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Selecting upholstery fabric


What Is Upholstery and How Do You Choose the Best Fabric for Your Sofa?

The upholstery fabric for a new sofa or armchair is a big investment—you don’t want to be second-guessing it a few months after the piece arrives on your doorstep. Choose the wrong material and you’ll find yourself battling snags and stains. Make a mistake on the color or pattern, and the whole room suffers (or you’ll wind up splurging to have the piece reupholstered). So before you pick your new upholstery fabric, read on to find out what you should consider in terms of durability, comfort, and style. Here's how to zero in on a fabric choice you’ll be happy to live with for years.

What Is Upholstery, Anyway?

Upholstery is the materials—which include fabric, padding, webbing, and springs—that make up the soft coverings of chairs, sofas, and other furniture. The process began in the Middle Ages and grew in popularity during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Over the years, a wide variety of materials have been used, from hay to horsehair to wool. Modern upholstered items use metal springs and foam for greater durability. While the interior materials may not be visible, they make a big difference in whether the piece is comfortable . And though fabric can always be changed—and may need to be, depending on wear and tear—choosing high-quality inner layers will help make sure the piece will last for years to come.

Swedish brand Hem lets you select your desired swatches and will mail them to you in a sample kit within 2-5 business days, so you can really get to know a fabric before you make your upholstery decision.

Photo: Courtesy of Hem

How to Choose the Best Upholstery Fabric for Your Sofa (or Chair, or Headboard…)

As you shop for an upholstery fabric, let your practical needs lead, advise Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, cofounders of the home-furnishings company that shares their names. “First, consider how you live and who will use the piece,” says Bob. “This will help guide you on the type of material to choose. ” You may love the look of that silk velvet, but it will quickly get destroyed in a house with kids or pets. Pieces in high-traffic areas, such as family or living rooms, will need durable fabrics, while furniture that doesn't get as much wear and tear, such as a bedroom settee or headboard, can sport any type of textile.

A big mistake people make, Bob says, is not considering how a fabric or leather may age over time. Check the label and ask questions at the showroom to find out about the material’s content and cleaning needs, then think about how much maintenance you’re prepared to do to protect your selection. “How will it look in five years?” asks Bob. “Will you still love the leather as it develops a nice patina from everyday living? Will you vacuum the upholstery fabric regularly? Will you close the drapes when away or not using a room to avoid some of the fading that naturally occurs from exposure to sunlight?”

How to Choose the Best Upholstery Fabric

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The first thing that comes to mind when you are thinking about buying upholstered furniture is usually what color to pick. It's usually the single biggest factor in fabric selection. But while color is important, other factors are equally important.

Durability

The importance of fabric durability varies depending on the piece of furniture, which room it is used in and personal aspects of the family, such as if children and pets live in the house. Your fabric selection should reflect those issues.

Style

Choose a fabric that complements both the piece of furniture and the interior decor of your house.

Your fabric choice should be harmonious with the style and character of the piece it is covering. For example, a traditional fabric is a go-to choice for a traditional-style frame. That said if you have an adventurous sense of style and know-how to merge two seemingly different styles, go for it. This approach adds originality to your space. An example of that unexpected choice might be a geometric design on a wing-back chair. This example works best in a room that is contemporary, with the wing-back chair an accent in itself, so that the print connects to the rest of the decor.

Some fabrics appear casual, while others look more formal. Choose the fabric that echoes your style and the mood of the decor in that room.

Consider the scale of the pattern. It should be appropriate to the size of the furniture it is covering as well as the room size. A large bold, pattern might work better in a larger room, while a more muted or smaller one might be a better choice for a smaller space.

Color

The color of the fabric is very often the first choice you make when buying furniture, and it has a significant impact on your decor, especially if the furniture piece is a large sofa that will dominate the room.

Make sure your color choice is one you can live with happily for a long time. For instance, it might be best to avoid a very bold color for a smaller room, especially if your sofa is also large. Neutrals are generally the safest route since they tend to satisfy over time.

Avoid delicately colored fabrics if you have children or pets.

To strike the right mood, consider the color temperature. Warm and cool colors affect the mood of the room and that aspect should be part of the decision. Avoid trendy colors, unless you like them. They can look dated long before the sofa or chair needs recovering.

Special Considerations

There are some other factors that you should consider before you make a selection on furniture upholstery. These have to do with the environment in which you'll be placing your couch. Does your room get a lot of sun or is there any dampness? Are there pets who share the furniture with you? Does anyone suffer from allergies?

