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Archive for April, 2010

Add A Touch Of Elegance To Your Living Room ? Bring Home A White Leather Sofa

White leather sofas can add a touch of elegance and beauty to your living room. The most pure color in the world “white” looks ultra chic and sophisticated on sofas. It has an ethereal appeal and adds style to the room. Though it requires some maintenance, you will love its ability to turn heads. The maintenance wont hurt, for your sofa can be such an attention grabber, you are sure to receive compliments for its beauty. It looks beautiful and larger than life. Leather sofas have a sensual appeal and if you have not yet adorned your home with a white leather sofa, we suggest you buy one soon. But before you buy your new sofa, we suggest you consider a few factors.

 

*  The quality of leather is an important factor. Leather that has tiny pores will ensure that it does not get too hot during summers or too cold during winter.  So, look for one that has pores.

*  Cleaning methods – Cleaning a leather sofa is different from other sofas, since leather is a natural product. Do not use strong soaps or chemicals and sponges to clean stains. Instead, use a clean cloth to remove marks or stains. Never use water for cleaning the sofa, always use oil for removing stains. Moreover, this type of sofa is subject to discoloration, so it is advisable to use leather sprays to bring back the color and shine.

*  Conditioners – No, we are not talking about hair conditioners. We mean leather conditioners, which add luster to your dull leather sofa. There are conditioners and sprays available to bring back life to your sofa.  Don’t bother too much about maintenance, with a plethora of products available, you can get your hands on some of the best cleaning agents for your white leather sofa.

 

There are some more handy tips to keep your sofa clean; these are home remedies, which can save your sofa from stains and marks.

 

*  Use a moisturizer like petroleum jelly, aloe vera gel, butter or any such emollient cosmetic product for cleaning your sofa. You can also use your makeup remover for removing stains or yellowness from your white leather sofa.

*  Glycerin is another quick fix method of cleaning. If you don’t have the time or have run up on your other sofa care products then glycerin can be very handy.

*  Another product that can be found easily in the house is shaving cream. A shaving cream soothes the skin and softens hair; similarly, it softens the surface of sofa and makes for easy cleaning.

 

Whatever method of cleaning you choose, remember to do a patch test in an area that is less visible. Though you haven’t brought home a white leather sofa yet, we have given you information that will surely help you decide. Beauty comes with a price, so your white sofa will need your time and care. Rest assured, it will liven up the ambience of your house and will score high on the drool quotient.

White leather sofas can add a touch of elegance and beauty to your living room. The most pure color in the world “white” looks ultra chic and sophisticated on sofas. It has an ethereal appeal and adds style to the room. Though it requires some maintenance, you will love its ability to turn heads. The maintenance wont hurt, for your sofa can be such an attention grabber, you are sure to receive compliments for its beauty. It looks beautiful and larger than life. Leather sofas have a sensual appeal and if you have not yet adorned your home with a white leather sofa, we suggest you buy one soon. But before you buy your new sofa, we suggest you consider a few factors.

 

*  The quality of leather is an important factor. Leather that has tiny pores will ensure that it does not get too hot during summers or too cold during winter.  So, look for one that has pores.

*  Cleaning methods – Cleaning a leather sofa is different from other sofas, since leather is a natural product. Do not use strong soaps or chemicals and sponges to clean stains. Instead, use a clean cloth to remove marks or stains. Never use water for cleaning the sofa, always use oil for removing stains. Moreover, this type of sofa is subject to discoloration, so it is advisable to use leather sprays to bring back the color and shine.

*  Conditioners – No, we are not talking about hair conditioners. We mean leather conditioners, which add luster to your dull leather sofa. There are conditioners and sprays available to bring back life to your sofa.  Don’t bother too much about maintenance, with a plethora of products available, you can get your hands on some of the best cleaning agents for your white leather sofa.

 

There are some more handy tips to keep your sofa clean; these are home remedies, which can save your sofa from stains and marks.

 

*  Use a moisturizer like petroleum jelly, aloe vera gel, butter or any such emollient cosmetic product for cleaning your sofa. You can also use your makeup remover for removing stains or yellowness from your white leather sofa.

