Out of all your memories you have about your home, I would put money on most of them being while sitting on your sofa or chair. Just think about all those memories you’ve shared with that special someone, what has always been there? Yes, your Sofa!

Now the question is, has your sofa fared the test of time as well as you? Most sofa’s that have shared many fond memories will have seen better days, it’s springs are no longer springy, the fabric is looking worn and cushions that couldn’t cushion a feather.

So, maybe you need to ask yourself, is it time to move on?

Most people in this situation do not know they have other options than just throwing the old one away and buying a new sofa. There are many hassles to buying a new sofa, which you may not have thought of. Firstly, what to do with your old sofa? You can either send it to landfill (think of the environmental issues) or organise some sort of reclamation firm to come and pick it up, usually for a fee. Then there’s the hassle & cost of buying a new sofa that was of similar quality.

Sure you can go and buy a new sofa for under £250 or even a complete suite for under £500 but what sort of craftsmanship and materials do you think go into the production of this type of furniture? Once you start taking out production costs, marketing costs, VAT & delivery that £250 sofa is probably being manufactured for under £50. Now for only £199 you can get your already loved and quality sofa re-covered either in loose covers or by spending a little extra re-upholstered.

Loose Covers still have a pre-conceived bad reputation because in times gone by they all used to be made from a stretchy horrible material and were ill-fitting. This is no longer the case, there are now many different types of high quality fabrics that are bespoke and made to measure to fit any style of furniture.

It’s not just fabric sofas that can be saved from the scrap heap, old Leather furniture can now be revitalised using specially made non slip chenille loose covers to give a full or part leather part fabric high street fashion look.

Why not take a look at the new fabrics and designs you could give to your loved sofa that’s in need of a little TLC.

Take a look at our latest fabrics…

Since finding out about the discount I get from working at Plumbs, my mother is suddenly interested in buying some loose chair and sofa covers. She does love to count her pennies!

When trying to find our more about loose covers she asked me, what’s the best type of fabric to choose when buying furniture covers? Unfortunately I didn’t know off hand so I had to do some investigating and found that it is quite a common question, so I thought I’d share what I found.

The cheapest fabrics generally used to make furniture covers are nylon stretch fabrics. The flexibility you get with this type of material give a really close and snug fit around any piece of furniture, now just because they’re the cheapest doesn’t mean they are not good. These fabrics are great value for money, so why would you choose these fabrics:

• They are very easy to care for and can be washed at 40 degrees
• Because of their flexibility they can cover over 98% of furniture styles
• They don’t crease and very easy to remove and replace
• They are extremely hard wearing so last for years

The more costly fabrics are generally made of natural materials such as cotton and linen but there are also chenille and velvet fabrics that are either made in natural materials or man-made with a mix acrylic and polyester. Some of the best fabrics use a combination of both natural materials for a soft feel and man-made for improved practicality, such as preventing shrinkage in the wash and creasing. These fabrics are more rigid so give a more contemporary loose cover look but can be unsuitable for complicated styles of furniture. So why would you choose these over the more flexible fabrics:

• Give a more relaxed and contemporary look to your furniture
• Greater choice of fabric materials
• Heavy-weighted for a great finish
• The texture and feel is superb

Vibrant colours often extend from nature and objects surrounding us from lush grassy green fields with radiant flowers to pillar box red post boxes and jet black skies with glaring white stars. Colour is something that surrounds us on a daily basis and does influence our lives and moods, I hope I can explain how you can bring certain colours into to your home to compliment your own personality and lifestyle.

Lets take the 9 popular colour groups:

Red - this is the colour we pay most attention to and is associated with several emotions such as love, desire & passion. When using red colours in the decor of a home they should be used as accents or dramatically in rooms that are seldom lived in. If you are a passionate person then the bedroom would be ideal!!

Yellow - most of the emotions evoked by yellow can be classed as positive such as joy, happiness, optimism & hope. Because yellow is a warm colour it often gives the sense of cosiness and hospitality to a room, which is great for casual interiors such as a day room or conservatory.

Orange - being a combination of yellow and red, orange is a warm colour but not as vibrant as red and as calming as yellow. Orange is good for expressing energy and can emote enthusiasm and flamboyancy, by also stimulating conversation orange is a great colour for any living room.

White - often white is seen as a representation of purity, cleanliness and peace but when used in the home it can enhance, energise and beautifully contrast with any other colour. White is the most versatile of all colours being a combination of them all, because of it’s reflective nature it gives a room a fresh, clean and airy feeling.

