A few months ago we bought a beautiful new leather sofa.   My wife had talked about it for months.  I wasn’t paying attention.  But I should have taken a hint. I hate to shop, can think of nothing more heinous, especially for furniture.  I think I would rather stand in line at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for days than hang around a furniture store for an hour.

Anyway, we shop and shop and shop.  Finally, we find a nice soft Royal Heritage® leather sofa that feels soft as a baby’s butt. Long enough to stretch out on and take a Sunday nap.  Even the arms were padded enough to cradle my head perfectly.  Better yet, the thing comes with a large ottoman that I can put my feet up on.  If this is how the sofas are in heaven, I can’t wait to get there!

So, it’s Monday night, I’ve worked hard all day and I am beat.  All I can think of is getting home, getting into sweat pants and a big t-shirt, grabbing a beer and potato chips, maybe sneak a few pieces of candy my wife has hidden, then plopping on my new leather sofa with feet propped up on the ottoman (socks only of course).  I have the end table strategically placed on my left and at the perfect height.  The lamp switch is at shoulder height for easy on and off.  Huge matching leather storage ottoman placed perfectly in front of me.

I grab my favorite blanket out of the storage ottoman along with a pillow.  I put the pillow beside me as an arm rest and throw the blanket over my lap and legs.  The beer, chips and candy are placed on the end table to my left exactly at arm distance.  The computer is on my lap and NFL.com dialed up.  I reach across to the TV remote control (placed a half inch from the beer).  Monday Night football begins and the opening song of the show drifts heavenly through the room.

“You always sit on that cushion” a voice says.  What? Who is talking – oh crap, that’s right, my wife is sitting just seven feet away in a chair reading.  I completely forgot she was there – forgot she was even home…    Look, I am a big guy, with a computer on my lap; I do tend to punish a sofa cushion.  “This is MY spot” I say.  “I have all the comforts of home right here, I always sit here – I HAVE to sit here” I reply defiantly.  I even went into an explanation about dominant eye…  “I don’t care, you are ruining that cushion!  Look, it already looks more smashed than the one at the end, and we’ve only had the sofa for a couple of months” my wife replies.  “Ok, ok, geesh, I will sit on the other end I guess”.

I slowly throw the blanket off my lap, set the lap top down and push the pillow away.  I shove the ottoman out so I can stand up.  I pick up my beer, chips and candy (which she now sees and makes a comment that she has to change the hiding place…), and carry them over to the other end table on the right side of the sofa.  I sit down.  The cushion sits much harder at this end, and higher.  I don’t like it.  There is no lamp on this side and it is uncomfortable to make the reach now with my opposite hand…  I put my feet back up on the ottoman, pull the blanket back over me and put the pillow under my arm as the armrest.  I am uncomfortable and a plant is in the way…

My wife is now happy.  I am not. This end of the sofa is too hard.  I can’t reach my beer and food comfortably. The pillow does not feel the same under my arm.  The blanket is cold now.  And I can’t see the football game as well because I am not using my dominant eye…  So, I remove the pillow and call my dog Benson up on the sofa.

He gets comfortable next to me and I have a new soft arm rest on my left side.  It’s a little better now..  Then I hear “Andrew, how many times have I told you to not let the dog on the sofa!?”  Geesh, I can’t win…

We have all been there before. Picking out a new piece of furniture can be a very stressful time, especially when there are so many factors to take into consideration. Take your time and don’t make a hasty decision, this will save you from hating your furniture for years to come. In order to help you find the right piece of furniture, we have compiled a list of factors you need to think about before you go shopping. Each recommendation will help you find that perfect item you will treasure for years.

• Space is key: How much space do you have to work with? This is the first question you need to ask yourself. It’s simple…regardless of what you want, if you don’t have the space, then don’t even consider it!  The shape and size of your room will help you determine what to look for. For instance, if you’re looking for a living room sectional and don’t have a lot of room to work with, consider a loveseat over a sofa.

• Measurements: You want to bring your furniture in your house, right?. Many people find the perfect piece, buy it, get it home and oops it doesn’t fit through the door. Keep in mind that some sofas are simply too big to bring into your home. In order to get the piece into the room, it has to first fit through the door. Measure all your furniture pieces already in the home. This will give you a solid base of measurements to look for in a piece of furniture.  This will save you the stress on the way home about whether it will fit through the door.

