

Nothing says 2019 like a bold statement in home décor. Bold colours, bold colour combinations, and bold or unique shapes (including oversized!) are making a BIG BOLD statement in 2019.

This living room embraces a bold blue on the walls, a luxurious velvet chair, and a subtle round table to complete this look.

This NYC PR agency meeting room is embracing the 2019 furniture trends in a big way. With a uniquely shaped sofa in the luxe fabric du jour “velvet”; this fabulous room has all the glam it needs. A round glass table in the centre brings the whole room together.

This room adds a bold stripe to the wall and ceiling and a bold area rug to the floor. These two unique features bring a lot of personality to the room and while “on trend”, it definitely does not look ‘trendy’, which is a lovely balance.

Bold colours, bold combinations of fabrics, and unique art & décor make this master bedroom a welcoming place with lots of personality.

Luxe

The second big trend theme for 2019 in home furniture and home décor is “luxe” which includes luxurious fabrics, textures, and furniture. The epitome of this trend is a giant bold luxurious headboard in a bold velvet.

Luxe of course can mean many things when it comes to 2019 home furniture trends, especially in bedrooms. Luxe is a feeling of comfort and luxury, but also a luxurious combination of fabrics and textures as well as mixed materials.

The unique shaped bench at the foot of the bed, the great combination of fabrics, textures, and sheens, and the oversized bed frame all speak to what’s trending in master bedrooms in 2019.

This Miami home is everything “luxe”! It embraces the outside, unique shapes, unique textures, and combines them effortlessly to make this room very on-trend and timeless.

As part of the luxury, we’re seeing a big trend for 2019 in all rooms, including the bathroom, with easily inserted electric fireplaces. By adding a functional element of warmth, it adds the luxurious ambiance any bedroom, living room, or bathroom could want.

This bathroom fireplace makes the room both cozy and luxe at the same time.

As so does this one, how luxurious….

Space

The final trend theme for 2019 is “space”. Not outer space or anything astrological, we’re talking physical space in the form of space saving by selecting uniquely shaped furniture, or multi-functional items. Just look to each of the previous examples of luxe and bold themed trends and you’ll see space has somehow made its way into most of them!

This coffee table turned desk gives the person who works from home occasionally, the best home office without having a dedicated space for it.

This kitchen banquette helps keep space use in check while adding a great place to sit, to store stuff, and to decorate with seasonal throw pillows!

Even in this smaller sized space, the right furniture (and not too much of it!) combined with a great mixture of bold colours, luxurious fabrics, and uniquely shaped furniture make this a winning combination.

This fabulous curved sofa is ALL. THE. THINGS. Isn’t is fabulous?

Which 2019 home furniture and design trend will you be embracing this year? What speaks to your personal home style and brings you joy?

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert

The world of sofa shopping can be vast and intimidating. Your couch is your safe space, your welcoming embrace when you get home from a long day of work, the centrepiece of your living room décor – you want to make sure you’re picking out the perfect one.

And if you’ve been hanging onto the same old, reliable couch that’s been collecting dust and stains in the corner for a decade, it can be hard to make the jump into something new. But rest assured, Palliser Furniture has your back.

Palliser’s vast selection of sofas are the perfect complement to your style – and your comfort. We’ve got several stunning models available – but which one is right for your space? Check out our handy guide to Palliser sofa styles to figure out which one will suit you just right!

Let’s Get Sectional

If you’ve got a house fit for a king and want to make all your guests feel like royalty too, bringing home a sectional is the perfect way to do it! These sprawling sofas fit in perfectly with every home design and give you and your guests plenty of space to get comfy.

Though they’re especially great for maximizing floor space in large rooms, smaller homes can easily get the luxury treatment too. Chaise sofas give you a little extra room to sprawl out, while keeping the sofa’s width compact.