Pink - like red, pink is associated with love and desire but loses the raw passion red can induce. Romance is never far from this colour and always delivers feel good emotions.

Purple - as purple dye was initially made from the mucous gland of a snail it was only available to the very rich, hence representing royalty and notability. Nowadays, purple is still an exotic and mysterious colour sometimes being thought of as gloomy. Make sure if using purple to keep the tones rich and vibrant.

Green - often being referred to as the most favoured colour, green brings a calming influence to a room with some people giving it healing powers. Being a colour which represents the environment, green it is very much a colour of the moment.

Blue - you can’t get much cooler than blue, which represents peace, tranquillity & calm. Cool colours are seen as dignified and conservative so are more suitable for formal rooms. Blue is also considered a business colour as it reflects reliability.

Black - along with red, black is a very powerful colour bringing out strong emotions such as power, sexuality, sophistication, elegance and wealth. Again like red black should not be used in a dramatic sense but just to accent other colours.

Just remember, paint is only the first step to deciding colour of a room. The next steps are layers of colour with accessories such as upholstery, fabrics, rugs, curtains, loose sofa covers, lighting and plants etc…

If things are starting to look worn and weary, the cushions are saggy and the fabric is wearing a bit thin… You are faced with a choice.

Throw it away and buy new?

• 50,000 items of lounge furniture a year goes into landfill. This is like burying 23 London buses.
• When you buy new furniture, your money goes towards a massive amount of raw materials from across the globe including tropical hardwoods, production energy and transport costs.
• The good news is…
  They don’t make it like they used to. Chances are the suite you’ve already got is better made than a new one. Low prices of new lounge suites means, well as the saying goes, You get what you pay for.
• So if you decided to reupholster or cover the furniture you already have in a fabulous new fabric you can get the latest look in your lounge, save money, cause less impact on the environment and still have your favourite comfortable place to relax, switch off and enjoy yourself.

Recover:

• If the sofa is looking tired, and it’s time for an update, then loose covers are the least expensive option. Probably about a quarter of the cost of a new suite.
• From an environmental point of view, loose covers are also a great choice as you are effectively recycling your sofa or suite.
• Washability is also a big plus point. Being able to remove wash and refit loose covers is perfect for any household where stains pose a threat.
• Massive choice of fabrics. You can probably choose from hundreds of options.

Reupholster:

• Price wise a reupholstered suite will be around half the cost of buying new but this is a more expensive choice than loose covers.
• Another good choice for the environment - you are keeping your furniture out of landfill.
• Comfort and sentimental attachment are not affected. You are making the furniture you already have quite literally look like new.
• Fit and attention to details are better than for covers.
• Again a vast choice of fabric.
• Finally reupholstery is a traditional craft. By choosing this option you are helping to support traditional British workmanship by genuine local craftsmen and women.
• Usually come with replacement seat cushions.
• Service is a big plus as with this type of craftsman product the service is typically excellent.

When considering a new suite or reupholstery what is the most important question to ask?

For many people the top questions asked are…………

1. Why should I consider covers or reupholstery instead of buying new?
2. Can you cover my style of furniture?
3. Where can I see the finished product before I buy?
4. What is the difference between covers and reupholstery?

1. Why should I consider covers or reupholstery instead of buying new?
The idea of buying covers or reupholstery for your existing furniture is something that many people do not even consider. There is a real need for education here as many people see covers as a cheap stretchy product. In fact the the modern fitted cover in contemporary cotton and linen fabrics is a handcrafted masterpiece made to the exact shape of a piece of furniture.

This is not just cheaper than buying new but is also environmentally responsible.

Many people love their existing furniture but don’t want it to be drab or shabby. Loose covers are the perfect solution.

Reupholstery gives an even more fitted result as the fabric is actually attached to the furniture, cushions and springs are replaced and so on. The end result looks and feels quite literally like a brand new piece of furniture.

So much new furniture these days is of very poor quality. For many people, to consider keeping the furniture they already have and giving it a new lease of life really is worth considering.

2. Can you cover my style of furniture?

This is an easy one to answer. Plumbs can cover or reupholster anything, and probably have in their 45 year history

3. Where can I see the finished product before I buy?

There are thousands of Plumbs customers all over the country. For anyone who is interested we can arrange contact so you can get the full story from someone who has already bought.

There is also a full showroom in Preston plus various mini showrooms around the country.

Finally for those attending the BBC good homes show, please come and say hello - we’ll be there 11-15 June.

