How to Choose the Best and Safest Fire Pits and Outdoor Heaters for You

“Always think ahead.” The wise, from the U.S. Coast Guard (“always ready”) to the Boy Scouts (“be prepared”), have taught us that all our lives. It’s certainly true of your enjoyment of your outdoor furniture on your porch, patio, deck, or yard. So that’s why, even when we’re sweltering in the dog days of summer, we as a furniture store think a season ahead, anticipating your needs for fall. Let’s take a look at two favorite accessories, fire pits and outdoor heaters.

Safety First for Your Fire Pit

Of course you need not wait until there’s a nip in the autumn air to start enjoying outdoor dining and drinks by firelight after dark. First, ask your local fire department or town government if your municipality allows outdoor fire pits. When you are shopping for one, if its burner is Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved, then you know it meets an international quality standard. This means your new fire pit has been thoroughly tested for safe use under normal conditions at home. Our fire pits feature easy operation so you can put out the flames at the touch of a button or adjust them with a knob. However, remember that a fire pit remains hot the day after use. One of our typical burners is powerful: 40,000 btu! Always keep an eye on speedy, rambunctious kids around your fire pit. Three seconds of attention can mean the difference between another fun evening and entirely preventable injury.

Outdoor Heater Essentials

When the cold air finally moves in for the year, your good times outside will keep on rolling with one or more strategically placed outdoor heaters, just like sidewalk or oceanfront dining at your favorite shore restaurant. First, decide whether propane or electric is best for you. Propane heats up fast, and with a large enough fuel tank, up to 20 gallons, you can warm a large expanse such as your deck for a long time. If your space is enclosed, do not use propane due to carbon monoxide. Because there is no flame, many families with children prefer electric heaters. You also don’t have the hassle of buying fuel, but consider the effect on your electric bill. Also, electric heaters are smaller so they’re best suited for small spaces. A typical patio heater warms up to 10 feet around, so consider whether you need more than one. Again, consider safety features. For an outdoor heater these can include a cool-touch steel grid.

For more on your fall and even winter outdoor heating options for your alfresco entertaining, be sure to visit our Northfield, NJ furniture store, for decades the Atlantic City area’s watchword for premier quality home furniture at extraordinary savings.

Scott Living Decor: Modulate Your Lifestyle

Of the many brands of home furniture that we carry, few of them could be as versatile or as personable as Scott Living. Inspired by their forays into real estate, Jonathan and Drew Scott, of the HGTV show, “Property Brothers”, bring affordable and luxurious furniture to families, fans and homeowners everywhere. By partnering with Coaster Fine Furniture, as well as Greentouch and Premier Prints, the fabulous Scott Brother duo has assembled a collection of home furniture sets that are stylishly sharp, modular and uniquely their own.

Decorate Your Living Room with Scott Living

Your living room could be plain and ordinary or it could feature some of the sophistication of Scott Living. The real beauty of this luxury brand may be the fact that everything included in it is modular in nature. Anyone who purchases a 5 piece Scott Living sectional, for example, can easily adjust the size of their sofa to easily accommodate a growing family or upcoming relocation. As far as comfort and compatibility go, their accent pillows and cushions couldn’t be more ideal or picturesque.

A Scott Living Dining Room Breathes New Life

Because the Scott Brothers live and breathe the home life, they understand how essential the dining room can be during family gatherings and other social events. Mixing the industrial and the modern, Jonathan and Drew have created truly inspired pieces, like their dining tables and benches. In a host of fabrics and colors, these pieces make it easy to seat your children and friends for a tranquil dinner meal. Vintage servers pair seamlessly with any Scott Living dining room set.

Bedroom Furniture Designed the Living Scott Way

Having furnished and renovated countless bedrooms across America, the Scott brothers know a thing or two about bedroom decor. A vision of comfort and luxury, any Scott Living collection is a portal to a lighter way of living—as bright and cheerful as the Scott twins themselves. Relax into a king sized bed, with an accompanying headboard and bourbon bench, or spring into action as you dress yourself in front of a visually complementary and modular Scott Living mirror.

Visiting Our Northfield, NJ Store to Sample Scott Living!

