Scenic Views: 5 Best Hikes Near Atlanta Georgia

Sep 29, 2016 | Georgia Living

As the weather cools down this fall, you can bet we’re ready to enjoy the beautiful scenery that our home state of Georgia has to offer. We can’t think of a better way to spend a day than exploring God’s creation, viewing the changing leaves and soaking in the cool autumn air. (Except, of course, an afternoon shopping in The Loft at our Acworth furniture store!) While there are hundreds of stunning hiking trails spread across the state of Georgia, here are a few of the best hikes near Atlanta: Chattahoochee River The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers plenty of opportunities for enjoying nature including boating, fishing, cycling, and of course, hiking. One of the most popular hiking trails in this area is the East Palisades Trail which will take you through a bamboo forest and over scenic bluffs overlooking the river below. A daily parking pass costs $3 per car and is required to park at the trailhead. Arabia Mountain The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area feels like you’ve stepped into another world, even though it’s only a 30 minute drive from Midtown Atlanta. This area, which also includes Panola Mountain State Park, features some of the most stunning hiking, running and cycling trails around. Explore the moonlike scenery of Arabia Mountaintop or round up the whole gang for some family photos. The new granite overlook at Panola Mountain State Park and the iconic Vaughters Barn offer a perfect backdrop. While you’re in the area, you can also explore the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Sweetwater Creek State Park One of the most popular destinations for outdoor...

What Are The Best Air-Purifying Indoor Plants?

Sep 21, 2016 | Home Decor Tips

You probably spend most of your time indoors, whether at home or at work, so it’s important to ensure that the air you breathe inside is clean and healthy. Poor air quality can lead to lots of health problems, including asthma. The problem can be especially pronounced in children. EPA studies have found that indoor pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoors. Poor ventilation, synthetic building materials and chemicals used for cleaning can add up to create a toxic environment inside your home. Luckily, Mother Nature has your back. Many houseplants can metabolize some toxic chemicals, removing them from the air you breathe. Plus, as plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, they release fresh oxygen into your home. NASA has performed numerous studies on how to purify the air that astronauts breathe in space. Their studies showed that the maximum benefit is achieved by combining multiple types of plants, because each species excels at removing certain types of toxins from the air: Best Houseplants for Purifying Indoor Air Quality Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) reduced air levels of benzene and trichloroethylene in one NASA study. This plant is sometimes known as devil’s ivy because it is nearly impossible to kill. The drawback of this particular species is that it is very toxic to dogs and cats. Ferns are especially good at filtering formaldehyde out of the air. One of the best fern species for air purification is the Japanese royal fern (Osmunda japonica). The common garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is a very popular plant for purifying indoor air. Not only does it remove multiple toxins...

Which Home Decor Style Suits Your Personality? Take Our Quiz!

Sep 12, 2016 | Home Decor Tips

When you walk into Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, do you find yourself wondering which furniture pieces are the best fit for your own sense of style? And how do you make them all work together? Understanding your home decor style is a key ingredient in revamping any room of your home. If you’re wondering which home decor suits your personality best, grab a piece of paper and write down your answers to the following questions. Your home decor personality will be revealed at the end of the quiz: 1. It’s date night. Where do you choose to go? A. the Dixie Chicks concert B. the same place as always – your favorite neighborhood restaurant C. a 4-star French bistro D. that new art-house cinema that just opened up 2. Which of these photos from our Atlanta area furniture showrooms do you find most appealing? A. B. C. D. 3. You’re in the market for a new couch. Which color and fabric option do you pick? A. tan or denim blue fabric B. brown leather C. black microsuede or white leather D. olive green or a bright pop of color 4. You’re flipping through TV stations late at night. Which movie catches your eye? A. Steel Magnolias B. The Shawshank Redemption C. American Beauty D. Amélie 5. Where would your dream home be? A. a cottage in the rural countryside B. a nice big house in the suburbs C. a high-rise penthouse downtown D. a loft-style apartment in the trendy part of town 6. You’re booking a weekend getaway. Where do you go? A. Nashville or Denver B. Chicago...