Upholstery fabric for sofas: which is better

And at this stage, the buyer has a question - what upholstery and fabric for a sofa is better, more durable and practical, how to choose the most resistant materials. The shelf life of a product can be affected by various factors. Having studied all the possible options, consider a few particularly important points - the quality of the canvas, the color fastness of the design elements, the durability of the product to wear and its cost.

When purchasing any type of furniture, pay attention not only to its attractive appearance, range of functionality, but also to other external indicators. They should ideally fit the future purpose: whether it be a living room, a nursery or a bedroom. Nowadays, there are many varieties that manufacturers use. In this article, you will learn about all the intricacies of choosing the right quality products. And we will reveal the features and nuances in the use of the most popular materials.

Types of upholstery for sofas: what fabric to choose

The assortment in this category impresses with its variety. All manufacturers offer consumers materials of various origins: natural and artificial. Natural options for sofas have their own advantages, among which is an excellent ability to ventilate. But this property has its own negative side - the canvas loses its attractiveness relatively quickly and the appearance becomes a little unaesthetic. To prevent this effect, manufacturers offer special care products. This allows you to keep the furniture in a beautiful and natural state for a long time.

Choosing the right material is not easy. Experts distinguish two main classes by cost:

The first sector is filled with factories from Western countries. The second section belongs mainly to Turkey. That is why, before making a final decision, you need to find out all the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options under consideration.

Which furniture fabric is better and more practical for sofa upholstery

It should be noted right away that if you are a pet owner or if you have a small child, then experts do not recommend buying a product with expensive wool or velor that requires delicate care. In this case, you should pay attention to a more durable material. It will be quite difficult to damage it with claws, stain it with a felt-tip pen or pen, or accidentally tear it. Now they are also producing special options - they are called functional or stress-resistant.

If you often organize parties or just have fun with friends, then the fabric should be resistant to general wear and tear and local rubbing. Otherwise, you will simply lose money on numerous constrictions of your sofa. But, if you are buying a decorative chair or canapé, you need to choose sophisticated options. They will complement the overall interior design and bring an atmosphere of wealth and luxury.

These are the basic rules and tips on which sofa upholstery is the most durable and practical and which is best for everyday use. The necessary characteristics can be clarified with a consultant or request information from the manufacturer.

Variety of materials for furniture

Velor

Soft and at the same time pleasant material will appeal to those consumers who want to create comfort and warmth in their home. A sofa covered with it will look great in a boho or shabby chic interior.

Velor is produced on a natural basis and has not only an attractive appearance, but also a velvety texture. The color scheme of the canvas has a wide palette of shades. It is valued for its high strength and ventilation, does not deform under mechanical stress, and provides unsurpassed thermal comfort.

To remove excessive soiling, velor can be vacuumed and even special cleaning powders can be used to gently remove stains without damaging the fibers of the fabric. This is the best material for sofa upholstery in many ways:

Flock

Experts recommend considering flock if you need to buy new upholstered furniture and if you have a pet at home. Non-woven textiles can be polyamide, polyester, viscose. It is resistant to detergents and is not afraid of the claws of cats and dogs. And it is also hypoallergenic, which will be a definite advantage for people who are sensitive to irritants.

This version is quite pleasant to the touch and extremely soft. When dirty, it can and should be washed. All that is required of you is to apply a cleaning agent to a sponge and lightly wipe the surface that needs treatment. An additional advantage is that the pattern on the product does not fade. For the long life of sofas, this is an important feature.

For children's upholstered furniture, a bright flock finish with colorful patterns will be an excellent solution. As for the color scheme, it is better to choose materials for the living room in lighter, pastel shades. They will also be preferred for use in bright verandas or loggias. Flock features:

Jacquard

This type of fabric is one of the more expensive options. It is mainly used by wealthy people to emphasize the status and nobility of the interior. Jacquard fabric is worth its price. It is lint-free and consists of both artificial and organic fibers. This type can be classified as environmentally friendly and durable enough. The coating may contain from 40 to 100% cotton fiber.

To remove stubborn stains from this fabric, use an acid-free cleaner. This species does not tolerate sunlight well. That is why jacquard covers cannot be dried in the sun - they can sit down.

This material is good for its luxurious appearance - it looks expensive and beautiful, emphasizing the noble decoration of the room. Its only drawback, even if we are talking about a coating with a large percentage of organic components in the composition, is a short period of operation. You can take care of such upholstery with a vacuum cleaner and a sponge. There is nothing complicated in this if the pollution is simple. But with the complex ones you have to tinker. Consider the following rules:

Below is a list of advantages of jacquard over other fabrics:

Tapestry.

