Tuesday, September 20th, 2016
While many enjoy summer and the happiness that it brings, there’s always that point when it must come to an end. It’s that time to redesign your outdoor space to make it more suitable for fall. Expect to host social gatherings and dinners during this season but don’t let these become the sole purposes of outdoor living. Know that you can add warmth as well as ambience to your patio or porch so that you can up the level of excitement there.
Choose the Right Kind of Outdoor Furniture
Yup, summer is over and the temperature is about to get coder. This does not mean that you have to stay indoors the entire season till winter. It also does not mean that you have to keep the patio or the porch untouched during the holidays.
If you actually think of it, fall is the best time to enjoy the outdoors. Go out and appreciate the season’s beauty. This means you must use only the best patio furniture that you could find. Be sure to keep the space’s welcoming vibe. But what kind of furniture should you invest in?
There are many factors that can help you decide. First, find out how durable the materials used are. Find the ones that can easily withstand the weather elements. Wicker is one such material which can still look cozy while being functional. Wrought-iron is also a durable material; it is especially hard to topple during storms or windy days. Aluminum can also easily survive outdoors as it can resist corrosion.
Function is another factor to consider when buying outdoor furniture. This is especially true when you are buying for a smaller space. An outdoor space used for romantic dinners can have a set of wrought-iron furniture in bistro style. If you have more guests to accommodate then you can add stackable chairs and a long wooden table.
Lastly, you don’t need to compromise the furniture design for function. There are now a lot of furniture sets that offer both. If you want to be true to the vibe of this season, then it’s time to embrace a rustic or country appearance.
Light a Fire
Since the temperature is colder, you can literally add a warmer glow to your outdoor space by lighting up a fire pit. This allows you to entertainment people with just cocktails or cups of hot chocolate. Don’t expect to hold dinners, of course, but you can have seating for guests to rest on.
See if you prefer wood or gas fire pit.
Pick the Right Lights
Have you ever seen houses lit like coffee shops? These are known as twinkle or café outdoor lights. They can add a more serious ambience to the outdoors. They are also budget-friendly so you can have them installed anytime.
Have them placed over the balcony railing or an outdoor dining area.
Use Outdoor Textiles
Apart from having a fire pit, you can also have warm rugs and soft blankets brought out. Simply bring the indoor comfort to your outdoor space. Don’t worry too much about the rain since you can easily bring the stuff in when it starts to rain. If you want to maintain the chic look even during wet seasons, then consider buying materials that are manufactured for all kinds of weather.
Add Natural Elements
Don’t forget to add fall elements like the following –
Tags: fall preparation, indoor-outdoor furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, outdoor furniture, outdoor lighting, outdoor living, outdoor view, outdoors furniture care, patio furniture, porch furniture, preparing for fall
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Wednesday, September 7th, 2016
If you have a lovely furniture right on your porch and you bring it out there during spring or the summer, it could easily become your favorite piece. This is especially true if it is comfortable and sturdy. Even your little ones and pets could easily fall in love with it. A probable downside to this is weathering. This could happen when the furniture is exposed to constant rainstorms or the harshest rays of the sun.
Weathering could result in peeling and cracking, even warping in some furniture. You would soon realize that the piece of furniture was not meant to be taken outdoors.
Outdoor Furniture Challenges
There are many obstacles for your wooden furniture outdoors. First, since wood is biodegradable, it can rot or break. This won’t happen unless you have your teak, cedar or redwood treated to become rot resistant. Still, don’t expect the piece to last forever.
Standard furniture is often made with finishes and interior glue. These are meant to be used in climate-controlled structures. When these are placed outdoors and are exposed to the harsh temperatures and intense moisture levels, the glued joints could turn loose. The finish could also degrade.
Your wooden furniture can stand against such damages if waterproof glue is used.
As for the construction, look for the pieces that are sturdy. Find the ones with thick joints and pieces which decreases the wooden amount exposed to the harsh elements. Indoor furniture is often delicate as it is built with fine joints as well as glued veneers. These are invitations to warping, moisture as well as disintegration when left to the elements.
The Yard Sale Default
While it may be tempting to get the old tables and chairs and put them up for sale, you might want to hold your horses first. Rather than sell them right away, you can still seal and refinish the furniture. You would have to do this quickly, though, since deterioration is taking its hold each day.
Protection from the Elements
Furniture that is intended for indoor use generally doesn’t last long outdoors. If you want to use an indoor type of furniture that you could also use outside of your home, you should be prepared to have the piece pressure-treated as well as undergo chemical applications that could make it resist rotting.
