Wood Furniture Care

Wooden furniture is an integral part of interior decoration in any home. By utilizing proper care and cleaning techniques, you can make it last a lifetime. For this, you must always ask for cleaning instructions whenever you buy furniture made of wood.  

Caring for wooden furniture depends on the type of wood and its finishing. Below are listed some tips for taking care of your wood furniture.

• Dusting: It is important to frequently dust wooden furniture so as to remove airborne particles that get accumulated on its surface. Use a clean, dry and soft cloth to remove dust but make sure you do not disperse the grime all over.
• Keep away light and heat: You must keep away your wooden furniture from direct heat and sunlight. Storing fine furniture in attics is not a great idea as temperature variations are high in such places. Also, direct sunlight can have a harsh effect on the furniture causing it to fade. Use drapes and sheers to protect your furnishings. 
• Avoid using cleaning sprays: All-purpose cleaning sprays should not be used on wooden furniture until and unless there is a plastic coating on it. Use soap and water only for sticky spots otherwise avoid using water on wood. 
• Provide proper protection: Everyday heat and moisture can dampen the look of the wooden furniture in your home. For instance, marks from beverage glasses or heat from a hot pan can cause damage to your furnishings. To avoid these things, you can use coasters, table mats and table covers whenever placing something on dining room tables.
• Oil polish: While using furniture oils can provide protection to an extent; using them in too much quantity can actually make the wooden surface smear. You should also avoid polishing with pure olive oil as this attracts more dust. 
• Wax: Using wax is a better option as compared to furniture oils because it does not smear and lasts longer than sprays or polishes. Paste wax or liquid wax should be applied and care must be taken to remove any unwanted visible streaks on the furniture item.
• Caring for lacquered furniture: Frequent dusting can protect lacquered furniture for a long time. You can use furniture polish to add more lustre and shine.  Re-oiling is necessary in case your furniture piece looks dull and dry. In this process, you need to remove the leftover wax and apply oil (for e.g. linseed oil) after which you need to re-wax.
• Upholstered furniture: Clean dust and remove dirt on a regular basis to prolong the life of upholstered furniture. Vacuum at least once a week and use a crevice tool to remove dust from hidden spots. 

Tips For Choosing The Perfect Sofa

If you are planning to update your living room and looking for a stylish sofa, you need to consider various factors. With so many choices available, choosing the perfect sofa requires you to invest time and efforts. Here are some tips to help you choose the right sofa.

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  Check the size: It is crucial to measure the size of your lounge area to decide the size of sofa you should purchase. You must ensure that your new sofa fits into the space and creates the perfect look. If you have small space, consider buying a sectional sofa that can be placed against the wall. Depending upon the use, consider whether you want to buy a 2-seater or 3-seater sofa. If you entertain guests frequently, then modular sofa can be a great choice.
• Check the style: While choosing the sofa, check what style suits your home. You must choose a sofa that matches with your existing interior. Decide whether you want a modern, classic, contemporary or traditional style sofa.
• Check fabric: Once you decide the sofa style and size, you must pick the right upholstery or fabric. If you have kids at home, prefer to choose a dark colored fabric with hardwearing texture weave, which will not get dirty easily. Make sure the upholstery is serviceable so that you can easily clean the sofa if it gets filthy over time. You can choose from a variety of fabrics, colors and textures. To enhance the appeal of your sofa, you can throw some coordinating cushions to complete the look.
• Durability: The sofa is an integral part of the living room and it must be the focal point of the décor. Invest in a sofa that is made of quality materials and can withstand the regular wear and tear. The foam should be of good quality so that the sofa seat does not sag with time. Buying a sofa is a huge investment, so make sure it is durable and made to last for years.

Make sure you get a sofa that is backed by quality. It is always good to buy sofa from a reputed furniture store to get a good number of options to choose from. You can also get customized sofas that are made to suit your needs.

