Wood is a natural material. Veins and knots are part of the nature of the wood, and not two pieces of wooden furniture can be totally alike. Colours and structures of the wood changes throughout life, and therefore we recommend all surfaces to be left “clean” for a couple of months, to avoid discoloration – because of sunlight, and changes in humidity – from vases, knick-knacks and similar. Changes in the colour of the wood can be postponed by protecting the wood against sunlight, and to avoid fluctuating humidity of the atmosphere. Use a moist cloth for cleaning, and of course spilt water must be removed immediately. Solid wood might warp by change in humidity, meaning that e.g. table tops might become rough or slightly bended, and might get star shakes – small cracks between the veins, which are of no importance for the durability. Solid wood must be able to “breathe”. For this reason you may never cover solid wooden furniture with e.g. plastic or oilcloth for more than 12 hours running. If the wood cannot “breathe” – it will crack. Do not keep wooden furniture in non-heated rooms. Protect wooden furniture against heat from pots, radiators and similar, and never use indoor furniture at the terrace. If chair legs become wet, colour might come off on the carpet, which you must remember by cleaning the carpet.

Upholstered furniture in the home

No two families use upholstered furniture in the same way so it is important to take note of how the furniture is being used. For example, does the house have a lot of visitors? Are there children, dogs, cats etc. in the home? In which case, foam and covers will wear faster than in the home of someone living by themselves and who rarely uses the upholstered furniture. All furniture is affected by sunlight and even the most colour-fast material can fade. Therefore, all furniture should be protected from direct sunlight. When we sit or lie on furniture, our bodies come in close contact with the cover. Sweat can affect leather and fabric. Spills on the settee cover should be avoided since even small quantities of fat can start a breakdown process. Choose a cover which is hard-wearing, light-fast and which does not chafe, and give the best possible care to leather and fabric.

Keep the above in mind and always make sure your upholstered furniture is properly cleaned.

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