1. Choose Furniture Carefully
In a smaller room, you don’t want to crowd the place with a lot of furniture. Consider using furniture that can do double duty. For example, you can use a small chest that also acts as a coffee table, or visit your hometown ColorTyme to find a sofa-bed for the room. Also, use pieces that are proportionate and don’t overpower the room. A love seat might work better than a full-size sofa, and you might also keep a couple of small wood chairs or barstools along the wall for when additional seating is needed. Extendable dining tables, folding tables and chairs are also great for clearing up some space when those pieces aren’t needed.

2. Lighting is Everything
Lighting can really open up a tight space. ColorTyme offers floor lamps that are space efficient and provide adequate light for a small room. An arc lamp with multiple arms is a good choice because it provides even more light than a single-bulb lamp, and the arms can be directed to areas of the room to make a “spotlight” effect. Wall sconces also are effective light sources and take up little to no space.

3. Think About Color
For the illusion of a larger room, use colors that are light rather than bright or dark (pastels, neutrals and white are all great color possibilities). Consider picking some furniture items for the room that are the same colors as the walls. This way, a bigger piece (like a large chest or armoire) will blend into the room and make it look wider.

4. Certain Accessories are Must-Haves
Whether it’s a dining, coffee or end table, a table made out of glass will keep the appearance of open space. Call your local ColorTyme store to see what glass tables are available to rent. You can also increase the appearance of the size of the room by adding mirrors. Mirrors will reflect light and color, opening up look of the room. Try mirror tiles or place a full length mirror on a wall and your room will appear be double its size!

5. Keep it Clean
It’s no surprise that clutter makes a room seem even smaller, so keep the space tidy and organized. It’s better to take something into the room when you need it and clear it out when it’s not in use than to stash it there permanently.

Whatever you need to update widen the feel of a small room in your home, ColorTyme gives you an affordable rent-to-own option. Remember, deliver and installation is included at no extra charge!

Top Five Valentine’s Gifts for Men

Okay ladies; let’s first get into the male psyche. What do males love? They love electronics, gadgets and games, big screen TVs, their automobiles and comfort. Easy!
1. An LED flat screen TV tops the ColorTyme list. Why? It is only the latest and greatest technology in flat screen TVs. Your beau will be blown away by the picture quality of an LED screen, and it is the thinnest screen yet.
2. If you already have the nice flat screen TV, comfort is the next priority. Motion furniture is hot right now so a really nice comfy recliner is just the ticket for the man in your life. Or, if you want to be a bit more romantic, go with the recliner sofa.
3. A state-of-the-art DVD Home Theater System is an excellent gift for the man who would appreciate relaxing in the comfort of his own home with the superior sights and surround-sound provided by Dolby technology. There will be no mistaking his happiness with this gift as you will hear his and his friends’ shouts of victory during every game day.
4. If your guy really loves his automobile, you can light up his eyes and make his mouth drop open on Valentine’s Day with custom wheels from RimTyme. Ladies, you know how we love jewelry? Well, this is the bling that males go for. RimTyme has custom wheels for his automobile that will make it shine above all others in its class.
5. Last but not least, if your guy has been looking to upgrade his video game equipment, ColorTyme is the place to do that. Video games are a great way to relax at home and blow off some steam. Many men find the games a good way to get their minds off work and relax into some quality time at home in the evenings.

Top Five Valentine’s Gifts for Women

This year if you really want to wow the lady in your life, don’t go with the traditional flowers, chocolates or jewelry. Let her know that building a home and a life with her is your priority. Women love a beautiful home and joining her in that quest is a great way to show your love. Thus, here are ColorTymes top five Valentine’s gifts for women this year.

1. The trend in dining today is casual and everyone likes to congregate around a kitchen counter or bar. Furniture manufacturers noticed this and have started a raging trend that works beautifully for today’s lifestyle – the counter-height dining table and chairs. It’s hip and gorgeous and a great way to say happy Valentine’s Day this year.
2. If you and your girl are in desperate need of a new washer and dryer. You’ve been schlepping back and forth to the Laundromat or your old units are about to bite the dust. This is a great time to go for it, as the manufacturers now offer a range of bold colors to choose from. And, you can rent-to-own these items for as little as $20 a week! What would say ‘I love you’ more than a brand new red washer and dryer with a big white bow this Valentine’s Day.
3. Just as motion furniture made our top five list for men, it also joins our top five for women. There is always a piece of furniture that is old and tired in a female’s eyes — one she would really love to see go out the back door. Find out which one it is and surprise her with a trip to ColorTyme to pick out its replacement. The new trend is recliners that swivel, adjust, recline — and sofas have joined into the trend as well. It’s a great gift for cozy time together and the styles and colors range to fit every woman’s taste.
4. Everyone loves laptops; no one likes to be tied to a desk – even when they are surfing for fun. ColorTyme has laptops to fit every need and budget. Some even come with Web cams! Her eyes will pop when she unwraps a beautiful high tech laptop!
5. Our last choice is not for everyone, but is fabulous for women who love to cook. An updated cook-top can inspire a gourmet cook. ColorTyme even delivers and installs for free, so you can time this for maximum surprise and wow factor. Don’t forget a big bow on top!

Our flexible, rent to own plans include customizable payment options, great quality appliance rentals, rental electronics, and reliable service agreements that cover each item you rent to own from ColorTyme. However, our commitment to superior customer service doesn’t stop there.

Every chance we get, ColorTyme takes “treating you like family” one step further and lends a hand to our neighbors. Here are just a few examples of how ColorTyme touches the lives of individuals and families in the communities we serve:

• When the town of Malakoff, Texas was hit by Hurricane Ike in September 2008, Hometown ColorTyme store in Mabank, TX came to the rescue. The store’s manager and staff donated a wide-screen TV rental to the local evacuee center so victims of the storm could stay entertained and up to date with the storm’s progress.
• The Boys and Girls Club of Charlottesville, VA asked the community for contributions to their new clubhouse in November 2008. The Hometown ColorTyme store pitched in by providing brand new TVs, PlayStations, and Xboxes from their rent to own inventory for students in the after-school program. Read the full article here.
  
• For the last five years, the Hometown ColorTyme store in Waipahu, HI has served a traditional, Thanksgiving dinner. Anyone who came by the rent to own store was welcomed with open arms and fed until their heart was content. Their Thanksgiving outreach program ensures the holiday is complete for many families and elderly residents in the neighborhood. Read the full article here.
  
• In April, a Hometown ColorTyme customer’s family was battling their son’s heart disease in Hanover, PA.  The local ColorTyme store’s manager and staff came to the rescue by organizing and collecting donations to help defray costs of the boy’s medical treatment. Read the full article here.

These touching stories only scratch the surface of the great work each HomeTown ColorTyme rent to own store performs in service to the customers and neighbors in their communities. Our commitment to active participation in your community is just one way we ensure every customer feels like family.

Treating people fairly is at the core of the way we do business at ColorTyme. We believe that doing business with people who truly care about your family and neighborhood makes all the difference in the world to our valued customers. We take our responsibility to be active participants seriously and hope you never regard us as a faceless corporate entity.

To learn more about ColorTyme’s rent to own policies and the products available for rent in our stores, visit ColorTyme.com today.