With Memorial Day Weekend upon us, many of you are probably getting ready to entertain a house full of guests for the holiday. Today John Elliott Interiors has a few tips to help you get ready to throw an outdoor party everyone can enjoy. 


Designate a Party Area
The easiest way to keep the inside of your house clean while throwing a party is to encourage the guests to stay outside. With decorations and clever furniture setups, you can make it clear to everyone where the party is happening. The more festive you make that spot look, the less likely anyone will be wandering into areas of the house you'd prefer to keep private.   

Have Seating For All
We sell many gorgeous pieces of outdoor furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks, perfect for making your outdoor space look luxurious and feel inviting. People always make sure that they buy enough seating to accommodate everyone that actually lives in the house, but often extra pieces of furniture are needed when you host a gathering. You could rent some extra furniture, or possibly borrow a few items from a neighbor.

Another idea is to use some of your indoor pieces outside for this special occasion. Only do this if you have a place where you can keep your indoor furniture protected from outside elements. If you have a covered patio, this could be a perfect spot to try this out. Also, be sure to stage a few different seating areas in various spots around the yard to promote conversation.   


Keep Things Cool
Spring and summer sun can get hot quickly, so make sure that you provide shaded areas for your guests to get out of the sun. You could use umbrellas or set up canopy tents. Having extra suntan lotion handy for guests to use is also a very nice touch.

If the weather is forecasted to be extremely warm, you might want to place a few fans around the area, and misting fans are wonderful if you have a pool in your yard and people will be getting wet already. Making sure there are plenty of ice-cold drinks and lots of water easily available to everyone is important too.

Keep Pests Away
We're not talking about unwanted guests in this case, but rather those pesky little bugs that always seem to show up when the weather is nice. Decorative citronella candles or tiki torches with citronella oil can help. Setting up mosquito netting around a gazebo makes it easy for guests to relax knowing they are safe from the bugs inside it, yet still able to enjoy being outdoors. 

Have a Rain Plan
Weather forecasts can give you a good idea of what to expect, but Mother Nature can still do whatever she feels like. Even if there doesn't seem to be a cloud in the sky, be prepared to move the party indoors if necessary or have a large enough area outside where you can put up a rented tent that will keep the elements away from your party. If the latter isn't an option, prepare for the indoor party by setting up an obvious party area inside, just like you did outside.

Make sure that any pieces of furniture or home decor that are easily broken, stained, or just too special to take the risk with are put away in a room where nobody will bother them. You can protect indoor tables by putting down a plastic cloth and then cover that with a decorative tablecloth. Try to contain food and dark drinks that can stain easily to areas without carpet or furniture with delicate fabrics. Have plenty of cleaners on hand, just in case, plus lots of extra napkins and towels.


If you aren't completely happy with the look of your outdoor space but would love to start throwing more parties out there this summer, give our Lake of the Ozarks interior design team a call. They are excellent at decorating exterior spaces too. The gorgeous furniture that we carry at John Elliott Interiors makes it easy to do that, and simple for you to find the pieces to give your outdoor living area a look that you, and any guests you invite over, will love!

It's not difficult to bring luxury to any room in your home, especially when you have a little help from the best interior designers at the Lake of the Ozarks. When designing a living room that is elegant, sophisticated, and comfortable, the main goal of John Elliott Interiors is to satisfy your needs and desires for the particular space you are wanting to create. 


We have everything that you need to design a magnificent room from floor to ceiling with high-quality furniture and accessories, plus the interior design knowledge and experience to make it all happen beautifully. Whether your style is modern, classic, or traditional, we've got something to fit your tastes perfectly. Our showroom contains over 400 pieces of original artwork from artists both local and worldwide, unique accessories of every style, and exquisite furniture that will bring a luxe look to any room 

Furniture
Our Lake of the Ozarks furniture store is filled with name-brand pieces to fill every room in your home. You can see some of the work we have done by visiting the gallery pages on our website. When you visit our showroom in Lake Ozark, you will see a variety of different possibilities of designs for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and more. We even carry wonderful furniture pieces that will transform your office into an inviting and beautiful workspace. Our displays change often as we acquire new products, so you may want to make a trip to John Elliott Interiors a regular stop to see what new and exciting things we have in store. 


