How to Care for Wooden Furniture

Caring For Wooden Furniture

Chances are that you have some form or fashion of wooden furniture in your home. Items made from wood can last a long time even if you don't care for them properly. However, if you do treat them well and give them proper care, they can last for decades. Here are some tips that will hopefully help you give your dining room tables, end tables, chairs, and other wooden items some TLC. 

Step 1: Cleaning

When you clean wood furniture with a finish, you really only need water and a little bit of mild dish soap (Like Dawn). As long as you avoid letting any water stand for too long on the surface, you should not have any problem damaging it. Wipe down the surface with a damp, soft cotton or microfiber cloth to remove dust and grime. You can use a toothbrush or other soft-bristled brush to clean any crevices, nooks, or crannies. Afterward, wipe up any remaining moisture with a similar but dry cloth. 

Step 2: Perking up the Finish

If your table isn't looking as shiny as it once did, you can apply some soft wax to the finish to help restore it. Apply a thin coat of your preferred brand (using their recommended amount) and use a soft cloth to buff lightly across the surface. Let the wax set for about 30 minutes and then buff with slightly more pressure the second time around. You should get a nice shine that will stick around for quite some time after you are done. NOTE: I know it may not be entirely possible, but positioning your wooden furniture where it doesn't sit in much sunlight over the course of a day will help preserve the finish. You may want to close the blinds when the sun is shining directly on your table and chairs. 

Tips for Wooden Furniture Longevity

 If you have a house that uses space heaters or other kinds of external heating equipment, you will want to keep your wooden furniture away from those things. For one reason, it can be a fire hazard, and for another reason, they will dry your wood out. Dry wood can become cracked and loose because it shrinks. Also, if you live in an arid climate, consider using a humidifier to keep the air from getting too dry. Of course, you don't want to place the humidifier so that it is blowing directly on any wooden items. Too much moisture can warp wood. 

Tables and Chairs for sale in Abilene, TX

Wood care is not as complicated as you may think it is. Avoid too much sun and letting water sit for too long and you should have no problems. However, at Pierce Furniture Gallery in Abilene, TX, we understand that life isn't perfect. For that reason, you may have to replace an item in your home prematurely. This unexpected expense may not fit in the budget so we offer furniture at true discount prices. With the help of our friendly sales staff, we are sure you will find the perfect set of tables and chairs for your home!

A Retreat for Guests

A Retreat for Guests

There is nothing like a cozy, comfy room to spend the end of your day in. We love it as homeowners, but what about our guest? Trust me, they love staying in a room that makes them not ever want to leave. If you ever stayed in a luxury hotel room, you know what I’m talking about. It is the small details, clean sheets, decluttered space, and special amenities. Well, you can turn that extra bedroom into a special retreat with simple details. Give your guest the 5-star treatment they deserve with a few helpful tips from HGTV.

Essentials for Creating a Cozy Guest Room

A fresh arrangement can complement the room and add a little color. Putting together an arrangement does not have to be a hassle. Even inexpensive store bought flowers or a handful picked from the garden will add charm and bring a smile to your guests. Try tulips, they are a natural choice because they're available year-round and their droopy shape lends itself to fuss-free arrangements.

There is nothing like fresh bedding. Neutral sheets, blankets, and quilts accented with colorful pillows that say “great night's sleep!” Start with high-thread-count, 100 percent cotton sheets then add a thick duvet and pile on lots of fluffy pillows.

I know everyone has a smartphone and probably used it as an alarm clock, but there is still something about having a clock on a nightstand that makes the room complete. Buy one anyway, we don’t want our guests to be late for any plans. Just remember if you purchase a clock test its noise level first, no one wants to lie awake all night listening to a loud tick-tock.

Use a deep basket to store guest towels, a robe and extra blankets. Place it visibly in the room, so guests have everything they need upon arrival. This also keeps them from having to rummage around or ask you.

Five-star hotels have the right idea when it comes to stocking the room with cups, coffee/tea, and snacks. Do the same for your guest room. Stock a couple of mugs, a teapot and small packets of coffee and tea so guests can help themselves to a warm cup whenever they'd like. A dish of easy to eat fruit, late night snacks, and bottled water is always appreciated. You can even customize a snack tray for each guest.

Because we all (almost all of us) forget at least one thing when traveling, consider stocking a few travel-size essentials. Have an extra blow dryer, trial size shampoo, toothpaste, and hairspray handy in the guest room closet or dresser drawers.

Bedside lighting is always nice. Some guests like to read or check their email before going to bed, and a low light desk lamp is perfect to set the mood and keep other guests from sleeping.

Let's not forget the windows. Inexpensive blinds, roller shades or ready-made draperies do wonders in blocking out the early morning sunlight. Guests will appreciate a dark room for sleeping in. You don’t want the room to be too bright to sleep in or become extra hot or cold.

A Furniture Store with Everything You Need

There is nothing like spending the night in a cozy guest room and getting the best sleep of your life. At Peirce Furniture Gallery in Abilene, TX, we stock everything you need to turn your guest room into a 5-star hotel. We offer everything from mattresses to bedding, floor lighting to table lamps, and even wall accents. Our friendly sales staff will help you find everything you need to make your guest room look and feel great!

How Much Sleep do You Get?

How Does Your Bed Treat You?

We are supposed to, on average, spend a third of our lives sleeping. Eight hours out of a 24 hour day is what you should dedicate to allowing your body to rest and recuperate. Of course, everyone is different and everyone has different needs so the number can change a little bit for individuals. As a whole, though, most people spend a considerable amount of time in bed. The quality of your sleep can play a vital role in your body's health and well-being.

Losing Sleep

Ask yourself this question: What happens to me when I don't get enough sleep? Then ask yourself this question: What happens to me when I don't get quality sleep? The answer to both of those questions is probably the same thing. When you lose sleep, you suffer from a variety of negative things including fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, and drowsiness. Long term sleep loss can have an adverse effect on your health including, high blood pressure, soreness, mood swings, and even neurological disorders. When our bodies rest, it's the time that we repair tissue and filter toxins from our systems. With that being said, it's very important to get the right amount of rest. 

One thing that is overlooked by many is that the quality of rest you are getting is just as important as how much. If you are sleeping for eight hours, but you aren't entering into the deeper stages of rest, you can still have side effects as if you aren't sleeping long enough. Now, there are many factors that can play a part in the quality of your sleep. Stress, worry, and other things may keep you up at night, but things like restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea may be affecting you at night. Problems like those are something that you have to have diagnosed, but one thing you can do for yourself is to make sure you have a new quality mattress. 

Mattresses For Sale in Abilene, TX

A Pierce Furniture Gallery, we've got a great selection of mattresses for you to browse. You should replace yours every 5-10 years. Ask yourself when the last time you bought one was and if you can't remember, it's probably time for a new one. Financing options are available to help make your purchase even easier. Don't let your rest suffer any longer and come by for the sleep you deserve.