The Costco Connection

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.