Even in a perfectly clean home, soft furnishings will become dirty and grimy with time. If you live in a big city, or smoke, or cook, the fabric will acquire a thin layer of grease, soot and other environmental debris especially quickly. Every time you touch the upholstery with your bare skin, you transfer a small amount of oil, sweat and whatever makeup, perfume or body lotion you might be using, to it. At the same time, minute quantities of bacteria and viruses (such as the flu) are also transferred to the chair from your skin as well as your clothes.

Since these substances can’t be wiped or vacuumed off very easily, the next person who sits down picks up a little bit of this cocktail while contributing a smidgen of their own to the mix, and so it goes on. Then there are the mites, fleas, ticks, bedbugs and other tiny critters that sometimes live in soft chairs, cushions, and even your office chair. A veritable swap-meet for all manner of bugs, germs and diseases, right there in your living room. It’s enough to make you see why your great-aunt Gladys insisted on covering her couch with plastic.

But before you get too grossed out or carried away, you should realize that we humans are very resistant to bugs and germs, which are all around us wherever we go. You can make your own home a lot more hygienic and comfortable by cleaning your upholstery regularly, however. Your chairs and sofas will also look fresh and vibrant again, and stains will be banished. It’s not expensive to either clean furnishing fabrics yourself or have them professionally cleaned.

Doing it yourself

Whether you need to get rid of a stain where your toddler spilled his juice, or you want to give your entire living room set a spring clean, there are many different upholstery cleaning products for sale in furniture stores, supermarkets and home improvement outlets. You should begin the cleaning process by removing all loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner. It’s always a good idea to test your chosen product on a small patch in an inconspicuous area to make sure it won’t ruin the color or texture of the fabric. Avoid getting your furniture too wet, since soft furnishings take a long time to dry if the water has penetrated into the cushions. For this reason it’s best not to use a steam cleaner – that’s something best left to a professional service.

For light stains and grime, especially from pets, try sprinkling a good layer of a mixture consisting of three quarters of a cup of baking soda, two tablespoons of cornstarch and two tablespoons of baby powder on your furniture. After a few minutes, vacuum up with the upholstery cleaning wand, and your chairs should be fresh and clean-smelling again.
If you’re using a spray-on cleaning solution, follow the instructions on the can or bottle. For a liquid or cream cleaner, experts recommend adding a little bit of water and whipping the solution in a blender or with an electric beater to ensure that it doesn’t sink in to the fabric too quickly. You can even whip up powdered laundry detergent with water, as long as it doesn’t have bleach among the first three ingredients. Use a cloth, sponge or soft brush to apply carefully, and blot with a towel soaked in clean water and wrung out to remove excess cleaning product.

Greasy stains can be removed with special dry cleaning solvent that you blot on with a clean, white cloth (don’t rub). Follow up by blotting with dishwashing detergent dissolved in a cup of warm water, then use a towel to sponge the cleaning agents off with warm water. Did you know that baby wipes can be excellent upholstery cleaners? Use wipes that contain alcohol, which dries rapidly, unless your fabric is particularly delicate. Baby wipes are especially convenient to use since there’s normally no need to use water afterwards, plus they’re not so wet that they leave large wet patches.

Professional cleaning services

If you can’t get the stain out, if your upholstery material is difficult to clean or has a tendency to mark or discolor, or if you just don’t feel like tackling the job yourself, get a professional to come and clean your furniture for you. An upholstery cleaning expert can often get things clean even when your attempts have failed, as they know exactly what chemicals and methods to use. Pure cotton and cotton blend fabrics are especially tricky to clean yourself, and so-called Haitian and Tahitian cottons are definitely best left to a pro.

Many cleaning firms will be pleased to schedule you for a regular cleaning session once or twice a year, and will call you ahead of your fixed appointment to confirm. In between, try to spot clean any spills or stains as soon as they happen, to prolong the life of your furniture and keep it clean and pleasant all the time. You can also help prevent dirt from building up by using the kitchen extractor fan when you’re cooking, and encouraging your family to keep their feet off the furniture and to be careful not to spill food or drinks where they’re sitting. The whole family will soon come to appreciate that keeping the chairs and sofas dirt-free makes for a healthier living environment as well as a more attractive home.

Let’s start with some situations to avoid if you want to be a wise furniture buyer:

• Rent-to-own: If you have poor credit or no credit, or you just don’t have enough cash to buy that beautiful leather sofa, you might be tempted to sign up for one of those deals where you pay “just” twenty dollars a week for the next year or two, and the couch is yours. Stop and think about the amount of interest you’ll be paying, and you’ll see that the sofa could cost you twice as much as it should.
• Buying cheap stuff: There’s a lot of inexpensive pressboard furniture on the market. Remember, though, that the quality is so poor that it will fall to pieces if you move it, plus it marks easily, looks old quickly, and frankly just looks like a cheap piece of furniture.
• Going overboard: Plan ahead and buy only what you need right now, and possibly – if you have the money – what you know for sure you’ll need at a later date. For example, if your bedroom set is about to be discontinued, you might want to pick up another matching chest of drawers and vanity that will fit in the master bedroom of the house you’ll be moving into in a couple of months. But don’t go wild with your credit card just because something’s on sale or catches your eye. If you’re shopping for your daughter’s room, focus on that and don’t go buying dining room furniture at the same time.

