From the Floors Up

How to Remove Gravy Stains from Carpet

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If little Tommy drops his Thanksgiving dinner plate on the carpet tomorrow, don’t worry. This year, we’re sharing some of our best stain removal techniques with you. We hope you find these tips useful.

Nail Polish Remover – Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt, call a professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet and Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Designing Your Guest Bathroom

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There’s nothing that makes a guest feel more welcome than being able to use a stylish and comfortable bathroom. Often, the guest bathroom is neglected and cluttered because isn’t used as frequently as the other restrooms in the house. However, it’s time to take your guest bathroom from drab to fab by implementing crafty design schemes into your bathroom’s decor.

How can you make your guest bathroom more appealing to visitors? Below are some tips that are useful for decorating a guest bath.

It’s important to provide enough space for styling tools and toiletries. Leave the pedestal sink in the powder room. Be sure to install an outlet near the vanity so that your guests can have the option of utilizing a flat or curling iron.

Balanced or equal lighting should be used in the guest bathroom. Options for lighting placement include sconces placed on both sides of the vanity mirror, a small chandelier or attractive lights mounted over the mirror. Using framed mirrors instead of flat glass can really elevate the look and feel of the room.

Make use of shelves and baskets to add extra storage space. Decorative storage accessories can hold hand towels and soaps. If you travel, collect soaps, lotions and toiletries from hotels and display them in a basket for your guests to use.

Try Unique Designs

Since your guest bathroom won’t experience a lot of wear and tear because it’s not being used on a consistent basis, you can use materials that you might not ordinarily choose for a bathroom. Laminate or luxury vinyl that looks like a rich and exotic hardwood can give the room a warm and inviting feeling. Tile can also achieve this and provide durability for years to come. You can also purchase waterproof laminate flooring or waterproof vinyl flooring for extra durability. Or, go with something natural and durable like waterproof hardwood flooring!

Because your guest bathroom is typically a smaller space, this is your opportunity to incorporate materials that are a little more expensive like glass mosaics, metal tiles, natural stone accents. Using these materials will make your guest bath the topic of conversation! Don’t forget the sink splash. This is a great place to add a decorative tile to give the room a little more personality.

When decorating the guest bathroom, you can play with contrasting colors to create a stunning effect. So, if you always wanted a vessel sink or a bold pattern flooring, then now is the time to try it. You can push the limits and try unique decor with the guest bathroom. Have fun!

Creating Your Space

Mad for Mod: A How-To Decorate Guide with 1960s Inspiration

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Decorating around a theme is often the best way to create a room that brings you joy. It provides an easy way to ensure that the room is ‘pulled together’ by way of a common thread. It also helps with decisions such as color selection, accessorizing, and furnishings. Rather than wonder whether or not to buy that amazing couch you just found, you can quickly and confidently say ‘yay or nay.’ Either it works with the theme or it doesn’t!

To make it even easier we have outlined the basics below in short bulleted lists. We’ve found that when working theme it’s more effective to pick and choose possibilities a la carte. Otherwise you risk ‘overdoing it’ with the theme and end up with a room that might look it belongs in a theme park. Less is more. Lastly, when going about it this way the overall project seems less daunting. Just pick what you like and work it into your plan!

In this article on we are going to dish about the fabulous look of 1960’s inspired mod décor.  If you bold pops of pure color and geometric shapes, this is the theme for you!

  • Color Pallet Options:
    • Warm red
    • Dark yellow
    • Sky blue
    • Kelly or spearmint green
  • Lighting
    • Suspension lighting
    • Glass lamp with a swag chain
    • Pendant lights
  • Furniture
    • Upholstered couches and chairs
    • Skinny wooden legs
    • Bold or pop colors
    • Multifunctional, such as an end table designed to also hold magazines
    • Atomic inspired pieces, for example, radial sun clock made of metal, boomerang-shaped coffee table
  • The walls
    • Built-in cabinetry
    • Funky, loud wallpaper
    • Large  mosaic comprised of numerous small hexagonal mirrors
  • The floor
    • Shag rugs
    • Luxury vinyl plank with brightly colored, textured rugs
    • Colored tiles (Yes! They are making a comeback!)

