To choose the best upholstery for a sofa, you need to determine its future functionality and intensity of use. If you are going to use the furniture as a bed, the load will be strong, so you need a simple and durable fabric. For a decorative soft corner that stands in the living room, you can find more expensive fabric, albeit more fragile. The upholstery should be combined with the design of the room, in harmony with the rest of the textiles in the interior. The sofa most often plays a central role in the living room, so designers try to match the wall decoration, curtain style, and flooring design to match its color and texture.
Content:
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What qualities should the upholstery match?
The combination of contrasting colors and different prints looks impressive
Some fabrics are easier to clean or wash, others are more durable, others look chic or nobler. The price also matters, because modern upholstered furniture is not cheap..
Catalog of textiles for upholstered furniture
Furniture textiles are produced using a special technology. Fabrics are different: with an unequal ratio of natural and artificial threads, with increased or standard strength characteristics, woven and non-woven, with or without synthetic fibers. All indicators are displayed in the technical document of the material and are indicated in a compressed form on the label.
Consider the parameters by which the material is evaluated:
- Resistance to pile wear, thread abrasion. This parameter determines whether the seats will become thinner on the upholstery, and whether they will then contrast with the back or armrests.
- Color fastness. Good fabric will not fade over time and will not fade when exposed to UV rays
- Stability. The material should compress freely and straighten out immediately. Slight elasticity is welcomed to increase wear resistance
- Peeling. An incomprehensible word means resistance to rolling pile and the formation of pellets
- The presence of special impregnation. Most often, the fabric is treated with water-repellent compounds, as well as means to increase its strength.
- Fire resistance. There are impregnations that make the raw material slightly flammable. This is an important indicator in terms of safety in case of fire.
- Environmental friendliness. The highest rates are in natural materials. This upholstery is hypoallergenic.
- Breathability. Fabric that interferes with air circulation quickly becomes unusable. Over time it cracks and breaks.
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How to choose the right fabric
Glossy surface blends beautifully with ornate oriental pattern
When choosing a “soft friend” for a living room or bedroom, it is necessary to evaluate not only its external attractiveness, comfortable shape and ergonomics. The basis of its beauty and comfort is the textile component.Evaluate the material according to the following criteria:
- Strength. Here it is worth considering whether to choose a natural fabric, but fragile or artificial, but strong
- The origin of the pile. Textiles of animal origin include, for example, pure wool. Representatives of the vegetable are cotton, linen, silk
- Moisture resistance and hygroscopicity. The first will not allow the liquid to be absorbed, and the second eliminates the possibility that the surface will become damp in conditions of high humidity.
- Anti-vandal coating. Some materials are treated with a special solution, which greatly extends its service life.
- Tactile sensations are equally important. It is much more pleasant to rest on a gentle and smooth pile than on a rough and prickly one.
- decorative. There are matte and glossy materials, plain and colored, with different prints and applications. Find an option that suits your apartment, will create a harmonious interior in the same style
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Varieties of upholstery
Exterior fabric option
All furniture materials are conditionally divided into several types:
- The thinnest and least wear-resistant. These include cotton, tapestry, velveteen, suede, lightweight flocks, chenille
- Fabrics from the first group, but more dense and durable
- Materials with embossed finishes and three-dimensional texture
- Heavy fabric with high density: thick tapestry and chenille, printed faux suede
- Textiles with natural and environmentally friendly composition. It is allowed to add a small percentage of synthetics
- leatherette
- Inexpensive real leather
- Noble and expensive genuine leather.
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Leather
Consider the most popular upholstery materials from environmentally friendly raw materials. These fabrics are the safest for health, they will not harm either allergy sufferers or people suffering from diseases of the bronchopulmonary apparatus. Natural textiles breathe, absorb moisture from the air, and reduce static electricity.
Cotton
Cotton cover is soft and pleasant to the touch
Demanded textiles made from plant fibers of cotton. This matter is one of the most common in the world, known since ancient times. It is used in almost all industries.
The advantages of cotton are its hygroscopicity and breathability. Matter is harmless and safe. It lends itself well to dyeing, so there are dozens of colors and prints.
Many people like the low price. The approximate service life with average wear will be no more than 5 years. Buy a sofa with cotton upholstery only if it is covered with a special anti-wear compound.
In addition to a short service life, combustibility is called an important disadvantage of cotton. It ignites very quickly and smokes heavily. A good upholstery fabric must be treated with refractory impregnation.
Jacquard
Jacquard fabric is distinguished by a relief texture
Jacquard fabric is created by complex weaving, in which more than 24 intertwining threads simultaneously participate. This allows you to create an exquisite and ornate pattern, unusual patterns, intricate ornaments. The texture of such matter is very dense and embossed.
It is wrong to call fabric jacquard, as it is rather a way of weaving. Therefore, both natural and artificial threads can participate in it.For furniture textiles, cotton, linen, woolen or silk fibers are more often used, combining them with synthetics.
Polyester makes matter strong, strong and durable. It does not fade in the sun, it passes air well. Jacquard is treated with dust-repellent compounds, which makes it easier to clean.
Of the minuses, we note the high price, difficulty in care (the fabric does not like wet washing), and it is also slippery and cool to the touch.
Tapestry
Tapestry looks expensive and solid
A textile fabric created by interlacing many colored threads, while folding them into a pattern. The material is heavy, dense, two or three layers. The art of creating tapestries is an ancient applied craft, known since the time of the Egyptian pharaohs.
