Blog posts tagged with 'uncategorized'

Leather furniture has a sleek and timeless look while also boasting both comfort and charm. If properly cared for, leather furniture can last for many years. Luckily, cleaning and maintaining leather furniture is a less cumbersome task than it may seem. There are a few steps to take to properly care for and, ultimately, extend the life of your leather or leather-upholstered furniture. Here are the main steps to properly caring for your leather furniture.

Determine the leather type

Leather type plays a role in how the furniture should be cared for and the care it requires. Different types of leather have differing needs and can handle different cleansers. Here are the types of leather and how to determine your leather furniture’s type of leather.

Unprotected

Unprotected leather is also commonly known as unfinished leather. It is the softer of the two types of leather and is typically more expensive. Unprotected leather is leather that is dyed but there is no surface pigment added. This makes the leather more natural, which makes it more sensitive to stains and marks. To see if your furniture is unprotected leather, feel the surface and inspect the markings. If there are many markings, it’s extremely soft, or there are natural surface grains, chances are you have unprotected leather.

Protected

Protected leather is also commonly known as finished leather. It’s the more durable leather type and is typically more stain-resistant than unprotected leather. Protected leather is the most common type of leather used in furniture upholstery. It’s dyed and then a surface pigment is added for an extra protective layer. This coat is the main difference between unprotected and protected leather. To see if your furniture is protected leather, feel the surface and inspect for markings. If there’s an absence of or very few markings, or the leather is firm or stiff, you probably have protected leather.

Care Tips

Avoid DIY cleaning solutions and instead opt for a dependable formula that’s designed to care for leather furniture. Using too harsh or too mild of chemical compounds could damage and even potentially ruin your leather. To clean your furniture, use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment—for unprotected leather, be very gentle during this process. For cleaning and stain removal, try a leather cleaner or a mild, unscented body soap, and gently rub the leather with the soap. Then, rinse with a soft microfiber towel. Bonus Tip: Unprotected leather should be cared for simply by wiping with a clean, dry cloth regularly and occasionally with a slightly dampened cloth to avoid damage from harsh chemicals or over-cleaning. If you’re concerned about your leather, you can always invest in replacement slipcovers to mask your nice leather and protect it from scratches, tears, and stains. Our slipcovers come in different shades of leather, so you can keep that classic leather look and feel without worrying about damaging your furniture.

If your home has an outdoor space, you best make use of it. Whether you have a large outdoor space complete with a pool, patio, and full garden, or a simple city balcony, there is a way to make use of your spot. Many people with outdoor spaces allow them to go to waste because they don’t know how to make the space useful. One of the first steps to making an outdoor space functional is by investing in furniture. Here are the top reasons to get outdoor patio furniture.

It’s an extension of your home

A patio, yard, or balcony is simply an extra room for your home. This doesn’t mean you can simply open up the doors and watch a movie outside during a downpour—although, maybe you could. This simply means you have more space than just your home’s interior to work with and spend time in. Spending time outdoors is good for your health, and having furniture to spend that time in is essential to getting outdoors more. Along the lines of extending your home, keep the décor consistent for a better flow from indoor to outdoor. Try to match the base and accent colors without making the spaces overly similar. For example, if your indoor couch is solid beige, try a patterned beige for your outdoor seating that incorporates your accent color. Bonus Tip: We make slipcovers for outdoor furniture so you can protect your perfect outdoor furniture set from the elements while still choosing a complimentary color to your décor.

It’s relatively inexpensive

Compared to buying a brand-new living room furniture set, purchasing an outdoor furniture set is a breeze. We recommend finding pieces you like and ensuring the materials will hold up well in your specific climate prior to committing to them. With cushioned furniture, make sure to bring cushions and throws inside or out of the elements during rain, snow, or storms. Bonus Tip: Give used or cheaper furniture new life with slipcovers to update their design while maintaining their old-world charm.

It’s useful

Patio furniture is useful. If you’re not currently purchasing patio furniture because you rarely use your outdoor space, think about why you don’t use it. Many people avoid their outdoor spaces simply because they aren’t designed for enjoyment. Adding patio furniture gives you—and potential guests—a sunny and comfortable place to sit and enjoy your time spent outdoors. Bonus Tip: Don’t get too much furniture that your space becomes difficult to maneuver, but don’t get so little furniture that guests fight over chairs or shout to hear each other. Find a setup that allows for easy conversation and maneuverability.

