August 2019 - Page 2 of 3 - Comfort Works Blog & Sofa Resources

Beautiful farmhouse living rooms we’re inspired by

Posted on August 15, 2019April 29, 2025 by Peony

Rustic. Shabby chic. Barnhouse loving — all these make up the timeless trend that is the farmhouse living room decor.

The living room is the most popular because it’s the largest one in the house and a place where the entire family gets together to spend the day.

Need some inspiration to get those creative juices flowing? We scoured the web for gorgeous-looking farmhouse living room ideas to steal, and found plenty.

Here are our favourites:

1. Farmhouse Living With A Nautical Touch

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A post shared by Soul & Lane (@soulandlane)

The noticeable theme in typical farmhouse living rooms is neutral colours.

Think beige, white, browns, and blues. This living room looks pretty cosy with its white fittings and little nautical hints, like the paddle affixed above the fireplace.

2. Vintage Touches

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A post shared by Andrea ✞ (@fleur_at_home)

Rustic furniture in its original finish is the preferred style for a farmhouse style living room.

Embrace the rustic-ness of certain key pieces in your living room, just like how Andrea of @fleur_at_home did with hers.

Try rummaging through thrift stores and antique shops for vintage pieces like this gorgeous mirror.

3. It’s All About The Cosy Factor

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A post shared by Andrea ✞ (@fleur_at_home)

There’s a reason why the living room is the most popular spot in a farmhouse — it’s easily the cosiest spot with a warm fireplace, family catching up, and people cosying up with their pets.

Make sure you keep your farmhouse living room cosy with plenty of throw pillows and blankets like this one.

4. Farmhouse In A Modern Setting

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A post shared by Stacy Smith (@farmhousetofrills)

Don’t live in the countryside? No problem.

You can make your farmhouse-inspired vision a reality with your city home.

All you need are the right touches to recreate that farmhouse living room. Take a cue from Stacy of @farmhousetofrills and her amazing farmhouse decor tips.

5. From The Kitchen To The Living Room

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A post shared by Ashley Jeans (@moiralynnblog)

Does your home’s layout feature a seamless kitchen to living room experience? Even if it is, that shouldn’t be a hindrance in you getting your perfect farmhouse living room look.

Just take a look at Ashley’s gorgeous home, where she transforms the pristine white subway-tiled kitchen and makes it go perfectly with a classically rustic-looking living room.

We love how she added bold monochromatic accents to the area with the printed throw pillows and ottoman.

6. A Warm, Coastal Farmhouse

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A post shared by Painted Brick Studio (@paintedbrickstudio)

The perfect farmhouse setting is filled with sunlight and warmth.

The farmhouse style doesn’t need to stop at just the countryside — if you have a coastal home, you can pull it off too, just like @paintedbrickstudio did.

We love how classy the white-framed windows look, and couch facing the fireplace sure looks like a cosy spot to be in during the harsh nights of winter.

7. Don’t Forget The Little Details

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A post shared by Tatiana Fader (@urbanoak_designco)

It’s not just your feature pieces of furniture and fittings that make the farmhouse look work.

It’s all about the little things too, so don’t forget to turn your attention to the tiny, but impactful decorative items that also give your living room the farmhouse touch.

Take cue from Kari of @cottonstemdesignco, who accessorised a bare wall with rustic finds, complemented with candles in a jar and an extremely cute calligraphy-printed lamp shade.

These may not look like much alone, but putting them together really pulls together that farmhouse look.

8. Add Quirky Pieces

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A post shared by The Rooming House (@theroominghouse)

Things don’t always have to make sense when it comes to decorating with a farmhouse look in mind.

For example, a chandelier doesn’t always need to be made of crystal or glass, as @theroominghouse proves.

This beautiful house with a predominantly white palette simply oozes charm, and we feel that the iron chandelier with wooden beads adds that little bit of quirkiness to the overall look and feel of the place.

9. Convert An Unused Nook

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A post shared by This Old Hudson ® (@thisoldhudson)

Do you have a nook in your living room area that feels like dead space?

