Hold on, we hear you say. Aren’t all whites the same?
Not at all.
Like all other shades, whites come in a variety of tones. No two shades of white are the same, which is why picking the perfect white is important to make your home look warm instead of clinical.
Some whites have a blue or purple undertone, making it a cooler-toned white. On the other end of the spectrum, white shades with yellow undertones will make it a warm-toned white.
Read on to find out which type to use for your home.
Does your home have plenty of natural light or very little?
If your home has an abundance of natural light, you’re one of the lucky few who can pull off a pure white on your walls. Otherwise, stick to a shade of white with pigments that complement the other pieces of furniture in your home.
Another lighting factor to consider is the place you live in.
Different parts of the world have different shades of natural light. For example, the light in New York veers towards a warm and grey tone, while the light in Miami has an orange tone.
As for artificial lighting, think of the colours of your existing light bulbs. Do they have cool or warm tones?
It’s important to remember that white reflects light, meaning that any colour cast on the white walls will amplify the tone of your walls.
For example, a cool-toned bulb will make the walls look cooler, while the opposite is the same with warm-toned artificial lighting.
You’ll be surprised at how different a small paint swatch can looks versus one that’s painted on a larger surface.
The key here is to paint as large of a swatch as you can in different parts of your home to see if it’s a great fit.
Light differs from room to room, so you want to ensure that the white paint will consistently look good throughout your home. Try it on the walls and close to the ceilings for the truest match without painting your walls.
Want more wallet-friendly decorating tips? Get them in our free Timeless Living: How To Design A Classy IKEA-Inspired Home ebook:
Anyone shopping for a slipcover for their old, dated Crate & Barrel couch will tell you – it’s expensive.
You could buy nearly half (or more) of a brand new CB couch for the price of just the fabric. To make matters worse, delivery takes up to two and a half months from order to the doorstep. And that’s if it hasn’t been discontinued.
There goes the “new” couch in time to please the friends & relatives.
But what else is there to do? No one else makes them.
Or is there?
Fear not my sofa loving friends, we are here to help.
Who are you guys anyway?
“But wait, who are you guys anyway?”
Comfort Works specializes in crafting tailor-made, form fitting slipcovers. We’re like the tailors you would hire for a custom made suit – but for sofas.
That’s basically all we do here.
For over 8 years we have been re-covering the world’s dated sofas and have saved more than 30,000 sofas from becoming landfill.
Most of the time, we get orders for IKEA sofas and have made a small reputation for making slipcovers better than the original. So we’re always excited to get enquiries from rarer brands.
But no matter what sofa we work with, we’ll make a slipcover that will look good and feel good, guaranteed.
If that sounds like an overstatement, check out our Instagram page to see some of our work. Most of which were taken from the living rooms of our very own customers!
Will it fit?
“Will the slipcovers be a perfect fit for my Crate & Barrel sofa?”
We are confident that it will. We stake our world-class reputation on it.
Our World Class Reputation
In fact, we’ve already covered a handful of CB sofas and have the measurements ready to roll for several models:
They can be ordered on our site at the click of a button and will fit beautifully, just like they have on the sofas from our customers.
Speaking of our customers, here’s some of our work, sent to us straight from their living rooms:
Axis II Slipcovered In Cotton Canvas White
Bloomsbury Slipcovered In Luna Flax
Lounge II Slipcovered in Cotton Canvas Black
Petrie Sofa and Ottoman Slipcovered in Savannah Saddle
If we don’t have dimensions of your particular sofa model in our database, we’ll work with you to get your sofa measured. This involves:
Sending us photos of your sofa and its model (for us to make sure we can slipcover it)
Ordering fabric samples (so you can pick a fabric that you’ll love)
Ordering your cover (you’ll be assigned an expert to guide you in getting your sofa measurements)
Working with us to measure your sofa
Sit back and relax! (we’ll take it from here and get your cover created)
That’s it.
Of course, we’ll be holding your hand throughout the measurement process and triple check the measurements so we can deliver a slipcover that fits your Crate & Barrel to a tee.
But rest assured, we usually get things right on the first try. We’ve helped hundreds of custom and even antique couches find a new life.
In fact, you may be surprised to hear that we do slipcovers for CB sofa models that CB themselves do not make slipcovers for.
What sofa models do you slipcover?
“You guys can make slipcovers for couches that Crate & Barrel can’t!?”
