Photo via PRLog.org

Although experts’ opinions vary, many sources indicate you should replace your mattress about every ten years – due to a buildup of dust mites and germs (yuck!) but also because worn-out mattresses can be downright uncomfortable. You know what we mean: That sag in the middle of the bed or the spring that keeps jabbing you in the back all night long so you never really get that important REM sleep.

Photo via wellandgoodnyc.com

There’s really nothing worse for your health than not sleeping deeply and restfully. In fact, studies have shown that poor sleep patterns can result in concentration problems, and even contribute to weight gain!

Of course, replacing a mattress can be a substantial investment, so beyond the whole “every ten years” rule (and some experts think you should replace it even more often – every five to seven years), how do you know when a mattress needs to be moved out to the curb?

1. Ask yourself how well you’re really sleeping. Do you wake up refreshed or with persistent aches and pains? Do you tend to toss and turn at night, looking for that perfect spot? Backaches in particular can be attributed to a bad mattress.

2. Use your eyes and hands. Look at the mattress for visible signs of sagging or jutting coils, and feel for them, too. Also, is the fabric covering the mattress worn or dirty?

3. Compare your mattress to others. Sometimes, we get used to lumps and bumps in mattresses over time, and just don’t realize they’re impacting our sleep quality. Try out a mattress in a store. Don’t be shy! Do you feel better lying on it than on yours? Also, pay attention to the mattress in your hotel room on your next trip – did you sleep better or wake up with less aches away from home?

4. Consider your weight and age. Heavier people wear out mattresses faster, and the older you are, the more sensitive you are to pressure points.

Tip: To get a little extra life out of an aging mattress, a new, thick mattress pad can sometimes do the trick by providing extra cushion and putting a layer between you and the bed’s lumps and bumps.

If you do decide it’s time to trade up to a new mattress, be aware that it’s not a “one size fits all” situation. Some people prefer very firm mattresses, and some like them much more soft. Get out there and try some out! And if you share a bed with someone, make sure your partner comes along, too. A new mattress should be a joint decision.

All DownEast Home locations offer a wide selection of quality mattresses at pretty great prices year-round, including our brand new, queen-sized “Preference” mattress in our Signature Collection. At just $699, it may very well be the bed of your dreams!

A fun and thrifty fact: Did you know Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest times for mattress sales? We’re not sure why, but it’s true! In fact, ALL our DownEast Home stores are offering 10% OFF on ALL MATTRESS SETS from May 25 through June 9! There will also be major tent sales at our Sandy, Draper and Layton (Utah) stores on May 25 – June 2, so stop by!

New! Queen-sized Preference mattress in our DownEast Home Signature Collection

Hello, DownEast Home blog readers! I’m Katherine from a bit of sparklefarkle, stopping by to share an easy home project that will display all of your beautiful baubles and accessories. I didn’t have to buy anything new for this makeover, although I did happen to have a staple gun lying around, which might not be the case for everyone.

Step number one: Pull out an old corkboard. Most people seem to have these hidden away after being discarded from offices or a teen’s bedroom that was flipped into a home gym or giftwrap room the day he (or she) drove off to college. If not, Goodwill usually has these in giant stacks for cheap.

Have some fabric lying around, like curtains or drapes that you no longer use? That’ll work! In my case, I had black drapes from an old apartment that were tucked away in storage.

Once you’ve ironed the wrinkles from the fabric, lay it out on a large, open space on the floor. Then grab your handy staple gun and staple the fabric all the way around the corkboard, pulling the fabric tight and alternating sides with every staple. Start in the middle and work your way out.

Next, focus on your corners. These photos will hopefully give you an idea of how to make them crisp – I documented how I did it the best I could!

All done! Now all you have to do is pick an empty wall that could use a little love, and hang! Well-spaced pushpins will hold long necklaces, bracelets and earrings that dangle. A shelf underneath the display is the perfect spot for small dishes that can hold rings and stud earrings.

As they say, “Voila!”

A place for everything, and everything in its place! I hope this makes you feel more organized when it comes to your jewelry and accessories.

Thanks for having me here! Be sure to stop by my blog and say, “Hi.” I love to chat about DIY inspirations!

- Katherine

Blog // abitofsparklefarkle.com
Twitter // @kthornhill
Instagram // sparklefarkle

Which table would you rather have for your home? DownEast Home’s Accent Table or Arhaus’ Bombay Chest?

Check out our Accent Table and other great furniture items at your local DownEast Home and Clothing store!

Hello! I’m Whitney from Home Delicious, and I’m excited to share a fun idea with all you DownEast fans today.

Lately, I’ve been bothered by the amount of papers I get from school that end up on my counter. Using placemats, I created homework/paper organizers to keep my kids’ important papers, clipboards for their chore charts and other things off the counter.

This is so easy, and all you need to do is sew a straight line. It took me only a half-hour to make three

of them.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

- Placemats (I purchased a four-pack of reversible placemats and made three organizers)
- Coordinating ribbon

The first step is optional, depending on whether you want a front pocket:

Take one placemat and take it apart with a seam ripper. Cut a straight line across one piece for the pocket. Mine was about four inches long. The reason I love using another placemat for this is because it’s already folded, stiff and hemmed.

Fold the placemat you will be using in half and pin the newly cut piece on top. Put the folded/hemmed side on the top, cut side on the bottom.

Open the placemat back up. It will look like this:

With the placemat open, sew a straight line along the sides and bottom of the pocket. Leave the top unsewn.

Next, grab your ribbon. Pin it on vertically, leaving enough on each side to be able to tie it to the chair. You will notice I have a piece of paper under the placemat. This is to make sure I leave enough space for my clipboard, papers, etc. If you pin the ribbon too closely together, you can’t fit anything in it!

