Make your bedroom feel
like a fıve-star hotel room
Leather care
By Jennifer Adams
I HEAR FROM many people who travel a lot for
work and actually enjoy
being away from the house
(and all the accompanying
chores). That relaxing experience one gets at a
quality hotel or resort is
designed right into the
rooms to make a stay as rewarding as possible.
I also travel a lot, and over the years I’ve
paid extremely close attention to how the very
best hotels work and why. For those who like
the feeling of being in a five-star hotel room
and would like to re-create that experience in
their own homes, here are a few simple tips.
Your bedroom is the room in your house
you spend the most time in every day. If you
have a lot of house projects going on, your
home probably feels chaotic. Work hard at
finishing your home, one room at a time,
starting with your bedroom. You’ll love having a peaceful oasis to retreat to at the end of
the day and wake up to each morning.
Bedrooms should not multitask, even if—
or especially if—you do. Banish all furniture
besides the bed, a chair or two (or a bench if
you have room), nightstands, dressers if necessary or an armoire. No exercise equipment,
desks, computers, sewing tables, hobby centers, etc. It might even make sense to choose a
smaller bedroom for sleeping and dressing if
you need a larger bedroom as an office–guest
room or for other purposes.
I LOVE THE look and feel of leather furniture, but I admit it intimidates me. I never
know if I’m actually getting what I pay for
when it comes to different leather products.
“Costco makes that easy for you,” says
Darci Wyman, Costco.com furniture buyer.
“We carry a large selection of premium
top-grain leather furniture.”
Top-grain leather is the uppermost
layer and highest-quality part of a hide.
Most often it is used for fine upholstery
because it is durable and aesthetically
appealing. Leather, in general, is a great
choice for furniture because it adapts to
your body temperature within moments of
you sitting or lying on it. Although leather
is extremely resilient, exposure to the sun
can cause discoloration and damage by
drying it out. Weekly preventive care and
maintenance will increase its life.
Here are some tips on how to care for
leather from Costco supplier Adalyn Home
& Leather Master.
•Dust or vacuum weekly.
•Since prolonged exposure to heat
dries leather, arrange all leather furniture
at least 2 feet from heating sources.
•Since leather fades when exposed to
direct sunlight, keep leather furniture away
from windows, skylights and open doors.
•Practice preventive maintenance by
treating surfaces with leather cleaner and
leather protector, then air-drying it, every
six months to improve the leather’s resistance to soiling. Pay special attention to
high-use areas such as seats, arms and
backs. (Always pretest leather cleaner
and protector in a hidden area first.)
• While leather initially repels most
spills, it will absorb liquids if not treated
properly, so blot any liquids immediately
with a clean white absorbent cloth or
sponge, and let air-dry.—Christina Guerrero
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Insulate for sound, especially if your bedroom is next to another bedroom, bathroom
or other active space, such as the kitchen. This
is easier when the walls are open to the studs
or during construction, but fabric or paper
wall coverings and carpet help, too. Double-or triple-paned glass windows minimize outside sounds.
Control the lighting for sleep and romance
as well as chores. Overhead fixtures provide
light for cleaning; dimmable lamps create a
warm, romantic environment. Layered window treatments give you options for both
privacy and light. Use a blackout shade if you
need to sleep during the daytime or if a
streetlight shines into the window.
Reduce clutter and make your bed every
day for a calming environment. Seeing the
tops of the nightstands and dressers makes the
bedroom feel clean, and a well-made bed looks
luxurious and inviting. Limit art on the walls to
a few large, meaningful pieces and move the
collage of relatives’ portraits to the hall.
Give yourself some luxurious touches.
Place a special robe or pair of cozy slippers at
your bedside, a glass of water on the nightstand, plus a notebook to jot down your
dreams or ideas. C
Jennifer Adams is a nationally syndicated
interior-design expert. Costco.com carries
a variety of Jennifer Adams Home bedding
products. Contact Adams at askjennifer@
jenniferadams.com.
The Costco Connection
Leather recliners, chairs, sofas, sectionals,
benches, loungers and ottomans can be
found in the warehouse or on Costco.com.
special section
furniture