That’s correct! We’re pleased to say that we make slipcovers for more CB sofa models than CB themselves.
How?
Well that’s because instead of just producing slipcovers for the usual CB slipcovered sofas, we also create slipcovers for some of their upholstered sofas.
This works by creating a cover that slips over any upholstered parts of the sofa (frame, cushions, etc) while creating cushion covers as per usual for zippered cushions.
For example, this leather upholstered chaise lounge has been slipcovered in that way:
What Crate & Barrel models do we slipcover you ask?
The ones that we work with can be found on our site’s Crate & Barrel page (of course).
Here are some of them:
But even if you don’t see your model listed, it doesn’t mean we can’t do it.
After all, we’re pretty good at measuring and getting couches slipcovered so don’t hesitate to shoot us an email to check if your Crate & Barrel can be covered.
Delivery Time
“When can I expect to receive my slipcovers?”
Unless there’s a global crisis stopping us from getting your covers to you, we do our best to get them over within 4-5 weeks from the time of order.
Of course, this will be discussed in detail when you place an order and we’ll let you know if we expect delays for any reason.
How much?
“So how much will it cost to cover my couch?”
Naturally, the price to slipcover your sofa would depend on the sofa model, size, and type. The good news however is that our prices are always cheaper than original Crate & Barrel covers (which tends to cost anywhere between 40-60% of the price of the sofa in question).
In short, you can expect a one to two hundred dollar difference between the original covers and the covers we make.
Decor fans in particular would be delighted to hear that there are more fabrics, customizations and styles to choose from to really personalise the look of your sofa.
But wait! It gets better.
If you’re lucky enough to own a sofa that we don’t have ready measurements for (meaning we will need your help in working with us to measure your sofa), you’ll also enjoy a special discounted rate.
That’s right, Instead of charging more for the extra work it takes to help measure your sofa, we instead charge less. After all, you’ll be involved in the process as well.
This is what you can expect to pay if we need to measure your sofa. Prices start from:
So if you have a CB couch that needs covering, check us out and see if you’re one of the first to get your sofa model slipcovered!
And even if you’re not, you’ll still save a nifty couple of hundred compared to ordering from Crate & Barrel, and enjoy much faster shipping and style choices.
Interested in getting your Crate & Barrel sofa slipcovered? Learn more, place an order, or drop us an enquiry below:
Spring is officially here and what better way to celebrate it than with a little spring cleaning!
I know, I know, there’s probably nobody who would consider it their idea of fun but it really is the best time of the year for a deep clean – that’s why it exists.
Even if your house isn’t starting to smell a little too “homely” after being cooped up during the colder months, there’s still months worth of dust, allergens and clutter building up. Nobody wants to deal with that on top of new seasonal allergies.
And everybody wants to come home to a clean home at the end of the day right?
So get your brooms and get your mops, it’s time to learn how to make the whole process as painless as possible with some tips that will turn you into a spring cleaning pro.
Starting with:
Planning Your Cleaning Session
Let’s face it, nobody enjoys planning a cleaning session and especially since it isn’t the most complex of tasks.
So what gives?
As it turns out, it really sucks to discover that you’ve missed an important item in your mental list of what needs to be cleaned. Or if you weren’t paying attention, you may not even have noticed that nasty spot under the microwave has turned into the hangout of your least favourite critters.
Chances are, once you’ve stashed your cleaning kit away after a hard day of work, it’s not coming back out. Definitely not for some measly obscure corner.
To avoid this happening, and the subsequent gnawing of the dirty spot that got away at the back of your mind, try spending a day consciously taking stock of what needs to be cleaned and what can be saved for another session.
All it takes is a little mindfulness and a notepad on your phone as you carry on through your day.
Removing The Clutter
Spring cleaning isn’t just about stopping dust bunnies in their tracks and banishing grease stains. As important as those are, you can’t have a clean looking house when there’s clutter everywhere.
It’s time to literally sort things out, and when better to do it than right at the very start. Clear that clutter with some organizational magic and move other impediments to your cleaning to a designated area.
Not only will it be so much easier to clean with nothing to trip you up, but you may also discover some new areas that you didn’t know were quite that filthy.
Use Gentle Products
Psst, here’s a secret… gentle products are as effective as the stronger stuff. Well at least 99% of the time they are. So there is absolutely no need to let loose on the bleach and other products that will leave your house smelling like a science lab.