Are you ready for a 1960’s comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Creating Your Space

Creating a Home Office That Still Feels Like Home

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Home workspace with chalkboard, diy, regale, desk, chair and computer

Are you ready to convert a room to a home office but not sure where to start? Taking a minute to plan your space allows you to create an environment that combines the best of commercial space and a residential environment.

LVP or laminate floors provide one of the best options for a home office. The top-quality LVP and laminates from the best vinyl plank flooring brands like Proximity Mills look much like traditional wood floors, but with the stamina to handle the depredations of wheeled office chairs. If you would rather have carpet or wood, be sure to pick up a mat for under the chair – either plastic from any office supply store or one of the new bamboo mats available in a number of catalogs.

Home office walls give you the opportunity to bring in a color you love that wasn’t a fit with any other space in your home. Sky blue sets a tone of relaxation, or maybe a peach works for you to echo the orange of energy. This home office photo shows an art wall that really sets the tone for the space. Do you need a bulletin board? How about creating one in a bright tone that coordinates with your walls? Most office furniture is pretty neutral, so take advantage of this chance to bring in color.

Finish up with art that makes you happy. Do you have any photos that remind you of your dreams and goals? Would a landscape draw you in when you need to escape from your work for a moment? How about a reproduction of the work of an artist that you find inspiring? Touches such as these make your office a personal and inviting place to work.

Have you transformed a room into a home office? We’d love to hear what tips and tricks you’ve used to make your space more comfortable for working from home!

7 Realistic Holiday Decorating Tips

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Although the holiday season is a time for joy and happiness, it can be stressful preparing for this time of the year – especially in 2020! From shopping for presents and decorating the Christmas tree, to getting the house ready for family, it can seem like there is so much to do. Bringing the holiday spirit into your home should bring as little stress as possible. Here are some realistic tips for decorating for the holidays:

Start Planning Ahead


While you may be a superhero to your family, realistically you’re just human. Therefore, keep in mind that you can’t do everything. Being too overwhelmed prevents you from enjoying the holiday season with your family. Before you start decorating the house, decide what areas you want to focus on. The outdoor area, entryway, and perhaps the family room may be top on the list.

Throughout the house
Instead of potentially overdoing it with the Christmas decorations you can add small, simple touches in every room. Simple touches like mistletoe in the entry, holiday towels in the guest bathroom or a simple wreath on the front door can make the whole home feel decorated.

Purchasing Ornaments
When decorating the Christmas tree don’t feel like you have to purchase expensive ornaments. Discount stores and outlets sell inexpensive ornaments that look just as festive and elegant. Look for things that bring you joy that you can simply add a hook to hang on the tree. A family project could include making ornaments for the tree.

Wrapping Your Gifts
Get creative! Repurpose newspapers, magazines and other types of unique papers to wrap Christmas presents. You can even create your very own wrapping with glitter, paper and drawing pencils. Top it off with a ribbon or an accent piece. You’ll be saving money and the environment. Craft paper with decorative ribbon can be a chic and elegant look. Try this look with colored pen messages on the gifts!

Light dimmers
Purchase light dimmers for your lamps that can easily be plugged into an outlet. They are inexpensive and can be purchased at hardware stores. Light dimmers allow you to really set the mood providing the perfect ambiance for Christmas Eve.

Plan for hiccups
If you plan on having a lot of people over to the house, make a plan for the unexpected. Prepare extra food and purchase inexpensive gifts that can be held in a glass bowl for unexpected guests. Wrap extra gifts that you wouldn’t mind keeping if you end up without unexpected guests. Just remember to keep blank tags close by!

Get the family involved
Make sure you get the whole family involved. The kids can help you decorate the house. Allow them to decorate their rooms as they please. The family can help you design the Christmas tree and prepare food for the guests. Don’t be shy about asking for help!

Happy Holidays!

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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