Tips For Finding The Perfect Coffee Table

A coffee table is a multipurpose piece of furniture that not only completes the look of a living room, but also helps to store and display various things. It is a crucial piece of furniture that sets the tone of a family room. With such a huge variety of coffee tables available these days, choosing the perfect one can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect coffee table:

• Space available and traffic flow: While looking for a coffee table, you need to consider the space available in your living room. Make sure you choose a table that leaves enough space around for movement. It should be close enough so that you can easily keep the mug or other things on it. Make sure there is at least two feet or more free space around every edge of the coffee table.

• Height: Make sure you pick a coffee table that is a couple of inches lower than the seating. The standard height of most coffee tables is around 16 to 18 inches, but if you need a taller table, you can choose one around 20 to 21 inches.

• Styles: The coffee tables are available in an array of styles including traditional wood tables with carvings and solid base, contemporary tables with storage spaces and modern glass style coffee tables with metal base. You can choose one depending upon the style of your sofa, other furniture and décor of your living room.

• Functionality: Since the living room is used for a variety of purposes such as entertaining guests, reading, watching movies, playing games etc., make sure that the coffee table that you choose is multifunctional. If you have small kids at home, choose a round coffee table or the one with rounded edges. Having a coffee table with storage spaces such as drawers or shelves can help to store books, magazines, board games and many other things.

• Ease to maintain and clean: As you use the coffee table to keep dishes, glasses or mugs, the table top should be made of an easy to clean material. Glass top tables are the best, as they can be wiped off easily with a clean cloth.

• Colors: Your coffee table is certainly the center of attraction, so choose bold colors to create a style statement and make your living room look bright. Choose a color that complements the sofa and other accessories in the room.

Make sure you choose a coffee table that is functional and stylish. It should reflect your personal style and make your living room lively and attractive.

Save Space With Ottoman Beds

If you are looking for stylish and quality beds that offer extra storage space, you should consider buying ottoman beds. These are a great option for people living in a small home. With an ottoman bed, you can easily maximize the storage space in your bedroom. The box under the mattress can be used to store a lot of stuff like bedding, clothes, boxes, books, toys, etc. Here are some of the benefits of ottoman beds:

• Less floor area: The biggest advantage of having an ottoman bed in the room is that you can save a lot of space. There are a number of things in a home that are not used routinely but create a clutter due to lack of storage space. By having an ottoman bed, you can easily keep all such things organized. It saves the space in the room, which can be used artistically or for various other purposes.

• Clean and organized look: The ottoman beds help to make the room look clean and clutter-free. Due to lack of storage space, the rooms often remain cluttered with various things lying here and there. When you have an ottoman bed, you can easily keep the unnecessary stuff out of sight which helps in creating a neat and clean room. It is particularly useful if you have kids at home.

• Avoid additional furniture: Cupboards and wardrobes often take up a lot of floor space in the room. They can also make the room look smaller. When you purchase an ottoman bed, you can easily save the cost of buying a separate closet, wardrobe or other storage furniture.  

• Available in different sizes: Depending upon the size of the room and your storage needs, you can choose from the different sizes of ottoman beds available. They usually have a hydraulic lift that makes it easy for you to lift the bed’s base and use the storage area. You can also opt for the ottoman beds that open from the side.

Ottoman beds are easily available in various furniture stores and they come in an array of sizes, styles and designs. Make sure you choose one after assessing your needs, measuring the space in the bedroom and your budget.

Guide To Buying Garden Furniture

Garden furniture should be functional, comfortable, durable and appealing. The garden area can be used for relaxation or entertaining your guests and the furniture should be suitable to the requirement. It is essential to determine the type of furniture required before searching in various furniture stores.   

Here is a guide to help you buy suitable and durable garden furniture:

• Available Space: You should measure the space in the garden and find furniture accordingly. The furniture should not cramp the moving space in the garden and fit in the available apace comfortably.

• Budget: You should decide the amount you would like to spend on the garden furniture before visiting different furniture stores. You should also take into consideration maintenance and repair costs when making the purchase.

• Weather Conditions: Whether you want to use your furniture seasonally or all throughout the year will help you decide the garden furniture that you want to buy. If you want to store the furniture during winters or rainy season, then you must choose lightweight furniture that can be moved around easily. You can also select folded chairs and tables, which are easy to store.