Technically, interior furniture can be used outdoors but you have to know what to do to protect them. Leave no piece unfinished and make sure that you also choose the right kind of finish. Multiple coats of the correct finish could protect the furniture from harmful ultraviolet rays, even moisture. This is because paint can block UV rays better than the clear finish. Another great bet is for you to apply a coat of exterior primer. Top it with oil or latex-based paint for the exterior.
Achieve a natural wood look by applying various exterior spar varnish coats. This kind of coat can product a built-up type of finish which protects more effectively than oil. Find the ones that have UV blockers.
Prior to painting, be sure to sand down the surface down to the bare wood. You can also use chemical strippers to achieve the same effect. Seal every bit of crack, joints, the legs and bottoms. Seal everything that you could lay your eyes on.
Just to ascertain that your furniture will be more protected, be sure to recoat regularly. The best finishes can still wear and tear when exposed to Mother Nature. Recoating should be done in about a year or two.
As much as you can, protect the furniture from rain and the sun. Place some form of shade and raise the furniture off the ground so it won’t be exposed to puddles.
The best outdoors wooden materials include acacia, cedar, cypress, shorea, redwood and teak.
Tags: indoor-outdoor furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, outdoor furniture, outdoor view, outdoors furniture care, tips
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Tuesday, August 30th, 2016
Some people focus on ocean threats more than what this place can contribute to their health. Whether they may be thinking of algal blooms, floods or pollution, these people only see the harmful things that come out of the regal blue oceans. Yet the notion of living near a beach can make one feel and literally be healthy.
Once you have decided to embrace the nautical theme, there are many maintenance tips that you need to keep in mind. Here are some of the fundamental ones –
Learn How to Clean Wood Furniture
Quality wood furniture can actually last a lifetime for as long as you know how to take care of it. Wood is susceptible to abrasions, scratches and harsh weather especially when they are not properly cared for.
Ask for cleaning instructions once you purchase furniture. Apart from the cleaning instructions, you should also avoid heat damage and rings by not using coasters. Be sure to use decorative placemats as well as a tablecloth if you want to protect wood tables.
There are many other factors that can wreak havoc on wood such as heat, sunlight and rain. Never place wood furniture in front of any uncovered window, fireplace or vent. Dust, too, can eventually destroy furniture, too. Airborne particles can become a filmy layer that will scratch the wood eventually. Dusting more frequently will keep the buildup from becoming thicker. Use soft cloth such as cloth diaper, cotton T-shirt or any microfiber cloth to avoid wiping damage.
There are times, though, when dusting is no longer enough to clean wood furniture. Don’t ever use all-purpose solutions or cleaner as these can damage the finish.
A spot that has been heavily soiled can be cleaned with a cloth dipped in mild dish detergent. Wring out the solution then gently wipe the soiled area. Rinse with a damp cloth then wipe with soft dry cloth.
Damages that are too extensive need to be treated with touch up sticks or polishes. Overly dry wood can also be re-oiled. Begin by using cleaning soap, then the appropriate cleaner, and then prep the surface using steel wool.
Always work with the grain. Apply the furniture oil liberally then let it soak in the wood for no less than 15 minutes. If you want to apply protective coating, then be sure to set the furniture for about 24 hours before moving forward.
Depending on the furniture finish, the piece may have a protective wax coating. This is a piece that you need re-waxed as it ages. The re-waxing is a guarantee that the surface will be continually protected.
Remove Tough Stains
Despite your efforts, there are inevitable events that could lead to the staining of your wood furniture. Whatever stain you need to deal with, just be sure to clean it up quickly. Remember that the longer the stain stays, the more difficult it will be to remove.
Keep the Wood Smelling Awesome
There are wood furniture pieces that could develop an unpleasant odor later on. This is especially true when they have been stored. When this happens, just sprinkle some baking soda onto the wooden surface to remove the unpleasant odor. You can also place a pan of charcoal in the drawers so that the odor would stop emanating. You can also leave the piece in any shaded area during a dry day. This should remove any malodorous stench after a few hours of exposure.
Care for Weathering
Over time, your furniture will have attained a silvery-gray patina. This is when you can tell that this piece is starting to weather. It takes nine months for this process to become more serious. The more rain and sunlight the furniture is exposed to, the less time you have to save your furniture. Just find the appropriate cleaner and you should be fine.
Tags: caring for wood furniture, caring for wooden furniture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nautical, nautical design, nautical style, outdoors furniture care, wood furniture, wood furniture care, wood furniture maintenance, wooden furniture, wooden furniture maintenance, wooden furniture maintenance tips
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