What color sofa are people buying these days? We asked a designer from Home Reserve a leading online furniture site about the color trends. “We’re definitely seeing some new colors emerge,” says Scott Anspach, the stylist for the company. Orange has been huge for quite some time but now we’re seeing the popularity of light blue and dark brown fabrics rise to fever levels as well.”

“Not only are all three colors being widely used separately, but people are also using them in combination,” explains Anspach. “They may use a light blue fabric for the sofa itself and then accent with dark brown and orange pillows. It is a surprising blend, but does create a wonderful contemporary color scheme.”

He says that this color direction is no secret. “You can see them in all the shelter magazines and mail order catalogs. These blue, brown and orange colors are everywhere.” When we asked about the old standbys of beige and neutrals he explained: “Those earth tones are always a safe choice, but sales in those colors haven’t spiked, just kept a steady pace.”

What’s next? According to the research at Home Reserve, don’t be surprised to see pink emerge and for light pastels to return. You can visit their web site at http://www.homereserve.com

When you’re buying a new sofa, although it’s important to choose one that looks right in your living room, it’s also important to remember that it needs to be comfortable and durable. Sofas should last for about ten years, so need to be well-constructed in order to provide value for money. Here are some hints and tips to help you to find a sofa which will stand the test of time.

Choosing Sofas – Frame and Springs

When choosing a new sofa, make sure that you pick one with a sturdy, well-constructed frame. Sofa frames can be made from wood or metal, but the highest quality and most durable sofa frames are made from hard wood, such as beech. Some sofa frames are made from a combination of beech and softer woods so that certain parts of them have more give, and some people may find these types of sofa more comfortable. Although they may be cheap, avoid buying sofas with frames made from low-quality materials, such as chipboard or plywood, as they won’t last as long and so won’t be cost-effective in the long term.

The frame should be glued and screwed together rather than stapled, and you should check to make sure that the frame meets or exceeds the relevant British Standards before buying a sofa.

You should also find out how any sofa that you are considering has been sprung. Ideally, you should look for a sofa that uses proper springs, rather than pre-fabricated wire coil units, and you should avoid buying sofas that use what are known as zigzag springs, as they won’t last as long.

Sofas – Padding and Cushions

The type of padding and cushions used will affect how comfortable a sofa is. Look for a sofa with seat cushions which have been made from high density foam, as this will mean that your sofa will provide you with more support and will last longer. It’s also a good idea to choose a sofa that has shape-retaining foam, as this will mean that your sofa looks good and remains comfortable for longer.

If you require extra support for your back and neck, you may find that a sofa with a firmer, more upright back and high-back cushions may suit you.

Choosing Sofas – Upholstery

Sofas come in a wide range of finishes and the type of upholstery used can make a huge difference to the comfort and durability of your new sofa. A leather sofa, for example, will usually be more durable than a sofa with fabric upholstery, but leather can take time to wear in, so it may not initially be as comfortable.

Fabric, on the other hand, can be less durable than leather, and won’t provide as much support, but may feel softer. Many sofas with fabric upholstery have cushion covers that can be removed and washed, so it’s easy to keep your sofa looking in great condition, and some are made from stain-resistant materials.

Buying a Sofa or Suite is a significant amount of money and an investment that is expected to last and keep in good condition. This really can only be achieved if the Upholstery is kept clean, protecting the material or leather. There is no doubt within the cleaning industry that using Stain Protection with a Service Plan policy attached is the best way to limit stains and protect the fabric. More on this later in the article.

In most families the Upholstery fabric or leather faces a large amount of wear and tear particularly if there are children or pets. To keep it looking good and prolonging the life of any furniture it is important to keep it clean and well maintained. Here are some tips on how to protect and clean upholstery

o Upholstery should be regularly vacuumed to remove dust and grit that can cause soiling and fibre abrasion.
o Turn cushions occasionally to ensure even wear of the cushions, fillings and fabrics.
o Take care when wearing clothing that could cause dye transfer such as jeans etc. Dye transfer on to light coloured furniture can be difficult to remove.
o Protect furnishings from the sun and strong natural light as this will cause fibre degeneration and colour fade. Occasionally, dyes can fade from impurities within the atmosphere such as cigarette smoke, cooking fumes etc.
o Keep pets off the furniture. Pet urine and body oil can weaken and even destroy fibres.
o Solid stains should be gently scraped and lifted off the surface.
o Liquid stains should be blotted up with a clean white absorbent material.
o Work from the outer edge to the centre of the stain.
o Avoid rubbing, over agitating or too much pressure to avoid damaging the fabric fibres.
o Leading retailers recommend that you have your upholstery and furnishings professionally cleaned every 18 months. This can double the life of your furnishings.

