Choosing upholstery fabric require you to consider many different factors. When choosing upholstery fabric, you must weigh the following factor: the durability of the fabric, the comfort of the fabric, the cost of the fabric, and the appearance of the fabric. The following chart separate these factor into one easy-to-read chart to assist you in making your decision.
The upholstery fabric that you select for your furnitures can be constructed in many different ways. The construction of the fabric will determine the performance of the upholstery fabric. The table to the right compare the different upholstery fabrics by abrasion resistance, weight, width, and care instructions.
How to Choose Upholstery Fabric
Generally, the heavier the upholstery fabric, the more durably the upholstery fabric will be. However, the weight of the upholstery fabric should match the furniture piece. For example, if you have a dining chair that is used frequently, the upholstery fabric for that chair will need to be more durable than the upholstery fabric on a decorative headboard.
The chart makes this distinction visible so that you dont have to memorize the specifications of each upholstery fabric sample. The care codes for each upholstery fabric is important to read as they will tell you how to clean the upholstery fabric. For example, if the upholstery fabric has a water-based code, you can clean the upholstery fabric with a damp cloth after a spill occur on the upholstery fabric.
However, if the upholstery fabric has a solvent-only code, a professional cleaning service will need to clean the upholstery fabric or you can use product specifically made for upholstery fabric. Knowing the care code will ensure that you properly care for the upholstery fabric so that you do not make a stain on the upholstery fabric permanent. The texture of the upholstery fabric can influence the appearance of the fabric and how long the upholstery fabric will last.
For example, cut velvet upholstery fabric will catch the light, but it will show wear more fast than a tight weave upholstery fabric. Bouclé upholstery fabric can feel good to the touch but may snag on a pet claw. Microfiber upholstery fabric hide dirt well and is easy to clean, making it a good upholstery fabric for the home with child or pets.
These factors are grouped together in the infographic to assist you in understanding the relationship between the texture of the upholstery fabric and it’s durability. There are different weight categories for upholstery fabric. Light upholstery fabric is only needed for occasional seating or decorative furnishings.
Medium weight upholstery fabric is best for living room furniture. Heavy upholstery fabric are used in commercial spaces or in the homes that use the furniture constantly. The weight of the upholstery fabric should match the traffic in your home to ensure the upholstery fabric ages gracefuly.
The roll width of the upholstery fabric will inform you how much upholstery fabric you will need to purchase. For instance, if your furniture comes in narrow width, you will need to purchase more upholstery fabric. Additionally, if you join the upholstery fabric pieces together to form a section of furniture, you will want to avoid having too many join in the upholstered furniture.
The width of upholstery fabric samples is listed in the chart above for you to estimate the yardage of upholstery fabric you will need to purchase. To ensure your upholstery fabric last for a long time, you can follow a few maintenance habit. One maintenance habit is to vacuum the upholstery fabric weekly.
Vacuuming the upholstery fabric will remove grit that can wear at the upholstery fabric over time. Rotating the cushions will even distribute the wear on the cushions so that one side do not flatten. Additionally, blocking the direct sunlight of the upholstered furniture will prevent the upholstery fabric from fading over time.
These maintenance suggestion will ensure the longevity of your upholstery fabric. The upholstery fabric can have a durability scale to separate upholstery fabric for light use from upholstery fabric for commercial use. For example, upholstery fabric with fewer than 10,000 rubs is only for furniture that is rarely sat upon.
However, upholstery fabric with 25,000 rubs or more is for commercial use such as office chair, hotel chair, or a family room that many in the house use. Using this scale will allow you to separate upholstery fabric that will stand up to the use in your home. Overall, the best upholstery fabric for your home is the one that is constructed for the function of the furniture and the lifestyle that you live in your home.