As genuine fans of the Scott Living brand, we at Kensington Furniture encourage you to stop by our local store to sample some of these wonderful pieces and collections in-person. Accessible to residents of the Atlantic City area, as well as Vineland and Wildwood, we're here to make interior decorating just as fun and easy as it looks on TV. 

Outdoor Furniture 101: How to Choose Well

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it’s time to start thinking about a glorious summer ahead with lots of porch-sitting and deck, patio or poolside entertaining. How’s your outdoor furniture looking after a season or 10? If you are outfitting your shore house for the first time or replacing worn tables and chairs, here is a helpful guide in choosing the right outdoor furniture for you, not just for summer but, thanks to options such as fire pits and heaters, as long as the weather cooperates!

What to Look For in an Outdoor Furniture Set

First, measure your porch, deck or patio to see how much square footage you have to play with. Second, plan your summer social agenda: what sort of parties do you anticipate? What kind of guests and how many? For example, if you are the pool queen of the neighborhood with your kids’ friends coming over often, consider an outdoor furniture set with benches easy to get on and off, a favorite of many youngsters. Looking forward to drinks on the veranda watching the sunset but going out to eat? Then save by forgoing a dining table for your outdoor entertaining. Local weather and outdoor furniture construction are other essential factors. Can the chaises you want for your poolside sunbathing and reading stand the gusts our New Jersey summer thunderstorms bring or even the occasional nor’easter? Look for features such as double cast aluminum construction, easy-to-clean Nuvella cushions, and latticework metal tabletops to shed rainwater effortlessly.

Patio Umbrella Guide

If your property needs a respite from the relentless July and August sun, spacious outdoor umbrellas are a welcome, cost-effective alternative to a roof over your deck. A large, sturdy patio umbrella made of durable fabric such as Sunbrella is a welcome sight on a hot day. When shopping for yours, make sure you have an accurate measurement of the space you wish to protect. Then make sure your umbrella covers an area 5 feet larger. A 6-foot-wide outdoor umbrella will shade a 30-inch table and 2 chairs while an 11-foot-diameter is ample protection for tables up to 6 feet long with 6 to 8 seats.
Our Northfield, NJ showroom has the outdoor furniture you want at a price that will leave you plenty of vacation money, so please stop by soon!

How to Winterize Your House with Cozy Home Accents

Now that winter is officially here, it is time to transform your home into a cozy haven away from the cold. Though it may sound like a difficult task to winterize your décor, with the right home accents, it can actually be quite easy and inexpensive. With our simple design tips and product recommendations, you will be able to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in virtually any space.

Layer Up with Area Rugs

When the winter weather arrives, most people layer on scarves and sweaters, so why not do the same thing for your home? Area rugs are a great layering tool, and they work perfectly on both carpeted and hardwood floors. When purchasing an area rug, make sure to select one that utilizes a warm color palette, including earth tones like burgundy, brown, and forest green. We offer area rugs in a wide variety of diverse shapes and sizes, which will make it easy for you to find one that is perfectly suited for your home furnishing needs.

Add Warmth with Accent Throws

Accent throws are versatile home accents that can add instant warmth to any space. They are lightweight, affordable, and they come in a variety of attractive colors and styles. Accent throws make a great living room addition, because they can instantly spruce up a sofa or an accent chair that is looking a bit bare. Drape a colorful knit or fur accent throw across the back of your furniture piece to give it added depth and color. Of course, accent throws are not only good for decorating, but they are great for snuggling as well.

Create Mood Lighting with Accent Lamps

Winter is the perfect time to experiment with mood lighting. Soft, warm light is perfect for adding ambience and creating a cozy and romantic atmosphere. During this time of year, you may want to consider adding one or two accent lamps to your living room, dining room, or even your bedroom. When choosing accent lamps, opt for shaded table lamps or frosted pendant lamps, and stay away from any lamps that emit bright light. Ultimately, you want a room filled with soft, subdued light that will give your space a more intimate feel.

If you are ready to winterize your home décor, come to Kensington Furniture and see all the wonderful products we have to offer. Our home furnishings store serves customers in Absecon, NJ and throughout the entire Atlantic County area.