Fabrics for upholstery: types, pros and cons, which one is better to choose

Content:

1. What types of upholstery materials are divided into
2. Popular fabrics for upholstery: advantages and disadvantages
   1. Velour
   2. Flock
   3. Tapestry
   4. Matting
   5. Jacquard
   6. Scotchgard
   7. Chenille
   8. Velvet
   9. Genuine leather
   10. Faux leather
3. Choosing fabric for furniture: useful tips

Upholstery of upholstered furniture is one of the main criteria for choosing an armchair, sofa or sofa. Sometimes buyers pay attention exclusively to the color of the upholstery material, thinking about whether the new set will fit into the interior of the room. However, not only color plays an important role, but also other properties of upholstery fabric: resistance to fading, ease of care, and the ability to repel moisture. If the upholstery is chosen correctly, it will not be afraid of pet claws or stains from accidentally spilled drinks. So don’t rush to take out your wallet: first you need to familiarize yourself with the types of covering fabrics, their composition and performance characteristics.

What types of upholstery materials are divided into

The materials used to cover home and office upholstered furniture are divided into three main categories:

• Non-woven.
• Woven.
• Artificial and natural leather.

The technology for producing nonwoven materials (artificial suede, flock) consists of gluing or spraying pile onto a base. This upholstery is quite dense, it is not afraid of the sharp claws of pets, which means that your favorite sofa will not need reupholstery for a long time.

The difference between woven products is that the pile is not glued on, but woven into the base. The main advantages of jacquard, scotchgard, tapestry and other materials of this type are the pleasant tactile sensations they cause and the ability to be textured. As for leather, this type of upholstery is distinguished by its noble appearance, practicality and ease of care. The only exception is the cheapest artificial leather, which quickly cracks and can hardly withstand even careless movements.    

Popular fabrics for upholstery: advantages and disadvantages

Now it’s worth taking a closer look at the fabrics that manufacturers use for upholstery of sofas, ottomans and other home furnishings.

Velour

This material can be easily recognized by its thick pile that is pleasant to the touch. According to the classification, velor refers to pile knitted fabrics consisting of natural and synthetic fibers. The pile in velor fabric is usually located vertically, but upholstery in which the pile is partially laid on one side looks more interesting.

The advantages of velor upholstery include:

1. Strength. For the production of sofas and armchairs, especially durable furniture velor is used - if you handle the product with care, the upholstery can last ten years.
2. Hypoallergenic and environmentally safe.
3. Good antistatic characteristics.
4. Softness and pleasant appearance: a velor sofa just begs to be rested on.
5. The ability to stretch: thanks to this property, velor is often used for upholstery of furniture of non-standard configurations.

However, you must keep in mind that caring for velor upholstery is quite difficult. To avoid dust accumulation in the fibers, you will have to vacuum it regularly. If liquid is spilled on the surface, it is advisable to remove the moisture with a dry cloth without waiting for absorption, and dry cleaning services may be needed to remove greasy and old stains.

Flock

Flock is a popular option for sofa upholstery, which is made from mixed fibers (cotton, polyester). It is considered a kind of analogue of velor, but furniture with flock upholstery is much cheaper. Among the positive characteristics of the material are:

• Resistance to external influences (for example, damage from animal claws and other sharp objects).
• Resistance to sunlight, pollution, temperature changes.
• High density, ability to hold its shape well.

Flock is also favored by its ease of care, as well as its ease of coloring, due to which the upholstery material is available in a variety of shades and with a variety of patterns. However, it was not without its drawbacks. Flock is capable of accumulating static electricity, which means dust will quickly accumulate in the upholstery. In addition, the fabric is afraid of alcohol-containing compounds - they cannot be used in the process of caring for furniture.

Tapestry

Noble tapestry is usually chosen for refined and sophisticated interiors. Since they are made from thick and expensive fabric, the cost of furniture with such upholstery is quite high. The main advantage of tapestry upholstery materials is the complex, intricate pattern reminiscent of works of painting.

A dense tapestry retains its shape and original appearance for decades, but due to the complexity of the pattern, sofas covered with such fabric can tire the eye. But for small pieces of furniture (poufs, couches) this is an ideal solution. The item will serve its owners for many years, although over time it fades somewhat - this happens due to the high content of natural fibers.

Matting

Matting, slightly reminiscent of burlap, is not used too often in furniture production, and this is a big omission. Thanks to the weave of threads in a checkerboard pattern, the fabric looks original, and the complex composition (wool, linen, cotton, polyester and acrylic threads) ensures its increased strength.

