Whether you opt to reupholster your old furniture or think to purchase a new one, choosing the right fabric matters a lot. While a market is flooded with a plethora of fabric options, selecting the perfect upholstery fabric can be a bit challenging task. Even though pattern and color are essential, picking the right fabric is important too as it can make or break your interior.
Few Guidelines To Consider Before Opting For An Upholstery Fabric
In this blog, we’ve put together some important information about synthetic and natural fibers, before moving onto the ride, there are some guidelines to keep in mind.
Double-Rubs Criteria
When it comes to the selection of furniture upholstery fabric, the first thing to take into consideration is how much use it can stand up to. This can be tested in double rubs. Here’s how you can estimate the durability of furniture upholstery fabrics:
- Lighter use fabric: 8,000-10,000 double rubs
- Medium use upholstery fabric: 10,000 to 15,000 double rubs
- Residential upholstery fabric: 10,000 to 25,000 double-rubs
- Commercial grade fabrics: 100,000 to 250,000 double-rubs
- To get high durability fabric in a domestic setting: 15,000–30,000 double rubs
Texture Criteria
Another important factor to consider when choosing furniture upholstery fabric is to opt for the right texture. Never choose the rough and tough fabric because everyone wants to sit on a comfy chair or sofa. You can check the roughness of the fabric by touching it on your face or arm.
Tour Over Different Furniture Upholstery Fabrics
Natural Fabrics
Linen
- Extremely durable natural fiber
- Naturally lustrous
- Smooth
- Soft
- Resistant to soiling and pilling
- Ideal for formal spaces
- Offers great elasticity when blended with cotton
- Can be wrinkled
Cotton
- Durable and soft
- Ideal for slipcovers
- Can be cleaned easily
- Can be wrinkled
- Prone to soiling
Wool
- Extremely durable furniture upholstery fabric
- Long-lasting
- Can resist wear and tear
- Prone to scratching
- Difficult to clean
Leather
- One of the most durable upholstery fabrics
- Full or top grain leather type would be ideal for furniture upholstery
- Very easy to clean
- Prone to scratching
- Resistant to stains and soils
Synthetic Fabrics
Polyester
- High-performance synthetic fabric
- Easy to clean
- Resistant to wrinkling, fading, and abrasion
- Provides strength to the furniture
Velvet
- Categorized into three types: polyester velvet, silk velvet, and cotton velvet
- Polyester velvets are ideal for furniture upholstery
- Difficult to clean
Microfiber
- Softer furniture upholstery fabric
- Easy to clean
- Moisture resistant
- Durable
Rayon
- Durable fabric
- Developed as an imitation for linen, silk, and cotton
- Can be wrinkled
- Always blended with other threads
Sunbrella
- Ideal for outdoor furniture
- Resistant to stains, fading, and water
- Can’t promote the growth of mold and mildew
So, which upholstery fabric did you find better for your furniture upholstery? It mainly depends upon the needs and situation. To be very honest, synthetic fabrics are more durable and ideal for furniture upholstery. However, they do not possess your desired texture. If you are looking for a natural furniture upholstery fabric, then leather is the way you should go for. Make sure to always choose the right fabric for your furniture to make it appear attractive and long-lasting.
