Category: Furniture

Now that you’ve made an investment in new furniture for the porch, patio, or deck, what will you do with it when weather prevents its use for a long period of time? Generally speaking, homeowners have three basic choices — store it, cover it, or do nothing. The best choice for you will depend chiefly on your unique situation. Knowing more about each option should allow any homeowner to make the most informed decision about outdoor furniture protection.

Letting It Go

Some homeowners prefer to do very little, if anything, to protect their outdoor furniture. Many people may feel that they lack the extra time needed to use patio furniture covers or to carry furniture pieces into storage. Protecting the outdoor furniture is not often on top of the priorities list for many busy homeowners. Regrettably, neglected patio furniture deteriorates at a dramatically faster rate than protected furniture. The lifespan of resins, metals, and woods is very much reduced with constant exposure to the elements. The result is furniture that looks beaten up and weathered, and that falls apart and requires replacing much sooner than homeowners might expect.

Storing It Away

Other homeowners like to store their patio furniture in a shed or another available space. Storing outdoor furniture makes sense when it will be out of use for a significant amount of time, such as through the winter. Storing furniture does have some disadvantages, though. Outdoor furniture is usually heavy, and moving it generally requires more than one person. Moving furniture can cause injury to those doing the moving, and it can cause damage to furniture pieces if any part is scraped, dropped, or bumped in transit. Storage is not a practical choice for homeowners who do not have extra space available, nor is it ideal for those who want only temporary protection from the elements.

Covering It Up

A growing number of homeowners prefer the third option for outdoor furniture protection — patio furniture covers. Patio furniture covers can be put on and removed in a matter of minutes, making regular use possible. Homeowners can promptly cover their patio furniture before an impending storm, and then remove the covers after the weather has cleared. Patio furniture covers made using superior quality fabrics are intended to stand up to many years of harsh weather conditions, too, so they can protect furniture successfully for extended periods of time. Also, patio furniture covers are a space saver because they can be folded away and stowed in a small space when they aren’t needed.

Storing outdoor furniture, covering it, or doing nothing to protect it is entirely the choice of the individual homeowner. Understanding some of the advantages and disadvantages of each option, though, is crucial so that the most preferred method can be used.

One of the most common means of furniture restoration is furniture refinishing. Refinishing furniture can breathe new life into pianos, tables, chairs, cabinets, bookcases, jewelry boxes and other items that have started to look a little bit worn.

With any furniture restoration project – and furniture refinishing is no exception – there are a few things to consider. First, you want to think about whether or not you can do it yourself. You may be thinking, “Why couldn’t I tackle furniture refinishing myself? All it takes is a few hours, some sandpaper and new stain.” While in many cases this is true, some furniture restoration should be left to the pros.

For example, piano refinishing isn’t the same as refinishing a jewelry box. Many large pieces – pianos, armoires – are far easier for professionals to restore and refinish. Another furniture restoration project that may be better suited for a professional is refinishing chairs. You may find that, for these projects, hiring a professional will cost less and take less time than if you were to do the projects yourself.

Another professional who you may want to consult before taking on a furniture restoration project is an antiques appraiser. While refinishing furniture you bought new can help give the piece more character or even help you to sell it for a profit at a yard sale, there are rare and collectible pieces of furniture that will lose value if they are refinished. When you’ve bought an antique dining room table, coffee table or cabinet, furniture refinishing could lower the value of the piece and you may want to look into a thorough professional cleaning instead.

If you are only looking at refinishing furniture that is newer or that has sentimental value, you may choose not to consult with a professional. In that case, it’s often best to get right into the project on your own.

To start your furniture-refinishing project, it’s often best to find a spot that won’t be noticed as a test site. In this spot – low on the back of the piece or on the bottom – you’ll want to start the furniture refinishing by removing a small portion of the current finish. Doing so will let you see what you’re up against and how hard will it be to remove the current finish from the furniture.

The answer to that question will vary some. Simple surfaces like a table will be easier to refinish than a cabinet with intricate corner work. Using a furniture stripper and a scraper will make it easier to remove a painted or varnished finish than merely using sandpaper. Once you’ve determined how to best remove the old finish from the furniture, the next step is to work outdoors (when possible) to remove the old varnish and paint.