Caring for upholstery won’t take much effort either. A vacuum cleaner will do a great job with dust, and the simplest means for cleaning upholstery materials will deal with dirt. Only the use of bleach is strictly prohibited. But there is a nuance: the matting does not like pets. The claws of dogs and cats cling to thick threads and pull them out, which does not add attractiveness to the upholstery.

Jacquard

Dense jacquard fabrics that hold their shape perfectly are characterized by a relief woven pattern, ornamental or floral. A special technology for manufacturing upholstery material makes it possible to create images with high detail. The cost of upholstery depends on the thickness of the threads, as well as the composition (percentage of natural and artificial fibers).

Jacquard furniture upholstery is beautiful, dense, pleasant to the touch, and practical to use. Textured fabric is suitable for both classic interiors and rooms decorated in modern style. Perhaps its only drawback is its intolerance to wet cleaning.

Scotchgard

Scorchguard is an upholstery that is a type of jacquard, but the fabric is treated with a special water-repellent impregnation. This impregnation protects the product from moisture: an armchair or sofa will not be afraid of accidentally spilled tea. In addition, it is a vandal-proof material, which means it will get along well with pets. Scotch guard upholstery is best combined with frameless furniture.

Chenille

Chenille can rightfully be called one of the best solutions for furniture upholstery. Blended fabric, a mix of synthetic and cotton, is created by weaving regular and fluffy threads. The result is a dense product with short pile, the price of which is significantly lower than that of its “shaggy counterparts” (velor, flock).

Velvet

Another type of fleecy upholstery material can be made entirely from cotton or contain synthetics (polyester, elastane). Depending on the width of the hems, there are several types of fabric: microcorduroy, products with a medium or wide hem.

A significant drawback of corduroy is its capricious nature. This upholstery should not be rubbed too hard, and it is recommended to use soft products to remove stains. In places where people constantly sit, the upholstery can quickly become bald. The average service life of velor upholstery is 5-7 years - after this time, as a rule, reupholstery is required.

Genuine leather

Genuine leather upholstery is considered a luxury product. The lifespan of furniture with leather upholstery is almost unlimited - it is enough to properly care for it. Some fans of such upholstery even believe that aged products made from high-quality leather acquire a special charm.

Such status items have numerous advantages. Upholstery made of pig, goat or horse leather (these options are usually used in furniture production) is cozy, soft, breathable. In winter it warms like good cognac, and in summer it creates a pleasant coolness. Leather upholstery does not allow moisture to pass through, is easy to clean, looks luxurious - we can say that it has no drawbacks, except for the high price.

Faux leather

Artificial leather for furniture upholstery is a material covered with an elastic film with a pattern and texture similar to natural leather. The faux leather upholstery repels dirt and water, retains its shape well and is easy to clean with regular soap and water. True, there is no need to talk about such durability as that of genuine leather upholstery: the artificial analogue lasts no longer than 10-12 years. But this upholstery will not cause much trouble, the main thing is not to subject it to strong mechanical stress and not to wipe it with aggressive chemicals.

Choosing fabric for furniture: useful tips

Buying upholstered furniture or fabric for its upholstery is a responsible task, because such things are purchased for many years. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice:

1. Upholstery for furniture purchased for the kitchen must be airtight. Through fabric with small pores, foreign odors will not penetrate inside the product.
2. If you plan to upholster a chair or ottoman yourself, it is better to buy a material that holds the edges well and will not crumble during work.
3. It is recommended to avoid translucent upholstery materials. The life of such fabrics is short-lived, and in places of constant friction, bald spots form almost immediately.
4. Oddly enough, upholstery directly affects your health - the more natural it is, the more beneficial it is. So, if possible, preference should be given to upholstery with a high content of natural ingredients. This is especially true for children: the ideal option for a nursery would be upholstery made of tapestry or matting.
5. It is necessary to take into account the conditions in which the product will be used. If there are animals in the house, you will have to forget about expensive status upholstery. However, among the wide range of upholstery, you can always choose options that will withstand pet play with dignity and will look decent.
6. One of the most important criteria for choosing upholstery is the density of the fabric. The surface density of a material is measured in grams per square meter. It starts from 200 g/m2. The higher this indicator, the longer the upholstery will please its owners.
7. When purchasing, it would not be superfluous to check the exhibition sample for wrinkleability. If upholstery fabric wrinkles, it will be difficult to care for.

The Garda Decor company is a manufacturer of exclusive designer furniture. We carefully select upholstery for our products, taking into account its quality and the latest fashion trends. When making custom-made furniture, you can choose any upholstery option that suits your characteristics and will be combined with the interior - our specialists will help you determine the most suitable option.