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You were using super glue for a quick project, and some dropped onto your wood table from your favorite Austin furniture store. Or, your child covered his wooden chest of drawers with stickers. How do you remove glue/adhesive from solid wood without damaging the surface? Keep reading for some effective and inexpensive tips to try.

Orange
Did you know orange peels can be used to dissolve glue? Rub the peel onto the small adhesive stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes and then wipe the surface clean with a rag. For a solution that’s less messy, go with an orange-based cleaner.

Rubbing Alcohol
This solution works particularly well for adhesive left behind from stickers. Simply soak a cotton ball with the alcohol and rub in a circular motion until the stain is gone.

Dish Soap
If your solid wood furniture has a heavy surface finish that helps protect from moisture, apply some dish detergent and warm water, and then rinse with a damp cloth. Use a gentle dish detergent for hand-washing dishes rather than detergent for the dishwasher.

Petroleum Jelly
If the wood surface is finished, apply some petroleum jelly and let sit for several hours. This should loosen up the adhesive enough so you can rub it away with a clean cloth.

Fortunately, you only need some common-sense furnishings to create a room that any guest will appreciate during their stay. Once these essentials are in place, you can then build around them with additional decor to create an even more welcoming space.

A Comfortable Bed
It goes without saying that the most important thing you can provide for a guest is a pleasant place to sleep. This will require a quality bedframe and comfortable mattress. Quality pillows and bedding are essential as well, as most guests will be more interested in comfort than the room’s décor. A queen size bed is usually ideal for a guest room.

A Chest of Drawers
Having a few drawers to store clothing and other personal items is much more convenient than having to pull them out of bags all the time. Avoid cluttering the top of the chest or dresser with décor, as this space may also come in handy for your guest. To display true quality and a sense of home to your guests, go with Texas fine furniture made of solid wood rather than particle board.

A Nightstand
Most people like to keep their cell phones, eyeglasses, and jewelry close at hand. A nightstand on at least one side of the bed will provide the perfect space to keep these essentials. Add a small table lamp so your guest has a light source at nighttime.

When shopping for primitive home furnishings made of solid wood, you likely have a preference when it comes to the finish. The type of finish on a piece of furniture will notably affect the look of the wood, and the color will affect how the furniture will tie in with the rest of the room.

Sanding is the first step of the finishing process. A good quality dresser or table will be smooth, so you should feel no rough patches or scratches as you run your hand over it. Be sure to inspect the finish from different angles to check for uneven areas such as these.

Also, a piece of furniture that has been properly sanded will take the stain evenly. When done right, staining enhances the natural beauty of the wood while adding color. When furniture is not stained properly, blotchiness or dark spots will likely be noticeable. All sides and ends of the piece should also be the same tone.

When it comes to finishes, they can range from high-gloss to matte. You can identify a high-quality finish if it is satiny smooth and free of rough spots or bubbles. Avoid pieces that are not finished on the back or underside, as to reduce the chances of swelling or shrinking.

If you’re a regular user of furniture polish for your solid wood furniture, you may have wondered if it is indeed safe to use every time you clean. As it turns out, the chemicals used in popular furniture polishes can actually dull the varnish of your furniture, and even attract more dust over time.

There are three different types of furniture polish, and they each have advantages and disadvantages.

Liquid Polishes
There are two types of liquid polishes: oil-based and water-based. While both are powerful and leave a nice sheen, the results are typically short-lived as the liquid dries. Also, as drying oils get older, they turn yellow or brown, causing a muddy appearance on your furniture.

Aerosol Polishes
While spray polishes are convenient, they include contaminants and solvents which can eat through varnish.

Semi-Solid Polishes
Also known as paste wax, semi-solid polishes are a mixture of wax in an organic solvent. Because it’s a stable material, this is the method of choice for polishing solid wood furniture (as long as the mixture does not include silicone).

When it comes to reclaimed wood furniture in Austin, TX, it is always best to check with the manufacturer on the best ways to clean. Generally, most pieces will benefit from regular dry dusting. A microfiber duster will attract dust without harming the surface or leaving a residue.

Previously, we shared some questions to ask yourself before purchasing a new piece of furniture. Keep reading for the conclusion of our list.

How many people do you need to accommodate?
How many guests do you need to seat comfortably at dinnertime? Do you host dinner parties often? While you’ll want to have a table that is pleasing to the eye and compliments your existing décor, selecting one that is practical and functional is just as important. A beautiful table will become less attractive quite quickly if it cannot meet your needs.

Will you still like it in years to come?
You may be immediately drawn to a beautiful piece you found in a showroom, but are your tastes likely to change? Will you love your new table or media console just as much in a year from now? If you relocate, is your selection versatile enough to be appropriate for a new home? It’s best to keep looking until you’ve found a piece you will still love in the years to come.

What is covered in the warranty?
While shopping for Texas fine furniture, be sure to ask specific questions regarding the warranty on your selection. It’s important to know what exactly is and is not covered, as well as how long the warranty lasts.

