We’ve done a lot of talking about what you should look for in a sofa, but it’s just as important to know what features you should stay far away from. Consider the following our “avoid at all cost” rules—spot them on a sofa and leave it at the store. And if you want to make your sofa shopping experience super easy, head over to thestatedhome.com for our selection of gorgeous sofas.
Furnishings 101
What Causes Pilling?
If you’ve ever had a well-loved sweater, you’re probably familiar with pilling – those tiny little fuzz balls that appear on the surface and make it look less-than-new. But pilling isn’t just something that ruins sweaters, it can also fuzz up sofas upholstered in certain fabrics.
Pilling occurs when loose fibers in the fabric move out to the surface (it’s just a natural tendency fabric has). Once there, friction twists them into small balls—more commonly known as pills.
One of the more irritating things about the pills is that you can’t just vacuum them off—they get twisted together with fibers that are still secured to the fabric and hold on tight. (Don’t worry, we’ll talk about how to get rid of them later.) The only way you can really avoid this is to never use your furniture—and who wants to do that?
On the bright side, pilling doesn’t mean your fabric is wearing out before its time. You won’t start to see bald spots or notice thinning areas. It’s just something that happens with new fabric. Before long, the excess fibers eventually stop floating to the top. Also take heart knowing that pilling happens in one form or another to almost all fabrics.
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Best Way to Clean Wood
Our selection of beautiful dining tables are ready for a lifetime of yummy dinners—but how do you keep them looking like new? This is definitely one of those cases where less is more. Just follow a few simple guidelines and resist the temptation to start spraying the wood-care products you see advertised on TV. Also, as a quick note, the below doesn’t work for wood furniture that’s been painted or has an oil finish. (more…)
Fabric Codes for Cleaning: What Do They Mean?
Once you decided which sofa style you want to buy, it’s time to choose the perfect upholstery or slipcover fabric. Color, pattern and texture are certainly important, but there is another factor that should be part of your decision: the fabric care code.
Why is the fabric care code such a big deal? Well, it provides the guidelines for how to clean your fabric. If you end up spilling something on your new sofa, spraying it with foaming upholstery cleaner from the store may just make matters worse. Know your fabric’s cleaning code and you can have the correct cleaning products on hand (meaning you can act quickly if something spills).
With that said, here are the codes and what they mean: (more…)
How to Clean Slipcovers
If your slipcovered sofa gets dirty—maybe your two-year-old decided to do an art project on it, maybe you thought eating spaghetti on it was a good idea—don’t panic! Slipcovered sofas (check out our great styles here) can be cleaned, which is one of the main reasons they’re so popular. But take a deep breath and pause before you just stuff your slipcover into the washer and push the start button. There are some things you should know first.
Adding Nailhead Trim to Sofas: A Primer
Nailhead trim is a great design detail that can be added to almost any upholstered furniture piece—sofas, chairs, ottomans, you name it. Some styles almost always look better with nailheads, like a Chesterfield sofa, while others shouldn’t go near it (they look out of place in super-modern spaces). But if you have a transitional home, it’s up to you whether you go nailhead or not.
And that’s not the only decision you’ll have to make. Nailheads come in different sizes and finishes and can be applied in lots of different patterns. You could use brushed nickel or shiny brass to glam up a space or go with antiqued nails to add a rustic touch.
It can get confusing fast, so here are 10 guidelines for how to use nailheads: (more…)