How to Care For Accent Rugs

Adding an area rug can make all the difference in room. Rugs add color and texture, and they define a space. Use them to tie various colors together. The right rug can make it possible to use more colors in a room. Here's how to care for them...

Rotation
Rotate your rug often. This will do two things to extend the life of your rug:
1) Make the rug wear more evenly.
2) Reduce the effects of sun fading on any one spot of the rug.

Rug Pad
Rug pads extend the life of your rug because the pad absorbs much of the pressure and friction from normal wear and tear. They also will prevent slippage, and reduce the chances of a slip-and-fall accident. When applied properly, a rug pad is 2 - 3 inches short of the edge of the rug all around the perimeter.

Cleaning
Vacuum regularly, as the dust and other particles that settle into the rug are abrasive. When stepped upon, these abrasives, over time, tear at the fibers of the rug. When vacuuming, if you must use a beater brush, raise the setting to make its effect on the rug as light as possible.

Wool Rugs
Wool is a natural fiber that can be very long lasting when properly cared for. Shedding is natural in wool rugs. Colors are more prone to "bleeding" more than synthetic fibers.
1. Use a dry cotton towel or white paper towel to blot out any stain as much as possible. Blot always from the outer edges inward toward the center.
2. Scrape off any spills or debris with a dull edge.
3. Mix water and a tiny amount of dish soap.
4. Use a clean sponge to gently remove the stain, using the soapy water.
5. Blot the area dry with a towel.
6. Have your wool rugs professionally dry cleaned regularly. Some suggest annually.

Synthetic Fibers (Olefin, Nylon, Polypropylene)
1. Use a dry towel or white paper towel to blot out any stain. Blot from the outer edges inward toward the center.
2. Scrape off any spills or debris with a dull edge.

3. Mix water and a tiny amount of dish soap.
4. Use a clean sponge to gently remove the stain, using the soapy water.
5. Blot the area dry with a towel.
6. These cleaners are excellent at removing grease and stubborn stains:
    409 and Fantastic

Other Natural Fibers (Hemp, Jute, Sisal, Coir)
Knots on these rugs tend to tie loosely, and are prone to unraveling. Clean them with care.
1. Vacuum regularly, minimizing the impact of a beater brush.
2. Trim carefully any loose ends using sharp scissors.
3. Use a dry towel or white paper towel to blot out any stain. Blot from the outer edges inward toward the center.
4. Scrape off any spills or debris with a dull edge.
5. Use water alone, with no soap, to gently clean the stain.
6. Use a professional cleaning service that knows how to clean wool rugs, another natural fiber.

Shag Rugs
Today's rug makers have become very creative in designing rugs with a lot of texture. For cleaning, follow the instructions from above that apply to the fibers of the rug. When vacuuming, do not use a beater bar at all. Vacuum often.

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs
Cleaning any rug regularly will extend its useful life. These rugs are no exception.

1. Use a dry towel or white paper towel to blot out any stain. Blot from the outer edges inward toward the center.
2. Scrape off any spills or debris with a dull edge.

3. Mix water and a tiny amount of dish soap.
4. Use a clean sponge to gently remove the stain, using the soapy water.
5. Blot the area dry with a towel.


6. Rather than dry cleaning, use your garden hose to spray off the rug.

Closing Doors and Burning Bridges

Brendan Francis said:  
"Some persons are very decisive when it comes to avoiding decisions." 

There is a reason some of us struggle to make a big decision: making a choice between two or more options can feel like a loss. But all great achievements begin at the same place; with a decision. We are free to decide what we want to become. And every day we are free to let things get in our way - or to put those aside - to let nothing stop us from becoming the person we want to become, and which we know in our hearts is in our power to become.

To all starts with a decision.

Consider General Xiang Ye in the 3rd century BC. After taking his army across the Yangtze River into enemy territory he took away any possibility of retreat. By burning the bridge they had just crossed, and smashing their cooking pots, the General committed his soldiers to fight. They had the choice, then, to fight and win or be killed. A tough choice. 

"Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions."
Author Unknown

Here are a few tips on decision-making:

1) Take a Deep Breath

This clears the mind, and calms the nerves.

2) Make a List of Options

This organizes your choices, and unclutters your mind.

3) Consider Best - and Worst - Possible Outcomes

If a worst possible outcome is unacceptable, which means if it were to happen you could never forgive yourself, make a different choice.

4) Make a Choice

There are few things more empowering than making a decision.

5) Confirm Decision with your Maker

If it's a big decision, consult with an All-Wise Parent. If it's not, He will likely want you to make your own choice.

6) Don't over-analyze. There is a risk of paralysis by analysis.

7) Close a door. Resist the natural tendency to try to keep options open. Don't be afraid of loss.

