Clean Your Leather Sofa to make it Last Longer

Although leather furniture is known for its durability, it does not mean that you do not need to clean it.  Cleaning your leather sofa will make it to last longer saving you from buying a new one.

First, you must know that leather will deteriorate if it gets exposed to heat, dust and sunlight.  Excessive heat and sunlight dries leather causing it to rupture or break and deface its luster.

The following instructions will help you to clean your leather sofa to make it last longer.

Do a weekly vacuuming of your leather sofa.  Use the soft bristle attachment to vacuum the sofa.  Vacuum its bottom by removing the cushions.  Do not forget to include the corners. 

Pour a small amount of liquid soap on a damp cloth and work to make a foam.  Squeeze the water out from the cloth completely.  Before using this on your leather sofa, wipe it on a small area either on its back part or the bottom area and wait for 24 hours.  If no discoloration is seen, you can use this to clean your leather sofa.

Wipe spills immediately so it will not be absorbed by the leather.   Use a damp cloth to wipe the spill making sure you do not spread it all over.  Pat the damp cloth on the spilled area.  Use a soft, dry clean cloth to dry the area.  On the other hand, a dry cloth must be used for oil spills.  Sprinkle baby powder to absorb any excess oil.

Ink blots can be removed by using a hair spray.   Squirt a small amount on the ink stain then use a dry cloth to wipe it.  Repeat the procedure until the ink spots are totally eliminated.  Always remember not to spread it when you wipe the blot.  Just concentrate on the ink stain.

Mildew can be removed by mixing one cup of rubbing alcohol and water.  Drop a little amount of the mixture on the mildew and wipe it with a soft dry cloth.

If you are to use any cleaning products, make sure that they are of good quality.  Some chemicals may cause the color of the leather sofa to fade.  Only use cleaning products that are intended for leather materials.  Likewise, use a good quality leather conditioner to clean your leather sofa every two years.  Proper maintenance will take care of your leather furniture.

A Woman’s Choice for Living Room Furniture

A woman’s living room will have color, style and comfort, which is similar to how she dresses herself.  

For her living room, a woman can choose from the following kinds of furniture. 

 First option:  Modern Furniture

Simple and straightforward lines, their shapes are angular and rounded.  Sectional sofas have solid colors ranging from dark to light tones.  They are upholstered either in microfiber or leather. 

Sofas that have stainless steel legs or hardwood would capture a woman’s taste for they create a deluxe appeal.  Metal pink sofas either in warm pink or the bold shade of red are ideal for career women.  Her tired legs would need an ottoman so she can also rest her tired legs and feet.

 Second option:   Traditional Furniture

Conventional women would love these types of furniture.  Elaborate designs are features of traditional furniture.   Some are silky because of the finishing used for the wood while others are plain natural wood.  These are also perfect for working moms for they are long-lasting and sturdy.  Conventional fitment is commonly considered antique for inheriting it from their grandparents or relatives.

 Third option:  Transitional Furniture

A combination of modern and traditional features of furniture, they are convenient, durable and elegant.  The straightforward lines balance the traditional design to give it a touch of modernity.

 The following accessories are her options for her living room:

1. Throw pillows with flowery designs and in soft pastel colors
2. Long bamboo sticks in tall vases for an Asian touch
3. Big-mouthed jar or ornamental rattan baskets where she can place her magazines or periodicals
4. A shelf where she can keep her books, display her photos and other mementos
5. An area rug that portrays her personality
6. A wall painting featuring nature
7. Fresh flowers or bonsai on top of the coffee table or fresh plants in strategic places
8. Soft, silky curtains in light or pastel colors
9. Floating or scented candles for a nice-smelling living room

 A woman’s living room will be loaded with sweet and romantic colors, as she knows that these further add to the appeal of the room.  Since she believes that her personality must be projected in her living room, she definitely will make this clear to her guests and friends and even to her family.

Which Sofa Materials Should You Choose?

When buying furniture, it is important that you choose the materials appropriately.  The material will be your gauge for its strength as well as the duration of the furniture.

However, you also must include other factors when choosing the sofa material such as presence of children and pets, the users and their built, the cleaning time and the frequency of use.