Really, all you need to clean your house are 3-5 things, some of which you’ll already have lying around:
Liquid castile soap: Skin and eco-friendly liquid soap made with all natural ingredients. Dr Bronner’s is a particularly famous example.
Clean soft cloth: Microfiber cloth is one of the best choices for cleaning.
Dishwashing liquid(not detergent): Stronger than the castile soap for and also be used to substitute it, but remember to use less.
Spray bottle: Mix roughly 1 tablespoon of liquid castile soap for per cup of water in the bottle and spray it wherever needs cleaning.
Magic eraser: Really good at cleaning ceramics and leaving them shiny :)
That’s it.
And if you’re using them right (which we will get into later), they’ll be all you need save for the nastiest stains that have celebrated a few birthdays.
Not only will they be better for your skin and health. They’ll also be less likely to damage your surfaces (like wood) which can discolor when in contact with harsh chemicals.
Clean Top Down
Don’t start there
Beginning your clean from top to bottom is one of the oldest secrets in the book. That means starting with the ceiling and end with the floor.
Nobody likes cleaning twice, and that’s what will happen if you don’t start top down since dirt and debris get dislodged and are knocked downwards.
Plus there’s usually a substantial amount of dust, cobwebs and other yucky stuff hidden up there so get the difficult part of the job out of the way first.
If you’ve ever watched someone clean a surface in a movie, you’ve probably seen them hard at work scrubbing furiously in a circular motion.
Well don’t do that. It’s a lie!
I know, I found it crazy too as someone who does that all the time. And while wiping in a circle is the ideal way to apply wax to a car or shine shoes (getting a substance onto something), it’s the total opposite when cleaning (getting dirt and dust off something).
Essentially, we’re just rubbing the dirt round and round. Hospitals in particular warn against wiping like this because it recontaminates the surface.
What we really want to do is clean in an “S” shape. Starting at the top corner of any flat(ish) surface and wiping across, before moving the cloth downwards and wiping across again – almost like laying bricks layer by layer.
Image credit: gammahealthcare
Let the product clean for you
If gentle products clean just as well as the stronger stuff for the most part, then why are so many people quick to pull out the big guns?
Maybe it’s because they haven’t learned this simple trick: which is to let the product do your job for you.
Instead of just dripping some cleaning liquid onto the counter and using a cloth to wipe it around, give it time to work it’s magic. Without getting all science-classy, it takes time for the chemical reactions necessary to break down grease and stains to occur.
So spray that liquid mix you’ve created in the spray bottle until it covers the surface and simply leave it for 5 minutes before coming back to wipe and dry it. To be time efficient, you can even move onto a different area to clean while you wait.
Use the right products
Using the right products for the right job makes any job easy – and any house sparkly clean!
Start by getting your supplies together and place them in a basket. This way, you won’t have to forget where you left them and scurry from room to room to find them.
Once that’s done, it’s time to start cleaning. Here’s how you can use what you have to shine your home like it has never shone before.
For counter tops, cabinets, stainless steel (faucets, handles) and wood: Use the spray bottle mix of water and castile soap. Spray it on and give it time to work before wiping it off with a soft cloth.
For ceramics like sinks, bathroom tiles, glass stoves and the toilet: A little water and dishwashing liquid soap on the magic eraser works wonders for cleaning and shining. The secret? It’s because the magic eraser is like extremely fine sandpaper which easily polishes ceramics.
As for the sofa and drapes: Put them in the washing machine if they are machine washable (check the tags). Of course, here we are talking about the sofa covers (if it isn’t upholstered) and not the entire sofa. So figure out if your sofa is slipcovered by looking for zippers on the sofa cushions and checking the label for machine-washability. If you can’t find any then your sofa is upholstered and has to be cleaned by hand.
Last but not least: Gear Up
Allergic reactions are so commonly triggered when someone in the house is having a good spring clean.
Residue from dust mites, dust, pet hair, pollen and many more microscopic horrors you may not be aware of are kicked up in the process and there’s a good likelihood that you or someone else will soon be scrambling for the tissues.
And let’s not forget the allergic reaction won’t just go away once the cleaning ends. Once these particles are in the air, they will stay there for a while.
To prevent some much unneeded suffering and the wrath of your fellow housemates, it’s best to get geared up – them as well. At the very least that means masks to protect the face and gloves to protect your skin (for those cleaning) because even with the mildest of products, cleaning simply isn’t good for your skin.