*  Glycerin is another quick fix method of cleaning. If you don’t have the time or have run up on your other sofa care products then glycerin can be very handy.

*  Another product that can be found easily in the house is shaving cream. A shaving cream soothes the skin and softens hair; similarly, it softens the surface of sofa and makes for easy cleaning.

 

Whatever method of cleaning you choose, remember to do a patch test in an area that is less visible. Though you haven’t brought home a white leather sofa yet, we have given you information that will surely help you decide. Beauty comes with a price, so your white sofa will need your time and care. Rest assured, it will liven up the ambience of your house and will score high on the drool quotient.

Add exquisiteness and grace to your house by including white leather sofa in your collection. Visit us at our website – www.furnitureandsofas.co to check the whole new collection of furniture and sofas.

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Home Interior Decor : How to Decorate Your Home Paris Apartment Style

The image of a Paris apartment brings the thought of intrigue, romance, and European beauty to mind. Rooms have high ceilings with grand architectural details. A small balcony with a wrought iron railing overlooks a quaint street or the River Seine. Windows are tall. Pedestrians bustle on the streets below.

Paris apartment decorating style ranges through many decorating periods, including baroque, rococo, and neoclassical. Contemporary Parisian apartments incorporate art deco, Mediterranean, old world, and cabaret influences.

Rich jewel colors like emerald green, crimson, and royal blues are accented with black, white, and gold.

Burnished gilt touches accent architectural details and carving on furniture.

Furniture and accessories have time-worn elegance and a vintage look. Chairs, tables, and armoires painted in black or cream bear golden accents. They blend beautifully with dark, carved wood. Rich, shimmering silks and luxurious brocades and velvets enhance upscale interiors.

To finish out a Paris style interior, accessories and motifs include vintage posters of French nightspots, French signs, large train station clocks, black wrought iron tables and shelving, and any scenes of France, Paris, or the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re trying to bring the Paris apartment decorating style to your home, try to incorporate some of these elements in your space:

* Black is the accent color and a unifying element in Paris rooms. Bring black into your home without making things look dark. Find painted wood furniture, picture frames, fabrics, lampshades and accessories in black or with black trim.

* To really bring Paris to your room, use large posters of French landmarks, nightspots, and Parisian buildings. If you can find paintings, etchings, old black and white postcards, or sepia-toned photos of anything French, all the better.
* Large clocks are often a focal point in a Paris room. Find a reproduction clock with lettering in French or that shows a French scene. The older it looks, the better! It doesn’t have to work. It just has to look great!
* Toile, roosters, fleurs de lis, chateaux, pastoral scenes, views of the Eiffel Tower, Monet impressionist paintings, and pictures of riverboats on the Seine are popular decorating motifs that are easy to find.
* Don’t try to match the elements in your room. Furniture and accessories should look old and used, but not shabby.
* For light fixtures, select wall sconces with black silk shades, crystal chandeliers, and fringed lampshades on table lamps. A gold foil lining on a black lampshade will help to reflect a romantic glow. Add your own beads, fringe, and cording to simple lampshades if you can’t find any already embellished.
* Round tables should have layers of skirts. Add a plush cushion to an intricately twisted iron benches. Nothing says Paris more than a little bistro table and chairs. Use a large ottoman covered in rich fabric in place of a coffee table.
* Velvet, damask, brocade, lustrous silks, and traditional toiles are found in Paris style rooms. Toile is often paired with coordinating color checked fabrics in both large and small scales. Add a luxurious old-world look with tassels, cording, fringes, and other details. Textured linen, weathered leather, paisley designs, and bold stripes can be used.
* Furniture should be upholstered with beautiful fabrics, dressmaker details, and have carved legs. Cushions of down provide the slightly rumpled look of comfort and elegance.
* Wood furniture pieces of carved, dark tones or stains are often tinged with touches of gilt. Black and ivory paint, distressed and crackled, give wood pieces an aged look. There’s no such thing as matching furniture. Pieces should look as though they were found through a lifetime.
* Every Paris style bedroom has a decadent vanity table. Add a luxurious look to a simple table by dressing it with silk, mirrors, and voluminous ruffles. Dress it with vintage accessories, frames, and perfume bottles.
* Use large vintage mirrors, architectural elements (columns, corbels), garden statuary, black wireware, clocks, hat boxes, luxurious silk pillows, soft throws, vintage candelabra, flowers, plants, china, and delicate porcelain figurines to accessorize a Paris style room. Find dramatic hats or vintage linens at swap meets and antique shops.

* Depending on the style of the room and its use, windows can have elaborate, flowing drapery panels topped with swagged valances, ruffles, tassels, silk cording, or bouillon fringes. A simpler room could use linen or toile panels over shutters or wooden blinds.
* Hardwood flooring is stained dark and covered with old Oriental carpets. They add a grounding pattern, color, and age.

Paris apartment interiors appeal to our sense of glamour and European style. By using some of the elements here, you can bring the look to your own home.

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How to Improve your Home D

Perhaps you have walked around your living or family room and something seems a little off. In many cases, it is not your furniture. The pieces of furniture in the room can be brand new and arranged to your liking. The sofa is exquisite, the rug is beautiful and its colors match the rest of the room, yet something is still amiss. Something is preventing this room from achieving the magazine-styled looked that you had envisioned when you purchased the furniture. If this sounds familiar, there is a solution. What your room needs is simple. You may be missing an end table or perhaps an ottoman. It can be an amazing experience to see how one piece of furniture can really make a room pop, and bring all the styles and colors together.

An ottoman is an excellent way to accent the décor of your home. The styles, varieties, and colors ottomans are available in are so vast that you are sure to find at least one ottoman that will look great in your home. There are ottomans that have a more contemporary style and design which can enhance homes with a more of a modern feel, as well as those with furniture pieces that pay homage to the style of your parents and their parents.

Ottomans come in either traditional or modern styles, and can serve a wide range of functions. Certain ottomans can be used for storage and as space savers. Style, though, is usually the most important attribute of an ottoman. Brightly colored ottomans can add a sense of modernity to an otherwise retro styled home. Homes and living rooms with a softer feel may need a more striking looking ottoman, perhaps upholstered in a bold microfiber fabric, to create balance or variety. Soft to the touch, and great for cozying up to, ottomans inspire relaxation and comfort.

If your home has been designed with a more contemporary style in mind, consisting of furniture pieces that are made of leather or a similar material, you consider highlighting this style with a leather ottoman. Though not as warm or inviting as the upholstered ottomans, leather ottomans are quite popular.

Generally speaking, leather furniture helps to create a classic or even professional environment in rooms in which these pieces of furniture are placed. Homes that welcome patients, clients, co workers, or other professionals can benefit greatly from the addition of a leather piece of furniture, such as an ottoman.

Even if you decide on a leather ottoman, there are still many choices. There are ottomans that are even designed to be half upholstered and half leather. If you have a home office, a leather ottoman can also double as a place for your client’s to sit while waiting.

Ottomans that can double as a storage unit are another way to add style to your home’s décor. As previously mentioned, ottomans can serve more than once function if constructed for those purposes. Ottomans such as these have a storage compartment, usually right under the lid (or cushion), giving you a great place to conceal items such as board games, or book and papers that are used frequently.

If you are person who likes to solve suduko puzzles or crossword puzzle books, read and collect newspapers or coupons, or need a handy place to put mail, then this ottoman would be perfect for you. When you think of storage units, style may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, these ottomans are just as fashionable as they are functional.

Choosing the right ottoman to accent your décor will most likely depend on the size of your family room or living room. Round and cubed shaped ottomans are a great way to compliment smaller rooms or more confined sitting areas. Ottoman styles such as these allow you to maintain traffic flow, and keep your living space from feeling overly crowded.

If you have more space than you know what to do with you should consider a larger ottoman. These ottomans can be coffee table ottomans or bench styled ottomans. Such ottomans emphasize your available space in a positive way. Bench styled ottomans can also be used as extra seating for guests.

Although certain ottoman styles can add to the décor of your home, the color that you choose can act as an accent piece or serve to enhance the vibrant color of your accent wall, throw pillows, or other accessories. Ottoman colors can add warmth to a room and creativity as well. Yet, ottomans that are leather, black, or cream colored can produce a really classy look.

Despite their size, ottomans can make a big difference in a room. By their presence alone, an ottoman can open up a room or highlight subtle tones. The variety of ottoman colors and styles are sure to compliment any and every type of room. Though once seen as a way to prop up your feet. Ottomans have come a long way. Ottomans have quickly become one of the best ways to accessorize a room, being the perfect blend of comfort and practicality.

Mike Cole is a freelance writer who writes about space saving ideas and home d

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Home Interior Decor : How to Decorate Your Home in French Country Style

When you think of Provence and the French countryside, you’re sure to see lavender fields and bright sunshine. While there are many elements that contribute to the French Country style of decorating, the resulting look is always rustic, old-world, and welcoming. The look fits well into both country houses and elegant, old chateaux. The French Country style of decorating, with its warm and casual feel will fit beautifully into your home as well.

Colors used to decorate in the French Country style come from the full spectrum of the color wheel. Sunny yellow and soft gold, firey red and burnt rust, bright grass green and dark hunter green, cobalt blue and soft ocean tones — all these are found in this wonderful decorating style.

Bright black and dull grays punctuate the bright colors and define accessory pieces. Rusted metal furniture, lighting fixtures, and furniture give warm color and wonderful lines.

An important element in pieces used in French Country style decorating is the use of natural materials. Rough stained or painted plaster walls, hefty beamed ceilings and walls, delicate carved wood details, and chair seats woven of rush give texture and simplicity to the look. Natural stone floors are covered with wool or cotton rugs.

No real French Country home is complete without a stone fireplace. A heavy beam at the top of the opening serves as a mantle. Tiles, either stone or ceramic, form the border. The hearth is clay or brick, and herbs, copper pots, and iron accessory pieces hang on the side walls.

Read on for more ideas on how to create the look of the French Country style of decorating in your home. Use some or all of the elements to feel comfortable with this style.

Architectural features like stone walls and floors, raw wood distressed ceiling beams and timbers, and irregular plaster walls form the frame of a home decorated in the French Country style.

New or reproduction ]rustic furniture has the ambiance of curved panels, hand-carved decorations, and raw wood. No room decorated in the French Country style would be without an armoire to store pots and pans, clothing, bed or bath linens, or tableware.

A large dining table, rectangle or round, must have a dull waxed or low-sheen finish. Curved and carved details grace dining and occasional chairs. Chairs are either ladderback style or have vertical slats, often with rush seating.

Rustic flooring is of stone, clay, or brick. Old wooden boards work well, too. The focus here is on old and charming.

Typical of French Country interiors are pieces with contrasting texture and color. Pale plaster walls and ceilings are punctuated with dark rough wood beams. Colorful Provencal printed fabrics are set off against light-toned natural seating.

Deeply cut window sills hold tall, narrow windows. Shutters close to keep the hot sun out in the summer. Windows and doorways are encircled with wildly growing vines.

The beautiful colors of the French countryside decorate fabrics used in French Country decorating. The traditional fabrics combine well with basic plaids, checks, and stripes in modern homes. Provencal prints combine shades of primary colors with greens, lavenders, and bright orange.

Traditional French country products and motifs include roosters, olives, sunflowers, grapes, lavendar, and beetles. The designs are often arranged in regular intervals, bordered by a wide panel of the motifs in different scale. This is typical for textile products such as tablecloths and curtain panels.

Toile is a traditional design for French Country fabrics. A white, cream, or yellow ground has large motifs in a single contrasting color, such as black, blue, red, or green. Toile themes include farm animals, monkeys and Chinese patterns, bucolic country scenes, or courting scenes of the 18th century. Most toile patterns are printed on linen or cotton.

Generous baskets woven or wire baskets, colorful ceramics and tiles, carved wood pieces, and Chinoiserie pottery, and natural grasses are used for accessories in a room decorated in the French Country style. Old, dark or colorful paintings adorn the walls.

Lush natural flowers are everywhere! Baskets, an old pitcher or copper pot, or clear glass vases hold flowers inside and out. The aim is to bring the wonderful colors and textures of nature into the home. Window boxes outside shout with the colors of whatever will grow. Geraniums and lavender are especially popular.

Both colorful and muted pottery adorns a French Country table. (No fine china here!) The same themes of roosters, olives, and vivid flowers are found on tableware. Don’t forget iron candle holders, wire baskets, heavy pottery water pitchers, and colorful tablecloths.

By incorporating some or all of the elements mentioned here, you’re bound to have a wonderful French Country interior in your home. C’est bon!

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Home Interior Decor : How to Decorate Your Home Moroccan Style

If you’re looking to bring an exotic yet elegant feel to your home, you should consider the elegantly mysterious elements found in Moroccan style décor. From vibrant colors to intricately designed wood and mosaic products, this luxurious, dramatic, and exciting style is becoming increasingly popular in modern homes.

Nestled between Europe and Africa, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, Morocco is a country of blending, influenced by the many cultures surrounding it. Acting as a crossroads between the east and west, north and south, Moroccan décor blends styles from France, Portugal and Spain from the northwest, with strong Mediterranean, African, Persian, and Islamic influences from the south and east. This results in a unique and inspirational style specific to Morocco.

The blazing African sun causes Moroccans to bring the outdoors in where they can enjoy an exotic oasis inspired by the landscape around them, in cool comfort. Vibrant colors are mixed with highly adorned furniture and accessories, potted plants, and gentle lighting to achieve the perfect indoor oasis.

From the glittering coastlines of Casablanca and Tangier to the snake charmers and spices in the air of bazaars in Marrakesh, inspiration can be found, whether you are looking for just a touch of exotic flair or a full make-over.

Achieving the perfect Moroccan look is simple with the right elements.

* Strong Color for Moroccan Style Interiors
Color is the focal point of Moroccan decorating. Drawing inspiration from Morocco’s landscape, look for shades of blue and green from the Atlantic and Mediterranean, shimmering gold and silver invoking the Sahara sands, and rich reds and oranges that conjure images of African sunsets.

* Moroccan Style Furniture
Interior spaces are busy in pattern but simple in furniture. Sofas and tables are inviting and set low to the ground. Moroccan furnishings rely on elaborate wrought iron scroll work, mother of pearl inlay, ornately carved wood in high relief, richly hued upholstery, and intricate mosaic or terra cotta tile details.

* Luxurious and Lush Fabrics
Fabrics in rich colors with intricate textures and designs are typical of Moroccan décor. Add throw pillows and cushions in abundance, and drape luxurious fabrics from furniture, window frames, and even the ceiling. Tie loose draped fabric back with heavy cords in high traffic areas to keep them out of the way and for extra space and added style.

* Lighting for an Exotic Interior
Lighting is a an important element of Moroccan décor. Moroccan lighting focuses on dim lighting created by lamps and pendants made from colored glass, cut metal and carved wood. Using candles in traditional lamps will add the romantic element of moving light to your décor and exotic scents.

* Floors in Moroccan Interiors
Floors of dark hardwood are covered with plush Persian rugs and stacked floor cushions to create the perfect base for a Moroccan style room. Ceramic tile is often on used for flooring and gives a coolness much welcomed in the hot weather.

* Reflect Colorful Décor
Mirrors enhance the ambiance of a Moroccan interior by subtly reflecting light and adding adornment to walls. Look for mirrors with decorative wrought iron work, deeply carved wood, onion dome-shaped frames, and metal or jewel embellishments.

* Plants for Moroccan Decor
Placed in large, colorful pots or baskets, exotic plants such as banana trees or papyrus help to create an oasis-like feel in a Moroccan style home.

* Canopies Overhead
Richly hued sheer silk swagged over seating or dining areas or mosquito netting over beds adds a mysterious touch, reminiscent of desert bazaar tents.

* Sensual Moroccan Scents
The right fragrances can instantly link the mind to Moroccan bazaars and can give your new Moroccan styling the perfect finishing touch. Choose candles, incense, or diffusers in scents rich with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, or any exotic spices.

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How to find the right modern dining tables

When it comes to buying the right modern dining table, you really get confused as to which one to buy as there are many factors to be considered before you buy modern dining table for your dining room. You should always remember that your dining table is the center of attraction in your dining room and it makes the major unit of dining room furniture. Therefore, you must give a lot of attention while purchasing a dining table. Well the basic factors that you have to keep in mind while selecting a dining table are its size, shape, design, material, color, table top etc. You can also mix and match the table and set of chairs to suit your interest. Now let us discuss all the factors that should be considered so that you make a perfect selection of your modern dining table. Size: The size of your dining table must be proportionate to your dining room. A very large dining table in a small dining room, will mess up your dining room, whereas a small dining table in large and lavish dining room will look very weird. So while you are shopping for a perfect dining table, you need to think about its size, moreover, always remember that your dining area should leave enough place so that you can move easily and freely around in your dining room. Further, your dining room also includes other pieces of furniture like hutch or sideboard, trolley, mini bar etc. So these additional furnishings should easily fit in your dining room without making it look cluttered. Shape: The other essential factor is its shape, ideally, a square dining table will look perfect in a square dining room and a rectangular dining table will look gorgeous in a rectangular dining room. You have a wide variety in round and oval shaped dining tables too. The round and oval shaped dining tables give your dining room a spacious and comfortable look. It is a great idea to choose a round or oval dining table as these look smart and fashionable giving yoru dining room a trendy look. Design: You will get sleek designs in modern dining tables. You can select a design that complements to other furniture in your home. From ultra-modern to highly traditional designs, you get quite a good range to choose from. It actually depends on a person’s choice, lifestyle and budget that help him choose dining table that suits his requirement. You get wonderful designs in dining table like contemporary shapes, tables having rotating glass center, pedestal dining tables, fold away variety, dining table with two tier, etc. well there are endless options to choose from. Materials: You can choose dining tables with glass tops for attractive look, but you have to be careful with it as glass top tables are delicate. If your want a durable dining table, you can choose a wooden dining table or wrought iron dining table can be perfect. You can further protect your dining table with stylish table pads that are available in plenty of designs and fabrics. Table pads protect your dining table from heat, scratch, humidity, stains etc. With so many options to choose from, you will get an endless variety to suit your choice. So, select a dining table where you can comfortably enjoy your meals for years ahead.

Looking for some helpful tips to find the right modern dining table for your dining room, look at dining tables Get a perfect dining table to suit your need and budget at rightpricefurniture.co.uk

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Caring for and Cleaning Your Leather Furniture

Simple tips to assure you properly care for your Leather Living Room Furniture


When choosing a particular style of furniture for your living room, leather can be an exceptional choice. There are a wide range of leather sofas, leather sectionals, recliners, loveseats, and chairs available in various colors and styles. It is easy to clean, stylish, and quite durable when taken care of properly. Leather furniture is great at handling stains and spills, and typically does not require as much maintenance as other fabrics. This is not to say that leather furniture does not require any maintaining. It is “low maintenance”, but certainly not “no maintenance.”

Here are some great ways to care for your leather furniture:


Clean Stains Immediately

Make sure you take care of a spill immediately. If the stain is given time to sink into the fabric, it can be much more stubborn to cleaning. Additionally, it has a higher chance of reappearing months later.
Blot the stain lightly with a soft cloth or towel. Avoid rubbing and smearing the spill, as this will spread the stain.
It is best to clean spills on your leather furniture with warm water and mild soap.
It is advised to avoid harsh cleaning chemicals that may contain solvents, bleach, or acids.
Avoiding commercially available furniture cleaners is recommended as they tend to foster rapid resoiling.

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Placing your leather furniture in direct and constant sunlight can cause it to fade over time.
It is best to place your leather furniture in a more shaded area of the room, or keep curtains closed when the sun is casting on the furniture.

Keep Away From Heat

Make sure your leather furniture is kept away from strong heat sources such as furnace vents.
Exposure to heat causes your leather furniture to dry out, making it vulnerable to cracks and splits.
It is recommended that you keep your leather furniture at least two feet away from potentially harmful heat sources.

