Furniture is the most integral part of home décor, without decent furniture the house looks incomplete. Furniture provides comfort and an opportunity for homeowners to express their style. Given its benefits, furniture also has a downside – it is very costly.
Since furniture is so darn expensive, we do everything possible to avoid breaking/spoiling it and having to schedule a carpenter, visit the store or shop online. It is something that is used most of the time and more than anything else in the house, thus it is bound to face wear and tear. It is for this reason that you need to be extra careful with your furniture. Below are some tips on how you can manage and ensure your furniture lasts long, yes really long.
1. Keep screws tight and secure
Screws and bolts in beds and chairs loosen with time. They will not pop out immediately, however, you will struggle with wobbling chairs and the creaky sounds. Failure to tighten the screws can lead to permanent damage. Tighten the screws regularly and do some DIY fittings to make your chairs or bed last longer. Once every six months should be okay depending on how often they become loose.
2. Keep it neat and tidy
One of the easiest ways to judge whether a piece of furniture is old or not is by its appearance. Well, the exciting part is that furniture is not always as old as it appears. Dirt and dust will make your furniture look old and faded. It is therefore essential that you dedicate some time to cleaning your chairs. Remember not to use harsh chemicals for cleaning as they will do more harm than good. Wiping with a clean damp cloth or vacuuming will be good.
3. Polish the wood to revive sheen
Sometimes you do not even need to replace your furniture since it’s aging: polishing the hardware is all you need to do. Nevertheless, always remember to avoid harsh products like polishes containing ammonia. A mild abrasive will do. As you do the polishing, protect the rest of the finish using masking tape. Polishing can be slightly expensive but it is an effective way of adding some life to your furniture and saving yourself from investing in new furniture.
4. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight
We all know that sunlight is not furniture’s best friend. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage the furniture. How does this happen? The UV rays of the sun that penetrate almost 70 percent through plain glass in the window tend to fade, discolor, and damage the wooden surface and even the upholstery of your couches, chairs, and beds. To protect them, you can place your furniture in those parts of the room where the sun’s rays do not reach. Also, you can make use of blinds and curtains to reduce exposure to sunlight.
Also Read: How to Move Heavy Furniture by Yourself (13 Pro Tips)
5. Be gentle and careful while moving it
If you ask around, you will find that most of the damage that happens to furniture occurs as people move from one home or office to another. This is usually a result of improper handling. Proper planning and preparation before moving is important, especially while moving heavy furniture. Spending some time on planning will save you a lot of stress and money.
Avoid dragging your furniture in general. Dragging damages the floor and strains furniture legs. Lifting furniture carefully is a better option.
6. Have rules for kids and pets
It is all fun and games until your furniture cannot stand on its own. It is for this reason that you need to be strict on how your chairs and couches are treated. No one should be jumping on them as they get weak and are likely to break. Pet nails can scratch the upholstery and cushions, they should be held back from climbing onto your prized furniture. Slipcovers also come in handy in protecting your upholstery. If you have children, pets and a lot seems to be going on in your house; slipcovers would be an excellent investment. They will protect your furniture from wear and spills.
7. Repaint or recushion
Your old furniture might still be very strong but at the same time look old. This means they still have some life left in them and are willing to serve you a little longer. If you are not ready to buy new furniture, you can merely add some life to them by repainting or recushioning with better quality and trendier fabric.
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