Category: furniture

Moving your delicate or antique furniture? 7 tips to reduce the stress

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Vintage Nuss Removals vancredit

According to a recent article in The Express, moving home is one of the most stressful times in people’s lives; and if you’re moving abroad, worried about losing sentimental items, or moving delicate or antique furniture, those stress levels can go through the roof. To help you cope with at least one of these aspects, here are a few tips to make sure your furniture reaches its destination undamaged.

Once should be enough

You should be planning your move so that your delicate items are moved as little as possible. If you have thought about the order that your things will be placed into the transportation, and labelled them with the rooms they will go into on arrival, then they’ll only need to be moved once. If you haven’t, they could be moved from pillar to post all through the move. The more times an item is moved, the more chance of damage to it; so plan well and move once.

Break it down

Antique furniture is often impossible to break down, but modern delicate furniture may have parts that can be separated, and if at all possible, do so. This will make packing the furniture easier and a less complicated shape will be easier to secure.

Cardboard box with red & white fragile packing tapecredit

Box it

Packing crates are vital if you have expensive items, and are even more important if those items also happen to be antique. The boxes are used to separate individual items from each other, and to stop potential damage as they move around and bang into each other. It’s not as simple as placing items into boxes, though, and packing materials will be needed to stop movement. Most removals companies will have professionals to do this for you, and you should consider this if you are truly worried about your delicates.

Take your time

If you rush your move, you’re inviting disaster; and this is especially true if you are packing yourself. Plan ahead and decide where each packing case or item will go in the new property, and take the time you need to wrap everything individually. Have storage boxes delivered early and fill them at your own pace, and, if you have no space for them when they’re full, use a removal company that can organise storage for you (click here for a great example), as you don’t want to be wasting time moving boxes and crates around your home.

Know your route

You may feel that you know the layout of your home like the back of your hand, but you still need to plan the route your furniture is going to take. Make sure your furniture will have a smooth journey to the removal van by the simplest route, and use a spotter to make sure there are no bumps & bangs en route.

Lifting a sofa on moving daycredit

Care when lifting

Make sure you’re super careful when lifting delicate items, and always support the weight from underneath. Never pick up furniture by the handles, arms or legs, and never drag it across the floor. Even putting the furniture into a crate can be a delicate operation (especially if it has to be lifted in), and extra care will be needed if the furniture has to be lifted above waist height. Remember that a trolley is your friend and will reduce the chances of anything being dropped.

Insurance

Your home insurance may give you some cover on your contents, but will it insure your move? Most home insurance won’t cover a house move, so you may need to top it up. The Insurance Information Institute has some great information about what you should be looking for in home insurance, so research what to look for before taking out or extending a policy.

Knowing how to approach a problem is the easiest way to reduce stress. So, by combining these tips with good individual packing practices, you’ll get your furniture to its destination in great condition. Your removal company will already be using many of these ideas, but, if you know too, it can only help your peace of mind.

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Things to consider when buying a new mattress

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Purchasing a new mattress can be a life changing decision. Your sleep is a precious thing, so don’t risk discomfort and restless nights on a low quality mattress. As the place in which you spend roughly 8 hours per night, your bed should never be an afterthought. Keep these tips in mind when selecting your next mattress.

Monochrome bedroomcredit

Don’t be afraid to splurge

While you can buy budget mattresses for next to nothing, it always pays to make your mattress one of your more expensive purchases. Considering humans spend almost one third of their lives in bed, cost shouldn’t dissuade your choice. Many people stick to established brands such as Silentnight as they are well reviewed and have a certain guarantee of quality. Think of it as an investment, as better sleep means you’ll be more productive in life.

wooden platform bedcredit

Is firm best?

Firm mattresses tend to be touted as being good for your back. However, this doesn’t usually ring true for most people. Comfort is subjective and depends on what style of bed you like – whether it’s a medium memory foam or a firm pocket sprung one.

Personal comfort and feel is key. Depending on your bodyweight, a softer option may suit you – although the heavier you are the more firmness you will need to prevent your body pressing into the springs/base of the mattress.

grey and yellow decorated bedroomcredit

Online versus in store

Massive savings can be had by buying a mattress online, but buying one in-store means you can try the mattress out. However, it’s worth noting than a five minute lie down in a shop won’t give you a true impression of what a night’s sleep on the mattress will feel like. If you do opt for in-store testing, make sure you wear light clothing to get an accurate approximation of what the mattress feels like against your body.

Buying online sometimes carries additional shipping costs that can offset the savings made, unless you opt for a site that offers free delivery.

Wisconsin bunk housecredit

Measure up

If you’re buying a mattress individually to match a pre-existing bed frame, you need to measure the frame to ensure it will fit. You should also consider the weight of the mattress – some slat beds can struggle with heavier memory foam mattresses – a divan may be more appropriate.

pull-out single storage bedcredit

Check the warranty

A good mattress should come with a guarantee or warranty. Outside of anything going wrong, a good mattress should last between 8 to 10 years depending on usage. Any retailer worth their salt should have a good, no-hassle returns policy.