“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” 
Walter Anderson

Here's an excellent article on the subject, from the Science Section of the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/science/26tier.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

4 Week Better Sleep Plan, by Dr. Oz

Deep, restful sleep is critical to your health and happiness.  I found some helpful counsel from Dr. Oz:

By Dr. Mehmet Oz

Once upon a time, you could sleep like a baby. Now you'd be lucky to get a full eight hours of peaceful, uninterrupted slumber.

Here's how to rest easy again. 

As a father of four, a surgeon, and a talk show host, I know all about sleepless nights. More than 25 years ago, when I was a surgical resident, I conditioned myself to get by on just two or three hours of sleep a night. I can recall walking down an empty hospital corridor after a long shift and seeing the sun rising silently over the city. I often had trouble drifting off when I got home—and continued to have insomnia even after my residency ended.

I wasn’t alone. Nearly half of all Americans have occasional insomnia, whether because of stress, hormonal changes, or poor bedtime habits; about 15 percent are plagued by chronic sleeplessness.

And that’s a problem. Waking up exhausted doesn’t just take a toll on your mood and your performance at work; inadequate sleep can lead to serious health ­problems—including obesity, cancer, and heart disease—and shortened life expectancy. While you’re sleeping, your body rejuvenates the connections between brain cells, renews its immune function, improves the response to insulin, and secretes growth hormone, which is ­essential for healthy skin and muscles. People who sleep fewer than six hours a night have a 50 percent higher risk of viral infections and an elevated risk of heart disease and stroke. A new study even suggests that a lack of sleep heightens your risk of Alzheimer’s.

That said, insomnia isn’t something to lose sleep over; plenty of simple strategies can help you get the rest you need. I’ve put together this four-week plan to ensure you sleep better and longer, starting tonight. 

WEEK 1

ASSESS YOUR BEDROOM

Dim the lights. insomnia feeds off the minor details of modern life, like the soft blue glow from a TV, a computer, a cell phone, a PDA, or even the digital clock on your nightstand. That blue light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone. Crack open a book rather than watching reruns just before bed, and cover up blue displays you can’t shut off. Place an orange lightbulb (available at Home ­Depot or other home improvement stores) in your bedside lamp; its glow lets you read or relax without actively inhibiting melatonin.

Go mattress shopping. As anyone who’s ever been up coughing, wheezing, or blowing his nose can attest, asthma and allergies can significantly affect the quality of your sleep. And one very common cause of both conditions could be living in your mattress. Dust mites are microscopic arachnids that feed on human skin and are a major trigger for asthma and allergies. These bugs like to make their home in beds because of the steady supply of food; the older the mattress, the more likely that mites have taken up residence. If yours is more than five to seven years old, it may be time for an upgrade. (If your mattress is newer than that, consider buying a mite-resistant casing instead.)

Chill out. Keeping your body cool slows down all of the metabolic processes, including the mental whirring that prevents you from drifting off. The worse your insomnia, the colder your bedroom should be. Start at 68 degrees Fahrenheit and crank it down to 65 degrees (or even as low as 60 degrees) if you still can’t get any rest. 

WEEK 2

CREATE A BETTER BEDTIME ROUTINE

Don’t go to bed hungry. You may think you’re doing your waistline a ­favor by skipping dinner or not eating after 6 p.m. when your bedtime is midnight, but a growling, empty stomach makes it harder to fall asleep, and that can derail your diet. Researchers at the University of Chicago withheld sleep from study participants and found the lack of shut-eye altered appetite-regulating hormones. The subjects reported feeling hungrier, with strong cravings for calorie-dense, carb-rich foods, such as sweets, salty snacks like potato chips, and starchy foods like pasta.

Put a cap on your nightcap. Surveys show that up to 19 percent of people use alcohol to help nod off at night. But after the initial tranquilizing buzz wears off, alcohol often results in more fitful sleep. As your body withdraws from the drug, you may experience symptoms such as waking up in the middle of the night or the inability to reach a deep sleep. A better pre-bed beverage: chamomile tea, which research shows may have a calming effect. 

Slip on some socks. Feet often feel colder than the rest of the body because they have the poorest circulation. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology in 2000 suggests that wearing socks to bed keeps the blood vessels in your feet dilated, drawing blood away from your core and cooling you off, which initiates sleep. 

WEEK 3

INSOMNIA-PROOF YOUR LIFESTYLE

Don’t just lie there. If you suffer through hours counting sheep, you may soon come to associate your bed with the stress of insomnia. In fact, studies show that spending less time between the sheets—a technique known as sleep restriction—may promote more restful snoozing and, with time, help make your bed a welcome sight at the end of a long day. Calculate the number of hours you actually spend asleep, and then limit your time in bed to no more than that amount. Start with a routine that gets you up at the same time every morning—even if it's quite early, and even on the weekends. Once you're falling asleep more easily at night, you can slowly push your wake-up time forward. 

