For December's home launches, we're featuring all the furniture and accessories you'll want to have when holiday guests start arriving. Like a sleek, Nordic-style bar cart to serve Uncle Eddy's signature eggnog or cheery overflow seating that feels anything but temporary. Of course, there are plenty of items to gift yourself too (like a cozy new reading chair, maybe?). Find what speaks to you this season by clicking through the selection of newness from Starbucks, Dyson, Nate Berkus, and more.
ban.do x Starbucks Holiday Collection ($8+, in-stores only): These two dynamic brands are back with yet another Instagrammable collection, and just in time for gifting season. You'll definitely want to scoop up their double-walled traveler, mug, or cold cup for the coffee lovers in your life.
Dims Furnishing Line ($120+): Meet the newest contemporary home brand that features four expertly designed tables, including a sleek bar cart, ash wood coffee table, silhouetted side table, and a portable stand. Since everything is crafted in simple Shaker, Japanese, and Nordic design, you'll get a lasting piece that looks pretty darn fabulous too.
Block Shop x Amsterdam Modern Chairs ($2,250): When an L.A. textile shop and Nordic furnishing store get together, you know it's going to be one epic collab. The duo has created minimalist cocktail chairs and daybeds covered in Block Shop's buzzed-about Indian cotton upholstery. And while the limited edition fabrics can be purchased on their own come spring (we can't wait to deck them out in *all* the things!), consumers can get in on them now by investing in one of these statement pieces.
Dyson Pure Hot+Cool ($650): This freshly minted air filtration system heats or cools an entire room while providing effective purification in the process. Throw in nifty features like sensors and an LCD screen to report on air quality, and an app to track everything in real time, and you'll be breathing easy in no time.
Molton Brown Muddled Plum Scented Glitter ($45): Lend a bit of sparkle to trees, tables, and more decor with this limited-edition glitter featuring an oh-so-seasonal fragrance of plum, rum, and saffron.
MAYDE Home Capsule Collection ($13+): If pretty textiles are kind of your thing, look to this Australian-based company to keep your stash growing. Their latest capsule collection of textured towels and neutral throws is much-anticipated, to say the least.
ArtSugar x Betches Framed Print Collection ($130+): Get ready to bring the signature Betches' humor home (and feel good while doing so!). Our fave newsletter writers have partnered with ArtSugar for a playful print collection that has all proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. There are three witty phrases, two print sizes, and two frame colors to choose from.
Nate Berkus x The Shade Store Collection ($334+): Are your window treatments looking for a little TLC? Our interior designer crush's latest collab with The Shade Store has all the sophisticated options you need to design effortlessly cool window coverings. Choose from 19 colors and 18 materials to get custom drapes you'll actually enjoy looking at.
Magnolia Hadley Stocking ($48): It's no secret that we're obsessed with Joanna Gaines over here. Her newest seasonal release, a woven holiday stocking designed with Loloi Rugs, is definitely on our list.
JOKJOR Mirror Set ($283): Looking for something unique to add to your walls? This minimalist double wall mirror has you covered. Since it's connected by a cord, you can display it in a number of creative ways. Balance it evenly for you and your partner, or tilt it diagonally.
Bearaby Napper Blanket ($259): Nap queens, take note! Here's one product you won't want to sleep without. This weighted blanket is specially made with weave technology to distribute a gentle pressure that mirrors being hugged. This, in turn, helps increase your serotonin levels to improve your sense of calm and reduce anxious thoughts.
Norse Interiors Ambrosia Maple Wood Top Collection ($299): You can now make your IKEA furniture look fancy AF with the new maple wood top collection by this Scandi design company. With three sizes to fit one, two, and three door chests in two deluxe wood finishes, this collection will give you a completely personalized furnishing that no one will dare guess is from the discount mega-store.
Poketo Perennial Wall Planner ($48): Planners will be all over this cheery best-selling wall calendar. For their 2019 design, the online shop outfitted it in vibrant colors inspired by nature to give it a decorative feel.
CB2 Holiday 2018 Collection ($2+): In anticipation of the holidays, we're buying all the seasonal decor we can get our hands on. This merry selection includes tons of silver, gold, and glam goodies — like faux fur tree skirts, gilded garlands, marble decorative trees, and monochrome stockings — to turn your space into one festively stylish pad.
JH Capsule Collection ($13+): The famous Chicagoan emporium just introduced globally sourced goodies to appeal to the most exclusive tastes. Items consist of highly-sought-after decor, like a multi-hued dartboard or a luxe monogrammed leather toolbox, from the worldly travels of their buyers.
Campaign Woolrich Holiday Collection ($69): We can't think of any better way to pass the cozy season ahead than with a furnishing or accessory outfitted in signature Woolrich Mill flannel fabric. Pick up a buffalo-print chair, throw, or pillow to make sure those winter blues don't stand a chance on you.
Article Silicus Coffee Table ($199): Pink glass and shiny gold? Yes, please! Customers are going nuts for this mid-century modern debut. It's a simple coffee table with the sleekest of features.
American Dream Home Pillow Line ($32): This millennial brand's buzzed-about First Collection Ever includes adorable lighting, quirky throw pillows, and eclectic decor catered towards tweens. The glitzy Ooh la la graphic pillow is just one in a series of dreamy decorations that the soon-to-be-teen will love putting on display in their room.
Society6 Artist Desktop 2019 Edition Calendar ($20): It's time to align your stars as you head into the new year. This 12-month desk calendar with detailed zodiac-illustrations is the only thing standing between you and a fruitful 2019.
Crane & Canopy Throw Blanket 2019 ($90): There's nothing you'll want to Netflix binge with more than one of these durable, textured throw blankets. Click over to see three wintry options that'll keep you comfy and warm for all of the episodes ahead of you.
Rough Linen Limited Edition Bedding ($55+): The California-based, all-natural linen company is bringing you a fresh batch of shams and duvets in bold, limited edition hues. You'll find seasonally appropriate tones, like rich purple, dark navy, and earthy green, all made with only the most natural, homespun materials.
Of a Kind Courageous Woman Throw ($160): Forget about winter whites. This new blanket will have you excited to bring a dose of color to your living room. The knit is clad in vibrant geometric shapes and has feminist symbolism behind it, so you feel celebrated as you head into the season ahead.
Looking for more seasonal decorating ideas? Head on over to Pinterest for additional inspo!
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
You X Ventures for Unsplash
Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
Kobu Agency for Unsplash
You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures