Mindful measurements

Bring your newe sofa

If you live in an apartment, especially one built more than 40 years ago, and are planning to buy a large sofa, you want to be mindful of several things.

A tight spot

First, take your measurements! Know the height and width of your smallest entryway is only part of the issue. In the case where a wall opposite a front door is only three feet away, with just enough space for door to swing open, the question becomes, can the couch make the turn? This is also true for exterior hallways. Here a couch around 96” can be tricky especially if you can’t make the turn in the hallway. In such a case, you’re forced to put the couch on end and likely feed it bottom first through your doorway—you should in this scenario have moving/padded blankets under the workspace. And note this method is hard to effect with the sofa’s sides rounded.

To fit or not to fit

There’s more to point out, but the reality should be clear: some types of furniture are simply not designed for apartments OR some old apartments just have some strange prophylactic quirks!

Love your furniture

Tips that make your furniture smile at you

Good maintenance is crucial to keep your furniture in perfect shape. You can enjoy your furniture for a longer time if you maintain it properly and with care. Every furniture piece has a different finish, so you’ll need different maintenance and cleaning products as well.

Wood

Wooden tables may be finished with a coating, varnish or colored oil. Some furniture seemingly made of wood are actually finished with a plastic top layer. Every different finish needs specialised care. Even steel or RVS tables need some love and care, same as wooden furniture.

Tips to keep wooden tables beautiful

1. Humidity

Keep the humidity level at 50 to 60%. Wood may ‘live’.

2. Sunlight

Be careful with sunlight. Wood is sensitive to discoloration.

3. Maintenance

Maintain your wooden furniture at least three times a year, depending on the type of wood. Use the right maintenance product.

4. Clean cloth

Do you have a wooden dining table or coffee table? We advise you to clean your table on a daily basis with a damp and clean cloth.

5. Coasters

Always use coasters to place your glasses and hot pans on. This prevents lasting stains and burn marks.

 

Upholstery

Seating furniture made of leather, leather look or fabric will wear out if you don’t clean them regularly. Periodic cleaning by a professional upholstery cleaning service is the only recommended cleaning method for your upholstery, including furniture base beneath slipcovers. Annual cleaning is suggested, but this may vary depending on use. Always blot—never rub—spills immediately with a clean, absorbent white cloth. Blot from the outside to the middle of the affected area to prevent rings.

Tips to keep upholstery beautiful

1. Sunlight

Don’t place your furniture in direct sunlight.

2. Pets and paws

Pets may damage your furniture with their paws, especially those with sharp nails. We advise you to keep your lovely wild pets of your furniture.

3. Pets and fur

Because of your pet’s oily fur, furniture fabric may become oily as well when they stay on it. Oily fabric attracts dust, hairs and other fibers, so that’s another reason to keep your pets from climbing on your furniture.

4. Humidity

Keep the humidity level at 50 to 60% to prevent pilling.

5. Woollen cushions and plaids

To prevent pilling as much as possible, place only a few woollen cushions and plaids on your furniture. Wool has the same oily properties as your pet’s fur.

6. Jeans

Jeans will always shed color, even when washed many times. Especially dark jeans will do so, caused by warmth, friction and moisture.

Decorating the place

Mix-and-match your style

After many years of strict styling rules, you can finally create an eclectic interior design again. Mix-and-match accessories from different time periods. Use elements from the friendly 70s and mix them with modern items from the late 90s. Different influences find a place in your home. The love for craftsmanship and environmental friendly fabrication of furniture have become the defacto standard of interior design.

Be bold, dare to combine colors and shapes you haven’t tried before.

Strong materials

Sturdy materials such as leather, steel, stone and stone will give your home an edgy look. Don’t be afraid to show off brick stones and rusty metal. Decorating has never been easier. A bit of 70s nonchalance loosens up your life at home. When you come home from a hasty day in the office, you’ll feel at ease at once.

Find a balance between soft fabrics and granular materials. A vintage velvet hocker or woolen ottoman looks wonderful next to a dark and heavy wooden table. It brings some warmth to your living room as well.

Combine shapes

Straight lines, curved vintage objects, there are no strict guidelines to what you can mix. Exciting conflicting shapes that you’d otherwise never place together in the same room are now a welcome sight. Break away from the rigid styles you’re used to assimilate in your house.

Play with shapes and sizes as you’d be doing when you were a kid.

Natural colors

Mother Nature gave us a beautiful palette of colors to choose from. Earthtones such as orange, yellow, brown and bronze are naturally looking great in any room. Mix friendly but strong colors that radiate life and warmth. 

Even if you’ve some old fashion colors around in your living or study, you can easily mix them with natural colors. Balance between perfected man made high fidelity metals and rusty old colors that digested the forces of nature.

Styling Tips

  • Combine accessories made of different materials. Place silk flowers in a pottery vase. Add a velvet plaid on a leather couch. Stretch the boundaries of your imagination.
  • Don’t be afraid to use a dark color on one or two of the walls. Or why not use wood on one of the walls? Just like the old days.
  • Mix your metals. Black, bronze, gold and copper: place them in the same room and you’ll combine tough with sensitive materials. A feast for the eye.
  • Dig up retro family finds and give them a second life. A touch of character in your home.