Avoid Air Pollutants

It is best to not expose your leather furniture to potentially harmful air pollutants such as cigarette smoke and excessive cleaning fumes.
Air pollutants can fade or change the color of your leather furniture, and sometimes even distort the fabric in other ways.

Dust Regularly

Keep your leather furniture debris free by dusting at least once per week.
You can do this by wiping your furniture with a soft, dry cloth or gently vaccuming it.
Make sure you dust in between crevices and under cushions where dirt and dust may hide.
Dusting regularly will prevent your furniture from long-term damage from dirt and debris, and assure your leather furniture remains as fresh and new as possible.

Avoid Potentially Harmful Objects

Avoid sharp objects that may scratch or puncture your leather furniture including pens, needles, and animal claws. Although small scratches are fairly simple to repair, large rips and tears cause lifelong damage to the furniture
It is also wise to avoid leaving magazines and newspapers on your leather furniture as the ink tends to bleed and may leave ink marks on the leather.

Following these simple steps for caring for your leather furniture will affect the life and condition of your investment. With proper care, your leather furniture can last for many years to come and look just like it did the day you purchased it. Leather furniture is easy to maintain and clean, but taking simple steps to care for it properly is often overlooked. Following the simple tips above will assure that your furniture will remain looking, feeling, and smelling new.

Dana is a furniture specialist and interior design aficionado.

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Simple Ideas for Decorating Your Toddler's Room

If you are converting the nursery into a toddler room, you can save time and money by carrying over the nursery’s theme if your child has not outgrown it. Crib quilts and sheets as well as the crib mattress will all fit toddler beds so by continuing to use that theme, you will save yourself the cost of buying new bedding. This will also save you the trouble of completely redecorating the entire room with new paint, wallpaper, lighting, and window treatments.

If you would like to completely redo the entire room or if you are decorating a toddler room in a separate room than where the nursery was located, there are a lot of cute themes available for a toddler room.

If you are decorating the room when your child is old enough to talk and give you their input and ideas, let them help you make some of the decisions. My son was climbing out of his crib by the time he was 21 months old, so we had to design a toddler room a little earlier than we had planned to. I wish he had been old enough to give us his input. We went with a sports theme because my husband had his heart set on it. Now that my son is three, his interest include cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes. He is not the least bit interested in sports so his room holds little appeal for him.

There are many great toddler room theme ideas available whether you are decorating a toddler girl room or decorating a toddler boy room. Choosing the theme is the first step you will want to take in decorating your toddler‘s room.

Once you have settled on a theme, choose the bedding and décor such as art work and wall hangings that you will use. If you want to paint, use the bedding to help you choose a paint color that will compliment your room. You may want to consider wallpaper, a cute border, or a mural for the walls as well.

Furniture will also be a major consideration when decorating a toddler room. If you have a convertible crib, you can convert it to a toddler bed and save yourself the expense of buying a toddler bed. If your crib doesn’t convert, there are a wide variety of toddler beds available. You can find beds that match your theme (disney princess, bob the builder etc.) as well as beds that are shaped like fun objects (cars, fire trucks, doll houses, castles, trains, etc.). Standard toddler beds can also be found starting at around $40. If your crib mattress is holding up well, there is no need to buy a new one since they fit toddler beds.

If you have a dresser from the baby nursery or a changing table that converts to a dresser, there is no need to purchase a new one. If you are in need of one, you might be able to find one that matches or at least compliments the toddler bed that you have chosen. If you already have a dresser that you are planning to use, you can revamp it by finding knobs or drawer pulls that match your toddler room’s theme.

A children’s size table and chairs set is also a very functional furniture addition to a toddler room. It gives your child somewhere to do art projects and puzzles.

A toy box and a bookcase are other pieces you may want to consider for the room. Be sure that your child can not climb inside the toy box and become trapped. You will also want to check the lid to be sure it can’t slam down and crush their fingers. The bookcase should be anchored to the wall so that your toddler won’t pull it down on themselves if they attempt to climb it.

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