Rugs & Drapery
From the floor and up the wall to the ceiling, properly chosen rugs and curtains make a big impact in a room. They may seem like background pieces of your interior design, but they do a lot for creating the overall look. Our designers are here to share advice and help you narrow down the options so that you can achieve the style you are going for.   


Mirrors
Mirrors are functional in some cases, and in others, they are a wonderful design tool for opening up a small room. Either way that you use them, they need to lend to room's overall design so that they don't look out of place. We offer a wide variety of shapes, styles, and sizes when it comes to mirrors, so you should have no trouble finding exactly what your rooms need. 


Artwork
Everyone has their own taste when it comes to art, and with the large variety of different types of paintings we have covering all of the walls at John Elliott Interiors, you should have no trouble finding something you absolutely love. The biggest problem may be narrowing down your favorites! The beautiful art pieces that we have to decorate your home are not limited to just wall art. You will also find an excellent selection of statues and more in our store, allowing you to personalize every room in your home with the art that you enjoy most. 


For all of your home interiors at the Lake of the Ozarks, you can trust the John Elliott Interiors team. We are qualified to help you create magnificent looks for brand new rooms or even redesign an existing room with some elegant updates. With over 24,000 square feet of home furnishings and accessories plus years of experience, John Elliott Interiors is able to help you bring luxury to any room. Your guests will be raving about your interior design, even long after they've left. Be sure to let them know that we would be honored to bring a little beauty into their lives too!

The bedroom is the one room in the house that is all yours, and possibly a person that you share it with, but not for guests or the kids. It's a space where you can escape, relax, and be yourself. Your bedroom's interior design should be an expression of you, but when you're having trouble deciding exactly what you want to express, taking a look at current trends can get your creative juices flowing. Our Lake of the Ozarks home interiors store found a few popular trends to feature in today's blog that may be just the inspiration you need.   

Metallics
Add a bit of sparkle and shine to your bedroom with metallic touches here and there. Silver, gold, and bronze add light, glamour, and a touch of luxe to the room. Too many metallic accents can make a room feel cold, so a little bit goes a long way. Use small accents in different areas of the room or have one large focal piece of furniture in a shiny shade surrounded by colors and textures that warm it up.


A Mix of  Patterns
Adding pattern to an interior design is key to the overall look of a room, but in this case, we are talking about adding multiple patterns mixed together with each other. It gives your space a very trendy look and energetic feel. It's always best to aim for an odd number of different patterns and be sure to vary them in scale. Each one should match in color intensity, and go for contrast, such as mixing florals with plaids or stripes, not forgetting to mix in solids to keep the design from looking too busy. A good guideline to follow is the 60-30-10- rule, where the main pattern makes up about 60% of the design, followed by the next pattern at 30%, and an accent pattern for 10%.


Romantic Vibes
For a couple's bedroom, you may want a design that inspires romance. Deep, rich jewel tones are excellent for this. This year shades of raspberry pink, deep ruby red, and caramel have been very popular. Luxurious fabrics like faux fur or cashmere are wonderful elements to bring in for both texture and comfort. Go for lighting that can be dimmed, and of course, candles always bring about romance.


Go Green
The actual color green is considered the most restful color for the eye, and it has a calming effect, which is perfect for the room that you sleep in. You can also go "green" by bringing elements from nature into your design. This is a great idea for anyone that finds the outdoors relaxing, just as a bedroom should also be. Natural wood and florals are a fantastic addition, and bringing in live plants can purify the air in the room and many varieties are known to help relieve anxiety.


Pampered Pet Areas
Pet lovers often let their four-legged friends sleep with them at night, but this doesn't always lead to the most restful sleep. Designating a small section of your bedroom as your pet's own area gives you both the space you need for a good night's sleep while still keeping you close to each other. 