Moving often causes stress. It’s not just moving day that fills you with work and tasks, but the days and weeks leading up to it also include preparation. You have to decide what you’ll move, donate, and throw away, and you’ll need to organize and pack everything you’ll take with you, prepare your furniture, decide how to pack it into the moving truck. This is a lot for a person to handle, even if you hire professional movers to help. It’s especially difficult to decipher what furniture needs to be packed in which way to avoid damage throughout the move. It’s important to properly wrap your furniture to protect it from the many dangers it will face throughout the moving process, such as tears, rips, dents, and broken elements. We provide this guide to moving day and how to protect your furniture so that you can enjoy a successful and easy move.

Wood furniture

When moving solid wood furniture, you need to keep a lot of considerations in mind. Wooden furniture is typically quite heavy, and it usually requires multiple people to lift and move it properly and safely. Before you get to the moving step, make sure to remove any removable drawers, knobs, and other elements. Keep these wrapped safely in moving blankets and in a separate bag all together. Label the bag to easily reassemble when you arrive at your new home. Once you secure your loose pieces, you should wrap your wooden furniture with moving blankets. Make sure every part of the furniture is covered to avoid scratches and damage to the furniture and flooring. Pro Tip: Make sure not to use bubble wrap or plastic wrap directly on the wood furniture, as they can both cause permanent damage to the wood surface. Use softer materials like packing pads and moving blankets.

Upholstered furniture

Moving upholstered furniture has a few steps. Similar to wooden furniture, you’ll want to remove any removeable elements of the piece, such as cushions and pillows. If you use custom slipcovers, you’ll want to remove them as well. They could rip or tear during the move. Instead, cover your furniture with moving blankets, then add a plastic furniture cover over the blankets. Tape it down to prevent the blankets from shifting during the moving process. If possible, you should avoid putting plastic materials directly onto the furniture, as it can suffocate and damage the upholstered fibers. Make sure to put a buffer layer in between your furniture and the plastic furniture cover. This cover is simply to protect from dirt and the elements, not to protect your furniture from damage. Pro Tip: Measure all your doorways and furniture pieces before picking them up to move them. This can save your door frames, save you time, and save you a headache. Also, don’t move anything too heavy without proper help. Doing this risks back and leg strain, and it can lead to injuries and damage.

Plastic furniture

Moving blankets are key to properly moving your plastic furniture. Plastic furniture can damage easily, and it’s not easy to repair. To prevent this, pad it as much as possible. Put on moving blankets and furniture pads, if you have them. Secure the blankets with plastic wrap or tape to ensure the blankets don’t fall of or move. Also, do not to put any tape on the plastic, as it may damage it or distort the color. Plastic furniture is typically lighter weight than most furniture materials. Pack with intention in the moving truck, and make sure not to stack heavy objects or too many items on top of your plastic furniture. Pro Tip: Pad any sharp edges with bubble wrap and furniture pads to avoid accidental injuries or damage to walls, floors, door frames, and other items you move in the same truck.

Metal furniture

Metal furniture, while sturdier, is more prone to dents, and it can easily damage floors, walls, and door frames in your old and your new home. Prevent damage by properly wrapping each leg and component of the furniture piece. The best material to wrap metal furniture with during a move is bubble wrap. Bubble wrap will protect your piece of furniture from damage, and it will protect your home too. Use a dolly to avoid scratching the floors. Even if it’s a small piece of furniture and you don’t think you’ll need to put it down during the move, it’s safer to opt for a dolly anyway. Metal furniture can do a lot of damage to wooden and tile flooring when moved improperly or dropped during a difficult move. Pro Tip: Secure the bubble wrap with tape. Make sure not to tape the metal—only tape bubble wrap to itself. It’s also important to tightly wrap the bubble wrap around the piece of furniture to ensure it won’t move.

