The winter months are here, the holidays are passing by, and there’s no place like home! If you want to enjoy a few cozy evenings cuddled up in your home enjoying your family and your comfy couch - here are a few ways you can enjoy a silent night and your home as you finish out the holidays and start the winter months.

Sit By the Fire

If you have a fireplace in your home, now is a great time to light it up and enjoy it. Make s’mores, drink hot chocolate, read your favorite book and snack on your favorite treat. There’s just something about a blaze that makes the winter nights feel idyllic, so if you have a fireplace, we hope that you can take time to enjoy it this season.

Quiet Nights at Home

If you’ve had an especially busy holiday season, maybe what you really need is a silent night. Put the kids to bed, light some candles, make a cup of tea or coffee, and relish in the silence. Sometimes all you need is a refreshing night where you make very important plans - plans to sit and do nothing. After the holidays are over can be a great time to think about all of the things that you're thankful for, and the people in your life who mean so much to you - and a silent night in your beautiful home is perfect for that.

Play Games

Your family could really benefit from and enjoy a good old fashioned game night! Pop some popcorn, make hot chocolate, and have some friendly competition. From board games to video games, there are many ways you can enjoy family time, and still have a little bit of fun competition.

Make Music

Do you have a musical family? Make some very special winter memories by gathering around the piano or guitar and singing some tunes. You may have to gently encourage a few family members who think it’s cheesy, but it can be a very wonderful memory for everyone. Not to mention, a fun way to enjoy a part of your home that may get overlooked during the busy times of your life.

Have a Dance Party

If you have young kids, they will especially enjoy this way of loving your time in your home! Crank up the tunes and have a dance party! Not to mention, this is a great way to burn some holiday calories and wear the kids out before bed - so you can have that silent night!

Happy Holidays from the Team at John Elliott Interiors

We love what we do, because we help you create a place that everyone wants to come home to. Making memories, enjoying time with family, and celebrating your beautiful home are the reasons we sell the best furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks and provide the best interior decorating services in mid-Missouri. We hope you and your family had a very merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and that you get to enjoy some much needed time in your beautiful Lake of the Ozarks home.

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If you follow trends in your home decor, this year is going to be fabulous. From great colors schemes to beautiful patterns that haven’t been as popular lately - the trends are incredible. Here at John Elliott Interiors, we like to stay on the cutting edge of interior decorating at the Lake of the Ozarks. This isn’t just important for you, but it’s a great asset to us as well. If you’re looking for a new look this season, here are a few things that will have everyone swooning!

Charcoal & Honey

The deep richness of charcoal and matte blacks are being painted on the walls in homes across the country. While this may seem a bit dramatic, when combined with the light, warm shades of honey - you’ll find that they counterbalance each other effectively. You have to be a little edgy to appreciate the dramatics of this style - but we have a feeling you’ll LOVE it once it’s in your home.

Having the family over may not feel like Fa la la la la and Happy New Year when you have to get your house ready for the company and commotion. Yet, the holiday season is filled with friends, family, and food, so we wanted to provide you with a few ways to throw an AMAZING party in your beautiful home while still maintaining some sanity. Here are a few time-tested tips to help you get through the holidays and hopefully enjoy them even more.

Make a List and Check it Twice

You and Santa have a few things in common this year, but thankfully it’s just the Christmas list and rosy cheeks. But seriously, there’s nothing that can make you feel crazy than not having a list. It’s easier than ever when you have a smartphone, too. Open up the notepad, and start making notes about the menu, the decor you still need to purchase, and the gifts that you need to buy. You can email yourself a copy to keep on hand, and then start doing and erasing! Before you know it, you’ll have the whole list done and it will be time to enjoy the holidays with family.

Get a Head Start

Take a look at your list from the tip above, and think about your menu. If there is anything that you can make ahead and freeze - do it! This will take the immediate stress off of your day and make everything feel like a breeze. Soup and stew is a great holiday/winter food. The items generally freeze well and can be thrown into a crockpot that morning. Quiches, tarts, and pies also freeze well and can be purchased pre-made (or made ahead and frozen) to save you some heartache. Before you know it, it will be time to party and you’ll only have to purchase fruit and veggies and warm some things up.