4. What is the difference between finest covers and reupholstery?

Finest covers cost a little more and are made from high quality natural, and man-made fabrics, have the look and feel of reupholstery and can be removed if necessary. The original furniture is unaffected.

Reupholstery is more invasive but arguably gives a better finished result. The process involves stripping away all the old fabric, checking the frame and springs, replacing old foams and then attaching the new choice of fabric to the frame.

It’s not often we get to hear about people so interested and enthusiastic about loose covers, so when we find someone passionately blogging about them it really brightens up everyone’s day here at Plumbs.

So we thought we’d have to share it with you, please click on the link below to read the blog post:

Secrets About Slipcovers

There are also some lovely room ideas you may find interesting.

Most allergy sufferers dread spring as it is the time of year when allergies begin their torment, however many don’t realise that allergies in srping can be triggered by the poor quality of the air in their homes instead of the usual demon, pollen. It is very difficult to get away from pollen but it is very easy to clean out the bad air from your home.

There are a number of kits you can use to test your home for all types of allergy triggers, such as; molds, dust mites and pet dander etc. You may find that a specific type of trigger in your home is the reason for one of many allergies.

Below are some tips on how you help remove some of these triggers that can cause these allergies:

1. Use air purifiers in rooms where most of your time is spent. It is best to use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrest) system as they can remove up to 99.97% of microscopic air pollutants, there are many to chose from ranging from £25 to over £100, you can find some by searching “HEPA air purifiers” on Google.

2. Vacuum all carpets, flooring, furniture, curtains and anywhere dust can collect at least once a week. This will remove many pollen spores, dust and other allergens, again a HEPA vacuuum cleaner is best but any vacumm is better than none.

3. Using washable loose covers for you sofa, chairs and cushions is a great way to get rid of dust mite eggs that would otherwise build up in the fixed upholstery.

4. Shower and wash your hair every night before you go to bed. People often bring pollen and other seasonal allergens into their homes on their clothes and their hair. Use shower filters that remove chlorine and other chemicals too.

5. Keep pets off of your bed and out of your bedroom. Sorry, this is a small price to pay for allergy relief. Your bedroom should be a sanctuary from allergens. So tempt your pets to sleep elsewhere.

6. Wash all bedding in 140-degree hot water at least twice weekly to eliminate dust mites, pet allergens and pollen. Use dust mite covers for your mattresses, pillows and comforters to further protect yourself and your family from dust mites.

For more information of Asthma & Allegies please visit the below sites:

http://www.aafa.org/
http://www.sleepworkplay.com

Nothing unusual in this order you might say. The pictures however tell the whole story of what well made loose covers are all about. Taking a well constructed but tired piece of furniture and breathing in new life.

Below shows a view of a piece of furniture that most of us never see. In this case proper steel springs, hardwood frame and quality fillings mean that this is a piec of furniture made to last.

The end result ready to be wrapped and delivered. There is probably 30 hours of skilled labour and around 40 metres of fabric gone into this 3 piece suite.

I recently found this great story about a very worth while charitable organisation being commended for their efforts, not only to help people in need but to help protect the environment by recycling furniture.

“The Furniture Recycling Project” in Gloucester won the “Reuse Project of the Year” award by the Furniture Re-use Network (http://www.frn.org.uk/), particularly impressing the judging panel with it’s work during and after the 2007 floods that blighted many parts of the South West. The project was able to supply more than 5,000 households with essential second-hand furniture.

The award is intended to highlight how furniture projects continually support their local communities through improving the places where people live. This is about highlighting complimentary goals of providing a furniture reuse service for the unemployed people who also gain from volunteering and training at projects.

Richard Featherstone, who founded the Furniture Recycling Network (FRN) 18 years ago and initiated the awards, said: “These awards are to celebrate reuse tackling poverty and unemployment while preventing good furniture going to landfill. There is a link between social benefits and waste management which have not yet been fully explored but I predict this will be visible on the Government’s agenda before very long.”

Plumbs firmly believe that furniture should never go to waste by being dumped in landfill, everyone has the option of either re-using their furniture by covering / reupholstering or by donating it to charity so that someone possibly less fortunate than yourself can feel the benefit of something that would otherwise go to landfill.

What better time to launch a new product than Easter, the start of spring and the time for new life.

Now is just the time to brighten up the conservatory. To help things along Plumbs have launched a range of made-to-measure covers for conservatory furniture.

If your conservatory furniture is suffering from fading or the effects of sunlight, why not take a look at www.plumbsconservatoryfurniturecovers.co.uk - our brand new web site.