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9 Simple Holiday Decorating Ideas

We don’t know about you but for us, it feels like a holiday is always around the corner. Decorations can be stressful and put a strain on all your other holiday responsibilities, but with a few versatile pieces and some colour, we guarantee you’ll have a beautiful home ready for the holidays.

Here are some of our go-to holiday tricks that can be used to take some of the stress out of decorating.

1. Start with a Good, Clean Foundation

It doesn’t do any good to add holiday decorations into the mix if we haven’t gotten control of the clutter in our house. Start by putting things away that don’t need to be out, and make sure everything is looking spick-and-span. And don’t ignore your floors! Use TORLYS EcoCare Cleaning Kit to make sure you have a good, clean foundation to your home decorating with a shining floor.

2. Holiday Curb Appeal

The holidays call for family and friends coming over for dinner and constant visits. Decorating your home from the outside gives people a festive impression before they even go inside. We recommend decorating your front entryway with seasonal plants or flowers, a front door ornament, and a colourful blanket.

Seasonal flowers typically only last for a few months and need to be repurchased every year, but they add a beautiful first impression and can be purchased for $10 to $30. Look for big pots or hanging baskets that represent the holiday season. If you’d like, you can continue this look indoors as well.

Front door ornaments, for example, a wreath, only need to be bought once and can be reused year after year. They decorate your front entrance without taking up any space on your entryway, making them super convenient if your porch is either small or nonexistent. If wreaths seem like too much of a hassle, try tieing a colourful ribbon around your doorknob.

If you do have a front porch with a bench or chairs, add a holiday-themed blanket. It doesn’t have to be covered in pumpkins or elves, but choose one that fits the seasonal aesthetic. This will also make your home more inviting and keep you warm when you’re scoping out your neighbour’s holiday decorations.

3. Festive Tableware

Table decorated for holidays

Festive tableware can vary in prices. There are options for people who love to go shopping and overflow their dining table with holiday decorations and there are options for people who like to keep things more low-key but with subtle touches.

Centrepieces are a beautiful way to set the mood for your dining room. (They’re not called centrepieces for no reason!) Look for decorations that would complement your dishes and the rest of your home’s style. You can even purchase small pieces to put on everybody’s plate.

If you’re looking to keep things more subtle, or on the more affordable side, try decorating your table with some seasonal fruit or vegetables in a big bowl. Colourful paper or linen napkins can also add a nice flair without making you go overboard.

4. Use Clear Vases

Clear vases are a perfectly simple yet glamorous way to showcase your holiday decorations. Put some leftover holiday ornaments that didn’t fit on the tree in a clear vase (bowls work, too!), then put the vase on your kitchen island. Or on the counter in your main bathroom. Or on the windowsill in the living room.

Other vase-filler ideas include seasonal fruit, candles, and some outdoor finds like pinecones.

5. Decorate with Smell

Yes, we just mentioned how candles can be used to create a great centrepiece inside of a clear vase. But candles also give you the opportunity to make your home smell like the holidays.

After all, the sense of smell is closely linked with memory, and there is a certain smell linked to every season. Take advantage of this. If you don’t like candles, buy an air fresher in a holiday scent. Your guests will definitely notice, and you’ll always be in a happy, holiday mood.

Tip: Spruce up an old or plain candle by tieing a bow around it for added detail.

6. Display Your Candied Goods

For most, the holidays are about food. Family gatherings, friendly get-togethers and late night movie nights all revolve around dinner or snacks. And dessert. So why not decorate with your favourite holiday treats? Leave our some cookies decorate for the occasion, or have some candy hanging out in a bowl. All these touches make people feel welcome while adding a festive touch. And to really win at holiday decorating, put your holiday treats in a clear bowl or vase.

7. Pillow Patterns

Christmas pillows on couch

Buy some season pillows for $10 each and put them on your couches, windowsills, dining room chairs, and even outside. Pillows come in a large variety of patterns and colours and add coziness to a space.

8. Colourful Towels

Add pops of seasonal colour to your home by switching our your tea towels for ones with a festive pattern. This will add a subtle touch to your kitchen and will give you something to look forward to every holiday season. Bring this idea into the bathroom by putting our colourful hand towels for guests to have a consistent, decorative flow throughout your home.