A natural fabric that is often used in all types of sofas. It is mainly produced in a landscape style. The tapestry compares favorably with other paintings by its characteristic weaving. During production, the yarn is folded into regular shapes or
ornaments. The color range includes a wide selection of different shades - from pastel tones to brighter ones.

The fabric is easy to wash. To the touch, it is quite pleasant and practical. In general, it can take absolutely any form. After cleaning, it completely restores its original appearance.

The characteristic advantages of tapestry coating include the following qualities.

Shinil

In its structure, this material looks like a tapestry. Similarities can be found when considering its characteristics. It belongs to the class of expensive upholstery fabrics. The high price can be explained by the luxurious look and long period of use.

Sleeping on such a surface is not as comfortable as on velor or flock. It has sufficient rigidity and poor heat dissipation. Such sofas are often bought for the sole purpose of adding a bright decorative element to the interior. Do not use water or detergents for cleaning. Only dry cleaning is possible.

Leathers and leather substitutes

Some types of fabrics may seem overly ornate or intricate in design. In this case, you should look at natural leather. It is also used for furniture upholstery. This classic version is great for office sofas. It is worth noting the main advantage of such matter - ease of use. Thanks to her unpretentiousness, she won the hearts of many owners.

An item decorated in this way will last for many years. But despite the whole range of advantages, it still has certain disadvantages. The material is available in a limited number of colors and shades. The skin is slippery and it will be uncomfortable to sleep on it. Not everyone will like the high cost of such a product. Such furniture is bought mainly by lovers of traditional style when decorating the interior of an office or living room.

Boucle

This type of upholstery looks very much like a sheared lamb. The main feature of such an original coating is dense nodules in structure, which protrude slightly on the surface. This characteristic is achieved through the use of multi-colored threads.

Boucle is characterized by high density and strength. This option is resistant to wear and will not clog. Among the shortcomings - you should not purchase a product covered with such material for owners of pets, especially cats. They can peel off the upholstery with their sharp claws and spoil the look of the sofa.

Scotchgard

If you are interested in furniture with an expensive and sophisticated design, we recommend that you consider this option. Scotchgard looks similar to jacquard, but cheaper in the price range. Picky when cleaning makes it a favorite for many buyers. He is not afraid of pollution. But if you do make a stain, regular liquid soap and a soft towel dampened with water can easily remove it.

This fabric is washable. But in this case, it is worth monitoring the temperature regime - it should not exceed the border of 40 ° C. Dust and animal hair can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

Matting

This type of material has a fine texture. Solid colors are mainly used. The advantage of the option is in coarse weaving, thick fibers and strength. The fabric is elastic. Thanks to this, it absolutely does not wrinkle during the day and retains its shape for many years.

Caring for matting is easy. Its operation does not require the use of special solutions and powders.

Arpatek

Outwardly, it is very similar to leather and is considered one of its best artificial varieties. For its manufacture, viscose, cotton and polyurethane are used. When touched, you can feel a delicate and smooth texture that does not slip much.

A soap solution can be used to remove any light soiling. The use of chlorine-containing products is not recommended, they can lead to corrosion of the fibers and cracking of the fabric.

How to choose the right fabric according to the structure

In this article, we talked about all the popular varieties of fabric for upholstery of upholstered furniture. There are nine categories in total. The numbering starts at 0 and goes up to 8. Group characteristics may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. But the higher the class number, the better and stronger the “second skin” of the sofa.

The thinnest variants with relative strength were placed in the first group. In the second - the same products as in the previous one, in composition, but with a higher level of wear resistance. To the third - almost all the main types of materials with complex finishes. The fourth class contains expensive tapestries, suede and chenille. Fifth - types with natural fibers. Sixth - leather substitutes. The seventh group - some varieties of flock. The eighth category implies exclusively expensive and natural leather.

When choosing an option for finishing furniture, it is necessary to take into account the purpose of the interior item and the microclimate in the room. For a child's room, it is worth giving preference to natural elements. In the living room, you need to select fabrics that are resistant to wear and tear. You just have to make the right choice of material and find out what works best for your sofa.

Which fabric is best for sofa upholstery: TOP 10 upholstery fabrics

November 23, 2020

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Content

Good upholstery of upholstered furniture should be beautiful, durable and easy to clean at the same time. Many fabrics are used for constriction - it is not immediately clear which fabric to choose for the sofa is optimal. Find out which upholstery materials are in the top ten, how they differ, and who suits them.


