How To Take Care of your Upholstery So That it Lasts Forever

It is such a great feeling when you finally find that piece of furniture that completes the home’s design and generally makes your life better. After carefully planning your design and balancing the elements of your room perfectly, that piece of furniture is the crowning achievement and there will never be another one quite like it.

Now it is time to sit back and relax in your handiwork. It takes time and effort to get the right furniture in your home so it makes sense to preserve the aesthetics and structural integrity of your upholstered products. The key to making your upholstery look and feel great for as long as possible is to take proper care.

As experts on everything related to keeping your upholstery clean and in tip-top conditions, we have compiled a few important aspects of well-maintained furniture.

1. Dust and Vacuum Weekly

The greatest danger to your furniture is the dust, dirt, smoke, and grease particles that come wafting through the home and light on your beautiful upholstery. Dust and dirt are made of all kinds of particulate matter that can become lodged in the soft fabrics of your upholstery and begin to damage these fine materials.

The longer that these contaminants are allowed to remain lodged in your upholstery the greater the damage they will deal. As the fabrics are worn down, they become more susceptible to staining and discoloration.

Reduce this damage by keeping your upholstery dust free. Vacuum regularly, but at the very least once every week. If your fabric begins to pill, as it will with time, use a fabric razor to carefully remove unwanted fuzz from your furniture.

2. Avoid Direct Sunlight

Exposure to the sun’s powerful solar radiation can have a very bad effect on your upholstery. UVA/UVB radiation can cause colors to fade and transform while deteriorating the materials themselves. Protect your upholstery from sunlight by placing furniture away from windows and skylights.

3. Rotate Cushions

The cushions on your couches should be flipped and rotated at least once a week.

This is especially important for those couches that accommodate couch potatoes. The longer one sits on the couch, the greater their chances of misshaping the furniture. But, remember to never remove the cushion covers, except for regular cleanings.

4. No Pets Allowed

We all love our animal friends, so this one factor can be a point of contention. Most furniture is not designed to handle the pet hair and dander that will quickly deteriorate your upholstery. So, if you want to keep your furniture in good shape forever, you will need to keep Pogo on the floor. Or compensate for the extra strain with more gentle and frequent cleanings.

5. Professional Cleaning

Every so often you can supplement your regular cleanings with comprehensive professional cleaning. A professional cleaning will reach deep into the fabrics of the upholstery and the paddings below and pull all vestiges of grease, dust, dirt, mites, pet dander, and anything else found within. This will leave your upholstery looking feeling and performing as new.

Tips on How To Protect Your Outdoor Furniture 

The backyard or patio is the place to be in the summer and fall and your patio furniture will be getting plenty of action during this time. But with all the enjoyment, be sure you are providing your patio furniture with the right care to ensure they last many summers more.

The good news is that caring for your patio furniture is really not that difficult. In the following article, we will cover 5 steps that can greatly enhance the longevity of your patio furniture.

1. Protect Your Furniture From The Sun & Rain.

Of course, outdoor furniture is supposed to withstand the attrition of the elements, but all that exposure will begin to take its toll. If your furniture is not being used, it needs to be protected from the sunlight, rain, and wind.

This can be covering them with weather-resistant materials or placing them under a protected area of your backyard or patio.

2. Keep your stuff clean

You will preserve the integrity of your patio furniture if you can provide them with a quick wash a week. Patio furniture is sure to collect pollen, dust, mold spores, and other contaminants that can begin to affect the aesthetics and beauty of your furniture.

But there is no need for pressure washing or harsh chemicals, just pick up the twigs and leaves, and hose off the furniture with an average garden hose.

3. Use material-safe cleaning products for deeper cleans

When it comes to preserving the longevity of your patio furniture, you will find that different materials have different cleaning methods. Fabrics can be machine washed and dried in the sun. Wicker furniture can be brushed down with bleach and water to kill molds and mildews and then rinsed down with a garden hose.  Wooden furniture can be washed down with a solution of detergent and water and then wiped clean with dry rags.

Metal furniture can be scrubbed with soap and water and then treated with a thin coat of car wax for extra protection — buff that up to shiny perfection.

4. Store cushions when you aren’t using them

Even the sturdiest fabrics will be damaged by the effects of solar exposure, pollen, dust, molds, and mildews. This is why they must be stored somewhere cool and dry when they are not in use. Proper storage will protect your cushions from premature retirement.

Take the time to invest in outdoor storage boxes if you have outdoor space. You can also consider placing these cushions inside when they are not in use.

5. Cover or store your furniture during the off-season

When the summer is over and the outdoor areas will not be in use, your outdoor furniture still needs to be protected from extreme temperatures and precipitation. The cold and wet winter can reduce the longevity of your outdoor furniture.

The best place for storing your outdoor furniture is in a shed or garage, where your items can stay safe from the cold and wind and be ready to use again when spring rolls around.

