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.

Why You Need to Use Room Dividers in Your Home

A home that has an open room design can make use of room dividers to separate each room and to have a cozier ambiance.  Room dividers come in different forms, shapes, styles and designs making it easier for the homeowner to choose what is suitable for his home.  Choosing the appropriate room divider will put order in your home and will likewise help you to position your furniture properly.

Following are some useful tips on how to use room dividers in your home.

Use it to set your living room and kitchen apart.  This will prevent your guests from seeing how you fumble in your kitchen when preparing food for them.  A movable lightweight divider with two-fold doors is ideal, as you can close it if you want some privacy.

Use it in your kid’s bedroom so he can have a separate play area in his room.  You can also use it in the bedroom if your kids are sharing it so they will have their own private spaces.

Use it to make an additional closet.  An L-shaped divider positioned in one area of the room can provide additional storage space.

Use it to display your decorative pieces.  Room dividers are available in various styles and designs.  Some have built-in shelves where you can put some of your collections.

Use it to create your own home office.  If you work at home, room dividers are useful to make your workplace private particularly if you do not have a separate room for this purpose. 

 For big living rooms, it can be used to create small areas. It can be used to create a study area for your kids.  You can also use it to have a reading area or a relaxing nook in one corner of your living room.  Make sure that you put a desk and a lamp.  A chaise lounge is a good item to have if you intend to have a relaxing area.

Room dividers are very functional to have whether you are living in a small or big-sized home.  Remember, though, to select a room divider that will blend with your theme and match your furniture.

Do You Need an Area Rug for your Living Room?

If you want to add some spice in your living room without buying a new set of furniture, try getting an area rug.  

Following are some tips on buying an area rug.

Measure your living room area, as the size of the rug will depend on it.  There should be a 12 inches allowance amid the wall and the edge of the rug.  

Area rugs can be placed under the coffee table or you can use it to identify specific areas.  For instance, have a different color of rug for the reading nook.

Pick a color that blends with the other furniture and fixtures of your living room.  If your room is small, choose a light-colored rug particularly if it has small prints on it.

Choose a rug that complements the style of your room. If you want to have elan and flair in your living room, choose a circular or octennial-shaped rug.

Area rugs are made in different fabrics and this will give you a clue on its permanence and sturdiness.  The most common fabrics used for area rugs are wool, olefin, nylon, acrylic and polypropylene.  Those made of nylon are easy to maintain.  The olefin and polypropylene materials resist stains and blotches.  Houses with a lot of windows will benefit with acrylic rugs, as they resist molds, smears and blemishes.  Woolen rugs are nice, elegant, softer and durable but can trigger allergy attacks.  Hence, it is not suggested if one of the family members has an allergy.

Always go for quality when buying area rugs so as not to waste your money.

One good source of area rugs are online furniture stores.  They offer a variety of area rugs in various styles, designs, colors, patterns and materials. They are even cheaper that those sold on the local stores. 

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.

Give Life to Your Home by Adding Colors

Do you want to add some color to your home but is afraid to do so because you do not know where to begin?  Here are a few tips that you can follow:

Begin with just one color then add some accessories.  Have a big decorative throw, vase or pillow in the same tone to make a dramatic look.

Add color on your floor.  Neutral colors would be a best choice as well as for furniture and accessories.  However, have your rug in a bright hue.  The combination will draw the eyes downwards and will make the room more interesting.

Bring in art to infuse your favorite color.  Bold wall decors are good for the neutral colors in the room.  You can have black and white etchings or photos and use bright- colored frames.

Have an accent wall to create a big impact in the room but this time, use a paint color.  Buy a few small tube from a paint store and put them in moderate sized blocks on the wall.  Put spaces in between-- about an inch is enough.  Check how it looks like during the day and the night.  The colors will have a different visual effect depending on the time of the day, as it blends with natural light and your evening lights.  Seeing them on these times will help you decide which color is best for your accent wall.

 Giving life to your home can be achieved with the use of colors.  It is true that furniture, lighting and accessories all play an essential part in enlivening the ambiance of any home, but colors can also do the same.  

With colors, it is no longer necessary for you to buy a new set of furniture.  By using your artistic skills and talents, you can achieve the setting you want for your home. 

 

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.