DIY Upholstery Tips for Beginners

by Posted in Home Design

Have you got some beloved furniture that you just can’t bring yourself to throw away? Whether it’s an old chair that needs a new seat, or you’d like to give a piece of furniture a bit of a revamp, having a go at DIY upholstery could be your best bet.

However, if you’re new to the upholstery world you might not know where to begin. This article will go over some of the top tips for DIY upholstery to help you make a start on your new project. From which upholstery nails to choose from to checking the inside of your furniture, here’s everything you need to know about upholstery before you start.

Get your tools right:

The first tip may be one of the most important, as without the right tools, there’s no way you could do a decent job! Having the correct tools will not only make your life easier, but the finished product will also thank you for it. Your final results will go from amateur-looking to professional level! Here are the most important tools to get right:

Upholstery gun: There are three different types of upholstery guns, the most popular being the pneumatic staple gun. This type will make the job much easier and quicker, so don’t just go for the cheapest option, as you might regret it!Upholstery nails: You can choose from a range of upholstery nails to add a final touch to your product. Not only can these disguise any staples on show, but they can be used as decoration to give the furniture a certain look or style. You’ll need a hammer for this!Fabric scissors: Good quality fabric scissors are essential for getting straight lines and avoiding tearing to the fabric.Marker: You can use anything from chalk to a pencil to mark where you want to cut the fabric, this will help you make more accurate measurements.Staple remover: For all beginners, you’re bound to make a couple of mistakes. Having a staple remover on hand will allow you to fix those errors swiftly.

Don’t forget the inside

When you first start upholstering, you only want to focus on updating the outside. With this in mind, you need to check to make sure the insides are in good condition. If not, this will be a job for a professional. 

You can check the insides are working correctly by testing how sturdy and solid it feels when you sit on the furniture piece. If it feels rock hard or you sink deep into the seat, these are signs that there are a few problems that need fixing and you should leave that piece to someone who knows what they’re doing!

Be picky with fabrics

You don’t want to put loads of effort into upholstering a piece of furniture for the fabric to only last a couple of months (or to rip whilst you’re working on it!). If you choose a fabric that won’t tear easily and is heavy-duty to withstand years of rubbing, you could give the chair or sofa a new lease of life for years to come.

Thin fabrics might be cheap, but you’ll just have to re-do the covering not long after! Heavy hemp fabrics and cotton twill or denim are all good choices for long-lasting upholstery.

Start small

It’s great to be optimistic, but if it’s your first time trying to reupholster a piece of furniture, it’s probably not the best idea to start with something expensive, large, or pieces that are important to you. It’s best to get your practice in first until you feel confident enough to tackle larger projects.

You don’t want to start with a large piece of furniture as this might be so difficult that it puts you off upholstering for a long time. Have a go with something small like a footstool as your first attempt to get yourself comfortable with the process. Buying something cheap will also put the pressure off getting it right first time, that way you can have more fun with it and any mistakes won’t be a big deal.

Practice makes perfect!

As with anything, skills take time to develop and the more time you give to it, the better you will get. Follow these top tips when tackling your first upholstery project and you should feel confident enough to make a start.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=181

3 Historic Buildings You Should Visit for Design Inspiration

by Posted in Home Design

A lot of buildings that have beautiful interiors and exteriors are older houses that have withstood the test of time. There is a huge variety ranging from Tudor dwellings to modernist masterpieces, all of which could be very helpful when it comes to giving you inspiration for your own home. This list will discuss these buildings in more detail so you can go visit and start getting inspired. 

Adlington Hall 

There is a long history that surrounds Adlington Hall, which is why people from all over the country head there to visit on group tours. It started its life as a simple Saxon Hunting Lodge, which acted as a base for Earl Edwin and his men. During the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror threw Earl Edwin off the land and took it for the Normans, who held it for years until it was eventually passed onto the crown in 1221. 

As well as it’s interesting history, another reason why they go to visit is because of its sheer beauty and magnitude. Thanks to its enormous gardens, gorgeous exterior and moving interior, Adlington Hall truly is breath-taking, which has, and will continue to inspire decorators for years to come. 

2 Willow Road 

If you are looking for something that is a little more modern then you will absolutely love this gem of a row of houses which is located in Hampstead. It was originally designed in 1939 by Erno Goldfinger, who upon completion decided that he wanted to make No.2 his place of residence. This home has been furnished by Goldfinger and still contains a lot of his original possessions, such as his furniture and artwork. 

The home is now owned by the National Trust and so can be visited by everybody. It’s really surprising that a home that was decorated so long ago can still look as modern as it does. There really is nowhere else that you could get some inspiration for your own interior design. 

Eltham Palace 

Two styles that you will be surprised go well together are art-deco and medieval splendour, but Eltham Palace proves they were always meant to be. This palace is somewhere that will appeal to history buffs as they will be able to dive into the back story of the fantastic history that surrounds this area. The interior design of this palace truly is something to be marvelled at as there is a series of different art-deco pieces that were built by both Stephen and Virginia Courtald in the 1930s. Not only this but the palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has a nice tea shop. As such, this makes for a great day trip and great inspiration for your own home. 

Conclusion

There is such a huge array of trends that come and go in the realm of decorating your property and as such it can be difficult knowing exactly what you should be doing. If you are looking for some inspiration, visiting historical houses can be a great way that you can work out what you want to do moving forward. 

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=173

4 Renovations That Will Transform Your Swimming Pool

by Posted in Home Design

As you upgrade your home, one of the areas that is likely to be left out is the pool area. Just like other areas of your home, the pool gets worn out too. Why does your pool need attention too? This is the place you get rejuvenation after long tiresome days, it might also be where you host guests and it also contributes to the overall appeal of your home. 

If your pool exhibits dry ambience, has leaks and old systems and it is no longer trendy, this is a call for an upgrade. With the help of pool remodeling Tucson experts, here are some upgrades that will transform your pool area.

Installing LED lights

Is the poor lighting in your pool blocking you from enjoying your evenings and nights in the pool area? Well, installing LED lights will give it an impressive transformation. Not only will these lights save your energy by about 75%, but they will also add to the ambience while ensuring lighting is adequate.

To make the view even better, you can install LED lights that change colors to create a light show in your pool. This is a  good way to revamp a swimming pool that is out of trend, while at the same time enhancing safety.

Add some stone coping around the pool

Stone coping around the swimming pool will give it a great face lift. Stone coping has greater ambience compared to concrete. More so, it is safer that other materials like tiles which are slippery to walk on. Stone coping comes in a wide range of options and designs allowing you to achieve your preferred aesthetics. 

Compared to other materials this gives a distinct charm that also makes your pool look expensive and elegant.

Automatic leveler

An automatic leveler will detect when the water levels in the pool are too low and trigger a refill up to the optimum level. Whey do you need an automatic leveler? For one, it will give you peace of mind as it will eliminate the constant worry of whether the water levels are okay. Note that too low levels can cause damage to the pool equipment which can be expensive to replace. 

It will also go a long way in protecting your yard from flooding caused by overfilling. It also has an aesthetic benefit as it eliminates the need to have hoses floating on your pool (hoses can be a hazard too).

Tile replacement 

Broken and old tiles are not only unsightly, but they can cause injury or damage to the pool. This is one of the priority areas of remodeling that will instantly change the appearance of your pool. Retiling with updated and attractive tiles will enhance the overall appearance of your pool area.

Conclusion

As you remodel your home, do not leave your pool out. It gets worn out too, something that will not only cause inefficiency in energy use but can also be a hazard. Do a remodel to eliminate these worries and also enhance the ambience of your outdoor space.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://distancebetweenplaces.com/?p=170