Lacks Home Design Ideas Magazine

Figuring out how you want to decorate your master bedroom can be hard enough, but try tackling a guest room as well. If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room strictly for the purpose of a guest room, you're off to an easy start.

Keep in mind how it feels to stay the night at a hotel or even at a friend's home. What are the amenities that you enjoy? What are your dislikes? Treat the space as a luxury hotel room or country inn. Provide your guest(s) with a full or queen-sized bed. If it's grandchildren you're catering too, try twin beds or even bunk beds. Don't decorate your room with a myriad of leftovers from other rooms though. Pick out a specific theme for your guest room just as you would your own room or your child's bedroom.

When it comes to the bedding in your guest bedroom, don't skimp. Think about comfort, textures and the sense of being completely welcome. Give your guests the same sheets you would want. Also, provide them with extra pillows and blankets regardless of the time of year.

Be sure to provide a nightstand and reading lamp beside your guest bed. Offer an area for clothing storage such as a chest of drawers or closet with free hangers and bare shelves. If you have the room, add a dressing or vanity mirror. No one likes to walk out of his or her room first thing in the morning and greet the world without straightening up just a little.

Remember, most guests don't want to burden their hosts by having to ask for things such as towels or alarm clocks. Try to make it possible for your guests to feel as if they can remain independent from the rest of the home. It’s a good idea to try and keep your guest room free of personal items, so find a temporary closet for the exercise equipment or sewing project. You want your guest(s) to feel completely welcome and not feel like an intruder.

The following is a list of some amenities you might want to consider adding to your guest bedroom:

• Pillow top mattress pad
• Down comforter
• Reading lamp and a few books
• Notepad and pen
• Alarm clock
• Fresh flowers
• A welcome basket of fresh towels, wash clothes, travel soaps, shampoos, conditioners, etc.
• A television
• Night light
• Wastebasket
• If using scents, be aware that some people are allergic to fragrances

The most important thing when considering a guest bedroom is comfort and a sense of welcome. Also remember that if you need help in decorating your guest room or any other room in your home, the friendly and knowledgeable sales associates at Lacks Home Furnishings are available to help you put together just the look you want.

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. Maybe it’s because I enjoy cooking and entertaining or maybe it’s because the weather is cooling off in Texas. Whatever my reasoning, I was curious about Thanksgiving traditions, so I went online to research the holiday. Here are the top five traditions I found.

1. Turkeys are an American tradition dating back centuries. According to the National Turkey Federation (and who knew there was such an organization), 95 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving. Regional twists offer variations on the traditional roasted bird, including coffee rubbed turkey from Hawaii, salt encrusted turkey from New England, and deep-fried turkey from the South.
2. Throughout the United States, football on Thanksgiving Day is as big a part of the celebration as turkey and pumpkin pie. Dating back to the first intercollegiate football championship held on Thanksgiving Day in 1876, traditional holiday football rivalries have become so popular that a reporter once called Thanksgiving "a holiday granted by the State and the Nation to see a game of football."
3. The first American Thanksgiving Day parade was held in 1920, organized by Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia, not Macy’s as most people believe. The NYC Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade tradition actually began in 1924, and has grown into an annual event of balloons, bands and floats, enjoyed by more than 46 million people each year in person and on TV.
4. Does your family fight over the wishbone from the Thanksgiving turkey? Known as a "lucky break" the tradition of tugging on either end of a fowl's bone to win the larger piece and its accompanying "wish" dates back to the Etruscans of 322 B.C. The Romans brought the tradition with them when they conquered England and the English colonists carried the tradition on to America.

Last, but certainly not least, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the people and blessings of the past year. From pre-meal prayers to providing holiday meals to the homeless, the holiday is truly a celebration of praise and thanksgiving. At Lacks, we are very thankful for our customers and associates, on Thanksgiving--and every day.