For example, even plain hot water is terrible for your hands. It damages the same skin that will soon be touching a lot of nasty stuff harboring bacteria. Yucks!
Looking for more ways to keep your home as clean as possible? Try using machine washable fabric couch covers. Not only will it make cleaning the most used piece of furniture a cinch, but will also give it a brand new look.
If you’ve been unlucky enough to be hit by a movement restriction in the latest of 2020’s various crises, then you may be wondering the same.
Times like this it pays to have productive things to do, but it’s not that easy finding something you can do at home… while being distracted by home.
Speaking of home, we’re going to be seeing a lot of it from now on so might as well make it amazing. It’s time for a space remake!
Two birds → One stone.
And by the time everyone is out and about visiting friends and making up for lost time again, guess who’s living room will be the shocker. Yours.
Ready for your dream home? Here are some tips on how you start achieving it.
Starting with:
Removing That Clutter
The first and easiest way to begin any interior remake is to remove the clutter. Not only does it free up space for us to experiment, but it also doesn’t take much commitment and we can do it at leisure. Like a warm up to get you into the mood.
And more than that, how are we supposed to work when there’s things everywhere tripping and blocking us?
This is what you need:
Organization Lifehacks : Just can’t seem to find a place to stash all those scatter items around your room? Discover items that will help you group them up or give you more space to store your stuff.
The right/wrong way to use IKEA products: Who knew that using IKEA products in the completely wrong way would deliver such great results! Good news is that IKEA is still open for online delivery if you’re thinking of checking them out.
Building your dream interior will take time and effort, so it’s best to get it right. From farmhouse, industrial, white, bohemian, and lots more – there are so many styles to decorate your home with.
Maybe you’re set and ready with a clear idea of what you want or maybe you’re still discovering. Either way, here is some inspiration from the book of styles to push you along.
Minimalist living rooms : Say no to clutter but yes to style with a decor that celebrates the simpler side of life. It’s x and it’s y and it’s definitely not for households with messy kids.
Farmhouse style : Warm, approachable and family friendly, the farmhouse look does it all. No wonder it is the most popular style of them all.
The industrial aesthetic : It’s not the easiest style to pull off, especially if you’re not already rocking some of the elements (like a brick wall), but the lucky few may find their existing abode ready for the industrial revolution.
Grey living rooms : Another favourite for those who love simplicity and minimalism…. just without the whole focus on the minimalism
Spring theme : Perfect for ushering in the new season and all the freshness that comes with it, this style excels at bringing the outdoors inside.
The list goes waaay on – there are too many different ways to decorate! Times like this it’s time to bring in the experts. Get more style ideas from them or learn how you can bring your chosen one to life.
Straight from the TV : From dealing with small spaces to decorating on a dime, there’s a TV series for everyone that will, in Marie Kondo’s famous words “spark joy”.
You’ve researched, you’ve prepared, and now it’s time to take action. Don’t burn yourself out trying to put it all together all at once – make small effective changes first. The finishings and big ticket stuff can be handled later.
Decorating on a budget: Small cost, big results! The best ways to scrimp while changing up your living space noticeably.
Why white walls : White naturally compliments a host of different styles like farmhouse, modern, minimalist, scandi and just about anything really. Yup, it’s just that versatile.
With a whole new canvas to work with, it’s time to fill in your new space with the good stuff. Even without delving into new furniture and other luxury items that will blow a hole in your wallet (which can wait until another day), there are still a ton of ways to re-create your living space.
It just needs a little furnishing.
Feeling rustic? : There’s a whole cult-like following centred around the rustic/ shabby-chic decor that is so often found in houses sporting the farmhouse look. A little exposed wood and linen and you too can join in!
Celebrate nature : Seal the deal on your spring themed living space (or any style that incorporates nature for that matter) with the freshest decorations available online.
For the new parents : Design the ultimate nursery. But don’t forget to keep it in-line with your new home.
Go green : Compliment your new style with an indoor garden because plants belong in any home.
Last but not least…
The most important step now that you’re done with all that? Kick back and relax! After all, you’ve probably done more renovation on your home than the last few years combined.
How to be blissfully unproductive : Reward yourself for your hard work and take a well deserved break :)
Sofa struggles? We've got you covered.
From pet mishaps to everyday spills, our sofa covers tackle life's little messes effortlessly.