Now that you know what not to do, you can concentrate on ways to find well made, reasonably priced furniture to suit your home. Be prepared to spend a bit of time – possibly a few months if you can – making a plan and shopping around. If you’re in a hurry, start by purchasing the bare essentials, then adding things once you’ve decided what you really want and compared prices from different retailers. Always keep in mind that you might be buying furniture that will become heirlooms in future years.

Start your search on the web to save yourself the time and hassle of driving around town. Online furniture retailers have a broad range of items along with detailed photographs and descriptions of each piece. In most cases, they also offer lower prices than traditional stores as they buy in bulk or directly from the manufacturer, plus they have lower overheads. The internet is also a quick and easy place to compare styles, colors and trends before you decide what to buy. Call each online furniture store you are thinking about buying from and speak to a customer service representative. This will give you an idea of their level of service and integrity, in addition to answering your questions about shipping and returns, and anything else you might want to ask.

Another way to get good prices is by visiting a factory-direct store. Many of these stores have a good range of quality items at discounted prices. Don’t forget to go to other large furniture outlets within easy driving distance of your home too. Let the salespeople know that you’ve been looking online as well, as this shows them you know the market in terms of both variety and price. Take photos of items you like, and make a note of the store they’re in, plus the prices and delivery costs.

An increasing popular option these days, and one that helps keep costs down, is buying unfinished furniture. There are entire stores (sometimes known as “naked furniture stores”) that sell nothing but unfinished furniture items to people who take them home and wax, polish or paint them to suit their own décor. The quality of the unfinished hardwood chairs, tables, beds, dressers etc. tends to be good, and you end up with a piece that feels that bit extra personalized because you finished it yourself.

Maybe you like the idea of picking up pre-owned furniture, whether for environmental reasons or because it suits your budget or style. Auctions, estate sales, garage sales and used furniture stores are all good places to hunt for pieces that could work in your home. Keep an eye on your local classifieds and online ads for people selling pre-loved furniture that can range from nearly new to genuinely antique. Unless you’re prepared to repair or refinish the items yourself, it’s best to go for things that are in good shape. That said, if you buy upholstered chairs or sofas that need some work, it’s easy to find local businesses that can repair or re-cover them.

Watch out for sales, liquidations and other special deals. If a furniture store goes out of business, or simply moves to a new location, you’ll often be able to pick up good items at bargain prices. Online furniture stores usually have a page where they sell off discontinued lines and items that have been slightly scratched or nicked during shipping or storage.  
Do you live near a military base, university or other place that has a lot of people moving in and out every year? If so, be aware that many of them will probably sell their furniture and other household goods rather than drag it across the country to a new location. You can snag some nice pieces at good prices, if you can beat the crowd.

Unless you buy from a retailer that offers free delivery, it’s good to have a friend with a truck to help you bring your purchases home. This also saves you waiting around for your stuff to be delivered. It’s also possible to rent a pickup or truck for less than $30, but don’t forget the beer and pizza for your buddies who help out.  
Your family can also be a good source of furniture – and you probably won’t even have to pay for it. If your parents are buying a new couch, ask if you can take the old one off their hands. So maybe it’s seen better days, but at least you know where it comes from, plus now you can afford to buy a coffee table to go with it. Any time you buy or take over a piece of upholstered furniture, be sure to use upholstery cleaner on it, wait for it to dry and then apply a sealing spray. This will guard against spills and stains for at least a year.

Lastly, let your friends and co-workers know you’re in the market for affordable furniture. Maybe one of them has something to offer you, or perhaps they can keep an eye out for you. One of your friends might call you from a furniture store they happen to be passing, or your sister might have spotted a cute dresser in a charity store. Just be patient and keep at it, and you’re bound to find some great things on your travels. Once your home is furnished, don’t forget to say thanks to all your friends and family who’ve helped you by inviting them over for dinner. That way everyone can admire your new purchases and learn all about how you came to acquire them.

In the old days, people tended to decorate their homes according to the prevailing trend, without too much thought to their own tastes. These days, we’re usually more inclined to put our personal stamp on our living space, while still drawing inspiration and ideas from interior design magazines and TV shows. That’s a major reason why a growing number of people are now purchasing tables, chairs, dressers, beds, kitchen cabinets and many other furniture items in an unfinished state, and personalizing them to fit their existing décor and color scheme.

