Furniture Care

Wood is timeless, warm, and full of character — but it's also a living material that responds to its environment. Understanding how to care for it properly makes all the difference between a piece that ages gracefully and one that deteriorates prematurely.

Daily & Routine Care

Dust regularly. Use a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth to remove dust from wood surfaces often. Dust may seem harmless, but over time it acts as a mild abrasive that can dull the finish and cause fine surface scratches.

Clean gently. For general cleaning, use a solution of mild soap and warm water. Dampen your cloth — never soak it — and always wipe along the grain of the wood, not against it. Follow immediately with a dry cloth to remove any residual moisture.

Avoid harsh chemicals. Products containing ammonia, bleach, or abrasive particles can strip the wood's natural oils and damage its protective finish. Stick to cleaners specifically formulated for wood furniture.

Protecting the Surface

Use coasters, trivets, and placemats. Hot dishes, damp glasses, and plates dragged across the surface are among the most common causes of damage to wood tables. A simple coaster prevents water rings; a trivet prevents heat cracks.

Write on a pad, not the table. Wood is soft enough that the pressure of handwriting can transfer through a single sheet of paper and leave permanent impressions on the surface.

Add felt pads to chair legs and decorative objects. This protects both the furniture and your floors from scratches caused by movement.

Environmental Factors

Keep wood away from direct sunlight. UV rays are one of the most damaging forces for wood furniture. Prolonged exposure causes fading, discoloration, and drying that leads to cracks over time. Position pieces away from windows or use curtains and blinds to filter the light.

Manage humidity. Wood is hygroscopic — it absorbs and releases moisture from the air. Too much humidity causes it to swell and warp; too little causes it to shrink and crack. We recommend keeping indoor humidity between 40–55%. Consider a humidifier in dry months and proper ventilation or air conditioning in humid ones.

Distance from heat sources. Radiators, fireplaces, and heating vents dry out wood rapidly. Keep furniture at a safe distance from any direct heat source.

Polishing & Conditioning

Apply a high-quality furniture polish or wax periodically to maintain the finish's shine and provide a protective layer against everyday dust and grime. Natural oils like linseed or tung oil can also nourish the wood and help restore dried-out surfaces.

Dealing with Damage

Minor scratches: A matching furniture touch-up pen, wood marker, or even shoe polish in a close color can minimize the appearance of light surface scratches significantly.

White water rings: These are usually a moisture issue in the finish. Gently rubbing the area with a small amount of petroleum jelly or a paste of non-gel toothpaste and baking soda — then wiping away — often lifts the mark.

Deeper damage: Cracks, warping, or significant gouges are best handled by a professional furniture restorer to avoid making the problem worse.

Fabric upholstery offers warmth, softness, and an endless range of colors and textures. Keeping it clean and vibrant requires understanding your specific fabric type and responding quickly when accidents happen.

Know Your Cleaning Code

Every piece of upholstered furniture has a fabric care tag — usually underneath a cushion or on the sofa frame — with a cleaning code. This code tells you exactly which cleaning methods are safe for that specific fabric.

Always follow this code. A fabric that looks durable may still require solvent-only cleaning, and using the wrong product can permanently damage the fibers or cause discoloration.

Routine Care

Vacuum weekly. Use your vacuum's upholstery attachment to remove dust, crumbs, and loose debris from the surface and, importantly, from beneath cushions as well. Regular vacuuming prevents dirt from working its way deeper into the fibers where it causes gradual wear and discoloration.

Rotate and flip cushions. Flipping and rotating seat cushions regularly distributes wear evenly across the fabric, preventing one spot from becoming flat or faded while the rest stays fresh.

Protect from sunlight. UV rays fade fabric color, often unevenly. Keep upholstered furniture out of direct sunlight or use curtains and blinds to diffuse it.

Handling Spills

Act immediately. The longer a liquid sits on fabric, the deeper it penetrates and the harder it becomes to remove.

1. Blot — never rub. Rubbing spreads the stain and damages the fabric fibers. Use a clean, white or light-colored cloth and dab at the spill from the outer edge inward.
2. Use a clean section of the cloth with each blot so you're not pressing the stain back into the fabric.
3. Use distilled water if rinsing is needed. Tap water contains minerals that can leave their own marks on some fabrics.
4. Allow to air dry completely — never apply heat to speed up drying, as it can set a stain permanently.

Test first, always. Before applying any cleaning product to a visible area, test it on a hidden spot — such as the underside of a cushion — and wait a few minutes to check for any discoloration or damage.

Deep Cleaning

We recommend a professional cleaning every 1–2 years to lift embedded dirt and restore the fabric's depth and color. For W or WS-coded fabrics, a home steam cleaner on a low setting also makes a good periodic deep clean — just ensure the fabric dries completely afterward.

Leather is one of the most durable and characterful upholstery materials available. It develops a beautiful, unique patina over time and, with proper care, can last for generations.

Routine Care

Dust and vacuum regularly. Use a soft, dry cloth or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove dust from leather surfaces. Pay particular attention to seams and creases where crumbs and debris tend to collect.

Wipe down with a damp cloth. For regular cleaning, a lightly dampened microfiber cloth is all you need. Do not drench the leather — too much water can damage the finish and encourage mold or mildew.

Keep leather away from heat and direct sunlight. Heat dries leather out rapidly, causing it to crack and age prematurely. Direct sunlight — and even intense indirect light — can cause fading, discoloration, and brittleness over time. Position leather furniture away from windows and radiators.

Conditioning

Leather naturally loses moisture over time, which leads to drying, stiffness, and eventually cracking. Conditioning it replenishes those oils and keeps it supple.

Apply a leather conditioner every 6 to 12 months using a soft cloth, following the product's instructions. For a DIY conditioning clean, a mild solution of one part white vinegar to two parts warm water works well — wipe gently, then follow with a dedicated leather conditioner once dry.