Sofa upholstery fabric characteristics

Sofas experience stress every day. It experiences friction, the sun shines on it, it is affected by temperature, humidity, and their differences. Sometimes liquids are spilled on it, food is dropped. Pets like to test the sofa for strength with their claws, leave wool, and other unpleasant "gifts". Children use crayons, pencils, paints, cosmetics, and other available substances that are difficult to clean.

Therefore, for upholstery fabrics, the following are important:

Upholstery does not always have to have all of these characteristics. It must be chosen according to the conditions in which the sofa will be used. If you evaluate them correctly, you can save money without sacrificing quality.


TOP 10 types of upholstery fabrics

The most popular materials for upholstered furniture:

Genuine leather is expensive, but beautiful. It looks presentable, does not deteriorate from light, serves for a long time, and has high strength. If it is processed in a semi-aniline way, it will be strong, durable, mechanically strong. Any non-aggressive liquids and other contaminants will be easily removed from it. Aniline leather is more delicate, beautiful, but less resistant to mechanical damage, dirt, and moisture. The leather used for the upholstery of luxury furniture is obtained from pigs, less often from goats and horses. Accidental cuts, small cracks can be repaired with an adhesive patch, a special masking cream.

Imitation leather only imitates the look of natural material. It is based on a blended fabric of cotton, polyester threads. A PVC film is applied over it, which can be porous or monolithic. It is imprinted with a pattern “under the skin”. Leatherette is perfectly washed, does not let moisture through, does not absorb odors. But he is afraid of sunlight, high temperatures. It wears out faster than genuine leather. The failure of the upholstery is indicated by swelling of the film at the formed creases, cracks. The higher the quality of such material, the longer it will last.

Flock consists of two layers. Its base is a cotton canvas, on which a layer of glue is applied. A pile is applied to the glue, and all the piles line up strictly vertically. This effect is achieved by using electric polarization. The surface is soft, thick, pleasant to the touch. The material is easy to clean, repels liquids, does not fade, and is resistant to pet claws.

Velor is another nice velvety material. Its villi can stand upright or be inclined. The position of the pile is determined by the weave that unites it with the base - no glue is used. Velor upholstery is elegant, aesthetic, very beautiful. But it quickly wears out, not suitable for homes with pets, children. With normal daily use, the average lifespan is 3-5 years. To extend the "life" of velor, you should think about sewing or purchasing a protective cover.

Genuine suede is a special type of tanned leather with a soft velvety surface. The material for such upholstery is obtained from goats, rams and other medium-sized ungulates. Unlike normal skin, it does not feel cold. In hot weather, suede does not stick, does not cause increased sweating. But suede is difficult to clean from dust, dirt, it needs special cleaning products, constant delicate care.

Faux suede is a practical, inexpensive alternative to natural suede. It consists of cotton with polyester, sometimes a reinforcing Teflon coating is added. Artificial imitation does not differ in appearance from real suede. At the same time, it does not deteriorate from creases, is not afraid of scratches, and retains an attractive appearance much longer. This material requires only dry delicate cleaning, it is not suitable for homes with small children, animals.

Velveteen is a very beautiful fabric with distinctive striped ribs. According to the distance between the strips, wide, medium and micro-velveteen are distinguished. It can be natural (cotton) or blended (with the addition of polyester, elastane). You have to pay for a pleasant look - you need to carefully care for velveteen. Stains are removed with products for natural fabrics; when cleaning, the material should not be wrinkled, squeezed, rubbed hard. The surface of velvet develops a resource in 5-7 years of normal use. In worn out places, pile will fall out, “bald patches” appear.

Chenille ribs are textured like hairy caterpillars. Because of this similarity, the material got its name - the French word "chenille" is translated as "caterpillar". The material is made from dense twisted mixed threads. They consist of cotton and synthetics in equal proportions. This is one of the most durable sofa fabrics. Chenille is of two types - with a fabric and adhesive base. The fabric base gives moisture resistance - you can use wet cleaning. The glued base cannot be washed.

Tapestry is made primarily from organic cotton. In rare cases, a little synthetic is mixed into the fibers. The tapestry is dense, quite heavy, with a complex pictorial pattern. The material retains its shape for a very long time, but gradually fades under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Tapestry upholstery is not recommended to be cleaned frequently, subjected to wet cleaning, often loaded. Designers recommend covering medium-sized sofas with it so that they look beautiful and appropriate.

