When it comes to cleaning your carpets, you have a couple questions to consider: do you steam or dry clean? Do you perform the cleaning yourself or have it professionally done?

When done well, steam cleaning is likely the best process and most often recommended by carpet manufacturers. “Done well” means that the water is hot enough, the technician is appropriately trained (IICRC Certified is best), the cleaning agents are correct for your carpet and the equipment—particularly the vacuum—is in good working order. A fully functioning truck-mounted vacuum should recapture around 95% of the moisture introduced into your carpet. This will dramatically increase soil and waste removal, while reducing drying time.

It is important to recognize that if you desire steam cleaning, most home maintenance tools don’t always measure up. While highly touted by their manufacturers, they typically can’t produce enough heat, power or suction to sufficiently clean your carpets. They may suffice for spot cleaning, but for a true deep extraction cleaning, you’ll be far better served by spending your money on a cleaning professional operating from a truck-mounted unit that produces real steam. In order for steam to get to your carpet, the water needs to be heated to around 250 degrees, to account for the drop in temp from the unit to your carpet!

It is critical that the carpets don’t get too wet, and that all the cleaning agents are completely removed. Overwetting can cause backing separation or leave ripples in your carpet. Not removing all the cleaner may leave residues that can cause rapid resoiling.

Have you ever thought about what you can do to create a luxurious feel in your home?

Recently, Home and Garden TV’s Design Star had two teams create model condos for Donald Trump with a luxurious feel. One team really got it – the space was amazingly luxurious. The other team simply lost sight of the goal, the condo was mediocre at best, and two of the three team members were eliminated.

Let’s take a look at what the winning team understood, and what you can do to create a sense of luxury in your home.

Luxury is all about texture, color and sheen. From a texture standpoint, carpeting, fabrics, and rugs that combine and layer textures create a feel of luxury. For carpeting, think plush or the rich variety of sculptured options available. No matter your flooring choice, thick, soft rugs layered on top add a sense of lavishness to your décor.

When you’re picking fabrics, select silks and wools, which combine a wealth of textures with fibers that take color like no other fabrics. A dupioni silk has a natural depth of color because silk takes dye so well. Add in the nubs and uneven weave natural to that fabric, and it’s the very essence of luxury. For contrast, add in a faux fur throw or a leather or suede pillow.

For accessories, it’s time to kick up the sheen factor. Mirrors and metallics of all kinds create that sense of sumptuousness. Consider mercury glass candlesticks, a mirrored dresser or a collection of small mirrors with different shapes and frames along one wall.

Just pick up a few fabrics and accessories and you can take your space to a new level of luxury.

The Four Seasons of Decorating: Winter

Is winter your favorite season? Create the warmth and coziness of our coldest time of the year year-round with your own winter room. Just a few touches can bring the season to life in your home.

A winter room is all about coziness. Start with the softest flooring option – carpeting. Imagine sinking your toes into a rich soft plush in an ivory or a rich dark green. Complement your flooring with velvet curtains – hung from floor to ceiling. Sage green or a dull gold adds warmth and complements your carpet choice.

Think about a rich color on your walls. Dark tones such as a warm brown or wine red echo the feel of the season and add coziness to any space. Complement your paint choice with ivories and creams in your upholstery and pillows. Winter begs for texture. You can be more monochromatic if you let texture add personality to your winter space.

Lighting is particularly important during the season when days are short. Add extra lamps to light up the corners without completely chasing away the shadows that warm the space. For accessories, select your favorite seasonal decorations, and add candles for entertaining. And be sure to include one or two throws to warm your feet on chilly evenings.

When winter comes you can let it snow outside. Inside you are completely comfortable in your room built for winter.

For the other seasons, click here.