Leather furniture

When moving leather furniture, you’ll need to follow special procedures to preserve the leather and to ensure the leather doesn’t sustain any damage. Make sure to condition the leather to prevent cracks or tears. You can condition your leather with a leather conditioner, and you’ll find one available at most furniture shops or online. Conditioning the leather takes time, so leave yourself at least a week prior to moving to complete this task. After the leather is conditioned, remove everything you can, such as cushions, pillows, handles, and cup holders. Bubble wrap all of these removable parts, then wrap them in moving blankets to further protect them from damage. Put all properly wrapped removable components in a bag or box together and clearly label it for easier assembly when you move in to your new home. After you pack up all removeable components, wrap what’s left of your leather furniture piece in moving blankets. Then secure the blankets with a layer of bubble wrap. Add tape to the bubble wrap to ensure it and the moving blankets all stay in place and intact. Pro Tip: If you will store your leather furniture prior to the move, make sure to keep it in only temperature-controlled spaces. Leather is a more high-maintenance material than most, and you should handle it with care. It requires a cool and dry environment, so a storage facility with those qualifications is a must.

Patio furniture may have begun as plastic chairs, but there are new options available. Take your patio from a blah outdoor space to a perfect blend of indoor comfort and outdoor living with the newest emerging trends in patio furniture. Now is a better time than any to update your patio and move it into the new decade.

Natural materials

Plastic is out. Get on-trend by updating your patio furniture with pieces made of natural, eco-friendlier materials. Bamboo, wood, rattan, seagrass, and wrought iron are all popular materials that will look perfect on any patio. Don’t be afraid to mix and match materials—eclectic is all the rage in home décor right now.

Neutrals with pops of color

Natural neutrals are the trendiest base colors for patios right now. Natural frames paired with beige or tan cushions are a can’t-miss. Too much neutral can fall flat, though, so try to jazz it up a bit with some bright pillows or throws. Plus, outdoor carpeting is out—but rugs are in. Pick out a nice outdoor rug made of natural materials to add a pop of color or an interesting pattern to brighten up a neutral space.

Indoor/outdoor blend

The indoor/outdoor living trend is taking over this year. People love having indoor comforts even as they enjoy the outdoors. This means fully upholstered outdoor seating is a must for a patio that feels as cozy as a living room. Sofas and daybeds are also popular choices for cozy alternative seating choices. Protect your upholstered outdoor furniture by getting an outdoor twin mattress cover to protect your daybed. Remember to store cushions and to put rain protectors on your plush items when it rains or snows.

Firepits as a focus

Firepits are taking over as the focal points of outdoor living spaces, so center your patio around a firepit. Now that modern firepits with easy on/off switches exist, there’s nothing stopping families across the country from flocking to the trend. Consider getting a firepit that doubles as a coffee table so that you can cover the pit when you’re not using it and continue to have a helpful space on which to set drinks and other items.

Updating your home can make it feel brand new, but many renovations threaten to break the bank. Some minor changes can make all the difference in the way a home makes an impression. You don’t need to shell out money to make your home appear more expensive than it is; there are subtle changes you can implement to make your home impress and stand out. Here is a guide on how to make your home look expensive on a budget.

Outdoor space

Curb appeal is an often-underrated element of a home that can make or break how it is perceived. People will make a judgment on your home and its value within the first few seconds of viewing it. The way your outdoor area looks matters, and some small updates can increase your home’s perceived value instantly.

Update patio cushion covers

Your porch or patio may be easily viewable from the street or your driveway. If you’re using old, worn down cushions, or simply left them out in the rain one too many times, you can make a simple update to revive them. Add patio furniture cushion covers to your old cushions to make them look brand new again. This can be a fun way to add color, style, and practicality to your home. It also can help protect your furniture longer—with a cover on, you’ll be able to remove and wash the cover as needed to keep it looking great.

Add intentional outdoor lighting

While you may have the standard outdoor lighting, adding more intentionally-placed lighting to your outdoor space can really transform your home. Put up lights lining the walkways, especially those leading to your door. Line your driveways with small lights as well to illuminate your entire property. Lights help to guide both the eyes and the feet of guests. If they arrive after dark, they’ll be happy they can see where they’re going—all because of your thoughtful lighting placement.

Display your house number in a new way

If your house still has the number it was built with, chances are it’s quite outdated. You can purchase new numbers from any craft or home improvement store and customize them to your home’s style. Choose large, statement numbers and hang them in a strategic location—they should be visible from the street without straining, but they can still be placed on a slope or in another non-traditional way. This adds interest and keeps people intrigued with your home. It’s also crucial to add lighting to your house numbers to help guests and couriers find your house in the dark.