Time your workouts right. Combined with a regular bedtime routine, exercising four times a week may increase your overall sleep time by 1.25 hours each night, according to a recent study published in the journal Sleep Medicine. Why is working out so effective? Exercising significantly increases your core temperature; as your body returns to its baseline a few hours later, your temperature measurably drops, making it easier to drift off. The best time to work out: late afternoon or early evening (at least two hours before bedtime), so your body temperature begins falling just as you’re getting ready for bed.

Break your smartphone addiction. Constantly checking email or scanning your favorite websites stimulates the brain, preventing you from winding down at night. Some research suggests that simply exposing yourself to wireless signals may interfere with sleep. In a major joint study, researchers in Sweden and at Wayne State University in Michigan found that people subjected to a substantial amount of these signals right before bed reported headaches, more difficulty falling asleep, and less restful slumber. The solution: Keep your cell phone out of reach at night, and try to spend less time on it during the day. 

WEEK 4

TAKE CONTROL OF SLEEP-ROBBING HEALTH CONDITIONS

Put your shower massager to good use. A warm bath and a massage can help anyone nod off more easily, but they can be particularly helpful if leg cramps keep you awake. Evidence shows that heat and leg massage can improve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, a ­disorder that affects up to 10 percent of the population and is characterized by cramping and an unpleasant urge to move your legs, ­especially at night. If symptoms persist, ask your doctor whether you could benefit from taking magnesium, which has been shown to relieve leg cramps, or a prescription medication.

Lose weight. Those extra pounds, particularly around the neck, put you at greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition in which the soft palate at the back of the throat collapses, causing your airway to become blocked during sleep. OSA increases the risk of heart disease and stroke; the hallmark symptom is loud snoring with intermittent pauses in breathing, as air tries to squeeze through the narrowed passageway. Research shows that losing just 10 percent of your body weight significantly improves symptoms of OSA—including snoring.

See your dentist. Snorers may also benefit from a mouth guard—a small plastic device worn during sleep to help prevent the soft palate from collapsing. Even if you don’t have OSA, controlling snoring is ­important; a recent study showed that snoring more than doubles your risk of developing metabolic syndrome, one of the major predictors of future cardiovascular disease. Interrupted sleep, often a result of loud snoring, increases this risk even further.

YOUR BODY ON INSOMNIA

Sleeplessness can have wide-reaching effects on the body. Here's what happens to...

Your brain A new study shows that sleep is necessary to rejuvenate the connections between brain cells; these connections become increasingly erratic the longer you're awake. According to researchers, the most easily disrupted connections were those essential for memory, executive functioning, and attention. 

Your muscles The body produces growth hormone during sleep, a function necessary for building and maintaining healthy muscle tissue. So over time, insomnia can zap strength. 

Your immune system Sleep deprivation lessens white blood cell activity, which ups the risk of getting sick. In turn, a healthy immune system promotes deep sleep, so long bouts of insomnia can create a vicious cycle. 

Your blood sugar Insomnia interferes with the body's ability to metabolize glucose, leading to early signs of diabetes. One study showed that regularly snoozing less than six hours a night makes you 4.5 times more likely to develop prediabetes. 

Your mood Sleepless nights don't just make you irritable; new research shows that people who suffer from chronic insomnia are five times more likely to become depressed and 20 times more likely to develop panic disorder.

IF YOU STILL CANNOT SLEEP...

Natural and over-the-counter sleep remedies can be surprisingly effective, but like prescription drugs, they carry risks, including dependency. Consult your doctor before taking any sleep medications.

Diphenhydramine (for example, Benadryl and Sominex) and doxylamine (for example, Unisom) are common OTC antihistamines that are also marketed as sleep aids. Scientists believe that these drugs cause sedation by blocking the brain’s histamine activity, which is normally involved in arousal and alertness.

Melatonin is a sleep-promoting hormone that’s naturally produced by the body at night. Available as a supplement, it can help you fall asleep if taken two to three hours before bedtime. Keep in mind that the commonly listed dosage (five milligrams) is more than what most people require; instead, start with one milligram and work up to 2.5 milligrams if necessary. 

Research suggests that valerian root may have a sedative-like effect, helping you drift off more quickly and prolonging total sleep time. Try preparing it in a tea and drinking a cup before bed.

Design Tip: Remember the Golden Ratio (aka Golden Mean)!

Patterns are mathematical, and they appear everywhere in nature.   While definitely an Art, architecture and Interior design uses a lot of Math and Science.  The Greeks called it "Phi" (pronounced "fee"), and they used it in designing the Parthenon, and the Egyptians in designing the pyramids.  It is a mathematical formula for creating proportion between objects.

