Upholstery is a word that is commonly used in the furniture industry. It is an important part of all sorts of different types of furniture and can be useful to know to become a more educated furniture buyer. Continue reading to learn more about upholstered furniture and tips for how to properly care for your upholstery.

What Is Upholstery?

Before getting into how you can take care of your upholstery, it is important to define what upholstery is. The word “upholstery” can refer either to the work of fitting furniture with padding, springs, fabric, and other coverings or it can refer to the materials that are used to upholster something. Upholstery is used to make couches, chairs, futons, and other types of furniture that have cushions connected directly to the backing. Upholstered furniture is a well-loved staple of any homeowner’s furniture collection.

Tips For Caring For Upholstery

The first thing that you need to do in order to take care of your upholstery is to keep it clean. Make sure to avoid eating on upholstered furniture and vacuum regularly, especially if you decide to eat while sitting on your furniture. Make sure that when you vacuum your furniture, you do it with a gentle machine or use a soft-bristled brush to get rid of any dirt that has collected on the surface of your furniture.

Keep Your Upholstered Furniture In The Shade

The next tip to help your upholstered furniture last longer is to keep it out of the sun. Whether you have indoor or outdoor furniture, it is important to keep your upholstered furniture in areas of your home where they are out of the way of sunlight. The reason for this is that the sun’s rays can fade fabrics and cause the drying or cracking of certain types of materials. If you have outdoor furniture, you may want to have a cover to protect it when you’re not using it, from both sunlight and precipitation.

Rotate Your Cushions

Some types of upholstered furniture have removable cushions. When you have the option to take the cushions off of your furniture, it is important to move them around. If cushions are always kept in the same spot, then they may become lopsided or deformed over time. Fluffing and rotating your cushions will not only protect your furniture from becoming misshapen, but it can help make your furniture look better.

Pay Attention To Stains

The next time you are sitting on your furniture with food or drink and a spill occurs, make sure that you know what to do. Spills need to be acted upon quickly in order to avoid any problems. Dab any spills quickly with a washcloth instead of rubbing it and avoid using any harsh chemicals. Instead choose a cleaning solution that is made specifically for upholstery.

Are You In Need Of New Furniture?

We at Sugar House Furniture are professionals in the mission furniture industry. We have many different furnishings available for buyers interested in upholstered furniture. With our vast and specialized knowledge, we are confident that we can help you find the perfect pieces for your home. Our catalog has a vast collection of different options that can be suitable for many interior design styles. For more information or to get in touch with us, feel free to reach out to us at Sugar House Furniture.

Sugar House Furniture offers quality crafted wooden furniture for a variety of homeowners. Our pieces are built to last, but sometimes furniture needs to be replaced to work well. Below are some tips to know when it is the best time to upgrade your furniture. 

Upgrading your furniture can help to elevate your home for a more affordable price. Furniture is there to serve the user, help keep you comfortable, and protect your valuables. Quality furniture helps you feel comfortable in your home and makes daily living much easier. 

Inspect The Structure Of The Furniture

The biggest indicator of when to replace furniture is if it is no longer structurally sound. If your furniture has broken parts, is teetering, has unsafe parts, or can no longer hold items, it is best to replace it. 

For items like tables or chairs, it may be easier to determine when the furniture is no longer usable. But for beds, dressers, sofas, ottomans, or lamps, it may take more research to determine if spending the money on new furniture is worth the investment. It is a good rule of thumb to not wait until the furniture breaks or malfunctions to upgrade your furniture. This could lead to injury or other damage that could have been avoided.

Is The Piece Comfortable?

As modern people in modern homes, the biggest thing your furniture should accomplish is keeping your home comfortable and stylish. Comfortable and plush furniture will elevate the look of your home and help it to look lived in. Furniture is a simple way to show off your personality and greet your guests with a homey feeling. 

When your piece is not serving the needs of your home design, is not comfortable to sit or lay on, or has been ruined by kids or pets, this is a good time to upgrade your furniture. 

What To Do With Old Furniture?

Getting rid of old furniture to make way for the new can be a daunting task. Homeowners or renters that are looking to invest in new furniture have a few options to choose from when it comes to removing old furniture including, selling, donating, recycling, or simply trashing. Depending on the material and condition of old furniture, you may be able to make some money back from it. Pieces in good condition that you no longer need or no longer want can be sold for a small profit. 

When you upgrade your furniture it can also be a good time to give back. Other pieces that may have small damage or only a good few years left could be donated to a thrift store. These places can often help those who can not afford new furniture at the time. Recycling furniture means that some parts of it can be reused for newly constructed pieces. This is most common in furniture pieces made of wood or metal.

