10 Gift Ideas From Our Showroom

It’s that time of year again.

Our showroom is filled with items that would make perfect gifts. We’ve rounded up a collection of our favorites. This year, skip the boring gift cards and give your family and friends a unique piece from one of our luxury lines. They’ll be impressed with the extra thought you put into giving them such a personal gift.

Here are some ideas to get you brainstorming.

Windwood Farm Goat Milk Soap

Handcrafted soaps from a local business make the perfect stocking stuffers. Load up on all the different scents and colors.

Mina Victory Plush Collection

Don’t forget the littles. These ultra fluffy stuffed animals will be their new favorite toys. Give them their favorite animal to play with and cuddle.

Silver Ribbon Dance II Sculpture by John-Richard

Artistic sculptures like this one would make a great gift for someone who is on the hunt for the perfect home accent. Make sure you know their taste before picking one out.

La Sieste Tranquillité Eye Pillow by Branché

A silk eye mask is the perfect gift for those who are looking to get their beauty sleep over the holidays.

Jean Baptiste Hand Soap by Niven Morgan + Ceramic Bathroom Accessories

For the host or hostess on your list, help them keep their guest bathroom in tip-top shape with luxurious hand soap and stylish bathroom accessories.

Offering Bowls by Uttermost

These matte black bowls would make a trendy table centerpiece. They fit a glam style, so pick one up for the fashionista with décor to match on your list.

Paloma Pillow by Global Views

This eye-catching pillow would be a great gift for someone on your list looking for a statement piece. It fits a variety of tastes, from contemporary to artsy.

Le Blanc Linen Wash

Keep those linens in shape with this wash specifically made for linens. Anyone on your list could use this. Why not give the gift of clean and fresh bedding?

Charmeuse Silk Pillow Case by Branché

This could be paired with the eye masks above, or stand alone. The luxurious silk pillowcase even promotes skin and hair health.

Patina Bowl Onyx

Another idea for those looking for accents, this bowl would match a variety of styles.

Now that you’re inspired, it’s time to grab your list and get shopping! You’ll have those gifts under the tree in no time.

Michaela Satterfield

James Décor Writer

Photos: Michaela Satterfield

10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Upcoming Season

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tbwb/23411490762/in/photostream/

As soon as the Halloween costumes were put away, it seems like the Christmas trees instantly went up. It’s that time of year again!

If you’re anything like me, you think it’s still a little too soon for the Christmas décor to come out. I mean, we can’t forget about Thanksgiving—which means more pumpkins and gourds. Fall isn’t over just yet. Although, I’m all for getting the Christmas shopping started early. Those last minute gift runs are stressful!

Regardless, the upcoming holiday season means one thing for your home: lots of guests. Dinner guests, neighbors popping by, overnight out-of-towners… you name it. It’s called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. Nevertheless, constantly having people in your home can cause even the most relaxed among us some stress.

Never fear, though, you’ll be ready!

10 tips to prepare your home for the holiday season:

Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-pumpkins-248469/

Make your home smell amazing. This is easy to pull off, and the way your home smells has a significant impact on the impression it leaves. Realtors keep this in mind when trying to sell houses. Candles or wall plug-ins will do the trick, or try this: Put two full caps of vanilla extract in a mug, then place in the oven at 300 degrees for one hour. It’s a surefire way to make the house smell great.
Organize the bathroom to make things easy to find. There’s nothing worse than having to ask where the toilet paper is stored. Set out some extra toilet paper, as well as soap, tissues and any other amenities your guests may need. At James Décor, we carry a line of soap that would be perfect for your guests.
Check furniture for nicks and dings. If you find one, grab a touch-up kit to cover them up. You can find kits with markers in several shades to match a variety of finishes. Another trick is to fill in small cracks with crayon wax. Don’t overlook these minor imperfections—it’s all in the details.
Try setting up a leftovers station. Gather some inexpensive plastic containers and bags, then fill them with leftover food for guests to take home. Label them with your guests’ names. It’s the easiest way to get rid of all that extra food, so nothing gets wasted.
For overnight guests, keep extra toiletries in stock in case they forget something. Shampoo, face wash, lotion and toothbrushes are all good things to keep on hand.
Prepare for a wide range of temperature preferences. Guests may wake up cold or hot and not want to wake you, so get ahead of the game. Set out extra blankets, a heater and a fan.
Leave a notebook with important information you’ll need to communicate to your overnight guests on the nightstand. This could include the wifi password or any alarm codes they may need to know. This will save extra time exchanging information.
Set out a key on a noticeable key-chain for your guests to borrow during their stay. This will make them feel welcome to come and go as they please.
Declutter the area where your guests will be staying. Whether they get a whole room or a corner, make your guests feel like they belong by clearing out the area they will be staying in. This is a no-brainer, but something that can be easy to forget when your holiday to-do list is endless.
Leave out some food and snacks for your guests in the morning, as breakfast is often overlooked with dinner stealing the show. Don’t forget to keep all the staples on hand—even the ones you may not usually use. Coffee, tea, cereal and fruit are all good choices.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/proflowers/15698301000

These 10 simple tips will get you started on preparing your home for the holidays. Most importantly, though, don’t forget to relax and enjoy this time of the year. There’s nothing better than a house full of ringing laughter, the smell of turkey and plenty of guests gathered around to make new memories.

The house doesn’t have to be perfect for your guests to feel right at home.

Michaela Satterfield

James Décor Intern

Sources:

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-holiday-guests-254272

https://www.highya.com/articles-guides/29-tips-to-prepare-your-home-for-holiday-guests

https://lifehacker.com/5828262/get-rid-of-household-odors-with-vanilla-extract

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/prepare-guest-room-houseguest

https://theartofsimple.net/prepare-your-house-for-holiday-guests/

Holiday Shopping Inspiration