9. Make Use of Your Stairs

Staircases are a great place to add holiday details. Everywhere from the landing to the railings, use decorate ribbons, lights, greenery and plants to continue the festivities upstairs. Even if your upper floor won’t be used by guests, staircases are an elegant focal point and can be seen by guests, typically right when they enter your home. Besides, there’s always that one guest that help themselves upstairs to use the facilities or snoop around.

This holiday season has brought unprecedented challenges, but with these simple tricks, the holiday spirit can lift us all up! Don’t let the magic of this time of year pass you by – embrace it whatever way you can. From everyone at TORLYS, wishing you and yours the very best!

Creating Space with Flooring

If you live in a condo or an older home with the original floor plan, chances are your home is space-challenged. Building permits, retaining walls and your budget can stop you from tearing walls down to create a bigger room.

This year, we are spending more time within the four walls of our home and the space can feel even more confining. Luckily, there are other ways to make a room look and feel bigger. Carefully chosen and installed floors and well-placed furniture will help you create a bigger space without the fuss of a large renovation.

Here are a few creative tricks that will make your small room feel bigger without having to change your square footage.

How to Use Flooring to Create a Larger Space:

 

Large planks vs small strips

Long, wide planks make a space less busy and airier the same way a plain rug is a better choice versus a rug with a small print.

Install parallel or diagonal flooring

Flooring that is either parallel with the longest wall in your home or installed diagonally takes away from a room’s lack of size and achieves an elongated feel.

Unify your floors

Living Room with Envique Laminate floors in Gable Oak

By having the same flooring throughout your home you’re creating a sense of one large space instead of multiple small spaces. This creates an open concept feel without having to tear down any walls. Bathrooms are an exception though, as they have higher levels of wetness and humidity, needing flooring that accommodates these factors.

Dark and light floors work

Light paint colours are typically recommended to make rooms feel bigger but when it comes to flooring, dark and light floors can both be used to make a space look bigger if you use the right paint and furniture. What’s more important is carrying the same kind of flooring throughout your space.

Other Tips for Making Your Space Look Bigger:

 

Use light and cool paint colours

Light and cool colours make a room feel airy and more open. Using the same colour around your home but varying in shades creates a cohesive space but also adds some colour. For example, paint your walls or custom shelving just a few shades dark than your mouldings to create some contrast while maintaining a cohesive look.

De-clutter and keep things off the floor

The more you can see your floor the bigger your space looks. Either throw away what you don’t need, store it in the garage, or install built-in shelving, but keep as much free space as possible.

You can also show your floors more by choosing furniture with thin legs and glass surfaces.

Avoid heavy, solid furniture

Going with the point above, choose light furniture that doesn’t sit on the floor and has thin features.

Focus on height

Use full-length paintings, curtains and blinds (even if your windows are small), and consider using wallpaper or a different colour of paint on your ceiling to draw everyone’s eyes up. If you want to keep things simple, paint your ceiling the same colour as your wall. This makes it hard to see the parameters of your space, making it bigger.

Hang mirrors

Mirror hung on wall

Although mirrors are usually hung to show a reflection, they can be used as a piece of art and to enlarge a space. With endless frame options, you can choose a mirror that is modern or classic to enhance your room’s décor. Plus, the reflection of your space (especially if placed in front of a window) can make a room appear bigger than it actually is.

Put down a striped carpet

If your flooring isn’t parallel with your longest room dimension, put down a long carpet with stripes in the same direction as your longest wall to bring attention to the longest surface of your space.

Pull furniture away from the walls

When there is room between your walls and your furniture it looks like you have room to spare.

Buy multi-functional furniture

Ottomans with storage space can be used as a coffee table are great for hiding blankets, movies, and board games. Plus, multi-functional furniture means you need less furniture, giving you more floor space.

Natural light

Skylights, solar tubes, and large windows are a great source of natural light and create an airy, open feel.