Those are just a few trends that we have seen, but there are lots of other fashionable ideas out there, and many more waiting to be imagined. The interior design team at our Lake of the Ozarks luxury furniture store are here to listen to what you have in mind for a room and then come up with a design that satisfies those wants and needs. Come in soon to John Elliott Interiors in Lake Ozarks and let the exquisite pieces in our showroom inspire you to imagine a house full of rooms you can fall in love with.

It's that lovely time of year when we start spending a lot more time outdoors. That means it's time to find some beautiful outdoor furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks. You'll need top quality outdoor furniture to be able to take advantage of the outdoor space of a lakeside home you may own. Even if you don't live on the water, as long as you have a nice backyard that you love to hang out in or a pretty porch at the front of the house, a few exquisite pieces from John Elliott Interiors in Lake Ozark can make your outdoors every bit as inviting as your indoors.


Purchasing outdoor furniture is similar to buying indoor furniture in some ways, but there are a few added things you need to think about before choosing your pieces. These tips should help you to make an informed decision to find outdoor furniture that will stand the test of time.

Decide What You Need
Just as you would for a room inside your home, take a good look at the outdoor space that you are designing and think about exactly what you want that space to be. Will it just be for you and the family to lounge and enjoy outdoor activities, or will you be entertaining guests often? Do you want a relaxing oasis or a place where friends and family can get together and let loose?

Once you have a good idea of the style you are going for and the feeling you want for the space to evoke, it's time to figure out exactly how much room you have to work with. You'll want enough furniture to fill the space, but not so much that there's not enough room to move around it. If there is a lack of shade in your yard or on your patio, furniture that can provide that, such as umbrellas, is a good idea. All-weather rugs are an excellent addition too, providing comfort for bare feet and added beauty to a wooden deck or concrete floor.   

Find Easy to Care for Pieces
Outdoor furniture needs to be able to handle whatever type of weather is possible where you live. Most pieces will remain outside, even if it storms, and plans to remove cushions when it rains don't work if you're not home when the rain starts. Also be aware that furniture outdoors is going to come in contact with a lot more dirt, water, and possibly food items than most of your indoor furniture will. Make sure you take a look at the care instructions before you buy any furniture to use outside.

Another thing to think about is whether or not the pieces will all stay in place, or if you prefer to be able to change the layout of the furniture when you need a new seating arrangement. If it's the latter, look for pieces that are lightweight and easy to move around. Be sure to keep in mind a plan for winter storage while you're at it. If you don't want to have to remove the furniture completely, you'll need to search for pieces that will stand up to snow and ice as well as sunshine and rain.


Look for Dual-Purpose Furniture
Doubling up on function and beauty when designing your outdoor space is a nice bonus. Storage inside the seats of chairs or benches can hide cushions when you aren't using them or even outdoor equipment you want to keep out of sight. Ottomans that can be used as side tables or a place to sit offer flexibility. A bench that is the right height for an outdoor table can be used for extra seating when you dine outside, but it will also look lovely on its own in another part of the yard. 

Enhance Your Curb Appeal
The look of your outdoor furniture should complement the outside of your home and the surrounding area. The goal is for the design to look like it belongs with the style of the house, not just random pieces that have been thrown together. Especially be aware of this if the furniture can be seen from the street view. Curb appeal is a very important factor for any home. 

Invest in Quality
You've all heard the old saying, "You get what you pay for." It may be tempting to pick up inexpensive furniture for the outside of your home, but that discounted price doesn't do you much good if all of that furniture has to be replaced every spring. Our Lake of the Ozarks furniture store takes pride in only offering the highest quality furniture for every room inside your home as well as the spaces you want to design outside. Each piece in our store is built to last for years and stand up to daily use so that you can truly enjoy it.


The living space outside of your home deserves the same special attention that the interior rooms are given. Let John Elliott Interiors help you make that happen in the most beautiful way possible!