Clean

Cleaning up your outdoor space can turn it from dingy to sparkling. Clean out your gutters, power-wash your hardscaping, and clean your garage door. Doing these three simple things can make it look like professionals care for your home.

Trim

Mowing the lawn often and keeping your shrubbery trimmed can give the appearance that you have a full-time landscaping crew under your employ. In reality, you can trim your shrubbery yourself and mow your lawn. These are upkeep tasks that should be done weekly and scheduled into your life. The difference a trimmed lawn makes on a home’s perceived value is exponential. If your lawn has dying plants, take them out and replace them with new, lively plants or lawn ornaments.

Indoor space

Once your guests are inside your home, you have many options to really make your home look like a million bucks—and you’ll spend very little! Subtle and small changes inside your home can make a big difference in your living areas’ overall feel.

Curtains

High ceilings indicate an expensive home. While you most likely can’t literally raise your roof, you can give your rooms the illusion of loftier ceilings with your curtain placement. Place your curtain rods much higher than your windows and make sure your curtains touch the floor to create an illusion of higher ceilings and larger windows.

Backsplash

There are stick-on backsplashes you can purchase that are inexpensive and will transform your kitchen. There’s no need to do a full kitchen remodel to make your kitchen seem updated—you can make small changes, such as adding a backsplash, installing new cabinet handles, re-grouting your floors, and washing your rugs. These are all small and inexpensive changes that add color and style to your kitchen. If you do all of these small updates, your kitchen may just look brand new.

Mirrors

Investing in a mirror or two can make your space feel larger and add a touch of class. Purchasing a mirror doesn’t have to be a big expense; you can simply purchase a cheap, frameless mirror and add a regal frame to it later. Resale shops are full of fancy frames just waiting to be hung with a mirror on the wall. Mirrors—especially in rooms with lots of natural lighting—can visually extend your space.

Hardware

Any hardware around the house may be outdated. Items such as lighting fixtures and faucets are easily overlooked and forgotten about. Since these are staples you look at and use multiple times a day, it’s easy to block out their outdated look. If you’re not looking to invest in brand new hardware just yet, there’s an easy trick to bring your hardware into the present day. Spray paint can transform your fixtures and hardware. Try a copper tone for a modern look or a polished silver for an upscale, classic feel. There are endless options that make your home brand new with a simple spray paint can. Bonus Tip: Don’t forget about your outlet covers! These are easily painted and can really tie your home together.

Bathroom

Think about the last time you updated your shower curtain hooks. It’s most likely been a while, and if so, they are ready to be swapped out again. New shower curtain hooks can cut down on dirt, make your shower curtain slide easier, and make your bathroom look brand new. You should also take a look at your toothbrush holder. Wash it out, and if it’s beyond salvaging, buy a new one. These small changes make a big difference in how expensive yourhome appears to guests.

When deciding to order a custom slipcover, it’s important to measure your items correctly to ensure the best fit possible. Every manufacturer will want you to measure and communicate your findings correctly and accurately, so you receive a slipcover that fits perfectly. We share a comprehensive, step-by-step sizing guide that explains how to measure furniture for an easy ordering experience. Here is a brief description of how to measure for a sofa slipcover.

Custom couch slipcover

When purchasing a custom couch slipcover, go to our website and choose your preferred fabric. Click “Price or Order,” and it will redirect you to an interactive page that will help you find your perfect fit. First, let us know if you have T-shaped or square seat cushions on your couch. Next, tell us what the back of your couch looks like—there are photo examples to make this process easy. After this, you’ll need to select your couch’s arm style. Then, our convenient tool will start to walk you through the measurement process with graphics to help you visualize the measurements needed. Measure all parts in inches—do not round or change actual dimensions. Here is the order to measure in:

1. Seat length
2. Cushion height
3. Base length
4. Arm to arm
5. Base depth
6. Arm depth
7. Base height
8. Desired skirt height (if any)
9. Back overlay
10. Arm width at the top
11. Arm width at the bottom
12. Arm height
13. Seat depth
14. Back height
15. Measure of sofa
16. Measure the top to the lowest point of furniture back
17. Backing width at the bottom
18. Backing height
19. Backing width at the top
20. Backing height in front
21. Width of the back of the sofa
22. Floor to top
23. Floor to top of the back of the arm
24. Floor to top of the front of the arm
25. Length of the front of the couch at arm level