Dress it up like This Old Hudson and turn it into a cosy reading nook — farmhouse style. This way, you get your little haven of privacy even though you’re still chilling in the shared living room area.

Just add more throw pillows and a blanket with whitewashed wood furniture for that extra touch of cosy.

10. Farmhouse Can Be Girly Too

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A post shared by Tatiana Fader (@urbanoak_designco)

While neutral colours tend to rule in farmhouse spaces, there’s plenty if room to play with more assertive colours like pink and peach.

By keeping the overall colour palette a light neutral, Tatiana Fader of @urbanoak_designco manages to inject her unique brand of femininity into it with pastel decorative items, flowers and shiny metallics.

Are you completely in love with these farmhouse living room designs? We are too!

Check out which are the best sofas to achieve the farmhouse look here:

BEST SOFAS TO ACHIEVE THE FARMHOUSE LOOK

How to keep your home clean with a new puppy

Posted on August 13, 2019April 29, 2025 by Michele

Puppies are adorable.

They are also a huge handful, constantly getting into trouble, as any puppy parent will tell you.

If you are planning to introduce a pupper into your home, be prepared for the following:

Fur everywhere,
Sticky floors,
Muddy messes,
Stains on your furniture,
“Surprise” pee and poo,
Destroyed household items, and etc.

Oh, well. At least your puppy is cute and provides endless cuddles and love.

That’s enough to forgive it for everything!

However, this doesn’t mean that you have to live with your puppy’s mess.

Here are our top tips on how you can keep your home clean despite your adorably clumsy and clueless (yet still lovable) new furkid:

1. Decide on ‘outdoor’ and ‘indoor’ time

This, of course, depends on where you live and the breed of your dog.

If you can afford to have a lovely kennel set up in your garden or on your large balcony, that will be great for keeping your home clean.

Keeping your puppy out of “interesting” areas with safety gates can help eliminate the chances of overturned food items or destroyed toilet paper.

If you have to leave your puppy alone at home for work, you can consider “confining” it to certain areas so that it cannot get up to mischief.

However, this only works if these areas are large enough for a puppy to frolic around, and if you have enough bones and toys to keep it entertained. Do remember to puppy-proof these areas.

Additionally, make sure your puppy will not get stuck in balcony railings. Shade and heating are important as well depending on the season.

2. Bathe your puppy once a month

A clean puppy leads to a clean home.

It is advisable that you wash it once a week during the first month, then once a month until your puppy is six months old.

Then, you can wash your dog twice a year. Do keep in mind that it’s not great to use pet shampoo on your dog all that often.

However, a quick wash-down and dry-toweling will do wonders for getting rid of muddy paws and stray fur.

3. Brush your puppy often

Regular brushing is important to stop fur from matting or growing tangled, especially if your dog is a long-haired breed.

Try out these awesome brushes from Glendan or Bissell to keep your dog’s fur neat, and your home as fur-free as possible.

4. Give your puppy regular pedicures

Just as how you regularly clip your nails, you also need to clip your puppy’s nails as well. Otherwise, you may just find scratch marks on your furniture and sofa!

To protect your sofa further, here are the best sofa fabrics to have when you have a puppy in the household.

5. Or, take your puppy to a reputable groomer

If you don’t have the time to do step 2-4, make life easier by taking your puppy to a reputable groomer.

Do make sure to read reviews so that you know your puppy is in safe hands with a top-rated groomer – one who actually cares for dogs.

6. Train your puppy

You can puppy-proof your kitchen and your sofa all you like.

However, to really keep your home clean, your puppy needs to be trained to know what it can and cannot do.

Here are a few things you can train your puppy to do for a cleaner house:

no getting on the bed and sofas,
only biting chew toys and not furniture,
potty-training,
no jumping in the house (and risk things like vases falling over),
sitting and staying no matter what happens (someone visits, you have food), and so on.

7. Consider investing in a Roomba

Or any automatic vacuum, really. When you introduce a puppy into your home, the amount of cleaning will have to go up.