Keep a Stock

If you really want to make the holidays easier, keep a stock of drinks and snacks on hand to grab on the go or serve at minutes notice. For drinks, keep sodas, mixers, hot cocoa, coffee (regular and decaf, and plenty of tea on hand. For snacks, you can go wrong with crackers, cookies and mixed nuts. You can even toss the nuts in maple syrup, bake them until their caramelized and you’ll have a very special snack.

Decking the Halls

You don’t have to go above and beyond when decorating your Lake of the Ozarks home. Even just a simple bowl of lights or vintage ornaments in an extra punch bowl can make a striking statement on the table. If you have extra vases, you can put some Epsom salt in the bottom, add some ornaments and a pretty bow - and you have the perfect centerpiece for your bar or table. Need to add some Christmas joy to your outdoors? You don’t have to light your entire house to show a little Christmas spirit. A simple wreath on your door, a few potted evergreens with ornaments, and maybe some garland around the posts on your porch can do wonders. Keep it simple and enjoy the beauty every time you come home.

Every interior decorator knows that before you begin the process of re-designing a room, decluttering is required. In fact, decluttering your home can be the difference between having a spectacular finished product, and one that doesn't look quite the way you imagined. It is possible to have a spotless and decluttered home, but it doesn't come without a little bit of effort. We all have items that accumulate in our homes. From stacks of papers to those ballpoint pens that seem to multiply to astronomical numbers. Give your New Year a great start by scouring your home and removing these 25 items - you'll be amazed at how freeing it will be!

1. Condiment Packets

Your favorite Chinese restaurant gives you soy sauce, and your favorite Mexican restaurant supplies hot sauce - before you know it, you have more than they do! Only grab what you need at the restaurant, and throw the rest away when you get home.

2. Kids Clothes

We know that those sweet jackets, onesies, and socks melt your heart, but they also take up a LOT of space. Sort through and find your absolute favorites. You can use them in quilts or as doll clothes, THEN, donate the rest to a mother in need.

3. Old Reference Books

Do you still have your college textbooks on your shelf? If they are recent enough to sell, do it! If they are too old, recycle and enjoy the space for books that make you smile instead of cringe.

4. Old Linens

If you wouldn't offer those sheets or towels to a guest, get rid of them! If you keep them around for the dog to dry off with, keep one and ditch the rest. Old linens take up a LOT of storage space and only add clutter to your shelves and even your floors.

5. Plastic Grocery Bags

While have a few may be helpful, having hundreds is overwhelming. Recycle those at your local store and enjoy all of the extra space!

6. Tupperware With Missing Pieces

If the lid is long gone, the bottom needs to disappear too. Plastic storage containers are already hard to manage in your cabinet, and only made worse when you have twice as many lids verses containers.

7. Hangers

If you have metal hangers, toss them. They aren't good for your clothes and they tangle easily. If you have too many plastic ones, don't be afraid to get rid of those as well. Only keep what you need, put a few in your coat closet and sell or donate the rest.

8. Greeting Cards

It may seem heartless to get rid of cards, but when you received them in the mail, and the brought a smile to your face, they served their purpose. Only keep the ones that have really meaningful messages and recycle what's leftover.

9. Piles of Office Supplies

It's amazing how quickly your desk can become overrun with office supplies. Staplers, paperclips, rubber bands, sticky notes, and more can take over quickly. Narrow them down to only what you need, and put the rest back in the supply closet.

10. Stacks of Magazines

Do you truly plan on reading back through your old magazines? Once you've read it, you're done. If it is a recent copy, donate it to your local library, otherwise, recycle it. Maybe it will come back to you someday as a different magazine!

11. The Pen Collection

We addressed this collection earlier, and it's amazing how quickly it grows. Have you ever been on the phone, taking a message, and gone through several pens that don't work? Toss them! Only save your favorite pens, and keep that pen holder clutter free.

12. Leftover Paint

After you've remodeled your home, it may be tempting to keep the leftover gallons of paint - but don't! They will dry up and get old before you know it, so instead of storing them for months before throwing them out, just do it now. If you need to touch up your paint, you can always head back to the hardware store and get a sample size for a couple of dollars.

