One of the many ways we like to be well-positioned to offer the premier home furniture in Toronto services around is to keep abreast of industry news and trends.  With the New Year still in very-recent memory, there are a host of year-end and year-beginning lists.  It is in this spirit that we share with you an article about furnishing trends in 2011.  Obviously, since 2011 is only four days old at the time of this writing, the post is more of a prognostication than proven fact.  Still, it’s worth browsing to see what Stacy Downs of The Kansas City Star has compiled.

Generally speaking, the trends focus on new tacks taken.  These include opting for a paler, more driftwood-like finish for hardwood floors over darker, like-new hues, as well as a move toward brighter hues like honeysuckle and gold.  (Honeysuckle, by the way, was named the 2011 color of the year by the Pantone Color Institute.  Talk about a trend!)  Others call for the resurgence of products that have fallen by the wayside such as sliding doors and carbon-filament light bulbs.

Two of the final trends, however, illustrate the importance of being true to your own unique decoration sense.  The first calls for repurposing old products in new ways, and the second suggests mixing and matching ideas to come up with your own perfect blend of new and old, upscale and rustic.  We heartily agree with that.

There are other reasons to opt for Toronto home furniture rental, including some that might surprise you.  Consider, for example, the college freshman.  She or he is away from home for the first time and is looking for utility above all else.  Fashion, while a plus, is not the guiding principle.  That’s why innovative—if not exactly eye-popping—furniture solutions such as the bedroom in a box are marketed.  Once the student graduates and gets a job that allows them to eat, the hastily purchased furniture they acquired goes in the proverbial dustbin of history.

We now pose a question: Why not circumvent this whole wasteful and unattractive solution with Toronto home furniture rental services?  By renting Toronto home furniture, the student will be able to spend less money for nicer furniture, impressing her peers and maybe—just maybe—herself, for making such a shrewd decision, as well.  Furthermore, when she graduates, she can return the furniture and move wherever she wishes, unencumbered by unattractive, utilitarian furnishings.  It’s a win-win!

The next time you’re on the market for Toronto home furniture, consider Executive Furniture Rentals.  Though we have an impressive variety of such products, that’s not all we offer.  We also possess a wide of office furniture in Toronto.  Contact us to learn more.

It doesn’t surprise us, then, when we see validation for our stance on home furniture rental.  This week, such validation came in the form of an article on Franchisee.net.au, the online presence of Franchise Magazine.  The article is about home rental trends, and those trends are generally pointing upward.

Not only are trends pointing upward, the article points out, but many of the new home furniture rental converts are of a wealthier socioeconomic background than people who favored such services in the past.  According to to Alan Payne, the manager of a furniture rental chain in Australia and New Zealand, there are several reasons for this.

First is the increased mobility of the modern consumer.  Rather than getting a low-level job in a massive company and slowly climbing the corporate ladder over the years, today’s upwardly mobile, young professionals bounce around from company to company, leapfrogging.  That means more moves, which means less of a desire to be attached to a bevy of heavy furniture.

Another reason is the increased speed new fashion trends approach and recede.  Those same mobile consumers want to have the latest products—a desire that can be more easily facilitated, by the way, now that that consumer is moving much more.

Our Toronto home furniture solutions are top-notch, but it’s not all we offer.  We also provide excellent office furniture in Toronto, along with a host of other products designed to make any transition within Toronto a smooth experience.

Furniture is our passion, and we spend a lot of time keeping abreast of industry news.  From time to time, we’ll come across something that is so exciting it’s worthy of sharing with you all.  Count this as one of those experiences:

Parnian Furniture, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based contemporary furniture designer and manufacturer, has designed and released a bed for the ages.  Starting at US$38,000, the bed comes with options that can increase the price to as high as US$210,000.  (Yes, that’s supposed to be a comma, not a decimal!)

Of course, with a price tag like that, you’d expect the bed from Parnian to come with quite a few features.  And boy, does it.  The fully loaded version of this veritable space-age sleep station features a built-in iPad holder, television and computer monitors that can pop up and swivel around, various hidden compartments, LED touch lights, backlights, attached nightstands, and charging stations.  Oh, and there’s a bevy of gold and stainless steel detailing in there, to boot.

Other finishing touches:  ebony, sapele and maple woods, a staggeringly intricate sunburst inlay for the headboard.  Should you be on the market for this bed, know that mattress options include wool, cotton, latex, and (of course) horsehair.

We first came across the bed at while perusing Furniture Today, a useful furniture industry magazine.  You can see it on the slideshow on the Parnian homepage.  Needless to say, the bed looks positively stunning.  We don’t happen to have an extra US$210,000 laying around, but we can’t help but wonder: Do we need a license to take that thing out on a test drive?  And if not, may we conk out on that thing for a few hours?

In the past, we’ve given tips or advice about furniture-related tasks, such as cleaning leather furniture.  This time out, we’re going to take a similar route and give advice on cleaning wood furniture.

Cleaning wood furniture can take several forms as it depends largely on how the wood is finished.  Painted, oiled, polished, or unfinished wood surfaces all require different treatments in order to ensure an optimal cleanse.  The good news is that, unlike leather furniture, wood products can be protected a little bit more easily, and caring for them makes cleaning wood furniture that much simpler.

Ways you can protect your wood pieces include keeping them out of direct sunlight or away from areas that experience dramatic temperature or humidity swings.  This will keep the wood’s integrity stronger, which will make it less likely to become fibrous or cracked.  Fibrous or cracked woods are more susceptible to staining.

If the furniture is treated with an oil, wipe it clean daily to remove dust.  Using a store-bought furniture oil can restore natural luster and provide as a protectant against stains.  For painted wood furniture, clean with a damp sponge that has been wrung out for smudges.  Alternately, use a dry cloth for routine maintenance.

Ultimately, cleaning wood furniture is a piece-by-piece affair.  Don’t be afraid to consult the manufacturer’s guide to determine exactly how to clean your furniture.

One unique thing about furnishing a kitchen is that, unless you plan on shelling out for massive redecoration/renovation, the general “look” of your kitchen will already be determined.  This is due to the fact that your cabinets, counter tops, and appliances are already installed, and since they will (hopefully) share some sort of visual uniformity, your complementary kitchen options will be limited.  This has its benefits and drawbacks.  On the one hand, you won’t have as many paths to consider when picking furnishings out, which should theoretically make deciding on a look easier.  On the other, however, you’ll have less leeway to truly get as creative as you’d like because of those very limitations.

So it goes.  Once you’ve decided what sort of feel you’ll want, it’s time to start stocking the kitchen with the appropriate furnishings.  In this instance, you’ll want to start off with the biggest items first before you move to the smaller ones.  This is done in an attempt to maintain that unified aesthetic mentioned in the previous paragraph.  For example, you’ll want to figure out which kitchen buffets and tables you’re wanting to  buy before you move on to the kitchen chairs.  Of course, you can avoid this whole mix-and-match quandary by buying furniture by the room, which will ensure harmony between all pieces.

At Executive Furniture Rentals, we offer a whole lot more than just kitchen furniture.  We also offer office furniture, home staging solutions, and more.  Trust us to fulfill all your furniture needs in the Toronto area.