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Buying a new bed? Keep these tips in mind

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vintage French rattan bedcredit

A bed is the one piece of furniture on which you can’t afford to cut corners. There’s nothing worse than an uncomfortable bed with loose springs, a lumpy mattress and wobbly legs. You can’t get a decent night’s sleep and if you have to share the bed with a spouse or partner, both of you will end up sleep deprived. So what should you look for when purchasing a new bed?

Bedroom with a cream colour schemecredit

What’s your budget?

Although lots of people end up with a second-hand bed, in this post we’re talking about new beds. This isn’t to say that there’s anything wrong with a second-hand bed, but if possible, you should try and purchase new because used mattresses will be moulded to their former owner’s shape and size, so if that person was exceptionally large, the mattress won’t be terribly comfortable.

Before you go bed shopping, think about how much you can afford to spend. In general, the bigger your budget, the better the bed. More expensive mattresses and bed frames are constructed with more resilient materials and are unlikely to fall apart if you or your partner is at the heavier end of the weight scale. However, there are plenty of bargains to be had, so don’t assume that the big brand names are the only ones worth looking at. Often a lesser well-known brand can provide a more affordable product and a better service.

bed covered in pink, purple & grey patterned quiltcredit

What size bed do you need?

Beds come in different sizes: single, double, queen, king and California king being the most common.

  • A single bed is appropriate for a child, but an adult will find it a bit on the small side.
  • A double is large enough for two adults, but most people prefer a larger bed that affords them extra room to move around. However, a double is useful for the spare bedroom.
  • A queen or king-sized bed is ideal for two adults.
  • A super-king is a good option for larger and taller adults or if you have a very spacious bedroom.

If you’re taller or heavier than average, make sure you look for a bed that can comfortably accommodate you. Anything less than optimal will be uncomfortable for you and your partner.

Emily Henderson's adjustable bedcredit

Adjustable beds

Adjustable beds are a personal comfort bed. They are designed to lift up at the head and/or feet end. The bed frame is engineered in such a way that it can be adjusted to suit your needs. So if you have a mobility problem and you can’t get out of bed without assistance, press a button to instruct the bed to lift you upright. Or, if you need to keep your legs raised, elevate the bottom of the bed. This type of bed is suitable for older or disabled people. They can be expensive, but there are cheaper options that are the equivalent of Sleep Number bed bases.

Child's bedroom with white double bed and colourful rugcredit

Mattress considerations

When buying a mattress, go for the most expensive one you can afford. Most mattresses need replacing after ten years because they wear out, but the heavier you are, the faster this process will happen, so if you’re suffering from back ache, or localized twinges, consider replacing the mattress. Pocket-sprung mattresses are very comfortable, but memory foam mattresses can offer an extra level of comfort.

Some people prefer an extra-firm mattress while others like a softer option. It’s really a matter of personal choice, so try a few out in the store and see which one is the most comfortable. Just remember to take your partner with you, as you both need to have a say in the buying process.

Wooden bed with storage beneathcredit

Under-bed storage

Divan beds offer the bonus of under-bed storage. This can be very useful if you need extra drawer space for storing bedding, a spare duvet or a pillow. Alternatively, if you prefer a traditional bed frame style, you’ll still be able to buy nice storage boxes and slide them beneath the bed.

pull down bedcredit

Bed styles

There are hundreds of different styles of bed from which to choose. Wooden framed beds are always popular because they fit well with both modern and traditional décor. Metal framed beds can also be very attractive. Other styles you may wish to consider are sleigh beds, loft beds or even four-poster beds. There’s the option of pull down or sofa beds if you don’t have the room for a full-size bed in a flat our house that’s short on space.

Beds can be bought from a bricks & mortar store or online. Prices will vary between different retail outlets, so make sure you shop around before you commit to buy.

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Eva chair

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Vintage Eva chair by Koefoeds Hornslet of Denmark with Scandinavian Design book and orange throw

We’ve chosen a piece of vintage Danish furniture for this week’s favourite buy.

Vintage Eva chair by Koefoeds Hornslet of Denmark

This Eva carver armchair was designed by Niels Koefoed in 1964.

back of a vintage Eva chair by Koefoeds Hornslet of Denmark

The chair is made of teak with a plain, black, leatherette seat. It has a strong mid century modern look just standing bare, but we also like the addition of a bold colour throw or cushion. Orange always works well!

paper label on a vintage Eva chair by Koefoeds Hornslet of Denmark

 Its condition is very good and it’s fully stamped and labelled to the underside.

Koefoeds Hornslet maker's mark on a vintage Eva chair

It’s very elegant and would work well as a dining, office or occasional chair. As with most of our furniture buys, it’s on its way to our antiques centre space, but you’re welcome to collect or have a courier pick it up. The price is £125, but we could knock off the twenty five if it helps with the petrol costs!