What will also extend the life of Upholstery is to apply Stain Protection either when purchased or after a Professional clean. In most cases the Stain Protection will include a service or replacement warranty, which means if staining occurs then procedures are put in place to remove it. The benefits of Stain Protection are:

o It creates an invisible layer which does not change the look or feel of your fabric upholstery or carpets.
o The majority of the UK’s leading retailers sell it.
o The protection plans come with a 5 year servicing plan and free stain removal.
o It can add up to 50% to the life of the fibres by reducing abrasive wear.
o It is environmentally safe.
o A full replacement warranty can be issued on brand new furniture.
o Very cost effective over a 5 year period.

Many customers, who have invoked their Stain Protection Policies when a stain has been found, are pleased when the stain is removed by their own actions or when a professional cleaner is called to attend. The successful removal of a stain depends on a lot of things but there is absolutely no doubt that the chance of success is enhanced significantly if Stain Protection has been applied.

If you want to protect and increase the life of your Upholstery then the application of Stain Protection will do this.

It is rather rare for a furniture type to have low and high end items available. This is mainly due to the raw materials used to manufacture the furniture. In general, cheaper materials are easier to work with but they are not as durable. More expensive materials tend to last longer, but the price could be out of reach for most people. It is very hard to find a type of material that is both affordable, and long lasting.

If you are looking for such furniture, perhaps you should turn your attention towards rattan furniture. Such furniture is created from cane, which is one of the toughest material in the world. It is abundantly available (mostly in Asian countries), which explains why it is more affordable than most other home pieces. You can find both low and high end rattan furniture that is available in the market today.

Low end rattan furniture.

Low end items are mostly mass manufactured. They follow a template, and they include items like chairs, tables, and many other commonly used items. The patterns are simple and straight forward. The goal of the manufacturer is to keep the cost as low as possible so that more people can afford to own the furniture. Therefore, you won’t find any complicated processing or methods applied to the products. For instance, the cane will come in its natural colors, without any paints applied to it.

Such furniture are great for homeowners with a limited budget. You may wish to consider buying some of these items if you fall within these categories:

* Renting an apartment.
* You own an apartment but you have a low income.
* You want to save money for other big ticket items.
* You are not sure if you really like cane furniture in the house. So you can buy a few low end pieces to try out.

High end rattan furniture.

More expensive rattan furniture is also available if you have the budget. These include home pieces such as sofa sets, dining sets, bar seats, designer chairs, etc. A lot more thought, skill and effort is required to create these furniture pieces. Therefore, you can expect prices to be higher.

But even with the higher price tag, many homeowners still find the pricing to be competitive. This is because you are mainly paying for labor, skills, and brand. But for furniture made with other materials such as hardwood or steel, you pay for the materials as well. Manufacturers can find it hard to compress the prices simply due to the high cost they have undertaken when buying the building materials. In this aspect, rattan furniture is one up against the others.

You can consider buying high end rattan furniture if you find yourself in one of the following positions:

* Confident that the furniture will last for many years.
* You want a unique design that you can’t find in other home items.
* You want something that is easy to maintain.
* You are looking for a modern and rare design that requires skillful workmanship.

You may already know that all sofas are not created equally and if you are in the market to make a purchase, you will undoubtedly wanted to explore different styles and shape of sofa to find the best fit for your tastes and location. It does not matter so much what the room may be, choosing the right sofa involves taking the time to explore the various styles and shapes of sofa on the market and to have at least a general understanding of these various types before making a purchasing choice. Style and shape are similar but not the same when it comes to a sofa.

The most traditional style of sofa is that which has a back, legs or skirt. This is the foundation upon which many different styles and shapes of sofa are designed and built. An English-style sofa features slightly rounded arms, legs on castors and a tight seat that is slightly outset from the arms. This style of sofa is often referred as a Club sofa. The Tuxedo sofa has a traditional flare with arms that rise to the same height as the back. Often rounded pillows are placed on both ends of this type of sofa because the high arms are not comfortable for resting.

A Camelback sofa takes its place among the traditional styles and derives its name from the serpentine back that is situated behind arms that are high and rolled. Various bottoms complete Camelback, these ranging from stretchers and exposed legs to neat skirting beneath a tight, cushioned seat usually in three pieces. The Knole sofa hails its design from 17th century English style. With straight angled arms the same height as the back, the difference between the Tuxedo and Knole is that the arms are adjustable and stand straight or open out.

A Cabriole sofa has arms that offer a continuous contoured line from one side to the other. Cabriole sofas are often trimmed with wood and rest on visible legs. A Lawson sofa appeals to those who like square arms and a square design for the overall look of a sofa. Some Lawson sofa designs are outfitted with rolled arms. The Chesterfield is most commonly used in libraries and posh executive offices but can adorn any room with its tufted seat and rolled arms. Sectional and midcentury modern sofas sit on squared legs and have clean cut lines to compliment any décor.