On the Recline

Do you like to get low? Like, really really low? A reclining couch is the perfect style for the comfort-minded individual! These sofas come in all shapes, sizes and styles, so you can keep your living room sleek and add a little extra comfort to your space at the same time. Loveseats, sectionals, and classic-style sofas are all available with the ability to recline, so sit back, relax and enjoy your favourite TV show from way down low. Go ahead, catch a few Z’s! We won’t judge!

Loveseat, Baby

Cute and cozy, loveseats are perfect for filling an awkward corner or taking the place of a couch in smaller homes. Loveseats have all the comfort of a sofa, but in a stylish, compact size. There are lots of varieties of this comfy seating option too, so you can find one to suit you no matter your style or space.

Settee loveseats have a high, straight back and a comes in classic and contemporary looks. Divans, a type of loveseat without a back or arms, are a great slim seating option for the end of beds or window seats that can’t quite fit a couch.

Sleeper Keeper

Multifunctional sofas are the perfect option for a compact home! If you love to entertain but don’t quite have the space to give your guests a whole room of their own, a sleeper sofa or futon is a great choice. These multitasking sofabeds can either pull out or fold down, so evening guests don’t have to squeeze or crane their necks to get a good night’s sleep at your place.

If you’re big on naps, they can also be a great way to catch a few Z’s on a lazy afternoon. The best part is that with a sleeper from Palliser Furniture, you get both style and convenience! Your multitasking Palliser furniture isn’t just functional, it looks great in your home as well. Come on by our store to check out some of the great options we have in stock from Palliser.

Keep It Classic

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with playing it safe and taking home a traditional sofa. Palliser offers several shapes, colours, and styles, so you can always pick the perfect option for your home. Try out a sleek, contemporary couch or a transitional one with padded armrests. Minimalist mid-century modern and sharp, square-armed sofas are also on trend. With a classic sofa, you are free to explore any and every combination of colours, styles, and designs you can imagine, all thanks to Palliser!

With Palliser, there’s no wrong choice for your space! Whether you need a mega-sofa for all your friends, or a loveseat just for you and your honey, come by our store to check out all of our incredible selections from Palliser. Be sure to try them all out before you buy! You might be surprised by the style you’re most drawn to.

Alex, Your Furniture Expert

The living room is appropriately named since next to the kitchen (most times literally!), the living room is where most of the actual living happens. We read, snuggle with the dog, watch TV, have family reunions, and yes even eat in our living room. The living room does a lot of living and so we need to make sure we have the right furniture and décor elements to make the living space as happy and welcoming as can be. We also want it to last and yet to change with the times and seasons based on our tastes and needs.

With that in mind, it’s time for another edition of where to splurge versus where to save. This time we’ll be looking to our most used living space, the living room.

Where to Splurge

Sofas, Couches, Chesterfield

Just think of all you do on your couch. It’s a lot, isn’t it!? A high-quality sofa can literally make or break your back. Comfort is key and a sofa or couch that breaks or is sagging within a few short years is not a safe investment.

The sofa is also likely to be one of the longer term items in your living room, investing in quality means you will love living your living room for years to come – because all you need to do is change up the throw pillows!

Lighting

Good lighting is essential for any room, including the living room. Good lighting makes tasks easier, helps maintain eyesight, and adds ambiance and mood. Be sure to have well-placed floor lamps, table lamps, chandeliers, and pot lights to help you light up your living space.

Bonus! While both lighting and quality sofas are a financial splurge, you can easily take advantage of sales like Boxing Week to save on your splurge items. Now that’s smart living!

Where to Save

Décor items

Throw pillows, seasonal décor, and other accent items are a great way to add personality to your living room without blowing the bank. A solid sofa investment means you’ve got 10 to 20 years of throw pillow variety, new area rugs, and interesting art to rotate. What fun!

Accent Chairs

We all know and love a great accent chair, and we all know how versatile they can be. But there is no need to spend a boatload on a chair that will rarely get sat on. This is where you can afford to save and get something in a lower quality since you won’t be using it nearly as often as something like a sofa.

Bonus! You can save even more on these items by buying off season – like stocking up on all new Christmas décor during Boxing week.

Rebecca, Your Furniture Expert