Furniture refinishing, however, is not just about removing the old finish. Refinishing furniture requires stripping the old finish and then preparing the surface for a new finish by sanding the surface and wiping down the sawdust that sanding stirred up. Only after the surface has been prepared can you start the final step in this furniture restoration project: applying the new finish.

Refinishing the furniture, therefore, means knowing what the new finish will be. For some, the goal of refinishing furniture is to strip off color, get back to the natural wood and apply a clear finish that shows off the item’s natural beauty. For others, furniture refinishing is a matter of taking the wood to a darker shade – staining pine so that it takes on the color of cherry or mahogany wood.

Still others look at furniture refinishing as a chance to bring color to their table, desk, bookshelf or bureau. When refinishing furniture, many are likely to choose a colored stain followed with a topcoat of varnish for sheen. Another common choice people, who are looking for color, make is to select paint that matches the room or provides the contrast they are looking to achieve in their room.

Furniture restoration, after all, is a personal choice. Refinishing furniture gives you a chance to create a new look without going out and buying something new. For those inclined to take on little projects on their own, refinishing furniture can be a great way to spend a weekend – and have something to show for their time, for years to come.

Outdoor furniture may be easily found in all sorts of colors, styles and a variety of types of materials made for outdoor living. Whether you are looking for an outdoor sofa for your backyard, or you have an entire patio or balcony area to redecorate, you may be wondering what the best type of material is for you. Maybe you have different expectations that you need filled for the furniture you want to buy, and it’s advisable to know a little bit about the materials outdoor furniture is typically made of to find out what will fit your needs best. There are several long-lasting types of materials used that are favorable, such as cast aluminum that has been powder coated, wooden furniture, plastic resin and plastic.

If you want very reasonably priced items, look for outdoor furniture produced from plastic resin. It is a good choice for furniture because it’s very durable and can withstand the sun, rain, wind, and other outdoor elements. Another advantage is that plastic resin doesn’t require maintenance and even remains cool when exposed to the hot sun, which is an important quality for outdoor furniture.

Plastic outdoor furniture is considered the most weather durable solution. It can withstand sun, rain, and wind, even better than plastic resin can, and is also rather inexpensive. The downside of plastic outdoor furniture is that it is occasionally hard to keep clean and keep looking new. If you have to move your furniture around or carry it a lot, plastic furniture is extremely lightweight. If you’re planning to leave plastic furniture outside at all times, the fact that it’s lightweight may be an issue because the wind can knock the furniture over rather easily.

Cast aluminum that has been treated with a powdered coating is of a better-made material than the previously mentioned materials. The material itself has the ability to be made into much more sophisticated designs as well. It is a more expensive option than those materials, but that expense may be worth it if you are looking for something fancier, or something that is sturdier and can withstand a heavy windstorm. Prices on this material may differ greatly, and often depend on the intricacy of the patterns. Powder coated cast aluminum is an efficient option because it offers many different pieces of furniture, which is excellent if you are looking to add a lot of different items.

Wood is an additional choice when shopping for outdoor furniture. Wood not only looks fantastic, it’s widely used because it’s highly durable. For that reason, wood is often the most expensive option. If you’re looking for something long term, however, this could save you money in the long run. Wood furniture has a large number of color options in that it can be stained and painted in a great many colors, and wood can be found in countless designs and styles to fit any design theme.

There’s simply no rule that states that consumers must stick to one specific type of furniture, as furniture pieces made from a variety of materials is certainly okay and encouraged for variety. The secret is to not just throw anything together, but to find mix-and-match pieces that blend well and give texture and interest that a fully matching set won’t provide. If you are looking for an outdoor sofa, you may consider one with a wood frame, while choosing a couple plastic tables to go with it. Finally, if you’re looking for new outdoor furniture, take the time to think about the needs of where you live and your own budget, and then set out to find the furniture that can make you happy.

When looking for new furniture, you may find that the best deals are literally right before your eyes. Most furniture stores sell their display furniture at incredible prices- and being at the right place at the right time could mean slashing as much as 90% off the costs of your furniture. Display models are usually set up for customers to see, touch, and feel the furniture choices before them. These pieces can include furniture for the entire home, including sofas, beds, dressers, kitchen tables, and more. Often companies use displays for a few weeks to a few months, then sell it at reduced costs to make way for the new displays, passing on tremendous savings your way.

