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home decorating

Halloween home decor? Just add pumpkins.

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Halloween pumpkin ideas

There are many ways to skin a pumpkin.

Pumpkins are the icon of the Halloween. So use them. There are so many ways to carve, draw or set them to make great decorations for the home. Here’s some quick ideas for this year’s Halloween home decor.

If you want a more complicated Halloween face, use the many stencils out there to trace the more intricate designs on the pumpkin. Then use the tracing to carve out the design.

Try stacking the pumpkins vertically. The designs are limitless. One example is to create a body made of pumpkins. Stack five vertically. Use the top as the face and the ones below as different designs for the body.

You can go in all sorts of directions with that arrangement. From buttons, belly button, bikini, bowtie, etc. And each idea can either be cut for the design to be lit or drawn or using the actual items.

Go the other way and place pumpkins in a horizontal line and design from there. One example is use the first pumpkin carved like Pac Man and smaller pumpkins as the dots proceeding.

Drill them. Use a drill or something similar to drill holes that act as the outline. Creates a different design while still being dramatic with the flame or light shining through.

Use letters. Carve in one letter per pumpkin and place them accordingly. Have three pumpkins for the word “boo” for instance.

Accessorize. Use outside elements to add some flare. Use a hat, cigar, stick hands, arrow, etc.

Carving pumpkins are now taking the shape of designing pumpkins and can be cheap and easy. Try a different design this year and use some other Halloween Shop RTO tips to make your Halloween as festive as possible.

Just another Shop RTO Home Decorating and Holiday Tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers holiday decorating and home living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

 

 

Take the living room outside this Halloween

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Rent to own outdoor furniture

Catch a glimpse of every costume on the block!

Are you ready for Halloween? It’s never too early to start preparing. Or, at least, thinking about preparing. Because it’s that special evening when your streets are flooded with trick or treating super hero’s, princesses, gypsies and monsters that make for quite the show.

Over the year’s people have spent countless hours and days, even planned an entire year in advance for the unveiling of their Halloween costume so what better to way to commend their efforts than to act as the audience to their stage? Go on and take the living room outside for the day because Halloween just might be best time to people watch.

Create a fun Halloween atmosphere with outdoor furniture. Set up a comfortable seating area on your front porch, patio or front yard by arranging some chairs – bringing some outside from in or using outdoor patio furniture. If you don’t have any or discover you’re in a shortage of seating, check out your local rent to own stores to help you out for the big day. Bring out an ice chest with plenty of drinks and pass out candy from the comfort of your own lawn and enjoy the show.

Just another ShopRTO Home Decorating and Holiday Tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Color schemes in your home have meaning

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Color schemes are important for home decorating

Use the right color schemes for your home.

Before painting your home or picking out your furniture and appliances, you might want to understand the subconscious meanings behind the colors you choose. While many psychologists make sure to indicate that reaction to colors can be affected by prior experiences, there are general impacts to colors that affect the mood of a room.

Green is the safest color as it symbolizes nature and has a calming feel. These are good for the bedrooms or reading rooms. Dark green can have a masculine feel associated with wealth.

Yellow is the most cheerful and attention getting but can be overpowering. Babies will cry more in brightly yellow rooms for pete’s sake! So, be prudent with the yellow colors.

Purple is a regal color reflecting wealth and prosperity and a feminine and romantic color. It can also be construed as artificial as it is the rarest color in nature.

Brown is one of the most common color as it’s abundance on earth. Too much brown can connote a sad feel though.

Blue is also a common color as it reflects water and the sky. It is also like green in the fact it has a calming effect.

Red is the most emotionally intense color. Reflecting love and attention. Be careful with red and make sure to use it as an accent color.

White reflects innocence and purity. It reflects light the best and is easy in decorating as it goes with everything. Too much white shows sterility which is why hospitals and staff mostly wear white. White is also the easiest to show wear and tear and dirt. It is best to be an accent as well.

Black reflects power and authority. That’s why many authority figures dress in black clothes. Black can also connote villains so be careful unless you’re a bank robber or something.