13. Novelty Appliances

That cartoon character waffle maker may have been cute for the special occasion, but if you don't use it on a regular basis (like every week), it really doesn't need to take up valuable kitchen space.

14. Old Phones & Their Cords

Old phones can be sold if they are still recent, but if they aren't, find a place to recycle them. While you're at it, don't forget to get rid of the cord, too! Cords can accumulate so quickly, and before you know it, you don't even remember what they go to.

15. Travel Toiletries

You may think you'll use them, but the truth is, your personal products are generally the first thing you'll grab, AND, those products do expire.

16. Hair Supplies

Bobby pins and hair ties accumulate so quickly, and before you know it, they are taking over your couch, floor, bathroom counter and more. Keep a few of them in an easy to access location for when you need them, and get control of all of the rest.

17. Old Cosmetics

Did you know that your cosmetics can actually expire? This not only means you're storing old, expired make-up, but it can also cause infections and be a holding ground for bacteria. Throw it out, and if you find that you need it again, you can go get more.

18. Product Boxes

If you open your closet, will you find the product boxes for your television, computer, cell phone, gaming systems, speakers, and more? You really aren't going to need those boxes any more, and even if you move, you would be better off getting a new box to put them in.

19. The "If" Outfits

You know the ones we're talking about, the "if" I lose weight, "if" I get a tan so it looks better, "if" I tone my thighs first. It's time to toss the "ifs" and enjoy extra closet space for the items that you actually love!

20. Gift Bags & Supplies

It may seem practical to save those gift bags and tissue paper for the next time you need to gift, but in many cases, you're still going to buy something anyway. Keep only the truly pretty, or easily transferrible between event types. If you just got married or had a baby, it's hard to believe that you'll be going to 20-60 weddings or baby showers of the correct gender in the next year. Save space and get rid of them!

21. Promotional Products

Businesses are always handing out promotional products, but the truth is that you probably aren't going to use them as much as you think. Spare yourself the space in your drawers, car cupholders and more by getting rid of these items.

Declutter Your Home and Then Make it Pretty!

If you've been dreaming of having your space made over with new and beautiful items, John Elliott Interiors would love to help you find the perfect pieces. Before you start the process though, take some time to remove the items from your home that you truly don't need anymore. Make the New Year truly meaningful with a new, clutter-free space. Then call the best interior designers at the Lake of the Ozarks to remake your space!

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An area rug can be the perfect way to tie all of your pieces together. From something bold that makes a statement to an understated piece to accent the whole room. No matter what your style, a rug can make a huge impact in your home, especially when you have hardwood, tile, luxury vinyl tile, or other cooler feeling floors. If you're curious about how to choose this perfect piece, here are a few things to keep in mind from your Lake of the Ozarks interior decorators!

Color/Pattern

When looking for a rug, you need to consider the overall style and theme of your home. The color and pattern will make a great impact in your space, but only if you choose it carefully. If you have furniture with patterns, a solid rug could be a great option to help balance the vibe. Likewise, if you have solid colored furniture, choosing a patterned rug could be a great option.

Deep rich colors create intimate spaces, while lighter shades tend to make the space feel more open. Bright and vibrant colors create energy, while muted tones create serenity. What type of space do you want to create? The colors you chose can make that happen! If you aren't sure where to start, our interior design store at the Lake of the Ozarks can help.

Size

The shape of your room actually plays a big role in the size of your rug. If you are ever between sizes, you can't go wrong with getting a larger rug. In fact, larger can make the difference between a room looking pulled together or chopped up. Also, keep in mind that the orientation of your room compared to your rug can make a big difference in the rug working or not in your space.

Style

Did you know that there are many different styles of rugs? Just as you will find different styles of furniture, lamps, and accents, you'll also find that rugs have different styles. This can be based on the materials, the colors, the pattern or even just the shape of the rug. Figure out the style of your room, and then find a rug that works with and blends well with the style. From Mediterranean to traditional, you'll find rugs of all different styles, and we can help you get access to even more varieties than you'll find on your own.

Shape

Finally, the shape of your rug can be the make or break difference between the rug working in your space or not working. There are many different shapes that rugs can come in, some are typical, others are a bit different, but all have a place in different homes and rooms. The most common shapes are circular, square, and rectangle. The biggest thing to consider is the shape of your room and how a rug will look in your space. If you have unique features to your room, such as a bay window, a circular rug can accent the shape and really make a great impact. However, a long hallway would do best with a long rectangular rug.