Make life easier by getting a top-rated, automatic vacuum like the Roomba to help you keep your floors fur-free.

Just make sure that you check that there are no “accidents” around the household before setting your automatic vacuum free.

Otherwise it will be even more work for you, as these people found out.

8. Place lint rollers or stain removers close by

Finally, prevention may better than cure.

However, it’s also prudent to keep cures like lint rollers and stain removers nearby, so that you can immediately tackle the problem when you see it.

Invest in lint rollers to keep your clothes and sofas fur-free.

Also, to keep unsightly stains from becoming permanent, attack newly-formed stains with stain removers as soon as you see them.

Want to protect your sofas and couches from getting destroyed or forever stained by your puppy? The right fabric slipcovers will work like a charm. You can take our slipcover fabrics for a test run here:

ORDER FABRIC SAMPLES

5 IKEA essentials every tiny space needs

Posted on August 12, 2019April 29, 2025 by Michele

Not all of us dream of living in mansions — some of us actively desire to live in a tiny space.

Whether you live in a studio apartment or a one-room cottage, a tiny space is often enough space for most people these days.

After all, a large house means hours dedicated to cleaning and repairs, and rooms that you may not even use all that often.

Plus, a large house can mean people coming over uninvited because you ‘have the space’. The horror!

A tiny space does not have to be cramped. With the right furniture, you can have a beautiful home where every corner is utilized and functional.

If you’re thinking of sprucing up your tiny space, here are 5 IKEA essentials that’ll help you make the most of it:

1. KALLAX Shelving Unit

When you live in a small space, every square-inch counts, and height is more important than floor space.

And when it comes to building storage space vertically, it’s always a bonus when you can find your belongings easily, so that you don’t have to ruffle through drawers trying to find that one thing you’re looking for.

This is why the stackable KALLAX Shelving Unit from IKEA is a genius solution for small spaces. You can easily stack each shelving unit on top of each other until it reaches the top of your room.

Be it folded clothes, picture frames, flower vases, or even your figurine collection, these shelving units are the answer to store and display your knick-knacks in your bedroom or living room.

2. ALEX Drawer on Casters

5 IKEA Essentials Every Tiny Space Needs

Looking for traditional drawers to store stuff that you don’t want to be seen easily?

Consider drawers on wheels, like the ALEX Drawer on Casters. You can easily place this anywhere in the room and pull these drawers out only when you need them.

With a row of 6 drawers per unit, you can also label each one to indicate what you’re storing in each one i.e. stationery, socks, underwear, assorted toys.

3. LACK Floating Wall Shelf

For more shelving solutions, you may also want to consider having floating wall shelves near your front door, like the LACK Wall Shelf from IKEA.

With the LACK Wall Shelf, organising your everyday essentials like keys, bus or train passes, air fresheners, lint rollers where you can easily see them at eye level is easy.

These shelves can not only help you utilise wall space, but also make sure you don’t forget to take your must-haves with you as you head out into the world.

4. Stainless Steel Kitchen Organizer Set

Have a small kitchen but big cooking ambitions? No problem.

Get a few of these stainless steel organiser sets from IKEA. Hang up anything from your knives, ladles, spatulas, to pots, pans, woks, and lids within accessible reach.

Plus, they’ll serve as a daily reminder to do what you want to do: Cook!

5. EKTORP 3-seat sofa with Nordvalla chaise lounge

This sofa from IKEA is a sectional 3-seater that you can arrange to your liking in your living room.

Depending on the space you have, you can place the chaise section to the left or right of the sofa.

And because it’s multi-functional, it can double up as a sofa and bed.

Expecting a guest? You can arrange the chaise section to become a comfy ‘guest bed’ that won’t take up additional space.

Want my smart ideas on how to design a beautiful home on a budget? Get our Timeless Living: How to Create a Classy IKEA-inspired Home e-book for free here:

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How to decorate your home on a budget

Posted on August 9, 2019April 29, 2025 by Hema

Struggling to decorate your home on a budget? You’re not alone.

