For many, working on their dream home stops once the paints have dried and the interior design has been set up. Often, homeowners would look at the full picture—does the living room look great? How are the rooms?—that the individual elements of what actually makes a home shiny and new are often forgotten.
Being a responsible homeowner, however, means that you have to pay attention to everything, most specifically the upkeep of your furniture. This should actually be second-nature, given that besides the cost of buying the house, curating your furniture makes up the largest share of your home budget.
Not maintaining the essential pieces in your home will render your interior design useless no matter how well-executed it is—not to mention, you will shell out more for replacements.
Thankfully, you can easily prolong the life of your furniture with some simple upkeep. Read on for a quick guide on how to care for your pieces below.
Upholstered Pieces
A favorite in interior design, upholstered furniture is perfect for almost any theme of home design—it can easily complement the wood and also look great on marble, for example. Furniture of this type should be vacuumed regularly, preferably at least once a week to prevent dust and dirt from collecting on its surface and cracks.
If you want to wipe it, make sure to use the right fabric and cleaner so as not to damage its surface. It is also important to let it dry well first before using it to prevent the moisture from sinking into the fabric and cause damage.
Another great way to prolong the life of your upholstered pieces is to use slipcovers which can protect them from any spills and stains. As for wear and tear, one good practice you can adopt is to reorganize your furniture now and then. As common in any household, we all have our favorite seats, which means that certain furniture gets used more than others. Reshuffling them can encourage the use of other pieces and prevent wear and tear on just select ones.
Wooden Furniture
Never underestimate the worth of a good wooden piece. Furniture made of this material may look simple, but wood can also be one of the most expensive ones in the market. What’s so great about them is that they can last for a really long time, that is, if you give them the right care they need.
Upkeep for wood is a little bit more complicated because you’ll have to tailor it according to the type of wood and polishing you have. The most basic care guide, however, includes regular dusting which removes the layer of dirt that would have otherwise gotten stuck on the coating. Dusting is not just about patting dirt off with a feather duster, too. The proper way involves using a damp piece of cloth that can absorb the dust rather than scatter it.
Besides this regular maintenance, wooden pieces also require some deep cleaning now and then to prolong their life. To do this, find the right cleaning materials that are specifically made for the type of wood and polishing of your piece. Be careful not to use too much water when doing this, since it can cause more damage to your wood.
Waxing and polishing is also something you should learn to do. While wooden pieces are already covered with a coating, this can break down through time. Polishing and waxing can return your piece into its former glory, though make sure not to use both on your furniture if your manufacturer doesn’t recommend it.
Last but not least, don’t place your pieces in spots where they will be exposed to light and heat. These two can soak up the moisture from wood and cause severe damage to your pieces. Exposure to them can also make your furniture fade in color.
Leather Pieces
Leather, just like wood can be extremely expensive. What’s so nice about them, however, is that they are so easy to maintain. Spills can be easily wiped off by a sponge or cloth, while stains can be removed using some mild soap. Keep your leather furniture away from abrasive cleaners and detergents which can damage the material.
For regular maintenance, a simple dusting and vacuuming can suffice. The latter is best used on leather pieces that are coated because it also helps remove surface oils.
Glass Furniture
The use of glass furniture has boomed lately as more and more homeowners start to favor understated but still sophisticated designs. Moreover, many are now partial to glass because they are easy to maintain. Their downside, however, is that they are more sensitive than other pieces and are prone to damage.
To clean glass, you only need to wipe the surface with any glass-cleaning detergent. Leave them to air dry after and you’re done. Similar to wood though, it is best to keep your glass pieces away from direct heat which can, in some cases, cause it to break.
As a general rule, all furniture should be given regular cleaning and maintenance to make its life last longer. In the event of spills and stains, it is best to take care of them immediately to prevent substances from sinking into the material. Also, be careful in the cleaning materials you use. Furniture like leather can easily get damaged by chemical-based cleaning materials while wood can fade when it gets in contact with the wrong cleaning detergent. Last but not least, be careful when handling your pieces. If you must move your furniture, it is best to lift them instead of dragging them, for example.
How long your pieces will last also depends on their quality. Browse our page to check out some well-made pieces that can complement no matter what your home design is!