You Home Interior Store at the Lake of the Ozarks

John Elliott Interiors can help you design your home from top to bottom, or we can help you find the perfect piece as you complete the look of your home. No matter what you space needs, our team of decoraters at the Lake of the Ozarks would love to help you create a place that you are proud to call home, and then show off to all of your guests. Visit our website to learn more about our store, and if you need ideas, come walk through our store!



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As the kids start to leave your home one by one, you may find that you're finally ready to have the home that you've always dreamed of. In all of the years of having kids, you had to choose your furniture based on material, your accents based on breakability, and your coffee table based on what could have teen shoes sitting on it. Now that the kids have moved out, you can finally put your own touch on your space and create a luxury interior design! How do you start? Where do you go to get your pieces? John Elliott Interiors is here to help, and we can help you from top to bottom!

Start with a Dream

Have you always wanted to have a home that was both classic and sophisticated? Perhaps you've wanted to go with a rustic, romantic theme in your space. Whatever your style, we can help you create it, but you need to have an idea first. If you aren't sure where you want to go with your design, please come see us! We have a 24,000 square foot showroom that not only features beautiful furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks but provides you the place to see your vision. You can wander around to find textures, colors, and styles that speak to you. You've probably spent so long pushing your true desires for your home aside because of kids, activities, and lifestyle choices, but now is a great time to find your inner designer and start finding what you love! Of course, you won't be doing this alone. We have some incredible interior designers in the Midwest who can help you find the perfect combo.

Make Decisions

Once you start to find the style that speaks to you the most, you can start choosing the pieces that make your space come alive. The best thing to do is start with just one piece, from an area rug to a piece of artwork, or even a lampshade. Finding this piece can then allow our designers to choose pieces that will amplify the look of the one you chose. If you want to be heavily involved in the decision making, from window treatments to accent pieces, you can be! Otherwise, our designers can put together ideas for you based off of what you like and show you how it will look in your space.

Get Ready for the Remodel

Once you've started making decisions and discovered what your dream is, it's time to get your room ready! This can mean many things, depending on the state of your home or room that's being remodeled. Are you going to keep the furniture that is already in the space and just relocate it? Are you going to sell it all and start over? After you decide what you're doing with the larger pieces, you'll want to declutter and clean out the smaller items that tend to accumulate in a space. If you're remodeling one of the kid's rooms, and it's still filled with their items, it may be time to have them come back and go through their old space and clean it out. Once you've cleared out and created a clean slate, it will be easier to make the space feel brand new.

Another note to remember is that if you have sentimental pieces that you want to keep in the space, please tell our designers. Whether it's a handmade quilt by your great grandma or a steamer trunk that belonged to your grandfather, we want to incorporate these pieces into your space. It will make it feel even more like home, and really make the design perfect for you.

The Grand Unveiling

Find something fun to do for the day, because the unveiling of your space will be so much more breathtaking if you don't see it until it's finished. We truly cannot wait to show you your new, mature, incredible space. It's going to be an exciting day for you, and our designers at the Lake of the Ozarks can't wait to walk you through your new space filled with new pieces that you love.

Home Decorators at the Lake of the Ozarks

Whether you have a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks, or you have a primary home located in another state, we can work with you to create a space that's customized to your exact wishes.The furnishings and design of our store shows off our passion for furniture and design. As you enter the building, we know you'll be very pleasantly surprised with the style, beauty, and elegance we have put together for you. Stop by and see us, you'll love walking around browsing through our selection - not to mention, we provide beverages for your shopping pleasure!

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The countdown is almost complete, and in less than 24 hours your family will be gathered around your table enjoying a great meal and being thankful for all of the great things that have happened this year. Of course, this doesn't come without its share of challenges because while you're probably thankful for your family being together, you also have to not only prepare your home for visitors but then clean up after they leave. Here are 5 tips to help you keep your sanity as you host Thanksgiving this year!