Perfect Pairings: Football Watching Furniture and Game Day Recipes by Paula Deen

Sep 7, 2016 | Living Room

Sunday afternoons in the fall mean family, football and fun. What better way to spent time with friends than cheering on your favorite college team or the Atlanta Falcons? Whether you’re inviting just a few friends over to watch the game or the whole extended family, Paula Deen has the perfect pairings of both furniture and football party recipes to keep spirits lively. Paula Deen Dogwood Low Tide Entertainment Console + Paula Deen’s Hot and Spicy Refried Bean Dip Recipe Upgrade your entertainment center with the Paula Deen Dogwood Low Tide Entertainment Console. The upscale rustic look of this entertainment center was inspired by the historic Southern charm of Paula’s hometown of Savannah. This tv console features four doors and drawers, a power outlet, and interchangeable wood, glass, and speaker cloth door panel inserts. While watching the game on the big screen, your guests will enjoy chowing down on Paula Deen’s Hot and Spicy Refried Bean Dip. It takes just 15 minutes to prep and cook, so it’s fast, easy and delicious! If you’re not a fan of the suggested refried black beans, simply substitute pinto beans or another favorite type of refried beans. Paula Deen Tobacco Put Your Feet Up Table + Paula Deen’s Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks Recipe Paula’s Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks are always a crowd favorite. This easy recipe is incredibly simple and quick to prepare. Just wrap sesame breadsticks in bacon slices, bake for 15 minutes, and roll in a Parmesan cheese and garlic salt mixture. Yum! While you may not want your party guests to actually put their feet up on the Paula Deen Tobacco...

Man Cave Ideas at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet

Aug 29, 2016 | Home Decor Tips, Unique

Football season is back and what better place to cheer on the Altanta Falcons (other than the Georgia Dome, of course) than in your very own man cave? Whether you’re designing a man cave for the first time, or just need some extra manly space to spread out to watch the big game, Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet has you covered. We have more than 100,000 square feet of incredible deals on sectional sofas, man cave decor and more at our Atlanta area furniture showrooms. Leather Sectional Sofas and Entertainment Centers Perfect for Your Man Cave First things first, you’ll need plenty of seating if you plan on using your man cave to watch sports. We have a wide array of fabric and leather sectional sofas, as well as reclining sofas with built-in cup holders. Our website only features a handful of the many options we have in stock at our Atlanta furniture stores. Stop by to speak with one of our design associates and explore the full selection. No man cave is complete without a great entertainment center or tv stand. Lucky for you, we have plenty of manly entertainment centers perfect for your man cave. Reclaimed Wood Furniture and Unique Home Decor at The Loft You’ll also want to outfit your man cave to suit your personal taste. Are you a sports fanatic, a gear-head, or an All-American kind of guy? You’ll want to explore The Loft at our Acworth, Georgia location, which has an ever-changing collection of unique home decor items, like rustic, hand-crafted wood furniture and vintage inspired signs. At Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we turn...

10 Family-Friendly Things To Do Near Atlanta This Fall

Aug 26, 2016 | Georgia Living

The Atlanta area is full of rich culture and history, with plenty of things to do no matter what the season. We’re proud to call it home and proud to be locally owned, Georgia grown for nearly 30 years. As the weather cools down, you can bet we’ll be spending some time exploring the beautiful local scenery and events with our families. Here are a few of our favorite upcoming family-friendly events near Atlanta that we’re looking forward to this fall: Yellow Daisy Festival WHEN: September 8-11, 2016 WHERE: Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain, Georgia Now in its 48th year, the Yellow Daisy Festival is recognized by Sunshine Artist Magazine as one of the top three arts & crafts shows in the country. The family-friendly event draws more than 400 artists and crafters from 33 states and two countries to show off and sell their work. The festival offers live entertainment, craft demonstrations, great food and a Children’s Corner with activities for the little ones. The event is free with paid parking admission. A one-day parking permit is $15 or $40 for an annual permit. Fall Folklife Festival WHEN: September 17, 2016 WHERE: Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, Georgia Take a trip back to simpler times and celebrate all things Southern at the Fall Folklife Festival, which features hands-on demonstrations of Southern crafts. You’ll get a first-hand look at the traditional arts of basket weaving, woodworking, pottery, food preservation, and candle dipping. The event also offers music by Georgia folk musicians and chef demonstrations and discussions about Southern food traditions like biscuits and smokehouse...

Perfect Pairings: Kid’s Bedroom Furniture and Healthy After-School Snacks by Paula Deen