Let’s face it, it can be challenging to create your dream home without burning a hole through your wallet.

From the deciding the colours in your decor palette, the best shade for your sofa slipcovers, right down to the hues for the accompanying knick-knacks, the process of scoring them for affordable prices can be a lengthy one.

To give you a helping hand, we’ve compiled the best tips on how to curate your home decor on a budget.

Let’s go!

#1 Get painting

Paint is the most affordable solution for making just anything look brand new or completely different, really.

Whether it’s giving your wooden sofa frame a much-needed ‘lift’ or your living room walls (which have probably seen better days), completely different vibes, paint can be the best budget home decor option our there for getting the job done.

#2 Say ‘bye-bye’ to clutter

It’s likely that clutter’s contributing to 90% of your decor issues.

One of the quickest and easiest decorating ideas that’ll solve this problem: Invest in furniture that have hidden storage compartments to stow away rogue toys and remote controls.

Storage baskets also make a great, rustic addition to your living room decor, besides being a great way to make clutter disappear.

#3 Revive your old sofa

When your sofa has seen years of wear and tear, it’s only natural for it to look old and tired (as well as your cushions or pillows).

Your options:
1. Get a new sofa: This option can easily set you back at least US$1,000 and having your old sofa rotting in a dumpster isn’t great for Mother Nature.
2. Reupholster your sofa: Not the most wallet-friendly route either — it can easily cost US$1,500 or more (depending on the fabric you choose) to reupholster a 3-seater sofa.
3. Slipcover your sofa: Your best bet when it comes to rejuvenating your sofa on a budget, since it’ll cost a fraction (an upholstery-grade slipcover for a 2-seater IKEA Karlstad for example, costs just US$229) of the other two options. You could also spruce up your cushions with new inserts while you’re at it.

Throw new legs into the mix (a set of 4 legs for a sofa will cost around US$40), and you’ve got yourself an old sofa that looks better than brand new.

#4 Re-purpose your old items

Thinking of throwing that old, tin watering can away?

Not so fast!

With a little bit of love (and a coat of pastel spray paint), you’ll have a farmhouse-worthy flower pot.

Look for any old mason jars, chests or stools that you have lying about and try out your DIY skills on to convert them into a fresh, new decor items for your home.

#5 Go thrift shopping

Shopping for trinkets down at your local Salvation Army is probably one of the best things you can do for your wallet, home and environment.

Not only are they affordable, you might also stumble across some vintage finds that would make your decor look even more curated and artsy.

Did we miss any of your favourite tips on thrift decorating? Let us know in the comments below!

Thinking of giving your sofa an upgrade without breaking the bank? You’ll love our affordable yet super-soft, resilient and machine-washable Everyday Tweed sofa slipcover. Learn more about it here:

DISCOVER EVERYDAY TWEED

6 money-tips for new parents

Posted on August 7, 2019April 29, 2025 by Fatima Ali Shaikh

When you’re a first-time parent, it’s easy to get carried away with baby shopping and end up splurging mindlessly.

That is…until you see your credit card bill and flip out.

As a new parent, it’s crucial that you have effective money-saving strategies in place.

Here are our top 6 money-saving tips that’ll help you get through this first phase of parenthood with a healthy baby and bank account:

Buy 2-in-1 baby gear

Babies are tiny but there is SO much equipment you need to get for them.

From cribs, strollers and car seats to bouncers, diaper-changing tables and feeding chairs — the list seems to be never-ending.

One way to cut your expenses in literally half is to buy baby gear that can work double duty or even better, ‘grows’ as your baby grows.

For example, there are baby cribs that transform into toddler beds, strollers that can be used as car seats or feeding chairs, and baby bathtubs that can be used throughout the newborn and toddler stages.

Investing in 2-in-1 baby gear is not only a great money-saving tip — it’ll also help you save a ton of much space around the house.