Sew the ribbon with a straight line.

Fold the placemat back in half, and sew the sides together with a straight line. Fray-check the ribbon ends, and tie onto your kitchen bar stools, chairs, etc. Fill them with trip slips, spelling lists – whatever you want to put in there!

These are also very handy in the car. You can tie them to the headrest poles in front of the kids’ seats, then fill them with wipes, coloring books, stickers and other necessities.

Thanks so much for having me, DownEast! And if you liked this post, come see some of the other fun ideas I have at Home Delicious!

Which ottoman would you rather have? DownEast Home’s Aladdin Storage Ottoman, or Crate and Barrel’s Carlton Leather Storage Ottoman?

If you chose DownEast Home’s ottoman, then head to your local DownEast Home & Clothing store to check them out!

Hi, everyone! I’m Kelly from Eclectic Momsense, where I blog about a little bit of everything. I’m a self-proclaimed Jane-of-all-Trades and love to dabble in crafting, baking and more!

Today, I’m going to show you an easy way to transfer photos to canvas – they look great and the required supplies cost only a few dollars. In fact, there’s a good chance you have most everything you need already on-hand:

- Mod Podge
- Scissors
- Canvas
- Tissue Paper
- Foam Brush or Paintbrush
- Printer

DIRECTIONS:

Wrap an 8.5” x 11” piece of printer paper with tissue. Trim with a border of ¼” and tape down the edges.

Print out your image(s) on the tissue wrapped paper. Make sure to test first to see which way your printer feeds paper.

Cut out the image(s), leaving a ¼” white border.

Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge on the surface of your canvas and on the edges. Carefully lay the tissue paper on the canvas, rubbing in a circular motion from the inside-out. If you have some wrinkles, you can tug gently on the corners to smooth them. Fold the excess paper over the edge of the canvas and smooth down, adding an additional layer of Mod Podge to the sides only to secure.

Let your artwork thoroughly dry.

And that’s it! Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your homemade photo canvas! I added ribbon to these for hanging, turning them into mini-photo ornaments. They made the perfect gift for family members for just a couple of bucks. Pretty cute, huh?

It was so great being here today! For more easy, inexpensive and creative ideas, please visit me at Eclectic Momsense!

With spring almost here, gardening is on our minds! Nothing beats going to the first farmer’s markets of the season and stocking up on starters for your garden. But, have you heard of guerrilla gardening? It’s a pretty neat idea…you basically make “seed balls” by adding a bunch of seeds to clay and then just throwing them where you want them to grow.

You can read about how to do this in the Urban Homestead book, which has lots of other fun ideas, too. Or, you can purchase these extremely cute seed bombs from the visualingual Etsy shop. These bags alone are worth the purchase! And, they’d make a great “welcome to spring” gift!

Is it just me, or did winter seem to last forever? Not only am I excited to pull out my crops and flip-flops, but with Easter coming up this week – it’s time to give my house a spring mini makeover! Luckily, our new home accessory collection just arrived! It’s filled with colorful ceramics, unique decorative accents and tons of botanicals that will bring SPRING right into your home!

Here are some of my favorite pieces in the collection:

opaque glass vase $8.99, ceramic candle holder $17.99, green glass vase $6.99,

ceramic birdhouse $13.99, metal planter with tray $8.99

COLOR

I am loving the tangerine trend that’s everywhere this year, BUT my personal color obsession runs toward the aqua and green palettes. I can’t get enough of these shades, so I’m constantly finding new ways to include them in my life – not only in my closet, but in my house, too!

natural fiber baskets $2.99-$6.99, white birdcage $16.99, natural fiber pots $5.99-$11.99,

wheelbarrow planter $10.99, watering can flower pot $7.99, galvanized oval bucket $11.99

CONTAINERS

Containers are a decorating must-have! Whether you love freshly cut flowers in your home or enjoy planting spring bulbs and succulents, these baskets, pots and planters are the perfect solution. *Decorating tip: For an unexpected accent, place potted plants inside a birdcage with the foliage sticking out through the bars.

aloe plant $19.99, berry wreath $4.99, artichokes $4.99, 17” berry wreath $17.99,

hydrangea stem $4.99, 10” pastel berry wreath $24.99

BOTANICALS

Faux stems, plants and wreaths are some of the easiest decor elements to switch out from season to season. They can add a burst of color or some much-needed texture to a room – without requiring a lot of space or expense.

To help you get started bringing SPRING into your home – we are giving away four (4) $25 gift cards. To enter, visit the DownEast Home Facebook page and be sure to “like” us. Then leave a comment here at this blog, letting us know you “liked” us and telling us your favorite item from the new spring home accessory collection. You can see the entire collection here or visit one of our nine Home store locations.

Happy Easter!

- Candy

Promotion entry period officially ends on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 11:59pm EDT.

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED – 4 WINNERS SELECTED:  Kjerstin, Sevina, Tiffany E. and Whitney. All winners notified via email.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Which would you prefer in your bedroom? DownEast Home’s Larkin Four Poster Bed or Restoration Hardware’s Camden Arch Bed?

Head to your local DownEast Home store to check out our Larkin Four Poster Bed!

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We’re all guilty of playing it safe with neutrals…but springtime is the right time to turn up the funk and add some color to your home! Scared? Don’t be! Paint is relatively inexpensive and makes a huge impact. Another reason to be bold? If you don’t like it, just paint over it!

This season, shades of blues and greens are big hits! Start with a light shade, or go with a more dramatic shade in smaller doses (such as the one used behind the shelves in the photo on the left). Adding color is FUN…so try it!

Both images via MarthaStewart.com.