A Few Ideas for Planning an Open Concept Living Room

Open concept living rooms can have some of the most stylish and clever designs and be perfectly suited to the needs of the people living there.

The layout and function of your furnishings can be tweaked and adjusted in every way you can imagine. Versatility is a great bonus in choosing the furnishings and designs in your open concept living room. With proper zoning and seamless partitions, things don’t have to become cramped and cluttered and still look light and breezy.

If you have been eye-balling all that free space and wondering what you can do to bring some sense out of all this chaos, here are some tips just for you.

1. STRATEGIC PLANS FOR SMALL SPACE

If you are trying to make the most of a small space, the best way to begin is by going big. Start with the largest items you will be included in your small space and then begin organizing the smaller items around them. Choose short furnishings to make the ceiling look higher. Elevated furniture will give an airy breezy look to your space.

After you have added the smaller furnishings like coffee tables, ottomans, and shelves. You can begin adding the mirrors, paintings, and décor items that give your living room its unique charm and personal style

2. USE COLORS TO PROVOKE EXPERIENCES

Without much wall space to interfere, the colors you select for furniture, floor fabrics, and details will go a long way in evoking a specific experience. While colder colors can add a touch of elegance and sophistication, they can also add a solemn tone to the spacious environment.

Warmer clothes tie the room together beautifully and add a cozy atmosphere that is great for entertaining family and friends. Furthermore, don’t forget the magic of highlighting, accent points, and striking combinations to make your open space a little more jazzy and upbeat.

3. CREATE A FREE-FLOWING BOHO LOOK

If you are selecting your furnishings and living room elements for their individual aesthetic, sentimental, functional, or economic value, the open concept living room makes a perfect canvas for your expression. In this situation, balancing the layout of your living room and avoiding too much negative floor space or wall space will be key to achieving the best design. Picking a unique and clean wooden coffee table is a great way to start this process.

Make sure you emphasize your personal expression with details from your imagination and personal taste — yes you can put those pink flamingos under the Andy Warhol print.

4. CHOOSE LIGHT FURNITURE THAT CAN BE EASILY MOVED

If convenience and versatility will be your primary objectives, you will want a layout that can be easily moved about and adjusted. This will involve building your floor plan around the objects that will be most difficult to move. Keep these situated as close to the perimeter as possible.

This way smaller lighter items like coffee tables and ottomans, can be moved aside for yoga sessions or intense painting projects. Pouffes, bean bags, and footstools will all be great options for this lightweight and versatile plan.

5 Things To Consider Before Your Purchase House Furniture

Your furniture is a long-term investment, and the right pieces of furniture can really transform your home. Furniture stays with your for many years to come and offers a unique look and feel to your home. Purchasing the right pieces of furniture is no easy task with so many options available in the market today. It’s a vital process that shouldn’t be rushed. The furniture you purchase should be functional, blend with the theme of your home, and be within your budget. This article provides information on 5 important things to consider when purchasing furniture for your home.

Size Of Your Home

The size of your home is one of the first things to consider when shopping for furniture for your home. If you are starting a family and have just moved into a small rental home, don’t rush to purchase big pieces of furniture. The ideal pieces of furniture should fit well in your space.

Investing in a big sofa set for your small living room will limit your movements and make it difficult to clean the space as well as the furniture. The entire space will get choked up and make the living room look cluttered and untidy. Look for furniture that suits the size of your space.

Your Budget

Your budget plays a crucial role in any purchasing decision. Like with any other purchase, you get what you pay for. If you want durable and high-quality furniture, you should save some money first and then shop for the right pieces of furniture for your home. Setting a reasonable budget helps guide your buying journey.

Having a budget helps guard against overspending. In fact, you will get the best furniture without having to jeopardize your ability to meet other financial obligations when you set your budget first.

Comfort And Ergonomics

Invest in pieces of furniture that are comfortable to use. In fact, there is no sense in investing in attractive furniture if they don’t provide the necessary comfort. For example, you can invest in a good-looking office chair, but if it’s not ergonomic and comfortable, you will experience back pain and other issues over time. You would be wasting your money under such circumstances. The right pieces of furniture should be comfortable to use and complement the existing décor in your house at the same time.

The Materials

Different pieces of furniture are made using different materials. In fact, each material will have its advantages and disadvantages. Maintenance of the furniture may depend on the materials used in it. Wood and plastic are two of the most common materials used in making furniture these days. Wooden furniture needs less maintenance and is simple to clean. Look for high-quality furniture that is durable and easy to maintain.

Color Of the Furniture

The color of the furniture is important since it should complement your home’s overall decor. Picking furniture with colors that don’t match your other decorations is a waste of your hard-earned money.

The aforementioned article provides information on 5 important things to consider when purchasing furniture for your home.