Don’t go overboard before baby’s arrival

As a new parent, you’re bound to be so excited at your little one’s anticipated arrival that you go nuts at the baby shops.

As a result, you’ll end up spending insane amounts of money on baby items before the baby is even born.

Here’s the thing: Many items such as baby toys, shoes and play gyms can wait. All babies are different in size, shape and feeding, sleeping and playing preferences.

6 Must-Know Money Saving Tips For First-Time Parents — Image Credit: Unsplash

Your best (and most budget-friendly) course of action is this: Before baby is born, stick to purchasing only the bare necessities you absolutely need.

These include clothes, diapers and formula (if you’re going to be bottle-feeding), at least for the first month. Save the rest of the shopping for after your baby comes into this world.

That way, you can assess what items your baby actually needs and which ones you can do without. You’ll end up saving so much by simply shopping after baby is born.

Go for gender-neutral items

If you plan on having more than one child, it’s best to go for gender-neutral baby things.

This way when your second one is born, you’ll already have most of the baby essentials covered. This is especially true for more expensive items such as the baby’s crib, stroller and car seat.

Next time you’re shopping for your baby girl’s car seat and are tempted to go for the bright pink one, think again. Choosing unisex colours and styles will save you a lot of moolah in the long run.

But with that said, why stop at baby stuff? You can use similar strategies when with your home decor purchases too.

Get smart with diapers and formula

During your baby’s first year, your highest, recurring expenses will be centered around feeding and keeping baby clean.

This roughly translates into baby formula and diapers.

When it comes to feeding your baby, doctors advise that it’s always best to exclusively breastfeed your baby, at least for the first six months. Not only will you save up on a lot of money but it’s also healthier for you and your baby.

If you plan to bottle-feed (and research shows that less than 50% of women exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months), then it’ll pay to be smart about your purchases. For example, a good quality electric breastfeeding pump is super expensive — instead, try borrowing from a friend or family member.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask the nurses for formula while you’re at the hospital to start with, and stockpile your diaper bag with as much as they allow you to take.

When you’re at the pediatrician’s as if they can you give you some free formula samples.

Diapers will also be a huge recurring expense, so try to buy them in bulk, which will be much cheaper than buying in smaller quantities.

Also, you can always find diapers on sale: You just need to be on the lookout. Try comparing prices at different stores to figure out where you can get the best deal.

Be practical when it comes to clothes

It’s easy to get swept away with emotion-driven purchases when baby first arrives. The result? You splurging on fancy outfits in newborn sizes that never end up getting worn, or worn for very long.

Until about 6 months of age, your little one will mostly be wearing onesies and swaddled away.

Those super-expensive designer outfits you bought with so much love, will be outgrown long before your little one is even ready to wear them.

If you’ve got your heart set on spoiling your baby with fancy outfits anyway, save the money for when they are at least 6-9 months old so they don’t outgrow their clothes before they get a chance to wear them.

Save money and time on cleaning

As new parents, you’re bound to underestimate how messy babies can be and the time it takes to clean up the messes they make.

Spit up milk, leaky diapers and vomit are all part of the package, and the bad news is, it may get worse with the toddler years.

One way to keep your cleaning expenses (and energy) down? Invest in home decor essentials that are meant to make keeping your space gorgeous and clean, a whole lot easier.

For example, instead of spending insane amounts of money on buying a new set of seats to replace the stained ones every couple of years, consider getting slipcovers for your sofa, armchair or even dining chairs instead.

Your home (and wallet) will thank you for it!

Want to make your home more baby-friendly? Start with your sofa by giving it an affordable, machine-washable sofa slipcover. Take our sofa slipcover fabrics for a test run here:

SEND ME FABRIC SAMPLES

A gift guide for the new parents in your life

Posted on August 5, 2019April 29, 2025 by Fatima Ali Shaikh

It’s incredibly difficult to buy gifts for new parents — they seem to have literally bought every single thing their baby could possibly need.

You want your gift to be something unique, but also practical, and definitely something they haven’t already bought.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Here are our top picks for unique and practical gifts for new parents that are sure to be appreciated.