Too much of one color can be overpowering even if it’s the calming ones such as blue and green. Make sure to balance or accentuate properly. With these themes in mind, look at the rooms of your house and ask yourself what do you want that room to emanate. Begin with that premise then pick the proper colors for your home decorating.

Just another Shop RTO home decorating tips.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

 

Will renting and rent to own gallery art for the home catch on?

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Rent to own art by Keith Davis

Painting by gallery artist Keith Davis.

Renting and rent to own “high art” is nothing new. Galleries in L.A., Chicago and Seattle have been doing it successfully for years. Traditional rent to own stores have been renting to own art for decades. But, is now the time for gallery-level art to hit national distribution and demand? One company, GetArtUp, is testing the timing.

The Y generation that is now coming into their independence have a higher sense of their standard of living that lends itself to a renters attitude. GetArtUp is the first (that ShopRTO knows of) that is taking the web to reach out to the country to help decorate homes with original art.

Based out of San Francisco, GetUpArt feels good about their prospect with the launch “going well!”. They’re trying to keep the concept simple by offering art that is under $10,000 and at a standard $55 monthly rental.

If the customer wants to own then 50% of their previous payments go towards ownership. The 50% formula is a little different to traditional rent to own that offers a 50% of the remaining payments towards ownership.

GetArtUp also works as traditional rent to own where you’re never obligated to make the next payment and can return at any time for any reason.

Renting art has always been a successful concept but never nationally at a gallery level. Renting home furniture and art gives consumers and decorators a great advantage of the “try before you buy” option especially when it comes to art. And swapping out art on a periodic basis gives a great decorating element of a fresh,  new home each time a new piece is delivered.

ShopRTO will be looking closely at this concept. If it works, it could create a whole new element to home decorating, access to gallery art and the image of renting and rent to own for the home.

Just another ShopRTO Home Decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

What are smart home devices?

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Smart home devices for the future.

Samsung promoting their smart refrigerator at the CES show.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is showing off the latest smart home devices. Smart home devices are those home products or systems that can be controlled remotely through your computer or smartphone. Home furnishing, design and builders know they are the future of our home living but for now, we consumers are just beginning to understand their presence and value.

Some smart home devices include refrigerators that will be able to tell you what you need at the grocery store, what food needs to be thrown out and if you have everything you need for tonight’s dinner. You can be at the grocery store, log into your refrigerator through your smart phone app and “talk” to it regarding what sort of groceries you need.

There are broader smart home devices such as home lighting that will follow you through the house and light where necessary while turning off those lights you don’t need. That eliminates waste and saves money. You can program your light system so it knows when you will be leaving and coming home so it knows when it needs to be ready to light the house when you arrive and turn off when you leave.

Home security systems can notify you at work whether they detect something unusual. And these systems can teach themselves to differentiate real irregularities at your home. It can self teach itself that your dog “Ruh-Roh” is a regular member of the household thus poses no risk so will not alert you if you have motion sensors. I wonder if they could alert me if he’s nosing in the trash or on the couch where he’s not supposed to be. That would be a great feature.

It is a part of the learning algorithm application that smart home devices are integrating into their systems and products and that consumers want. These systems will learn your patterns and apply them to their devices to automatically alert you or respond to your actions to eliminate daily programming.

Companies are also trying to integrate a voice automated system as well so you can instruct your home on voice commands. You come home, ask your computer to pre-heat the oven, make sure to coordinate with the refrigerator that you have the right ingredients while you tell it to change the temperature of your house to be more comfortable then ask it to go through your latest e-mails/texts and alert you of anything important sent from your family.

It’s a whole new world that CES introduces us to so we’re passing along the future of your home to you because one day in the near future, these smart home devices will be standard in wherever you live.

Just another Shop RTO home living and decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

 

CES gives us a look at the future of our home gadgets

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Futuristic TVs

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held every year in Las Vegas is great for consumers to check out today’s new home electronics and what to expect tomorrow. So for the next several articles, ShopRTO.com will give you a quick glimpse of those products that you may want to put in your home or just dazzle you for what the future holds.