Make a Gameplan

It's go time, and if you haven't completed a game plan with recipes and ingredients, it's time to get it wrapped up and finalized. Keep in mind that while your family is excited for food, they are mostly excited for family, so if you find something stressing you out - cut it out. Before the holiday gets started, take a walk through your home, straighten up little areas that have been getting used the last few days, spray some room spray or light and candle and get ready!

Stick to the Basics

While having an extravagant menu and ornate decorations straight from Pinterest is always the "goal" when hosting your family for a holiday, keep in mind that the basics are the most imporant. When you find yourself getting wrapped up in the details and stressing out about which serving utensil goes with which dish - take a breather and go back to the basics. Your family wants to visit, have fun, and eat. They won't care if little signs are made for each dish or if you remember to set the decorative pumpkin on the front porch. Food, family, fellowship - that's the most important!

Set Your Thanksgiving Timeline

One of the biggest questions you'll be asked during Thanksgiving is "when's dinner?" Every family has a different timeline for the event, so find what works for you and stick to it. In the hectic planning of the main meal, don't forget that your guests will want to grab a few bites to eat throughout the day, especially if you'll have overnight guests before Thanksgiving. Plan a very simple egg-based breakfast, think omlets or quiche. If you serve a later dinner around two or three o'clock, plan on serving an appetizer around lunch time. You don't have to fix a full meal, but spinach artichoke dip and beer pretzels should keep everyone quite content. Finally, plan what time you want to serve your main meal, and then plan for dessert a few hours later, just so everyone's food has time to settle.

Label Serving Dishes

With all of the family coming in, you will probably be asked several times "how can I help?" It's easy to say that you've got it under control, but with a bit of preparation you can make it easy for your family to participate in preparing the meal. Once you've decided on your menu, take a few moments to label your serving dishes with sticky notes. When someone asks to help, you can point them in the direction of the serving dishes and have them start plating everything up!

Plan Ahead for Leftovers

Finally, leftovers are an obvious occurrence every single Thanksgiving. Instead of trying to figure out what to put everything in, and how to send leftovers with others without losing all of your Tupperware, buy some aluminum pans with lids, or cheap plastic containers. You can send leftovers back, and still keep your containers - everyone is happy!

Happy Thanksgiving from John Elliott Interiors

We love to help you create the perfect home interior design at the Lake of the Ozarks for just this reason. Using your home to host holidays, gather family, and enjoy time together. We want to help you create an interior for your life, and that is exactly what the holidays bring about. If you've been considering updating your home's style lately, let's get started! We provide incredible luxury furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks, along with other accessories, faux plants, and more. Stop by and see us, or give us a call to learn if we have just what you're looking for. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

’Tis the season to start pulling out the Christmas decorations, decking the halls, and decluttering old and worn decor. As you begin to decorate your home, it’s important to evaluate what you have and make sure that the style still matches your home, and that the quality is up to par. This will not only help keep the holidays merry and bright but will add to your peace of mind as you decorate with only the things you love. Here are a few tips from your local furniture store at the Lake of the Ozarks to help get you started!


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Part of creating a beautiful environment in your home doesn’t just lie within having beautiful things - it also means that you need to have systems of organizing. For some this comes easy, but for others keeping on top of organizing and cleaning can be a nightmare. At John Elliott Interiors, we know that organizing is one of the most important steps to redefining your space. If you plan on buying new furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks, or redecorating your space, this could be the best place to start. Here are a few of the methods or trends that have hit the market to help you make the most of your organizing!

Swedish Death Cleaning

This method was created by Margareta Magnusson and you can learn more about it in her book titled “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.”

This spunky lady is between 80 and 100 years old, and she takes the approach that if you can’t motivate yourself to clean and organize for yourself, do it for your family. While the approach may be a bit morbid for some, she encourages that you clean your home with the thought that your family will have to do it after you’re gone. In turn, if Aunt Carol tries to give you her *unattractive* table setting - even though you hate it, take it, but don’t keep it! Don’t even display it when she comes over, lest she keeps giving you more and more pieces thinking you like it. Check out her book to learn more about this strategy.

