This is a compensated review from BlogHer and HomeGoods
Welcome to Meg's Rad Review blog!
Some of you may already know me as Megan Smith of Megan's Minute, and as the TV and Online Video Contributing Editor for BlogHer, but I've got a new gig. I'm now a BlogHer reviewer and I'll be sharing my rad reviews right here on this brand new blog.
First up is a HomeGoods makeover and giveaway. That's right, after I tell you how I redecorated a room in my own house, I'm going to tell you how you can win a $100 gift card from HomeGoods.
I have three bedrooms in my house. A master bedroom, a guest bedroom, and a small bedroom that I've always called my computer room (photo left).
I never called it an office because that sounded too formal. My desktop computer was there, so it was my computer room. It's also where I keep my bookcases, books, files, papers and anything else that doesn't belong in any other part of the house.
But since I got rid of my desktop computer several years ago, I've only owned laptops. I love laptops.
I use my laptops all over the house: the den, the dining room, the living room, the kitchen and once in a great while, the computer room. So now the computer room is used more for storage than computing. Storage for stuff: work stuff, paper stuff, furniture stuff, clothing stuff. I should just call it the stuff room.
That's why when I got the chance to do a $500 HomeGoods makeover and was asked what room I'd redo, I immediately thought of my poor, neglected stuff room...er, computer room.
I went to the HomeGoods StyleScope website and took their style quiz. The StyleScope told me that my style fell into the Bohemian Classic category, meaning I like older pieces and classic styles, but also a mix of patterns and textures.
My vision for my computer room was a space that would have some of the classic pieces I like while still accommodating my modern technology needs: my printer, my computer accessories and manuals.
So with my good friend Kay in tow, I made my way to my local HomeGoods on Long Island. I hadn't been to the store in a while because like everyone else these days I've been trying to limit my spending. Once at the store I was pleasantly surprised by two things. Number one, it wasn't crowded. Number two, their overall prices had been reduced since the last time I was there.
My shopping list for my computer room included: some kind of seating, a lamp or two, appropriate knickknacks and some good looking storage. In fact, lots of good looking storage.
Kay and I hit the furniture department first. We tried out a few chairs but nothing felt right. There was however a small cushioned bench I liked. I decided to think about it. Next, I spotted a great little end table/cabinet
(photo left).
Pretty and perfect for, wait for it...storage!
In the wall decor department, Kay suggested a black framed mirror. She remembered that I have a modern black cabinet in my computer room and thought the mirror would work well over the cabinet and add to the light in the room.
Still in wall decor, I picked out a square, framed print showing four trees in muted fall colors (photo right). It was very subtle and relaxing and I thought it would be a great addition to the room.
Next up, lamps. Now Kay is a lamp aficionado. A lover of lamps. A connoisseur of lamps. So when she saw the HomeGoods lamp department, she turned up her nose at the very large selection of retro 50's, oddly shaped lamps on display.
I have to admit, the lamps weren't anywhere near my taste either, but lo and behold, we did find a little lamp (photo right), hiding in a corner behind all that 50's kitsch, that was just right for me. It matched the end table and we even found a couple of throw pillows to go with them both.
Before checking out, I went back for the bench I'd seen earlier and put it in a cart. I wasn't sure it was what I needed, but I thought I'd give it a try. After checking out, I saw I'd used a little more than half my budget. Kay helped me get my purchases into the house and we both thought I'd made a good start.
A few days later I went to a different, recently opened HomeGoods.
The first thing I did was return that little last minute bench I'd bought. I'd finally decided it just wasn't right. Grabbing a cart, I walked toward the furniture department, but then spotted a home office aisle.
My other HomeGoods hadn't had a home office aisle. This was exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for!
There was a set of bookends in the shape of stacked books (photo left)--I always loved those--a large black organizer with drawers, a set of boxes that included a desk set for letters and pens, and finally a large bin with a handle for magazines and books.
I was well on my way.
Next up was the furniture department and once again, none of the chairs was quite right. I was just about to give up when I saw a long, cushioned bench. It was covered in an off-white fabric with a floral pattern.
I took it down off the shelf and tried it out. Hm, comfy. This was it.
The bench was pretty big so I thought about getting another cart or trying to ask for some help. No sooner did I think it, than a young HomeGoods employee who introduced himself as Phil, asked if I needed help. When I said I did, Phil picked up the couch and told me he'd meet me at the checkout counter and then help me out to my car.
Did Phil know I was doing a HomeGoods review? There was no way he was really that nice and helpful if he didn't.
Well yeah, it turns out he really was that nice and helpful. Phil waited patiently with my bench while I paid for my purchases. After I pulled up the car, though I was worried the bench might be too big to fit, Phil was able to slide it into the back seat with just enough room to spare.
When I got home I didn't waste any time. I immediately got to work turning my "stuff room" back into my "computer room."
The bench was just right, fitting perfectly under the room's double windows (photo below), the black desk organizer,
looked like it was made to go with the modern black cabinet (photo right), the bookends had books to hold up, computer accessories went into my pretty new cabinet, illuminated by my pretty new lamp, the boxes and bin hold books and magazines, and the mirror and tree print look great on the walls.
I added the finishing touch of a HomeGoods pot of silk flowers (photo left) and my room was complete.
Here are my after pictures.
What do you think of my makeover? Pretty good, huh? Needless to say I'm very happy with my new computer room. I'll even use my laptop in it.
Now on to the giveaway. To enter to win a $100 HomeGoods gift card, take the StyleScope Quiz and tell me what your style is in the comments below. Or leave a link to a post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin on September 17th and will end on October 14th.
Very important: be sure the the e-mail address you leave is correct because that's the only way I'll have to contact you if you win.
Here are the rules:
* No duplicate comments, however.....
* You may receive an additional entry by linking on Twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
* You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
* This giveaway is open to US residents, aged 18 and over.
* Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
* But remember, you only have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
* You can read all the official rules, here.
See what the rest of the BlogHer reviewers found at HomeGoods, and if you leave a comment on each of their posts, you'll have 8 chances to win a $100 HomeGoods gift card.
And finally, check out Open House, the HomeGoods blog "for anyone that loves their home."
Good luck!