This year the buzz will be smart home technology, wireless gadgets, wearable health devices, drones and all sorts of HD TVs – the curved ones, 3D ones and Ultra High Def – which is basically in the 4K technology arena. Different companies from Samsung to LG will promoting each of their versions so the choices out there will boggle your mind.

One of the hottest talked about product was LG’s 98″ 8K television. Yes. A 98″ 8K TV. How’s that for a conversation starter?

So how much does it cost, you ask? Just $133,000. Hopefully that includes delivery and set up. It also may need an 18 wheeler to deliver that mammoth.

We consumers are just now being able to afford 4K TVs while broadcasters are just now making 4K production more common. So, we’re still in the middle of the 4K revolution so the 8K revolution is definitely a peek into the future.

So, yes, it’s basically a publicity stunt to attract stories such as this but, remember, the same thing happened decades ago at a CES show when the show featured the unheard of, breakthrough technology of broadcast and production called HD TV.

So, stay tuned for the future of your home as ShopRTO.com will feature the hottest products being unveiled at this year’s CES show.

Just another Shop RTO home decorating and HD TV tidbit.

ShopRTO provides consumers home living and decorating tips and rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furniture and more.

 

Arranging furniture for entertaining

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Arrange your furniture for entertaining.

Create an inviting space.

The holidays may be the busiest time of year for entertaining guests and if you’ve opened your door to host this season, we have a few tips that will help make the most of your space. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to create an ambiance that is comfortable and stimulates conversation and interaction among your guests.

Creating an open space upon walking into your home is key. It is the first impression your guests have upon arrival so clear the way and remove any extra clutter. If you have a coat closet, encourage guests to leave coats or handbags at the door. If you don’t have a coat closet, consider getting a coat rack, using a bench or designating a room in the house for coats.

If your entry way overlooks the living room, be sure that the back of furniture isn’t facing people as they walk in. Instead, create a walk through or pathway by splitting two seating areas. If you have a large living room, placing couches or sofas back to back. This can also create two different seating areas similar to that of a hotel lobby or lounge. Place smaller furniture around larger pieces, just be sure not to set them too far apart so people can hear each other comfortably.

It’s possible you might not have more than one coffee table or side tables to accommodate the extra seating you’re creating. Sufficient side tables or coffee tables are important for communal seating and eating. Consider using a trunk as a makeshift coffee table or covering a sturdy stool or box with festive linens for additional table tops.

If you’re hosting more guests than you have place settings at your dinner table, consider setting up a buffet instead. Remove chairs and add them to other areas of your home, like the additional seating areas we mentioned earlier. Move your table closer to a wall to open up the space but also providing enough space to walk around so your guests have more access to the buffet. Providing small plates in combination of communal seating are also good ways to keep the commiserating going.

Don’t underestimate your space, get creative and experiment with it. You’d be surprised with how many different ways you can arrange your furniture and the difference it makes when entertaining.

Just another Shop RTO holiday and lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Finding the right dining room table

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The right dining table

Rectangle, square, round?

You’re ready for a new dining table and don’t know where to start. You know your taste but maybe not all the factors to consider? We can help you with that.

Number of diners.
How many people typically join you for dinner? Do you entertain often? The number of people that will will be seated is crucial for your table needs as you will want a table big enough to seat everyone comfortably. Some tables allow for removable space known as a table leaf. These pieces are great for accommodating more guests than you usually would and can easily be removed and stored for a later occasion. As a rule of thumb allow for 24″ between chairs for a proper and comfortable dining space.

Know your space.
How big is your space? You will want to be sure that there is ample wall to furniture space, at least 24″, as well as room for diners to get in and out of their seats. If you’re working with a bigger space, a rectangle traditional or square shape will suit your needs. If you have a smaller space, round tables are most efficient, accommodating more while providing an inviting dining experience.

A few things to note:
– Square tables won’t work in a rectangle room due to dimensions. Two sides of the table will be closer to the walls making it more crowded for guests on those ends.
– If you have children around, the corners of square or rectangle tables can pose as safety hazards.
– Round tables, if supported by one center pedestal, can be a tipping hazard. Checkout the weight and distribution capacities along with giving it a good lean on one side for sturdiness.
– The width of tables gets wider as it gets longer. Keep a width of at least 36″ for place settings and serving dishes.

