The furniture in your home is often times one of your largest investments. As such, it’s important that you keep as free of damage as possible. Now, realistically, there’s no way to keep all damage to your furniture from happening, but there are some ways to protect it. Let’s talk about things that are likely to damage your furniture and ways you can prevent the damage from happening.
Destructive pets
Cats and dogs are responsible for the majority of damage to the furniture in your homes. While cats may use upholstered furniture as scratching posts; dogs (more so puppies) are more likely to damage all furniture with chewing. Most puppies will likely gnaw on the legs of wood coffee and cocktail tables, but they may go for an upholstered legs as well. It’s a good idea to get your puppy into a good training class to break those bad habits as soon as your puppy is old enough.
If your cat is sharpening their claws on your furniture it’s very important your give him alternatives for scratching. Adding catnip to the areas where you want you encourage your cat to scratch will lead him away from your furniture. It’s important for pet owners to purchase pet hardy furniture with fabrics that can stand up the the wear and tear that pets are sure to dole out.
Toddler & children
Toddlers and children are culprits in adding their mark in damaging your furniture. Having white or light colored furniture in a home with young children is almost always a mistake. There is an almost 100 percent chance that food and drinks will be spilled on upholstered furniture by one or more of your children. Kitchen tables will likely be marred by colored pencils, markers, and crayons as well. And you cannot imagine how badly kinetic sand can stain. You don’t want to spend your childrens’ lives fussing at your children so buy furniture that is as kid proof as possible.
Moving mishaps
Furniture often times gets damaged during big moves. This typically includes dents and scratches from being knocked or dropped. When moving any type of heavy or awkward furniture, it is recommended that you use a moving company to reduce the risk of damage. If furniture has to be dismantled, make sure that you keep all the parts organized and that you ideally have instructions available.
Water damage
Water damage to furniture can range from minor damage (like water rings on wooden tables from cups) to major damage (such as rotting or warping from flooding or a leak). Most furniture for indoor use is not designed to withstand moisture, so you need to be careful of contact with fluids. Always use coasters to place drinks on to avoid rings, and take steps against leaks and flooding. Humidity can be an issue in some homes and may require buying a dehumidifier to protect your furniture. Be wary that although outdoor furniture is often waterproof, some materials like cast iron or timber may still need to be regularly treated to avoid rust or warping.
Wear and tear
All furniture will gradually weaken through regular use. When you invest in good quality furniture, you can expect to get more years of usage. For example, most high quality sofas should last at least 15 years. If you buy the cheapest sofa available, you may only get 4 years of usage before it starts to collapse. This is why it’s worth spending a little extra if you can. Some forms of wear and tear may be possible to repair and can be worth looking into to extend the life of your furniture.