With unfinished furniture, you can easily match a newly-purchased item to those already in the room. You can add pieces gradually over time without having to worry about a particular range being discontinued, since unfinished furniture tends to come in basic shapes and models that won’t go out of style quickly. Naturally, you can also change the look of your home at any point by re-doing items you’ve had for a while in a different finish or color.

Is it really solid wood?

Most unfinished furniture on the market today is made from solid wood, although it’s also possible to find items labeled “all wood”. This is not solid wood, rather a woodchip and resin composite such as plywood or chipboard that is covered with a thin wood veneer. While “all wood” unfinished furniture will cost you less than the solid wood equivalent, it won’t last as long or be as sturdy as the real thing. Since you’re paying a relatively low price for your unfinished furniture anyway, you should go for real wood if possible.

The great thing about buying unfinished solid wood pieces is that you can see exactly what the wood looks like, and there’s no way for the manufacturer to hide knots, weak points or other defects that weaken the structure of the item. What you see is what you get, in other words. For guaranteed top quality wood, look for furniture that’s certified by the Unfinished Furniture Association.

Some solid wood unfinished lines are made from hard woods like oak, maple, eucalyptus or beech, and others from soft woods such as pine, cedar, redwood or spruce. As you would expect, hard woods stand up well to the rigors of family use, while soft woods can scratch or dent fairly easily. However, this does make soft woods ideal for finishing in a distressed or antiqued style.

Finishing your new purchase

Unfinished furniture needs only a minimal amount of prepping before you apply your choice of finish. Just wipe all surfaces with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust, and you’re ready to go. The only exception is if you want to paint the item, and then you simply brush on a coat of primer and allow it to dry before applying the paint.
You have a wide range of choices when it comes to finishes for your new furniture. This is your chance to express your creativity and personality and produce a one-of-a-kind piece that’s your very own handiwork. The most popular finishing methods include painting, staining, waxing, shellacking, lacquering, mosaic inlays, stenciling, and faux effects such as distressing, marbling and crackle-glazing.

You can paint bedroom furniture such as beds, nightstands, dressers and vanities to tone with the wall color or draperies, and maybe apply a stenciled design or distressed finish to truly make it your own. How about staining your dining room set to go with the window frames and baseboards, for an elegant, put-together look? A milk wash or limed finish can transform an ordinary kitchen table into a rustic farmhouse table in no time. Get your children involved in creating fun furniture for their rooms, or attractive pieces for the den that the whole family can use.  
If you get really good at finishing your own furniture, why not use your skill to make delightful gifts for family and friends. They don’t have to be big items – an imaginatively decorated newspaper rack or key cabinet can make an excellent personalized present. Or you could even turn your hobby into a lucrative small business making fabulous hand-finished pieces to order.

Now that unfinished wood furniture has become so popular, many schools and colleges are offering classes in finishing techniques, so you have no excuse not to jump on to this trend. Alternatively, you could speak to a professional wood finisher to try to get some tips on achieving the look you want. Above all, enjoy the process, and you’ll have some wonderful pieces you’ll treasure long into the future.

Nowadays you can get both natural and synthetic wicker furniture. Natural wicker is a plant material derived from rattan, willow, bamboo, reed or abaca, and is well known for its beauty and versatility. It’s also a surprisingly hardy material that can last for many decades if you maintain it well.

Synthetic wicker has the advantage of being resistant to the weather, and lasts even longer than its natural equivalent. It won’t fade, and remains flexible and attractive even when it’s left outside in the heat, cold and rain. Just like natural wicker, the synthetic variety is woven, and can even be made to look similar to the real thing. Still, some synthetic wicker is made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is said to be harmful to human health and the environment. PVC is also less durable than polyethylene, which is also a safer material that is widely used in synthetic wicker manufacturing.

Look for wicker furniture that is built on a frame of aluminum. Aluminum-framed sets last longer as they’re better at keeping their original shape than those made with steel frames. Also, aluminum rust is the same color as the metal, so you won’t need to worry about your furniture discoloring.

Another thing to consider is how tightly the fibers or strands are woven. A good quality piece of wicker furniture should be capable of supporting even the heaviest weight. Before you hand over your money, you must also check each item to ensure that none of the fibers is damaged or loose, as this can help shorten the useful life of the item. If you’re buying synthetic wicker, confirm that the paint is even and neatly applied. They will never look exactly like natural wicker, but some synthetic products are designed with ridges and painted with natural colors to enhance their appearance. Stay away from synthetic wicker that has a glossy paint job – it just looks like a cheap imitation.