This upholstery has a very long service life, looks rich and expensive. Like jacquard, it contains a small percentage of synthetic fibers to improve physical qualities. The disadvantage is the tendency to abrasion and fading in direct sunlight.
Silk
Fragile silk helps create a sophisticated atmosphere
Antique furniture or sofas in the artsy baroque style are trimmed with smooth natural silk. The canvas is famous for its hypoallergenic and antistatic qualities. And it looks chic, expensive, elegant.
Unfortunately, silk is very fragile and is not suitable for everyday furniture. The material is cool to the touch, this nuance is also referred to as a disadvantage.
Leather
Ideal for a study or office
Genuine leather is the most expensive and noble way to decorate your sofa. Such furniture is placed in living rooms, offices, official halls. The skin gives it a spectacular appearance, creates an atmosphere of prosperity, makes a solid impression.
It happens matte, rough, glossy. There are many colors, options with a combination of shades. Gold or silver embossing, logos, fabric stitching look good on the skin.
- Durability (with proper care)
- Easy care (simply wipe with a soapy cloth)
- Luxurious look
- Waterproof (within reason)
- Price
- combustibility
- The surface of the matter sticks to bare skin
- Coating scratches easily
- Cracks over time
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artificial fabrics
Faux suede
Such textiles are created by chemical processing of natural raw materials. Although this upholstery cannot be called eco-friendly, it is durable and will last for decades.
Arpatek
Good leatherette is difficult to distinguish from real leather
In another way, this material is called eco-leather or leatherette. It is dense, it is difficult to tear or damage it. Expensive samples are indistinguishable from natural coatings.
Eco-leather is easy to wash, it does not lose color saturation. The latter is represented by a huge palette, from natural to delicate pastel or violent acid. A significant disadvantage is the remote appearance of microcracks in places of regular tension.
scotchguard
Popular budget upholstered furniture
An inexpensive imitation of jacquard, but with a large percentage of artificial threads in the warp. But this upholstery can be washed with soapy water. It is very strong, reliable, stains are well removed from it.
Over time, the color fades and wears off, but this happens at least 10-15 years after buying a brand new sofa.
Flock
Flock option
Outwardly, the material resembles velvet - it is soft and pleasant to the touch with a small pile. It is produced in a non-woven way, by gluing fibers to the base.
- Durability and resistance to tearing, scratching, abrasion;
- Pet hair, hair, threads do not stick to the canvas;
- Moisture resistance and ease of washing;
- There are practically no pellets on the surface;
- Color fastness
- high abrasion
- ability to absorb and absorb odors
Velours
Outwardly, the velor fabric resembles a velvet coating
It is similar to velvet, well breathable, stretches well. But the fabric is capricious in care, it is difficult to remove stains from it, it is quickly wiped.
Artificial fur
Faux fur in furniture
These are materials that imitate the natural skins of animals. The composition contains cotton and artificial fibers. They look impressive, serve for a long time, pleasant to the touch.
They can cause an allergic reaction, they can not be cleaned with chemicals. Over time, the texture thins out.
chenille
chenille
Combination of natural and artificial fibers, with a pleasant shallow pile. It retains its original appearance for a very long time. Manufacturers are not afraid to indicate a period of 50 years as a warranty period!
- Durability
- wear resistance
- Hypoallergenic
- Elasticity
- Color fastness
- high cost
Synthetic compounds
forest
Synthetic upholstery contains acrylic, capron, nylon or polyester. Thanks to them, such materials are the most resistant to the effects of the environment, do not fade, do not deform, and look like new for a long time.
- Microfiber. Does not shed, is not afraid of UV rays, super strong and moisture resistant material. Doesn't like temperature changes
- forest. Textile is resistant to temperature, mechanical damage, dust and moisture repellent, easy to clean
- courtesan. The best option for the kitchen, however, expensive. Does not absorb dirt, easy to clean, strong, durable
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What furniture fabric to choose for different rooms
copy for the children's room
The intensity of its future operation depends on the location of the sofa.
- For a children's room, you need to buy a product with a natural and environmentally friendly coating: linen, cotton, flock, jacquard. Artificial chenille is popular, which adequately withstands children's activity and curiosity. The fabric should be water-repellent, washable, non-absorbent, retaining color saturation
- The sofa for the living room should be combined with its style. Usually expensive and spectacular furniture is placed here. Suitable upholstery from jacquard, tapestry, velor, real leather
- The kitchen couch should be upholstered with a washable cloth that is easy to clean. It should not be afraid of moisture, strongly absorb odors. Fireproof and anti-vandal impregnations are required
- In a room where the sofa is used as a sleeping place, choose durable materials that do not rub off under heavy load. The flock will last a long time, but it is rough to the touch
No cozy living room is complete without a seating area
Sofa upholstery is very important. They pay no less attention to it than to its size and shape. It is able to give the furniture a solid look, or, conversely, reduce the cost of the situation.
A soft corner is a central place in any apartment. This is a playground where all family members get together in front of a TV or a board game. Approach the choice of material carefully to extend the life of the “clothes” for your “soft friend” for many years.
Watch a funny video, the authors of which are empirically trying to choose the best upholstery for upholstered furniture:
How to choose fabric for upholstered furniture. Testing upholstery fabrics. Wear test, water, wine and oil.
12 Best sofa upholstery options: an overview of rating materials, selection criteria when buying + Reviews
Hello everyone, interesting article. Very detailed and interesting.)