Care & Handling

Thanks for bringing one of our pieces home. Everything we make is made to order in our Carmel, Indiana workshop. This page has the care basics, help if something arrives damaged, and the easiest ways to review, share a photo, or find your next piece.

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Caring for your piece

Every Downsized Designs piece is made to order in our Carmel, Indiana workshop — most from real wood, cut and finished by hand. A few simple habits will keep yours looking the way it did the day it arrived.

The basics (all wood pieces)

  • Keep it indoors, in normal room conditions. Wood does not like steamy bathrooms, damp basements, or long stretches of direct sun.
  • Dust with a soft, dry cloth. For a deeper clean, use a cloth dampened with water only, and dry the piece right after.
  • Never soak a piece, put it in a dishwasher, or clean it with sprays and solvents.
  • Laser-cut designs include fine, delicate cutwork. Lift and carry your piece by its solid parts, not by the thin details.

By finish

  • Unfinished: ready to enjoy as-is, or to paint, stain, or seal yourself. Unfinished wood picks up oils and moisture more easily, so handle it with clean, dry hands until you finish it.
  • Stained: the color sits in the wood, under a light protective coat. Wipe up spills promptly and keep standing water off the surface.
  • Painted, including the metallic paints (Bright Gold, Bright Silver, Bright Copper, Bronze Metallic): paints sit on the surface and catch the light. Clean gently — abrasive pads and strong cleaners will dull the sheen.

Indoor plant trellises

Your trellis is designed for indoor pots. The stakes sit in the soil, so when you water, pour at the base of the plant and try to keep splashes off the wood; wipe the stakes dry if they get wet.

Ornaments

Store ornaments flat in their box between seasons, with a sheet of tissue or soft paper between layered pieces. Hang by the ribbon, and when you handle a two-layer design, hold it by the backer rather than the fine front details.

Wall panels, corner accents, and wall decor

Hang with hardware suited to the piece's weight and your wall type, and check the hanging hardware once in a while. Dust in place with a soft cloth or a feather duster — no need to take them down. Keep them out of steamy rooms.

Kitchen and barware (wood)

Our boards and trays are serving pieces, not food surfaces: never place food directly on the wood — always put a barrier sheet between the wood and the food, such as butcher's paper or parchment. Hand wash the piece if it gets soiled and dry it right away; never soak it and never put wood in the dishwasher.

Cabinet facing panels

Store panels flat until installation so they stay true. Handle them by the edges — the cut patterns are strong once installed, but edges can chip if a panel is dropped on a corner before it goes up.

Garden flags (aluminum)

Your flag is aluminum and made for the outdoors. Rinse it with water or wipe it with a soft cloth when it gets dusty. Bring it in during severe storms, and avoid bending it — aluminum keeps a crease.

Glass items

The engraving is etched into the glass and will not wash off, but hand washing keeps it looking its best for the long run. Avoid sudden temperature shocks — don't pour boiling liquid into a cold glass — and use a soft sponge rather than an abrasive pad over the engraving.

Leather

Keep leather dry and out of long stretches of direct sun. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth; an occasional touch of leather conditioner keeps it supple. Faux-leather (PU) pieces need only a wipe with a slightly damp cloth — no conditioner.

Metal items

Wipe with a soft, dry cloth after use and store them somewhere dry. Keep water and fragrances off engraved surfaces where you can, and never use an abrasive polish over the engraving.

If something arrives damaged

Email us at help@downsizeddesigns.net with a photo of the piece and the packaging, and we will make it right.

Loved it? Two ways to help a small shop

Reviews

Find your product on our site and leave a review on its page — it genuinely helps other buyers choose.

Photos

Email a photo of your piece in its new home to help@downsizeddesigns.net. If you'd like us to share it, say so in the email and include your first name and city — we only share photos when the email gives us permission.