• What’s your lifestyle: What is your life like? Is it just you or are you a part of a large family? Will the piece you buy often have smaller children on it? Your lifestyle determines what type of piece you should buy. If you entertain guests regularly, consider a sturdy, comfortable couch. Buy pieces of furniture that will flow with your lifestyle and won’t leave you pulling your hair out every time you have guests over.

• Budget: It’s simple. Don’t buy what you can’t afford. Always plan around your budget. You shouldn’t burden yourself with the added stress that accompanies paying off home décor you can’t afford. Quality furniture costs more, but will last longer. Cheap furniture, while easy on the budget, doesn’t last long and you may find yourself buying furniture again in several years. Determine how long you want your home décor to last and shop for items that fit that time range, and most importantly your budget.

When following these steps for buying a piece of furniture, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their massive selection of high quality furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection and leave in peace, knowing you got that perfect piece!

Time honored, European, Colonial…these are just a few of the words you might hear when shopping for a traditionally styled piece. The main characteristic all these terms have in common is they have a look dating hundreds of years back. These pieces will be reminiscent of furniture you might find in a royal mansion in Spain, or a President in Colonial times.

If a piece has an European feel, it most likely means the wood will have a curvilinear design and commonly will be constructed our of dark woods. Sofas and chairs will have an arched back giving them a more formal look and feel.

American styled pieces will have a look that was represented in the Colonial times. Painted finishes coupled with spindles – and finial – are very typical in this instance. However, they will be adapted to fit modern day uses.

Tropical looks combined with British styles are what makes up the British Colonial and West Indies fashion. These pieces are most likely constructed with wicker, rattan, and other lighter woods but completed with deep dark finishes. The lines and edges of these items will be much cleaner and simpler when compared to the curvy lines of the European brand of style.

When looking to give your room a traditional look and feel, visit your local PMD Furniture Direct ™ franchisee and shop their enormous selection of furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings Collection so your home can have the class and style it deserves!

The type of cover you choose for your furniture is very important. Many fabrics come with anti-stain features or treatments to protect against spills and stains.  Microfiber repels moisture remarkably and comes in a dazzling array of colors and suede like finishes. Genuine leather can also be an excellent choice because of its durability and strength. Many leather finishes have a naturally distressed look that won’t show wear and tear over a period of time.  A sofa with a washable slipcover sofa also protects your investment during the messy years.

It’s almost guaranteed that at one time or another your kids will jump on your living room pieces, so make sure durability is high on your list of things to consider. The construction of the pieces play a huge role in the longevity of your furniture. Living room pieces should have a strong frame and high density cushions. Multiple furniture pieces like sofas, loveseats, and recliners can also be very beneficial. It gives you the luxury of rearranging your room as your beautiful family changes.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to see how beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection meets your family’s needs.

This glossary will help you deciding and define the features you want in a sofa. You’ll find sofas at your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee in every style and design at prices to meet every budget!

Feet: Yes, a sofa has feet! Exposed feet are typically wood or metal. If you room is formal or contemporary, then you should lean in the direction of wooden feet. Modern styled sofas usually come with feet made of metals or other mixed materials.

Skirt: If you decide that you don’t want your sofa’s feet to show, there are many skirted options. Casual and traditional styled sofas often have skirts that can be pleated, gathered or tailored with matching or contrasting fabric patterns.

Arms: Arms can be high, low, wide, narrow, curved, or straight. Choose an arm style that you’re your body and your room’s use – will you be snoozing here, lying down to watch a movie, or serving tea? The arm height also influences the height of your end tables.

Back: The sofa back can be tightly stuffed, tufted or pillowed. Pillows can be attached, semi-attached or detached in matching or contrasting upholstery patterns. Contemporary sofas typically have a clean,, tight back while fluffy pillowed backs adorn casual designs.

Seat Cushions: Sofas have one to three seat cushions in a variety of fill  techniques and materials that greatly affect comfort, quality, durability and price.

Toss Pillows: Toss pillows are sometimes optional and other times included with a sofa. You can easily change the look of your room with different pillows in bright fabrics with fun or fanciful trims. Toss pillows are like jewelry for your sofa!

Next week we will continue with the size, fabric, and comfort of sofas and how they will complete your rooms design.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.

When deciding on what sofa to buy from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee, you need to understand the different types of sofas so you can decide which one best suits your family.