Jacquard is one of the most popular materials for upholstered furniture. Its feature is a woven relief pattern, usually floral or geometric. The material is formed from synthetic and cotton fibers, which come in different thicknesses and colors. It is the composition of the threads, their color, size depends on the cost of the upholstery. Caring for jacquard is simple, you will need a vacuum cleaner and quick cleaning of wet spots with gentle means.

Scotchguard is a jacquard treated with a protective hydrophobic compound. Impregnation increases the density, strength, protection against fading, pollution. In addition, it is much more difficult for pets to scratch the impregnated material. Suitable for all types of furniture, separately recommended for frameless.

Thermal jacquard is another type of jacquard. It differs in that a colored pattern is applied over a finished plain surface, and is not formed from multi-colored threads. To apply a pattern, use the thermal printing method. Due to deep dyeing, the fabric does not fade, does not lose the saturation of shades for a very long time.

Gunny — fine textured plain fabric. Its fibers are staggered, forming a dense, burlap-like material. Coarse dense weaving is made of thick threads. They can consist of cotton, wool, linen, silk. Sometimes polyester and acrylic threads are added to increase wear resistance. Durable matting is easy to clean - dust is removed by a vacuum cleaner, stain remover for upholstered furniture copes with stains. Animals can easily pull the threads out of weaving or get stuck in weaving with their claws, so matting should be chosen with care in a house with a cat.

Microfiber is the most durable sofa fabric made from synthetic raw materials. Durable fabric dries quickly. Spots, dust, wool are easily removed from it. Water marks are almost invisible and drying is very fast. Microfiber is made from a mixture of polyester and nylon. The fibers used in these materials are 30 times thinner than cotton. The fabric is soft, pleasant to the body, in appearance resembles natural suede. On such a fabric for upholstery of a sofa, photos are very stylish, luxurious.


Which fabric is best for sofa upholstery

"anti-claw". Suitable microfiber, flock, scotchguard.

  • Kitchen sofas should be easy to clean and not absorb food odors. A suitable option is leatherette.
  • If the sofa is placed near an open window, the upholstery should be synthetic and UV resistant. You can try thermo jacquard, microfiber.

    • Delicate fabrics can be used in living rooms. To keep them for a long time, on ordinary days they use protective covers made of water-repellent dense materials.

    Which fabric is best for sofa upholstery depends on how you plan to use the furniture. For example, an impressive leather sofa can be installed in the head's office. At the same time, in an ordinary apartment, it will look inappropriate, defiant. Homebodies should look for the most wear-resistant fabric in order to use a beautiful sofa with comfort all the time. Lovers of beautiful interior photo shoots can pay attention to delicate velveteen, velor, which can be changed after a few years.


    How to choose a fabric for a sofa

    To ensure that the new upholstery lasts a long time and emphasizes the advantages of the furniture, follow a few simple rules when choosing it:

    1. Estimate the funds. Calculate the amount of matter, find out which fabric fits into the budget.
    2. Select texture, strength, density. To protect against liquids, claws, wool, dust, you will need a material with protective impregnation, dense weaving.
    3. Consider where the furniture will be placed. Some fabrics should not be kept in the sun, near the kitchen, near the heater, in damp places.
    4. Choose your color. There are many guides on how to match the color of a sofa to any room. If there is no time to read them, focus on the shade of furniture (cabinets, shelves).

    Usually answering these four questions is enough to understand how to choose the fabric for the sofa. You can contact the upholstered furniture store for a free consultation.


    How to calculate the amount of upholstery for a sofa

    There are two ways to find out how much fabric is needed to upholster a sofa. In both cases, you need to remove the old matter from the furniture. Then you can measure all the outer surfaces of the furniture or make patterns.

    In the first case you need to measure the length, width of all elements. If they are irregular in shape, it is required to measure the widest, longest sections. To get the total length of the upholstery, add up all the vertical values, add another 20% to them. The width of the upholstery will be the same as the width of the widest element of the sofa.

    In the second case , the removed old material is laid out so that it fits compactly into a rectangle with a short side of 140-150 cm (standard cutting width). It is important to observe the location of the vertical and horizontal threads without turning the removed elements. In addition, you need to remember about seam allowances - for them you need to leave at least 2.5 cm for each part. On the removed matter, you can bend the old allowances, circle all the matter. If you bend them again and circle the elements again, it will be easier to arrange them on the sofa.

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