The different sofa materials

Natural materials.  Falling under this category is cotton.   They used to rip off easily but modern technology has made them more durable.   

Manmade materials.  These are stronger than natural fibers.  They do not easily get dirty and are stain resistant.   Included in this category are the nylon blends, polyester blends and rayon.  Nylon defies dust and smears.  Polyester is easier to clean but the most cost-efficient is rayon.  Rayon does not easily fade even exposed under direct sunlight, is soft and does not easily deteriorate.

Microfiber materials.  These materials are recommended with children and pets around.  They defy blemishes and dirt; hence, it suits a busy household.  They are also durable.  If you have a member of your family with allergy, choose microfiber sofas. 

Leather materials.  These are the best choices as they are hard-wearing and sure to last for a long time.  Maintenance is easy.  Full leather grain is expensive but other grains are cheaper.

Silky materials that are closely weaved are a perfect choice for a busy living room.  Choose the more closely weaved, as they are stronger.  

Do not choose materials that feature raised upholstered patterns, as they tear off quickly.   

Prices of furniture may differ with the materials used.  Nevertheless, always consider the durability over the price.  Saving a few dollars may only mean spending more in the end.  Remember, buying furniture must not be taken for granted.  Quality and durability are the most important elements that you need to look into first before the price.

What to be Aware of when buying a Sofa Bed

If you do not know that it is a sofa bed, you will think that it is just a sofa.  I said just a sofa because it looks like any other kind of sofas except that it has a provision to turn it into a bed.

The good thing about this furniture is that it serves you two purposes, as it is convertible.  A couch during the day and a bed during the night and you get it at a price of one.  It saves you on space and saves you worry if you do not have a spare bed for a guest who needs to stay for the night.

Nevertheless, there are some points that you need to list down before buying a sofa bed.

Comfort-ability is of the essence.  Do not settle for cheap sofa beds, as these have thin mattresses.  Sleeping on these kinds of sofa beds will only make the user uncomfortable, giving him back pains when he wakes up.  You do not want your guests to feel this way, of course, less you gain a bad feedback from them.  Therefore, settle for those with thick mattresses.  A 4-inch mattress with good ring back springs will assure the sleeper to have the extra convenience he needs.  Check on its cushions, too.  Make sure you do not feel the board or springs when seated.

The size is another vital element to check, too.  The sofa must be suitable for its dual purpose – that of a couch and a bed.  It must be easy to open up as well as putting it back to its original position.  Do not choose a sofa bed that has a tight fitting.

Sofa beds are made of various materials, which is another factor to look into.  Ensure to get one that made use of durable and sturdy materials.   Linen is a good choice for a sofa bed, as this endures the folding and unfolding, which is a common procedure for this type of furniture.   

If you choose to have a light-colored fabric, make certain that is received treatment.  The treatment will prevent it from being damaged caused by stains and spills.  Some furniture shops require an extra amount for this.  It will not hurt your pocket anyway so better have it treated and it guarantees you of its non-discoloration and staying power.

Another thing that you should not forget is to test it.  Hence, lay and seat on it for quite a few minutes.  Be observant and feel its comfort.  If you do not feel comfortable at all, then go choose another one. 

Leather or Fabric Sofa: Which is better?

Contemporary furniture has gained wide acceptance for most homeowners because it gives the living room a stylish appearance as well as making it more comfortable.  They also offer a huge selection to customers.

One of the most integral parts of the home is the living room.  With the presence of contemporary furniture, the room becomes more appealing to your visitors as well as to your family.  It becomes more inviting and convenient to spend quality time with your family and friends.  The common furniture seen in the living room are the chairs, ottomans, coffee table, a TV stand or entertainment center, bookshelf, and the most essential is the sofa set.

Choosing a contemporary sofa set that has a revolutionary design can turn your living room to look sophisticated and modish.  These types of sofas are extremely stylish and comfortable.  They are likewise available in two types of materials:  leather and fabric.  Both the leather and fabric sofas are known for their being durable and long-lasting; hence, it may be difficult to select which of them is better.  Nevertheless, knowing the good and bad sides of both materials would help you in your decision.