Styles of Sofas

Standard: The standard sofa is typically the most common of the sofa family. It generally seats about three adults and is a stationary piece of furniture.

Sectional: For families who tend to host a lot of parties  or have a larger living room sectional sofas are usually the better choice. The larger sectionals usually come in a L or U shape and are perfect for having conversations.

Sleeper: If you are prone to having many overnight guests for holidays are other events, then a sleeper sofa is a must have. Sleeper sofas has a built in bed frame that pulls out from underneath the seat cushions.

Motion: Perfect for laying back and watching a ball game or movie with the family, motion sofas have built in recliners or rockers. This will give you a place to kick back and relax after long day.

Loveseat: The loveseat is much like its companion the sofa except for the fact that it is a bit smaller and can generally only seat about two adults. A loveseat is a perfect compliment to any sofa and can provide extra need seating space.

Next week we will continue with the different designs of sofas and how they will compliment your design style.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.

Protect the wonderful piece of furniture you just purchased from your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee from getting chewed on by following these easy steps.

1. Figure out why they are chewing. Is it because of teething, curiosity, boredom, or a behavioral disorder? Discuss these options with your local veterinarian.
2. If you puppy is teething, buy them a teething ring or make a frozen washcloth for them to chew on.
3. Keep a sharp eye on your puppy. Don’t let them wander about. Use a baby gate to corral them and keep them in the same room as you. Crates can also be useful if you fill them with chewable toys.
4. If you catch your dog chewing, distract them by giving them something appropriate to chew on. Have toys with various textures on them and rotate them around so boredom does not become a factor.
5. Practice obedience with your puppy. Set aside time to play with them or teach them tricks. Your puppy wants your attention and is very important that you give it to them.
6. Finally, exercise your puppy. If you tire them out, they won’t have the energy to chew on furniture.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection.

Cats are a great family pet. Their easy maintenance, sweet and loving nature, and great companionship can really add to your family’s home lifestyle. But one of the frustrations that come with having cats is your feline’s need to scratch, stretch, and flex their claws. This can lead to severely damaged furniture and leave you very frustrated.

Follow these steps to prevent your cat from scratching and preserve the look of the furniture you bought through your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee for a lifetime.

1. Put a scratching post in your cat’s favorite perch. Cats often like to enjoy the sun on their fur, so place a post by a window.
2. Find a post that best suits your cat. This may take a bit of experimenting on your part, but will be well worth it.
3. Research your cat’s breed to find what surfaces or textures they may prefer such as rugs, wood or cardboard.  You will also discover if they prefer a vertical or horizontal post.
4. Reward your kitty with a treat every time they use the post. This will create a desire in them to want to scratch the post instead of your PMD furniture.
5. Upon waking from a long nap, pick the cat up and place it near the post. Cats stretch and flex their claws after waking up.
6. Provide alternatives, not punishment, when your cat scratches the furniture. Punishment will only teach them to not do it when you are around.
7. Do not permit your cat to scratch any furniture, even if you plan on getting rid of an old piece. This will only teach them to scratch any and all furniture.
8. Finally, consult your local veterinarian about different treatment option before you give up.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection that even your finicky feline will love.

The dirt that gathers on solid surfaces such as floors and tables is easy to see and clean. Consider that this same dirt and dust you clean from your end tables, often several times a week, has also settled on your upholstered furniture.  ‘

How can you properly spring clean your upholstery to keep it looking new?

• Vacuum all surfaces of your upholstered furniture including both sides of any removable cushions. Use your vacuum cleaners crevice tool and dust brush attachments to get into deep corners. Always use the dust brush on leather furniture so suction doesn’t damage the surface.
• Flip and rotate your cushions.  Turn your cushions over and rotate them to even out the wear and make the inner cushion and the fabric last longer. This should be done each month, not only in the spring.
• Rearrange your furniture. The ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight can fade fabric and leather, just like it damages your skin, depriving your furniture of its gorgeous look. Use window blinds or sheers on windows to minimize the sun rays.
• Massage your furniture. That’s right, start from the bottom of the arms and back and push the stuffing up, giving it a full look. This works air back into the synthetic fibers and keeps it nice and cushy.

Visit your local PMD Furniture Direct™ franchisee to shop our vast selection of affordable, durable and beautiful upholstered furniture from the Royal Heritage Home Furnishings® Collection!