Before you go out shopping for your new wicker ensemble, figure out your budget. Buy the best pieces you can afford. You might have to pay a fair amount for good quality wicker, but you’ll have an attractive set of furniture that you can use for a long time, provided you take good care of it. Keep it clean by dusting it frequently, or you can also wash it with a damp sponge. It’s important to dry wicker well before using it again, however, or it will grow moldy. If you’re using the set outside, spray it regularly with a weather-proofing product.

It has been said that furniture shopping is like a journey. Getting there is half the fun, so make sure you have a great experience. And once you’ve found the right wicker furniture set, take it home and enjoy it with your family and friends.

Although you will need to have a certain number of basic pieces like a bed, table and chairs, sofa and so on from the outset when you’re setting up your first home, you can always start with stuff inherited from family and friends or purchased from garage sales, Goodwill stores and inexpensive furniture outlets. Over time, you’ll buy more items to fill up your living space and gradually replace some of the earlier pieces. A lot of people trade up to a bigger home as the family – and, in many cases, their income –  grows, so they’ll naturally need to buy extra furniture.

As you add to your inventory of furniture and home accessories, the trick is to do so with a long-term plan in place, so that you’re constantly working towards a unified look that you know you’ll be comfortable with for a long time. A 20-year time purchasing plan is likely to work best, as this tends to get you from your first rented home, through starting a family, to a time when your earnings are relatively high and stable.

But before you rush out and spend your hard-earned cash, here’s what you need to do to map out your furniture purchases over the next 20 years:

• Figure out what you want
• Make a realistic plan
• Buy at least one large, quality furnishing item every year

Nothing hard about that, is there? Here are some pointers to get you started on your 20-year plan:

Figure out what you want: Sit down and consider what you use your home for in terms of habits and hobbies, whether you want to change the way you use your space, and what kind of furniture you need. If you play a musical instrument, you’ll need a dedicated area for that, while someone who sews will want a counter or table for cutting and sewing, plus storage space for all their fabrics, machines and accessories. If you’re an avid reader, a comfortable chair or sofa, good lighting and a big bookcase are essential for you. A person who enjoys cooking will want a practical, stylish kitchen with fabulous cookware and appliances. Of course, if you have children, you must have adequate areas for them to play and do their homework, crafts and sports.

Whatever your family circumstances, your lifestyle or your aspirations, take the time to think through what really matters to you. Then you’ll be in a better position to draw up a “wish list” of furniture, accessories and appliances that can make each room in your home more attractive and functional.

Make a realistic plan:

Now it’s time to take your wish list and turn it into a workable, 20-year plan. Be prepared to be practical and maybe scale down some of your dreams to fit your budget. Still, this is a way for you to achieve the comfort and style you love without breaking the bank or suffering from buyer’s remorse later on. First, set your priorities. Perhaps you feel that the cheap, knock-down dining table you bought for your first apartment is really too small (not to mention too ugly) for your current entertaining needs. So a new dining table will be your big purchase for the first year.

Get the family together and brainstorm some ideas. Think about the style you’d like to see in your dining area.

Do you prefer a modern glass-topped table, a country pine, or a formal mahogany dining set? Round and intimate, or rectangular and stately?

Will you use the table for all your family meals, and will the kids do their homework and craft projects there – or do you plan to use it only for formal dinners and celebrations?

How about chairs – could you use your existing chairs or do you intend to buy new ones to match the table? Last but not least, would the new furniture fit into your space, and would you need to rearrange existing pieces to make room for it?

Next, you need to do a bit of time travelling. Let’s say you go ahead and buy that rectangular, sculptural wrought-iron and glass table you’ve had your eye on. Fast-forward 20 years and imagine how it’s worked for you. Have you found it a chore to polish the glass top after every meal? Has the glass held up well, or does it have chips around the edges or even on the surface? Or, if you went for a formal polished mahogany table, has it seen as much use as you’d intended, or does it just look old-fashioned and a bit intimidating? Perhaps you regret not opting for something more family-friendly like an oak farmhouse table, after all?

The point here is to pick pieces of furniture that will work for you and your family for many years to come, and that you’ll still love in a couple of decades’ time. So don’t rush into any decisions, or buy something just because it’s on sale or in fashion right now. You’re making a long-term commitment here, so don’t settle for second-best.

Buy at least one large, quality furnishing item every year:

Take a look at your annual budget and reserve part of it for your large furniture purchase. With any luck, your spending ability will grow over the years as you get older, so you might be able to make more than one major acquisition per year. If you find yourself a bit short of cash one year, go for a fabulous accessory like a rug or lamp instead of the sofa you were planning to buy. Keep referring back to your original 20-year plan, but remember that it’s OK to make adjustments to it as you go along.

Just make sure you buy pieces you love. Take the time to find items that fit your plan and your style perfectly. If you buy just one large, good-quality piece of furniture, or painting, or fantastic accessory a year, you’ll soon have a gorgeous home that reflects your personality and feels comfortable to live in every day for many years to come.

What more could you wish for?