An excellent quality leather sofa is extremely hard-wearing and uncomplicated to maintain.  Coffee stains and any other liquid spills or leaks will not cause its color to fade swiftly.  Cleaning the spills and stains would only require you to use a cleaning kit which can be bought in any furniture shop.

On the contrary, stains brought about by spills on fabric sofas are likely to retain.  Fabric sofas also produce undesirable smell caused by the dust and sweat it absorbs if they are not properly cleaned.  Fabric sofas also develop loose threads in the long run.

Nevertheless, fabric sofas are convenient to use and are ideal for areas with humid and warm climate.  They do not accumulate dust and dirt easily and are easy to clean, as their covers are usually detachable. 

Leather, on the other hand, is not ideal for this type of climate.  Leather easily deteriorates when exposed to sunlight and moisture for a long time.  Make sure, though, that it will not get ink or lipstick stains, as they are difficult to remove from your leather sofa.          

Leather and fabric materials for sofa are both of excellent quality and comfortable.  They are similarly available in a myriad of styles and designs.  You can always check furniture shops and online furniture stores for sofas made of these materials.  If I were you, I will check on those shops that have websites.  This is easier as you can readily get the details that you wanted to know.  It is also faster to check and compare the furniture styles, designs and prices of these online stores.  Most of these furniture stores online have a good selection of contemporary living room sofa sets that are within your budget.   

Furniture Ideas for a Small Living Room

A small living room does not mean that you cannot have a nice-looking living room.  The secret is in knowing what furniture to have.   

Having furniture that is visually light in weight is one of the best ways to make a small living room look bigger.   This means that furniture is light and airy.  Choose furniture that has legs instead of the boxed type. 

Furniture with legs permits you to have visible space making the room to look bigger that it is.  You can have a glass coffee table top or accent chairs to establish a look of more space.  Select furniture that allows light to pass through the room as much as possible.

Colors also have a big effect on how small or big the room looks.  It can even make a small room look bigger while making a big room look smaller.  To give a breezy feel to a small room, choose pastel colors or neutral palettes of beige and taupe.  You can similarly use lighter colors to make things appear bigger.   

Do not choose stripe, big prints and plaids for upholstery but instead have the textured ones.  With textured upholstery, you get to have the look of a design without the room looking overcrowded.

Use the vertical space in your small living room to an advantage.  Opt to have a taller and narrower bookshelf. 

Have tall floor lamps to direct the eyes upward. 

When you shop for furniture, select those whose size are suitable in your space.  It should always be a rule of thumb to get the dimension of your space.  What seems to be a small piece may not be the same once you bring it home.  Always choose the sofa first followed by the other pieces.

Select your accessories cautiously.  You do not need to have a lot of display items in a small room.  This will only create clutter.   Display only a few striking pieces than complements the other décor.   

Furniture to Match a Living Room with White Walls

Blending colors is not a big issue for a living room with white walls. Since white is a neutral color, it can go with any color of your choice.

However, do not mix your white colored walls with white furniture. It is nice to have everything in white as it suggests wholesomeness and clarity; nevertheless, it can also mean sterility. Your guests may feel like they are in a hospital.



Hence, better have a mixture of dark, pastel or loud colors to go with your white colored-wall living room.

Blend it with red and black. These two colors set on a white background can be theatrical. However, the combination of white, red and black will make each color stand out. Red sofas will give your white walls a spark. It drives out the blandness of white, as red shows power. Black sofas will likewise match beautifully with white walls. These colors can also be used for your accessories. Red sofas with a blend of black are also perfect for white walls. Pair off red throw pillows for your black sofas. Red sofas can have a mixture of white and black for throw pillows.



Blend black and white. This combination is a typical illustration of up-to-the-minute sophistication. It is never outdated. Match black leather sofas with glass top coffee table in a black frame. For accessories, have silver lamps and a black and white carpet.

Decorations are very essential in a white colored living room wall. This drives away the monotony of being too clean. So put some paintings on your wall or other wall decorations.



The good thing of having a living room with white colored walls is that you can put splatters of color in your furniture and decorations. Your objective must be to get the attention out of your white walls. It should only serve as a backdrop. Your furniture must provide accentuation.