Avoid oil-based or soap-based cleaners. Products like oil soap, saddle soap, and general household detergents may seem gentle, but they strip the protective finish from leather and can permanently alter its color or texture.

Handling Spills & Scratches

Spills: Blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Do not rub. Allow the leather to air dry naturally — never use a hairdryer or place near a heat source to speed drying.

Minor scratches: Lightly buffing a small scratch with your fingertips can help the natural oils in your skin work the mark out. A chamois cloth works similarly. For slightly deeper scratches, a leather repair kit matched to your furniture's color is a practical solution.

Stubborn stains: Use a specialized leather cleaner rather than improvising with household products. Ink, oil, and mold stains in particular benefit from targeted leather-specific treatments.

What to Avoid

• Harsh chemicals, bleach, or ammonia-based products
• Oil soap, saddle soap, or general dish soap
• Placing leather near heat vents, fireplaces, or in direct sunlight
• Sharp objects or rough materials on the surface

Marble is the definition of timeless luxury — but despite its solid, weighty feel, it is actually a soft and porous stone that requires careful and consistent maintenance to stay pristine.

Understand Marble's Nature

Marble is porous, meaning it readily absorbs liquids. A spilled glass of wine or coffee left for even a few minutes can leave a permanent stain. It is also susceptible to etching — a chemical reaction that dulls or pits the polished surface — caused by acids commonly found in everyday substances.

Acidic substances that can damage marble include: wine, coffee, fruit juice, lemon juice, vinegar, tomato-based foods, and even some household cleaners.

Daily Care

Wipe up spills immediately. This is the single most important habit for marble care. Even water can leave a ring mark if it sits long enough.

Dust with a microfiber cloth. Abrasive particles from everyday dust can scratch a polished marble surface if they're dragged across it. A soft, dry cloth picks them up cleanly.

Always lift objects — never drag them. Sliding a decorative vase, a cup, or a plate across marble can leave scratches instantly. Get into the habit of lifting.

Use coasters, trivets, and placemats. These protect the surface from spills, heat damage, and the kind of gradual ring marks that develop from everyday tabletop use.

Cleaning

For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth and a pH-neutral cleaner specifically formulated for natural stone. Dry the surface immediately after — water left standing on marble dulls the shine over time.

Never use: vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, ammonia, abrasive powders or scouring pads, or general-purpose household cleaners. These will etch and permanently damage the polish.

Sealing

We seal every marble piece on installation, and recommend resealing it once a year to maintain its resistance to staining. A simple test: sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface. If the water beads, the seal is intact. If it soaks in, it's time to reseal.

Long-Term Character

Over time, marble naturally develops its own patina — subtle marks, light variations in tone, and a depth of character that make it unmistakably lived in and loved. This aging process is completely normal and, to our eye, is part of what makes marble so beautifully unique. Professional refinishing can restore a heavily worn surface when needed.

Metal furniture — whether steel, iron, brass, or aluminum — is valued for its durability and modern aesthetic. With simple, consistent care, it maintains its strength and appearance for many years.

Routine Cleaning

Wipe metal surfaces regularly with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust and fingerprints. For more thorough cleaning, use a mild soap-and-water solution, then dry thoroughly. Moisture left on metal — particularly iron — can lead to rust and oxidation.

Avoid abrasive scrubbers such as steel wool or rough sponges, which scratch protective coatings and expose the metal beneath to corrosion.

Protecting the Finish

Our metal pieces come with a protective coating — a lacquer, powder coating, or sealant — that prevents oxidation. To add an extra layer of protection (especially useful in humid climates), we suggest a thin coat of automotive wax once a year. This repels water and slows the oxidation process.

For brass and copper elements, specialized metal polishes will maintain the warm shine. Keep in mind that these metals naturally patina over time — we find this aging process only adds to their beauty.

Rust & Oxidation

If rust spots develop, address them early. Light surface rust can often be removed with fine steel wool or a rust-remover product, followed by a protective sealant to seal the area. Significant or spreading rust is best handled professionally.

Pulls, hinges, drawer guides, and soft-close mechanisms are the moving, working parts of a piece. A little routine attention keeps them solid, quiet, and properly aligned for the life of the furniture.

Tighten hardware twice a year. Check and gently tighten drawer pulls, hinge screws, and leg bolts twice yearly. Loose hardware, left unaddressed, can cause the surrounding wood to tear out over time.

Leave soft-close mechanisms unlubricated. Soft-close drawer mechanisms require no lubrication under normal use.

When a drawer sticks, contact us. If a drawer begins to stick or the soft-close mechanism weakens, contact our team — this is typically a simple adjustment or component replacement, not a structural failure.

Regardless of material, these habits apply across the board.

React to spills immediately. Time is always the enemy with spills. A liquid that's cleaned up within seconds rarely leaves a mark; one left for hours almost always does.

Test any new product in a hidden area first. Underneath a cushion, on the back of a leg, inside a drawer — always patch-test a cleaner before using it on a visible surface.

Keep furniture away from air vents and radiators. Forced air — hot or cold — dries out almost every material: wood, leather, and fabric alike. Stable temperatures are always better.

Protect surfaces proactively. Coasters, placemats, felt pads, and throws are inexpensive and prevent the kind of damage that is costly or impossible to reverse.

Inspect furniture seasonally. Checking for loose joints, developing scratches, worn fabric, or dull finishes every few months allows you to address small issues before they become major problems.

Schedule professional care. For upholstery, a professional clean every 1–2 years makes a significant difference. For leather, annual conditioning. For marble, yearly sealing. Prevention is always cheaper than repair.

A year at a glance — the one habit worth prioritising as the seasons turn.