The grandeur of your house is complimented by the furniture you keep. In this article, I am going to concentrate on an oft-ignored aspect of the furniture - its upkeep. So many people and innumerable websites would have guided you on the nuances of buying excellent, good, cheap, quality, bargain furniture and the likes. What many of us forget, however, is the fact that buying the furniture is not the end of things. In fact, it is just the beginning. If you want to maintain the furniture for a long time, its better for to you follow a few tips. Not only will they make your furniture last long, really long; they will also result in your feeling much better about the layout of your home.

A Dab of Polish: You will be surprised how little effort it takes to make your used and abused furniture look like new. All those ungainly tea stains on your dining room furniture can go away with just a little effort. All you really need is a wad of cotton cloth and a can of spirit. (I'm assuming here that your dining room tables and dining room chairs just need a touch-up; this is not meant for the original polish). Dip the cloth in the polish and gently rub it on the polished parts of the wood. Where there are any stains, a little extra rubbing should remove it completely. Allow the furniture to dry for a few hours before you put it to use again.

Paint It: If you have metal furniture, then polish obviously isn't for you. However, all you need is a free, sunny Sunday afternoon, plenty of willpower and a can of aerosol paint to freshen up the look of your furniture. Say bye to all the ancient looks and the layers that have been peeling off giving an ungainly look to the entire setup. Go a step further and change the color as well for a completely, brand-new look.

Table Pad: Use a simple table pad to keep the dining table covered during use. Hot meals tend to come in hot utensils - and the heat is definitely not kind to the surface of your dining table, or center table, or peg table - or whatever the kind of table. Barely a few cm thick, a table pad can absorb most of that heat and prevent it from affecting the table surface. They come in a variety of materials, from a heavy-duty, washable leatherette wood grain or leather-tone surface, to a cushiony soft velvet bottom; and fold for easy handling and storage.

Table Cloths: Sound like too much trouble? Never mind. Go in for a bright table cloth to enliven proceedings, and save your furniture as well. For more formal occasions, delicate embroidered ones are also available which will add a touch of class to your décor. And don't worry about the laundry- a simple transparent plastic sheet will protect your piece-de-resistance while not reducing an iota of its original beauty.

Hammer and Nails: Loose and squeaky chairs may just be asking for that free Sunday and a hammer with a few nails. Bang them in the corners to fit your chairs back into solid submission. Take care, however, not to spoil the beauty of the wood by putting nails right on top. They should be stuck in from a concealed place, and that's where the headless nails come in - they go right in without leaving a trace. If a polish is also on the cards, ensure you dig in the nails before using the polish, and not vice versa.

So I hope you will now spend some time keeping that furniture in line and well maintained. After all, it is the pride of your home, and should continue to draw those gasps of admiration from your guests to boost your state of happiness!



The author has some splendid antique Amish Furniture pieces. Very large Amish dining room tables are also available for large families. It is important to buy appropriate dining furniture for your home.