Keep in mind that because this furniture has already been put together and sit out, there may be small scratches, dents, or other slight damage, however, for those who don’t mind barely noticeable marks, the deals are undeniable. The damage, if any, is very minimal, and most of the time not something even seen without a search. A few dents and dings for hundreds to thousands of extra dollars…priceless.

In order to find out if a display model is for sale, or when it will become available for sale, all you need to do is ask a furniture sales associate. They will be glad to give this information, which will also give you a heads up as to when to be back to the store when it is being sold.

Think about whether you could pay for someone to fix or clean any problems with the display furniture. The best deals will be on furniture that has some kind of damage, but if you are receiving a significant discount, then you may find it will be worth your while to go for the more damaged article.

Speak with the owners of shops to let them know you are only in the market for a real bargain. Ask them when their display furniture will be up for grabs to contact you. Then they will be on the lookout for a bargain for you, and saves you going back time and again.

Buying display furniture is a smart move that anyone can make. No one will even know that it was a display model other than you and your family, and with such amazing prices for the pieces, you would be crazy not to take advantage of the offers.

Dollhouse funiture Scales: Half Inch

Dollhouse scales are a way for you to know that the furniture you are buying will fit your dollhouse. On this website, all furniture items are on a 1 inch scale unless the title of the item says otherwise.

This item is built on a half inch, or 1:24 inch, scale. This means that half an inch of dollhouse furniture represents a foot of dollhouse furniture. This furniture item, as shown in the title, is built on a half inch (1:24) scale.

If you are not sure which scale your dollhouse corresponds to, simply measure the height from floor to ceiling on the 1st floor of your dollhouse. If your dollhouse uses a 1 inch scale, the height should be between 8 and 12 inches. Heights between 4-6 inches use a half inch scale; heights between 2-3 inches are on a quarter inch scale.

Dollhouse Dining Room Furniture

Dining rooms can add an air of sophisticationor charmto any dollhouse home. The majority of dining room sets are intended to look graceful and stylish; however, hand-painted or country-ish dining rooms give you another great option. This is a great area of your dollhouse to play make believewhether children are pretending to have company at dinner, or you are displaying a great tea set

Dollhouse Scales: Quarter Inch

Dollhouse manufacturers use scales to help you make sure you are buying the right sized items for your dollhouse. The most popular scale for both furniture and dollhouses is the 1 inch scale. At Dollhouse City, unless the title of the furniture item tells you it is inch or inch, the item is built on a 1 inch scale.

This furniture item has a quarter inch (1:48) scale. This means that one inch of dollhouse furniture is equivalent to four foot, or 48 inches, of furniture in real life. So, a 1 inch dollhouse sofa represents a 6 foot real sofa. Other scales include the 1 inch (1:12) and half inch (1:24) scales. To figure out which scale your dollhouse uses, figure out the height from floor to ceiling of one level of your dollhouse. A good way to determine which scale to use for your dollhouse is to measure the floor-to-ceiling height of your dollhouse.

Half inch scales will have heights between 4-6 inches; for a quarter inch scale, there should be 2-3 inches between floor and ceiling.

Dollhouse Colors: Black Furniture

Looking for a unique color for your dollhouse furniture? Black defiantly stands out and makes an impression. Most black dollhouse pieces have colorful artistic work. Though design has more of an impact on style then color, most black designs lend themselves away from a colonial or a Victorian look, but rater into a more modern look.

Bedroom Dollhouse Furniture

Every dollhouse needs a dollhouse bedroom. There are so many styles, colors, designs, and furniture pieces available that each bedroom set is truly unique. Each set has its own one-of-a-kind features, such as distinctive carving designs and specially tailored bedding.

Children’s and Nurserys Dollhouse Furniture

No room in your dollhouse will be more sweet or nostalgic than a childrens room or nursery. You can decorate the childrens room to look serene or lively, and the accessories available will enchant you (such as teddy bears, a copy of The Cat in the Hat, or a dolls dollhouse). A nursery can transform your dollhouse into a miniature home with its adorable baby furniture.

Dollhouse Kitchen Furniture

Within kitchen sets for dollhouses, there is a great assortment in terms of sizesome kits only include a couple pieces, while others have everything you could possibly think of A table and chairs are important to have in your kitchen if your dollhouse will not have a dining room. Some of the most fantastic dollhouse accessories belong in the kitchen (such as cookie tins for the cabinets and a gallon of milk for the fridge), so make sure you have room to exhibit them