• Material: Garden furniture is available in a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, metal, etc. Wooden furniture looks elegant and stylish and is available in teak, mahogany, maple etc. Many people also prefer wooden furniture with high oil content, as it makes it water resistant. Wooden furniture needs special care as it can develop mold or dampness during rain and should be covered. Metal furniture is also available an array of shapes, sizes and colors. Metal furniture is coated with anti rust coating that keeps it safe from moisture during rainy season and humidity. Plastic furniture is an affordable option besides being lightweight and easy to store. It is weather resistant and a durable option.

• Use: Depending upon the usage, you can choose from a variety of garden furniture such as chairs, loungers, benches and chair sets. Some people even prefer swing sets and hammocks to relax in the garden.

• Maintenance: Homeowners often buy garden furniture that requires minimum care and is easy to clean. Moisture and sunlight can hamper the quality and durability of the garden furniture. Thus, it is important to buy all weather tough garden furniture.

It is essential to consider these factors before purchasing garden furniture to ensure a long lasting and comfortable buy.

Space Saving Tips For Your Home Office

Working from home is gaining popularity these days. Therefore, it is essential to have a defined area in the house where one can complete their office work. Here are some creative ideas to save space and furnish your home office:

• Rollout Desktop: The best way to provide space when needed is a rollout desktop. A rollout desktop is very useful as you can roll it out when you need it and roll it back in whenever its purpose is fulfilled.

• Utilizing Empty Spaces: Corners and empty spaces in our homes can be efficiently converted into a home office. With careful planning and designing, a small area can be utilized as an office with a desk, chair and some other accessories.

• Dual-Purpose Monitor: When looking for ideas to save space a dual purpose monitor can be of great help. It can serve both the needs of a television in free time, as well as a monitor, when you want to work. It saves a lot of space as you can create your home office just under your LED screen.

• Using Legroom: In order to save space, the legroom under the office table can be used for many different purposes. Drawers or shelves can be placed to store extra paperwork, stationary etc. and it can also be covered with a curtain to avoid looking unorganized.

• Creative Shelving: While saving space in your home office, creative shelving is very beneficial. It provides us the liberty to add shelves beyond the ones sticking to the walls. These shelves are supported by rods running through them and give a lot of space to hold items. As the shelves are placed on rods they help save space and add more storage area to the room

• Using The Wall: The walls of a room can be utilized to save space or for increased storage. Cabinets can be constructed along the wall to store documents or light fixtures can be installed on the walls. This will help save floor space and also make the area appear more organized.

Choosing the right furniture can help you convert a small area into a useful home office.

Outdoor Furniture Care And Maintenance

The outdoor area of a home, office or a restaurant can be given a better look with some good, well placed furniture. However, as outdoor furniture endures harsh weather conditions like extreme heat, winds, rains and humidity, it can lose its longevity and durability. Thus, it is very important to take care of one’s outdoor furniture.
 

Tips for outdoor furniture care and maintenance:

• Read The Guidelines- One should ensure that the furniture bought is suitable for outdoor use. The fabric of outdoor furniture undergoes a chemical treatment to resist moisture, stains and harsh weather conditions. Also, the guidelines given along with it should be read thoroughly and followed strictly.

• Clean Regularly- Furniture placed outdoors should be cleaned regularly. Being in the open, it gathers a lot of dust that can make it dull or tattered. Thus, a daily cleaning and dusting of outdoor furniture can contribute towards maintaining its durability and appeal.

• Washing- Wrought iron and bamboo furniture can be cleaned using water. Soapy solution or a light detergent can help in washing off the stains from the furniture. Also, the cushion and sofa covers should be removed after a few months to be washed separately, dried and then put back up.

• Keep Under A Shade- Direct sunlight can cause a lot of harm to the wood and fabric of the furniture. Therefore, it is advisable that the furniture be kept in some shady place, like besides a wall offering shade or under a big umbrella. If this isn’t possible, then it should be covered with a cloth during afternoon.