While this is a lot of measuring, it is well worth it when your brand new, custom made, perfectly fitting slipcover arrives just a week after ordering. After you complete the measuring process, decide if you want pleats, options for a sleeper, and separate seat cushion covers. Further, let us know if your back cushions are detachable or not. Then upload photos of your couch, and we can handle the rest. We provide many other custom products to match your exact needs. From sofa slipcovers to custom pet bed covers, we have what you need to create a cohesive and attractive environment in your home.

Velvet furniture is a bold and fun choice to add color, class, texture, and style to your home. Adding velvet to your home is a great way to upgrade your aesthetic and customize your living space without major modifications. Velvet is notoriously delicate and requires regular care and maintenance. Here is an easy guide on how to care for velvet furniture—and what to do about spills and stains, should they happen.

Regular care

Velvet is prone to marking and matting, so it’s important to regularly care for your furniture to preserve its life and look. You should clean your velvet furniture on—at least—a weekly basis. Once a week, vacuum your furniture with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum. Take care to be gentle when doing this, as velvet can mark easily and vacuuming too roughly can cause damage to the delicate fabric’s weave. After vacuuming your fabric, remove any covers or cushions to shake them out. Once both tasks are completed, gently brush your velvet furniture with a soft-bristled brush or a fabric brush to prevent matting issues.

Spill and stain maintenance

Spills and stains happen to all furniture, and a small spill doesn’t have to be devastating. All fabrics need different care to properly prevent or get rid of stains, and velvet is no exception. With velvet, being gentle is key to maintaining the fabric’s integrity and preventing any irreversible damage. For larger spills and deeply set-in stains, consider a professional velvet cleaning service. For smaller stains or less severe ones, you can handle it yourself with a few easy steps.

Spills

Try to address the spill as soon as possible after it happens. Take a dry cloth and very gently dab the spill location—take as much of the substance out of the furniture as possible to prevent it from setting into the cushion. Be careful not to rub or apply too much pressure, as these actions can severely damage the fabric. If this isn’t effective, try the method to remove stains.

Stains

Just like with spills, don’t rub the stain. Begin by choosing a cleaning substance. Many people choose to stick with a simple soap and water solution, while others opt for upholstery cleaners. Whichever cleaning method you prefer, make sure to test it on a small piece of your furniture that isn’t easily seen. This is to check how the solution will affect your fabric. Once you know how the solution affects your fabric and are pleased with the results, apply the cleaning solution to your stain by gently dabbing it. Once the stain is lifted from the fabric, dry the area with a hairdryer—but make sure to hold the dryer at a safe distance. Once the velvet is dry, brush over the spot with a gentle bristled or fabric brush to prevent matting and encourage the spot to match the rest of the furniture. If you’re thinking about getting velvet furniture but aren’t sold on the idea yet, consider getting a velvet wedge pillow cover to test how you like the look and feel in your own home. Plus, if you decide you do want to invest in velvet furniture, your wedge pillow will help tie your home together!

An apartment won’t fully feel like home until you’ve outfitted it with the proper décor. We’re likely to amass a collection of furniture and personal belongings over time, but one generally has to work from the ground up. It’s best to evaluate what to start with, and there are some necessary staples. Here we list some furniture your apartment can’t go without.

A Bed

While this should go without saying, we can’t make this list without including a bed. While needing a bed is obvious, which one you choose is incredibly important. This is the piece of furniture you’ll want to take your time finding, as a subpar bed isn’t going to do your sleep pattern any favors. If you must cut corners, consider getting a twin or full-size bed instead of a considerably larger one.

A Desk

While this may seem optional, we think it’s important to have a designated workspace in your home. Working from a couch or your bed can cause you to become easily distracted—and it may even make you want to take a nap. You can generally buy a small desk at a good deal, and you’ll find that it’s helpful for completing many projects.

Drawers

Be it a dresser or coffee table with storage beneath it, drawers can store not just clothes but any other items you may accumulate. It’s easy to find yourself among unintentional clutter. You’ll do yourself a favor by creating a storage plan ahead of time.