Consider an 8' sofa, and a 5' coffee table.  Assuming a compatible style and color, the two work for the eye because they follow the "phi formula", which is:  1 to 1.61803399

A great shape for a table in that same ratio, would be as follows:

5 x 1.61803399 = 8.06

Here is the ratio for a smaller, 7' sofa:

7 / 1.61803399 = 4.33

This guideline will help you design a room in which everything seems to fit.  

Keep Smilin'!

Design Tip: 5 Types of Lines

Interior design is largely about visual perception.  That perception moves your eyes in certain ways, affecting your energy, productivity, and even your sense of well-being and peace.  

There are visible and invisible lines in your room.  Visible lines may be literally in your fabrics, or your paint pattern, wallpaper, or flooring.  More subtle are the lines that form between objects and features of the room.  Designers use 5 types of line:

1. Transitional lines include walls, floors, and ceilings
   Use these features to transition from one type of line to another.
2. Vertical lines create a sense of action and height.
   Line-patterned throw rugs provide an easy example.  A more subtle way to create line, is to place a tall, narrow accessory onto the top of a cocktail table, for example.  
3. Horizontal lines create a restful atmosphere, and widen a space.
   Consider wallpaper, or a patterned paint.
4. Diagonal lines create excitement and motion.
   Throw rugs, paint jobs, and the layout of pieces of furniture can create diagonal lines.  
5. Curved lines are feminine, graceful, and delicate.
   A few curves, such as the short exposed legs of a sofa, can create a country or rustic appearance.  But be careful with curves.  Ornate, curvy furniture often tends to be feminine (but not always); it may not be what a bachelor would want in his apartment.  

Keep Smilin'!

Clean Your Sofa!

I get a lot of questions about the "clean-ability" of a particular fabric.  It's a natural question, as the average sofa is used for over 2700 hours in its lifetime.  Most people buy new furniture infrequently, and they need it to look good for several years.  Two summary tips here:

• Vacuum and dust often.  Where a lot of dust collects, so do dust mites (believe me, the more you know about dust mites the more you don't like those guys!).  
• Spot-clean right away, when accidents happen.  

If your cushions have a zippered enclosure, you may be tempted to throw the cover in the washing machine. I tried this on an old sofa (so you don't have to).  The washing machine was very rough on the fabric.  In order to get the cushion back inside the fabric enclosure, I had to use scissors to cut away a lot of threads that had come loose.  It's OK to gently hand-wash your zippered-enclosure fabrics.  Just follow the cleaning codes for your fabric.  Using the wrong one may damage the fabric on your furniture.  

The 4 cleaning codes:

• W - This indicates a water-based cleaner.  Apply any mild water-based cleaner using a brush in circular motion.  Try an inconspicuous area first, before cleaning primary areas.
• S  - This indicates a solvent-based cleaner.  Do not use water.  Open windows for ventilation, as the vapors from these cleaners can be harmful if inhaled in large concentrations.
• W-S - Use either a water- or solvent based cleaner, following applicable directions above.
• X - Vacuum and dust off only.  Do not use any type of cleaner on these fabrics.  

A TIP ABOUT STAIN-GUARDING:

Fabrics today do not include stain protection out of the factory.  But each one - whatever the cleaning code - can be stain-guarded, making them far less absorbent.  Choose your stain-guard product carefully, using one that that is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and that is completely color-safe.  RC Willey provides such a product, available in a spray bottle, as well as with our professional application.  

By contrast, a product that is commonly available at grocery stores includes a warning on their website; they urge consumers to test for "color-fastness" in an inconspicuous place - before treating the entire sofa.  No warning necessary with RC Willey products.  

Keep Smilin'!

Ink On My Sofa!

Three solvents for removing ink from upholstery (or anything, for that matter):
1. Hairspray
A hundred years ago I was a grocery store clerk. Before scanners were installed we used ink to price stamp virtually everything in the store. My most vivid memories were tomato sauce; the tiny cans that at the time were priced $.28 one week, $.29 the next week, and then back to $.28 a can. Each price change required that we pull out each can, line them up on the floor or rolling table, spray with hairspray, and wipe off with a paper towel. Hairspray worked great. Not as great, though as scanners!

2. Windex

I am quite often asked how well a particular fabric cleans-up.  It's a great question for anyone that wants to keep their furniture looking like new, when it no longer is.  It was in that context that a customer told me recently of a first-hand experience with ink and upholstery:

An ink pen had leaked on the arm of her sofa, leaving a round-ish blob 2-3" around.  She thought she'd have to replace the sofa, but a friend told her to try Windex (a product of SC Johnson Co.).  She tried it, and every trace of ink was removed.

3. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Haven't tried this. Needs to be verified.

Keep Smilin'!