Why Replacing Furniture Is Important

Broken, damaged, unhealthy, or unsafe furniture is just not worth the stress. Replacing furniture at the proper time will give you peace of mind when coming home. Your friends and family will have proper places to sit, and your children or pets will not be injured.

Damaged, stained, or ruined furniture is not safe to leave in your home. If you have experienced a fire or flood in your home, and much of your upholstery and wood furniture needs to be replaced. Other furniture can carry pathogens or bacteria that lead to illness in your home. Upgrade your furniture to items that do not causing turmoil in your home to improve the atmosphere in your home. 

Investing in quality furniture pieces will ensure that they last for many years. Replacing furniture is not uncommon, but the better quality pieces you choose, the less you will need to upgrade your furniture. 

Quality Pieces With Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture prides itself on crafting quality pieces that are built to last. Replacing furniture can be expensive and time-consuming. We take the guesswork out of buying furniture with our customer-focused showroom, multiple colors and designs, and a variety of pieces to choose from. No matter what furniture you are looking for, our team at Sugar House Furniture can assist you. Visit our showroom or website to see all we have to offer!

Children and pets can get into lots of trouble and cause damage in just a short amount of time. Preventing furniture damage is possible when you have small children and pets, but it does take a little bit more effort. Setting rules and boundaries and keeping them clean are great places to start. Below are some more tips to prevent furniture damage by children and pets. 

1- Purchase A Protective Cover

If you don’t care about your original furniture being covered or having a different color over your furniture, adding a protective cover will protect the furniture pieces from spills, stains, accidents, or tears. Protective covers don’t have to be uncomfortable or unsightly, they can be made of soft fabric and simple prints to prevent furniture damage without taking away from the design of your home. 

While a protective cover won’t protect your couch, chairs, or bed from all damage, it can be an extra layer that the substance has to go through before it gets to the material of your couch. It can also make cleaning pet hair, dirt, or crumbs off the piece much easier. 

2- Keep Stain Remover Or Cleaner On Hand

While some damage is preventable, upholstery, carpet, rugs, or other furniture pieces can see stains. Having a cleaner and stain remover at the ready will help prevent the stain from setting or seeping in further. This keeps your furniture looking nice and keeps mold or bacteria from growing around the area. 

For wood or polished surfaces, having a spray or polisher close by can help remove condensation rings, crayon marks, or other small scratches. 

3- Invest In Furniture Specifically For Your Pet

When your pets are spending too much time on your couch or bed, it might be a smart idea to get them a piece of furniture that is just specifically for them. Dog beds, blankets, heating pads, small couches, and other furniture is all available for pets. Having their own space can decrease the amount of time they spend on your furniture and give you more room to relax. 

4- Set Clear Boundaries

Teaching children and pets boundaries early on will help them as they grow. Having rules and boundaries about what furniture can and can not be used for will help to protect from furniture damage. 

Setting boundaries for pets can look like closing doors or installing baby gates to signal that those areas are off limits. For children, not allowing drinks on the couch or not allowing shoes or jumping on furniture. These boundaries will help establish a habit and can be hard to maintain at first, but over time they will become second nature. 

5- Try Pet-Friendly Repellent Sprays

If your pets tend to claw your wood furniture or bite and tear upholstery, try a natural ingredient spray that will keep your pets away from these furniture pieces. Some common ingredients include vinegar, citrus, and peppers. Make sure to do your research on what you can spray on your furniture and if it is safe for your pets and children. While we want to keep pets from causing furniture damage we want to avoid severe allergic reactions. 

6- Secure Heavy Furniture To The Wall

Tipping and falling furniture can cause damage to the piece and to children in your home. Securing furniture prevents injury and even death to a child or pet. Securing the furniture will stop heavy things from breaking, damaging your floors, or crushing small children. 

7- Choose Colors That Hide Dirt

Choosing furniture colors that hide dirt and dust can help keep your home looking pristine. These colors will help disguise dirt if you don’t have time to clean or in between cleaning sessions. Medium warm gray, warmer colors, or blue grays will help to hide most build-up until you can deep clean. 

Choosing these colors doesn’t have to change the interior design choices of your home. Furniture that you use consistently can be a darker color to contrast the rest of your room and lighter furniture pieces can be kept in rooms that your children and pets don’t frequent. 

Sturdy Pieces With Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture offers mission-style furniture that is built to last. Our pieces are hand-crafted with straight lines, and a timeless look. Our team is proud to serve the Utah community and have our furniture pieces in your home. Prevent furniture damage by investing in quality furniture pieces and learning about the proper cleaning methods. 

Our storefront is a must-visit destination because we hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence. Visit our store and showroom in Salt Lake City, UT today!