KonMari Method

This strategy is considered the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing, and was designed by Marie Kondo in the book titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”

One of her biggest suggestions is that you don’t organize each room, but instead, organize each item. Start with clothes and bring every single piece of clothing from the dresser, hall closet, and attic storage in one place. From there you can get rid of the pieces you no longer need or want, and then you won’t have to continually approach clothing throughout the home. After that, she suggests working through books, papers, “komono”, and sentimental items. After that, the next piece that sets her strategy apart is by keeping items that “spark joy” and ridding yourself of the rest. Want to learn more? You can check out her book or download the app “KonMari.”

Shock Treatment Method

This organizing strategy was developed by a blogger named Cheryl Lemily, and you can learn more about it on her blog called Uncluttered Simplicity.

While this may be a “shocking” way of organizing your home, it really puts into perspective what you truly have in a space. The first step she suggests is to take every single item out of a room, other than the large furniture, place it in another room, and then be shocked by the amount there is. As you pull the pieces from your space, sort them into like piles such as clothing, decor, books, cds, etc. From there you can Survey the Damage, Ruthlessly Eliminate, and then Put Everything Back Where it Belongs. If you’re interested in trying her strategy - you can learn more on her minimalist blog site!

Create a Sparkling Clean Home

Finding the perfect accent piece for your home isn't as an easy task, but it's extremely rewarding when you do. At John Elliott Interiors, we love helping you find the piece that not only complements you space, but also stands out on it's own and makes an amazing statement. As you begin your hunt for the perfect accent piece, whether it be a lamp, statue, or artwork, here are a few tips to keep you focused.

Look for Lights

Every room needs a little bit of ambiance lighting. Whether that's in the form of a lamp by your chair, a salt lamp in your kitchen, or a interesting lighting piece wired into your bedroom - look for something interesting. This will be different for everyone, obviously,  but don't be afraid to take a bit of a leap. Keep in mind that overhead lighting isn't always enough for a space, it's important, but sometimes the added look of a lamp is all you need to make your space pop. We have many gorgeous lamps in our furniture showroom at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we would love to help you find your fit.

Deck the Walls

If you have large blank walls in your home, it's time to fill them up! They not only lack appeal, but that can easily swallow up your room and make it feel overwhelming. The perfect accent can come in many styles, colors, and even materials. Whether you want a piece of fine art haging at the foot of the stairs, or a large mirror on your entryway - use these pieces to your advantage. Mirrors can give the illusion of more space, and the perfectly sized artwork can make your room feel brighter and more inviting.

Furniture Accents

Using small pieces of furniture to accent your room can make a HUGE difference. Chairs, chests, tables, and ottomans are all good things to consider when looking for something to accent your room. When you are looking for the right accent piece, keep in mind that while the piece needs to complement, but not blend. If you have a traditional style in your home, with red accents, you can find an ottoman that matches the style, but is bright red and pops in your room.

Something Fun & Small

Think of your room as an onion, especially when choosing the small and interesting pieces. The colors, your furniture, and even your rugs are all the outer layers. As guests look at your room more, though, they'll find the small and interesting pieces in your room and be delving into the layers. Are you looking for something small and fun? We've got some GREAT pieces!

Interior Decorating at the Lake of the Ozarks

It can be hard to create your space on your own, and that's why we offer our design services. Let us help you find the PERFECT pieces for your home. From large to small, we have access to thousands of styles and colors, and our 45,000 square food showroom is filled with incredible texures and stories. Come out to our home furnishings store at the Lake of the Ozarks, or contact us about the piece you're looking for. We would love to help you make your house a home through the perfect accent piece.

In this busy age, it's so important to have a place where you can retreat to relax. A safe zone where you can sleep, dream, relax, and rejuvenate. This place may change depending on the person, but for many, this all happens in the bedroom. Did you know that the colors of your walls can affect the way you sleep? There are many studies that have been done to showcase that the shade of your wall can make an impact not just on your mood but also on your sleep cycle. Check out this cool info about the BEST colors for your room, down to the WORST colors.

The Best & Worst Colors for Your Room

It may be obvious that blue and green are at the top of the list, but did you realize that brown could be inhibiting your sleep? Check out this list in order from best to worst to see how your room ranks:

1. Blue
2. Yellow
3. Green
4. Silver
5. Orange
6. Red
7. Gold
8. Gray
9. Brown
10. Purple