A baby play mat

7 Amazing Gifts To Get The New Parents In Your Life — Image Credit: Pexels

New parents are so pre-occupied trying to find the perfect crib, bathtub, car seat and stroller for their newborn baby that play mats tend to not feature very high on their list of purchases.

This is precisely why they make for excellent gifts for new parents.

They are an ideal place for a baby to get her daily dose of play and tummy time, which has immense benefits. This includes helping strengthen the muscles in the baby’s neck, head and upper body.

Since the baby will spend a lot of time in direct contact with the surface of the mat, we recommend you opt for a non-toxic play mat (which is free from harmful chemicals such as PVC and BPA).

One of the best non toxic play mats out there is the Wee Giggles Extra Large Non-Toxic Baby Play Mat

It’s thick (protecting the baby’s head during falls while playing) and comes in elegantly neutral colors that’ll look great with just about any type of home decor.

Book a house cleaning session

Research shows that one of the biggest causes of stress in parents of young ones is an untidy home (check out tips on how to de-clutter your home).

Make their lives easier by booking a cleaning session to get their home deep cleaned.

Hands down, this would seriously be one of the best gifts you could give the new parents in your life.

Fancy outfits

There’s nothing wrong with taking the traditional route and gifting the new parents in your life with fancy baby clothes — how can anyone resist buying cute outfits?

Here’s how to do it right though: Buy with the size ‘6-9 months’ in mind.

This is because for the first six months of a baby’s life, they are mostly swaddled away in a swaddle sheet or blanket. It’s after six months that you can really dress up a baby and have fun doing it.

Swaddles

The Best Gifts For New Parents In Your Life — Image Credit: Pexels

You can never go wrong with gifting parents of a newborn baby with swaddles.

No matter how many swaddling blankets a parent already has, they can always do with more.

SwaddleMe Original Swaddle is a great gift for a 0-3 month olds. Made from 100% cotton, it is designed to create a womb-like experience for baby and help them sleep longer.

Bottle warmers

If mom-to-be plans to bottle feed, she’s definitely gotten a hold of the essentials.

This includes bottles, formula and sterilizer for her new baby.

But a bottle warmer is probably something she won’t realize she needs — until baby comes along.

This can be one of the best gifts for new moms who aren’t planning on breastfeeding simply because it takes the stress and hassle out of heating up the bottle when they need it.

The Philips Avent Fast Baby Bottle Warmer is a great one you can get. Turn it on, wait just 3 minutes, and new mum’s bottle is all warmed up and ready to go!

Home decor

Did we just say home décor as a gift for new parents?

Yup, you heard it right. We’re not talking of any home décor – its décor that makes their house look great AND makes the lives of these new parents much easier.

New parents will be spending a LOT of their time with the baby on the couch.

This will include lots of feeding, burping, swaddling and cuddling. Breastfeeding moms in particular will spend long stretches of time sitting on the couch and feeding.

You can gift them with a collapsible armrest tray. They’ll allow parents feeding their little ones a place on the couch where they can conveniently place their coffee and snacks without worrying about spills and stains.

Speaking of stains…a newborn in the house means there will be a LOT of them. And plenty will land on the sofa and cushions. Check out these tips on how to clean your sofa like a pro.

Also, by gifting new parents to be with gorgeous, machine-washable cushion covers, you will not only brighten up their space but also keeping it clean so much easier.

Make it personal

If you’re giving the gift to someone close to you like a sister or a best friend, try getting more personal with your gift.

How personal? Try the coziest spot in their home, such as their sofa.

Machine-washable slipcovers for their sofa can make for an excellent present, and just like cushion covers, having slipcovers that they can just take off and clean whenever they need to comes with plenty of benefits.

To get the ball rolling, tease their curiosity (and the element of surprise) by finding out what kind of sofa they have and what kind of fabrics they like. Send them sofa slipcover fabric samples here:

SEND THEM FABRIC SAMPLES

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