Aug 26, 2016 | Bedrooms

Now that the kids are back in school and practicing smarter studying habits, it’s important to keep them on the right track for a successful school year. The keys to academic success include getting plenty of sleep and the right nutrition. Luckily, our favorite Southern belle, Paula Deen, has both furniture and snack recipes to help your children achieve their full potential. The latest in our Perfect Pairings series, check out these kids’ bedroom furniture ideas and healthy after-school snacks: Paula Deen Guys Twin Molasses Panel Bed + Paula Deen’s Veggie Pizza Minis Recipe It can be tough to get your kids to eat their vegetables, but when they come in the form of pizza? It’s a breeze! Paula Deen’s Veggie Pizza Minis take just 10 minutes to prep and feature lots of healthy veggies like zucchini, eggplant and yellow squash. However, you could also substitute other veggies your kids love such as broccoli or spinach. Pile it all on an English muffin and bake for 25 minutes! As much as kids need healthy snacks to keep them focused on homework, they also need plenty of sleep. Paula Deen’s Guys Twin Molasses Panel Bed is the perfect addition to any child’s bedroom. And with our everyday low outlet prices, this bed is as affordable as it is stylish. Paula Deen Henry’s Molasses Desk + Paula Deen’s Parmesan Popcorn Mix Recipe Whether your child is a leftie or right-handed, the Paula Deen Henry’s Desk is a perfect option. The interchangeable pedestal and leg makes it easy to set up this desk for comfortable studying. Featuring a beautiful dark brown molasses...

Smarter Study Habits: 3 Tips To Help Your Child Succeed This School Year

Aug 10, 2016 | Office

As your kids head back to school, you may find yourself wondering how to help them succeed in the new school year. Education doesn’t stop when your children leave the classroom. In fact, some experts would argue that education at home is just as important as what your child learns at school. Make sure that your child is off to a good start this school year by keeping in mind these smart study habits: Dedicate A Space To Analog Learning Author and artist Austin Kleon famously keeps two separate desks: an analog desk and a digital desk. At his analog desk, no computers or digital devices are allowed. The analog desk, filled with pens, markers and paper, is where most of his books and projects get their start. In this digital day and age, it’s important to allow our minds to focus on both learning and creativity away from computer screens. Whether it is offering your child two separate desk areas, or dedicating a study table as a “no screens allowed zone,” leaving space for analog study can be highly productive for your child. (Or yourself!) Many people, both children and adults, focus best with some light background noise, so you may want to allow a radio or music player into your “analog” zone. Try to avoid music with words. Spotify offers an entire music genre called “Focus” which features multiple playlists of music perfect to study by. Noisli is a free browser-based tool that creates soothing nature sounds or white noise for children who find it hard to study in silence. Play it from the computer speakers across...

College Apartment and Dorm Room Furniture Ideas

Aug 10, 2016 | Office

It’s that time of year… back-to-school season. If you have a teen that’s off to college for the first time this year, you may be worried about what their dorm room does and does not include. While most university dorm rooms come equipped with basic furniture like a bed, desk and chair, your son or daughter would probably prefer a few more homey comforts. And what if your child will be living off-campus in their first apartment? We’ve got you covered, with more than 100,000 square feet of incredible bargains. We’ll share a few of our favorite college dorm room furniture ideas below, but you’ll have to visit one of our Atlanta area furniture showrooms to see everything we have to offer! While your child’s dorm room will probably come equipped with a basic chair, it may not be ideal for sitting in for many hours while writing term papers and cramming for finals. The Prestige Black Desk Chair by Parker House offers your student plenty of back support, with comfy arm rests and a soft, comfortable seat. Your star pupil can adjust the seat height to fit their dorm room desk perfectly. If your teen’s new dorm room is short on space, the #myRoom Swivel Desk Chair is a perfect option. This stylish and modern desk chair features a hidden storage compartment under the seat. If your daughter or son will be living off-campus in their first apartment, they may prefer something a bit more grown-up than a bean bag chair. Instead, opt for a classic ottoman that will stay with them after graduation. The Brielyn Oversized Accent...

5 Easy Home Office Organization Ideas

Jul 27, 2016 | Office

Now that summer is almost over, it’s time to get re-organized. For many, fall means a fresh start. The kids are going back to school and things often get busy at work as people return home from summer vacations. If you work from home, it can be difficult to stay on track, but it doesn’t have to be. Try these 5 easy home office organization ideas to jump start your productivity. 1. Start with adequate home office furniture and storage. In order to stay organized, first you’ll want to make sure that your home office has the right amount of storage space and work-space to suit your needs. If you run a home-based business and have a dedicated home office, you might opt for a spacious desk with plenty of storage space built in. One example we love is the Ravenwood Curved Desk, which offers 3 utility drawers for storing office supplies, plus a file drawer that can accommodate letter or legal sized paperwork. If your home business deals with a lot of paperwork, you may also need a stylish office cabinet or file drawers to store your files out of sight. The Burkesville Office Cabinet is a great choice for creating a printing station in your home office. The drawers and shelves are the perfect size for storing printing paper. However, if you simply need a place where you can sit to pay bills and take care of household paperwork, you may want a sleek and simple desk that can easily blend into a multi-purpose room. 2. Work smarter, store things vertically. When you store paperwork and other objects...