Purchasing a new piece of furniture can be a big investment. The perfect new dining table or coffee table should last for many years, compliment your existing décor, be an appropriate size for your space, and also be functional. Whether you’re seeking a piece of custom furniture in Austin, TX or have your eye on an existing piece, there are some important things to consider before you buy. We gathered a list of questions to ask yourself before purchasing a new piece of furniture.

What is your budget?
As we discussed in a previous post, investing in high-quality furniture is smart because it will last longer. However, if you cannot afford to spend thousands on a custom dining table, keep that in mind and look only within your means.

Does it fit in the room?Measure your room before starting your search for a new piece of furniture. It may seem obvious, but it’s easy to become attached to a beautiful find that is otherwise perfect, thus causing you to overlook issues such as this.

Will it fit through the doorway?
Solid wood furniture can’t be disassembled like store brand furniture. While it may fit in your space, be sure to measure your doorway so you can be sure your new selection will fit through it.

While shopping for furniture for your home or office, you’ve likely been faced with the decision of whether or not to choose solid wood furniture. With many veneer, metal or plastic options available, some may wonder if the additional cost of solid wood is worth the investment.

Solid wood furniture is very durable and made to last for decades. It can withstand the wear and tear that accompanies daily use and requires minimal maintenance. Also, if a piece of furniture made of solid wood does start to show its age over the years, it can be beautifully restored and refinished.

Meanwhile, veneer furniture requires less of an investment. It can be designed to give the appearance of a wood finish, but what lies beneath the veneer can leave much to be desired if you’re searching for a durable, quality piece. Many manufacturers use particleboard as the core of this type of furniture, which means the pieces are more susceptible to damage. For example, while solid wood selections from our Austin furniture store can easily withstand contact with moisture (like a spilled beverage or rainwater from a leaky basement), a piece of furniture with a particleboard core would face irreversible damage. Overall, while veneer furniture may feature a smaller price tag, you will also find yourself replacing it more often.

You could have the most beautiful home consisting of the most beautiful solid wood furniture in Austin, but without the proper arrangement of these pieces, the look and flow of your space can be comprised. Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to furniture arrangement.

Select a Focal Point
Different rooms in your home will call for different starting points, or focal points. In the bedroom, the main focal point should always be the bed, as it’s the most important piece in the room. Nightstands, armoire and dressers should be arranged around this focal piece. In the dining room, the starting point should be the table and chairs.

Consider Flow and Function
Consider how you and your family will be entering and exiting the room, as well as the path you will take from one space to the next. If you’re finding that you have to take the long route to get to a specific point, make some adjustments.
In the living room, for instance, one goal is the ability to enter and leave the seating area without having to dodge around a side table. In the bedroom there should be enough space between the bed and dressers for you to open the drawers comfortably and easily.

Don’t Forget about the Comfort Pieces
While style is obviously important when furnishing and decorating your home, it shouldn’t be maintained at the sacrifice of comfort. Don’t ignore those comfort pieces that make you want to hang out in a space. For instance, having close access to a coffee table or side table while you’re enjoying a coffee in your living room is important for comfort and convenience. Consider what makes sense in a room as you arrange your furniture and décor.

Summertime is a great time to refresh your interiors, and at Primitives, we want to help you by providing a great selection of home accents and furniture pieces that are sure to serve as quality, lifetime investments in your home. However, if you're not looking to buy something new, or if you want to try a different way of updating your favorite furniture, you can always try some of these great methods:

Fresh Coats
Refinishing or repainting your wood furniture can be a great way to update its look and prepare it for a new life in your home. If you own an old, scratched up piece (but it’s still strong and sturdy), get creative and utilize fun paint colors or even mosaic detailing to give it new life.

New Fabric
Sofas, chairs, and ottomans can all be refreshed by getting them reupholstered. You can seek a professional or even give it a try on your own. For your bedroom and dining room, seek some fresh bedding, new tablecloths, and napkins. Curtains can also help bring the look together.

Accents
Kick up your current wooden furniture in Austin by choosing new accent pieces that make the room pop. Pillows, curtains, and area rugs are just a few accent pieces that can help revive that old sofa or give your faded hallway the new look it needs.

It can be tempting sometimes to pick up that couch or set of end tables from a yard sale or discount store. After all, it comes at a great price. But contrary to what some believe, choosing high quality furniture is typically a smarter investment, even with a higher price tag.

When you buy your furniture second-hand, remember that each piece has already experienced some wear and tear, which means the overall life of your investment is much shorter than when buying new. Not to mention, many pieces may have imperfections or problems you may not notice until you get home, and we're sure that most yard sales don't have a great return policy.

Overall, high quality furniture is a much smarter, longer lasting investment. When you shop at our Austin furniture store, you're getting a longer life expectancy out of your selections. You’re also paying for more durable fabrics, classic styling, and sturdy constructions that are perfect for growing with you and your family. Plus it saves you from having to throw out your furniture in just a few years and invest in a whole new set.

Do your home a favor; Invest in new, reliable furniture and get the quality you need for many years to come.