Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Cleaning Tips for a Fabric Ottoman



Owning an ottoman helps you in a couple of ways. It allows you to revamp a room, and at very little cost, and it also helps reduce wear on your furniture. If your ottoman, or any other furniture, however, is placed near a sunny window it will be affected over the years. You can change this by using an ottoman cover, and by cleaning your ottoman regularly.

There are several things to keep in mind when cleaning your ottoman. It is recommended to clean the fabric as often as needed. A gentle cleaning is preferred to a more rigorous regular cleaning, but you can be more energetic about it if need be. 

Cleaning removes dust that has been accumulating along with any other dirt and grime. Pigmented leathers and semi-natural fabrics should be cleaned using a mild soap that has a neutral pH along with some warm water. Rinse the soap off with a clean dampened cloth to help remove any residue that is left over. Don’t use a soap that is too strong for the skin, as it may also be for the leather. 

You should always test on an inconspicuous part of the ottoman to make sure that the cleaner is adequate. If you are cleaning an aniline leather ottoman, clean it with a damp cloth only. Don’t use soap on the leather. 

Under no circumstances should you expose the fabric to bleach, ink, liquid, traces of fatty skin, strong products (even laundry detergent) or chemicals and sharp objects to avoid damaging the furniture. Never expose the ottoman cover fabric or leather to direct sunlight or bright light sources as this will discolor or distort the piece.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Design Ideas for a Kid’s Ottoman



There are literally thousands of designs that are floating around for kids when it comes to furniture and their rooms. A great example is the kid’s ottoman. In fact, designing a child’s piece of furniture is fun and exciting, plus it brings back some great memories. You can pick a piece that will go along with what your child already has. A desk, tables, bed, ottoman cover and beanbag chair can all be designed with fun shapes and colors.

An ottoman, is a perfect way to bring out your child’s inner personality and it will save you some money along the way.

1.   Animal Shaped Ottomans. If your child is an animal lover, this option is a no-brainer. Design an ottoman that looks like their favorite animal.

2.     Star Wars Ottoman. Almost every young boy loves Star Wars these days, so this would be a great time to build a Death Star.

3.     Artistic Ottomans. If your child loves to paint or draw, let them have at it on their own ottoman. In fact, add a chalk board on it so they can draw on it anytime they want.

4.     Girly Ottomans. Plenty of girls love frilly, pink things so this would be a perfect time to pad an ottoman down with tassels or frills and anything else you can think of. You can also put a make-up kit with a mirror in it which could pull out. You could even install a hidden drawer for some clothes as well.