A Bookshelf

Next to drawers, a bookshelf is another useful storage option. It’s tempting to have boxes full of books sitting in your closet for the first few months after moving, so you’ll want to take care of these before they collect too much dust.

A Dinner Table

If your apartment is small, you don’t have to invest in a large table. A bar table is often a smart, space-efficient option. You can also make do with TV tables for a while until you have your décor completely mapped out.

A Couch

An ideal area for unwinding, a couch is a must-have in any apartment. Many people advise using your bed for only sleeping, but you’ll want to have another area that’s also comfortable. Additionally, this is essential for movie nights with your best friends. Though you may slowly work your way up regarding furnishing your home, you can still show your personality from the very beginning. One way you can do this is by using slipcovers that match your taste. Invest in affordable and aesthetically pleasing options, such as daybed wedge pillow covers. We have an endless assortment of slipcovers in our catalog, and they’re sure to give your apartment the personality it needs.

Slipcovers provide an attractive and versatile option to protect your furniture and update its look. As with anything else, you will have to wash them from time to time. A benefit to slipcovers is that they’re far easier to clean than furniture with cloth you can’t remove. Maintaining your slipcover’s cleanliness will help them last longer, and we created a short list of ways you can do this.

When You Should Clean Them

As a basic rule, we recommend you wash your slipcovers at least four times a year. This may vary, of course, according to your lifestyle and where you keep your furniture. Patio furniture slipcovers, for example, may need more frequent maintenance.

Look at the Tag

While you can apply our tips to any type of slipcover, different fabric types may have additional instructions. Make sure you know the manufacturer’s instructions before you throw the piece into the wash.

Wash it All at Once

It’s handy to have slipcovers that come in more than once piece, as using separates such as zippered cushion covers can provide a better fit. If this is the case, do not wash only one piece at a time. If you do, the pieces may begin to fade unevenly. With this in mind, divide the wash into two different loads if you think you’ll overload your machine.

Pre-Soak Your Covers

You may be tempted to use bleach for tricky stains, but we recommend you try other methods first. Dab some mild soap on the stains, and do a pre-soak before the actual wash. If the stains stick around after this, we recommend you pay attention to how much bleach you use, as it can be too abrasive on these pieces.

Don’t Use Heat

We suggest using the no-heat setting if you choose to put your covers in the dryer. Heat can cause too many wrinkles and could potentially shrink your covers. You will also want to place the cover back onto the furniture while it’s still damp. This will help keep the pieces free of any wrinkles and make sure it fits back on your furniture when it dries.

Slipcovers are the unsung heroes of furniture preservation and restoration. Investing in one is an easy way to completely renovate a room without having to get all new furniture. Before you buy a slipcover, it’s important to be sure you invest in one that’s right for your needs. It isn’t merely about the color and pattern, as there are other factors that should go into selecting the right one. To help you make the right decision, we’ve created a brief guide on how to choose the perfect slipcover for your furniture.

Take Measurements

The very first thing you should do before you buy a slipcover is measure the piece you’ll cover. An ill-fitting cover will look sloppy and make a room feel unkempt. A properly fitted cover, however, looks clean and refined. Create a checklist of the things you should measure, which includes the following:

• The entire length from one arm to the other
• The width of the arm
• The cushions when placed side to side
• The height of the couch from the top of the cushion to the floor
• The height of the entire piece, top to bottom

The Fit

While the proper fitted cover is in many respects related to the measurements you take, there are other factors that go into choosing the perfect fit. There are generally different shapes to account for. For example, if the arms of your piece have sharp edges, you wouldn’t want to get a cover made for rounded arms. For the ideal fit, you may want to get a slipcover that comes with several pieces as opposed to one.

Material

This is one of the most important choices you can make, as the material you use plays a large role in determining your couch’s comfort. You want to avoid choosing one that is too heavy or that slips out of place. Cotton is a popular choice because it’s breathable and easy to wash. Polyester is resistant to wrinkles and usually keeps its shape well. Suede is often one of the more comfortable options, and it’s more resistant to stains. If you aren’t sure what slipcover is right for you, many companies will send swatches at no charge and can create a custom slipcover to suit your needs.