It seems that almost everyone shopping for a sofa thinks about getting a sectional. We sell lots of beautiful sectionals and it’s no wonder—they’re great for solving a variety of space planning issues and offer lots of seating. But they aren’t always the best solution. That’s what this post is all about—we’re going to help you decide if you actually need a sectional and, if you do, what type to buy. (If you haven’t read our blog about the terms used when describing sectionals, start there!) (more…)
Sectional Sofa Pieces: What Do They All Mean?
Shopping for a sectional can be like navigating a foreign land: There are a lot of unfamiliar terms and if you mix them up, you’ll end up facing the wrong way. A sectional is a sofa that comes in, you guessed it, sections. It’s typically two pieces, but can be more than that if you add in seats or come up with a more unique layout. Learning the following sectional lingo will help ensure you get the right pieces to create the layout that’s best for you. And once you figure that out, head over to thestatedhome.com to shop our selection! (more…)
How to Choose a Sofa: Avoid These 10 Features
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.
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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Shopping in Seattle
We expected to really enjoy our recent visit to Seattle, thanks to its fresh seafood and coffee on every corner, but we didn’t realize all the places there would be to find American-made items. Seattle isn’t just the birthplace of national brands like Filson and Herbivore Botanicals, but it’s also full of expertly curated boutiques featuring a lot of other, less-known brands. We’ve got your must-shop places here along with a few other recommendations to make sure you eat well along the way. (more…)
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…)