Happy table hunting and know that if you’re feeling uneasy about making a purchase, drop into your local rent to own store and try one out for size before you buy.

Just another ShopRTO lifestyle and home decorating tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

Planning a stress free Thanksgiving

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Tips for a stress free Thanksgiving

Start planning your menu now

With Halloween under our belts it’s inevitable we start thinking of our actual belts and maybe adjusting them a notch or two as Thanksgiving is underway. We’re about a month out and if you’re planning to host Thanksgiving in your home it’s the perfect time to outline the holiday.

A month-3 weeks out is generally a wise time to plan your menu. Keeping your guest’s dietary restrictions in mind is pivotal as you’ll want to accommodate everyone. Providing a main course for both carnivores (traditionally turkey) and vegetarians is a safe bet and good place to start when curating a menu. Sides can easily cater to vegetarians by replacing any meat based stocks with vegetable stocks so you’re not doubling your efforts.

Gluten free options are also of importance. It may come as a surprise but a lot of traditional sides are already gluten free such as Broccoli Cheese Casserole, so long as your recipe doesn’t include any breadcrumbs. If you intend to have a potluck style dinner share the main course with your guests along with keeping them in loop on what others are bringing as well. This way you won’t end up for 40lbs of mashed potatoes. With all of that said, don’t forget drinks. With an array of delectable foods, you’ll need libations to wash it all down.

Now that you’ve compiled a game plan, give yourself ample time to shop for the items you’ll need to prepare and host, about 3 weeks before the big day. Walk into your kitchen and take inventory of any cooking items you’re missing. Maybe you’re deep frying a turkey for the first time this year? You’ll likely need to hit a store or the internet to acquire the proper deep fryer. Ask your guests for any additional items that you may not be ready to fully purchase as a money saver too. Chances are that if you’re hosting they’d be happy to oblige.

Take a look at your furniture, will you need more seating? Another money saving tip is renting furniture from your local rent to own store. Read more on Shop RTO’s article “Thanksgiving guests? Rent to own stores can help”.

Two weeks out draft your menu shopping list and clean out your refrigerator. Shop for nonperishables you can store or cook anything that you can freeze; i.e. homemade stocks, pie or bread dough. One week out hit the market for the remainder of your list. If you plan to only make one trip, wait until the one-week marker as perishables will likely, well, perish.

The two-week marker is also a good time to pick up festive décor. Read more on decorating with formal linens on Shop RTO’s article “Get your formal dinner linens ready for the holidays now”.

One week out start to think about your cooking schedule and process. Turkeys take anywhere from a 1 ½ to 3-4 days to thaw depending on the size. A lot of dishes can be made a couple days in advance such as sauces and desserts. Side dishes can be made the day before so you can easily reheat day of. Plan for leftovers by having any disposable containers or bags available for guests.

On Thanksgiving day preheat your oven in the early morning and get your Turkey in (as it takes the longest to cook). After the turkey is ready pop in any side dishes that need reheating and enjoy!

Getting ready for the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful, relax and let us help you out with our tips!

Just another Shop RTO holiday and lifestyle tip.

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

We want to hear from you!

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Share your RTO experience

Share your experience, holiday or home decorating tips with us!

ShopRTO.com is dedicated to affordable lifestyle and home decorating tips. As we live in this ever changing world, we need help in keeping up with the latest home gadgets, lifestyle upgrades and decorating trends.

So take the time and send us your tips, experiences and suggestions on how we can make our lives better on a budget. Especially if you use the rent to own option in your daily life.

Most people don’t know all of the benefits when you use the rent to own transaction. So take a look and be pleasantly surprised.

We invite you to share your holiday experiences or home decorating tips with us. Whether it’s during the holidays when you’re busy preparing for family and guests. Or finding out about the latest technology that put’s you in the 21st century. And most of all, lifestyle and home decorating tips that fit in your budget or save you money.

So send us your photos, stories and tips – we’d love to hear from you!

Share now

ShopRTO provides consumers home decorating and living tips and promotes rent to own as a shopping option for affordable home furnishings.

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