• Put On Varnish- The wood can be protected from dust and heat to a great extent by putting a layer of clear varnish on it. It not only protects your outdoor furniture, but also beautifies it. Varnish comes in many shades and may be chosen as per the color scheme of the furniture set.

• Paint The Furniture- Paint not only gives a good and bright look to the furniture set but also works the same as varnish. It protects iron furniture from getting rusted and wooden furniture from getting damp by heat or moisture.

• Store In A Dry Place- Standing water can cause wood to rot and iron to get rusted. Thus, furniture should be kept in a place that is not prone to accumulation of water.

Following these tips, outdoor furniture can be maintained and be used for a long time.

Tips To Furnish A Small Dining Room

Your dining room is a place where you enjoy get-togethers and invite your friends over lunch or dinner. In order to ensure that you set the right impression on your guests, here are a few tips that can help you furnish a small dining room:

• Table: Your dining room is incomplete without a good quality dining table. They come in different shapes, sizes and designs. You can place either a pedestal, round or square dining table in your room. A round table looks good inside a small dining room and it helps distribute the space proportionately. If you have a narrow dining room, a rectangular table will leave some space for people to walk and move around without any obstruction.

• Matching chairs: Dining chairs, when matched with dining table, color, walls and the interiors of your room, can make for a great combination. Armless chairs are a better option for a smaller dining room as they do not acquire much room space.

• Transparent furniture: The idea is to make your small dining room look bigger.  Furniture made up of glass or acrylic does not completely cover and block your view of the floor or walls. It will also give you more ‘visual space’ and make the room look spacious, fresh and beautiful.

• Right mix of colors: Your dining hall should look warm and welcoming. The color on the walls of the room should match with the furniture placed in there. Usually neutral and light colors in the dining hall make it look airy and spacious.

• Placing mirrors: Placing mirrors in a small room opens space for light and makes it look bigger than it actually is. Mirrors help to increase one’s perception of space.

• Keep it simple: If you have excess furniture in your small room, try to disperse it and shift to some other place. It congests the visual view and makes the room look smaller besides reducing walking space. Place as less furniture as possible in your dining room.

• Use chandelier: Putting up a chandelier right above the table will not only add to the aesthetics of your dining room but also make the entire space appear larger.

• Sliding Pocket Door: A sliding pocket door does not take up any extra space and it is easy to use. It looks good and you can use it to hide your kitchen too.

Seating Furniture Ideas For Living Rooms

Living room is the area of a house where one spends quality time with friends and family members. The furniture of the living room should be comfortable, stylish, accommodating, easy to clean and durable. You should consider the space available, the décor of the house, usage, budget and the variety of furniture available before taking the decision. 

Here are some ideas that will help you buy the right seating furniture for living room:

• Sofa: A fully inflated sofas looks great in a large living room. You can complement the color of your sofa with the walls and other interiors of your house. If you have less space in your living room then you can consider purchasing a slim or petite sofa. A backless sofa will also help save space and also work well as a divider.

• Wavy bench: Wavy benches are a very popular piece of furniture due to their uber-classic and trendy design. They are light in weight and are available in a variety of colors and fabrics that make a living room appealing.

• Easy chair: It is a portable piece of furniture that can be carried to a party or a picnic. This chair can be used as extra seating when you have more guests visiting. They are durable, lightweight and available in a variety of colors.

• Beanbags: Beanbags come in different structural designs and offers many advantages. It is a very useful piece of furniture that is affordable, saves space, easy to pick up, comfortable and relaxing. If your room is small you can keep beanbags to pull out as and when required.

• Sofa beds: The living room of the house can be used as an extra room with the help of a sofa bed. This double purpose furniture helps you save space, offers comfort and style to your living room.

Instead of loading your room with bulky sofas and armchairs you should try to place smaller furniture like settees and armless chairs. They occupy less space, are cheaper, easy to move and impart an elegant look to the room. Small furniture allows space to move around and make the room appear larger.

You should research and check out the different seating options available at various furniture stores to ensure that you get the best deal.