As we spend more time in our homes this year, we are more aware of the space we live in. Using these tips, we can make our space feel less claustrophobic. And if you’re having trouble finding the right floors for your space, visit a TORLYS Dealer. Your local dealer will be happy to help you find the perfect TORLYS floor for your space and lifestyle.

TORLYS to Speak on Innovative Flooring Solutions at The Buildings Show

As the needs to become more efficient in all areas of property management evolve, it becomes even more critical to think about solutions for the problems right under our feet, flooring. TORLYS is addressing this topic head on for the upcoming seminar “Innovative Flooring Solutions: Antimicrobial, Flood Proof, Repairable and Sound Control” at The Buildings Show virtual event.

Hosted by our SVP Sales & Business Development Derek Brooks, the session will focus on smart solutions to long standing and relatively recent challenges when it comes to selecting, maintaining, and caring for floors. From antimicrobial solutions to protect against mold growth under the floor and ensure a cleaner floor surface – to waterproof and even flood proof floors that are all repairable while offering superior sound control, this session will discuss the latest innovations in flooring as well as future trends that will simplify this very important materials category for property managers and owners.

Secure your spot HERE for this session on December 2nd from 2-3pm and learn how to make informed decisions that will add value to their properties and for tenants alike.

In addition to hosting this educational seminar, TORLYS is also exhibiting at this 100% virtual event, held November 30- December 4, 2020. Pop into our virtual booth to view our high-quality content on the latest flooring trends or schedule an appointment to speak with one of our dedicated property management and builder specialists about your flooring needs.

We hope to see you at the event!

The buildings show logo

TORLYS Expands Eastern Sales Team

Experienced flooring expert joins as Territory Manager, Northern Ontario

TORONTO, ON – October 2020 – TORLYS, a global flooring company specializing in beautiful, responsible flooring solutions, announced today that it is continuing to make investments in its sales force and expand coverage with the recent addition of a sales position in the Eastern division.New TORLYS Team Member John Zilney

Barrie’s John Zilney joined TORLYS Sales Team in the role of Territory Manager, Northern Ontario. Backed with more than 20 years of industry experience offering flooring solutions, John will bring valuable knowledge that will support TORLYS growth.

“John has a history of excellent performance and developing strong relationships.  He has also demonstrated a tremendous ability to overcome obstacles,” said Jason Walker, TORLYS Regional Sales Manager Ontario & National Accounts. “His extensive flooring knowledge will contribute to our goal of delivering the best innovation and service to our partners in all channels of this exciting industry.”

ABOUT TORLYS

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, TORLYS is a global flooring company that specializes in providing beautiful, responsible flooring solutions. TORLYS has been creating and delivering innovative flooring solutions to homeowners, builders, and property managers, using the latest technologies for 32 years and counting.

For further information, contact:

Leah Robinson, Digital Marketing Specialist     E: Leah.Robinson@torlys.com P: 905-696-2399

Marquee Floors by TORLYS Launches Shore Collection

Stunning range of fresh, on-trend colours featured in this 12mm laminate lineup.

TORONTO, ON – November 2020 – TORLYS, a global flooring company known for bringing innovative flooring solutions to market, announced today the expansion of the Marquee Laminate Program with the Shore Collection, highlighting 8 new on-trend colours; many of which have an embossed texture (EIR) to give the floor a natural look and feel.

Designed with luxury in mind, the impressive wide planks in Shore lineup will make a statement in any room. Made in the USA, the Shore Collection has a 4-sided bevel edge, AC4 wear rating and includes TORLYS SureLock installation system for easy click-lock installation.

Marquee Shore Collection is backed by a 25-Year limited wear, stain and fade warranty along with a lifetime structural and joint integrity warranty. See this premium quality and natural looking collection HERE along with its product specifications.

ABOUT TORLYS

Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, TORLYS is a global flooring company that specializes in providing beautiful, responsible flooring solutions. TORLYS has been creating and delivering innovative flooring solutions to homeowners, builders, and property managers, using the latest technologies for 32 years and counting.

For further information, contact:

Leah Robinson, Digital Marketing Specialist     E: Leah.Robinson@torlys.com P: 905-696-2399