Upon choosing fabric for upholstery, you should be aware of its durability, ability to stay clean and resistance to fading.
Always remember that you get what you pay for. When comparing the cost of fabrics remember that prints cost more than solids.
Here are a few tips to guide you in choosing the right upholstery fabric.
Consider the project
Before you rush out and buy fabric, first note how your upholstered project will be used. Sofas, chairs and ottomans that are more for show than for daily use will only be subject to moderate amounts of wear and for these projects you can look at less durable fabrics. Pieces that are subjected to daily heavy wear will need to be covered in durable, tightly woven fabrics.
Natural fabrics
Linen is reasonably hard-wearing and washable and is best suited for formal living rooms or adult areas because it wrinkles easily. However, linen does resist fading. Linen and linen blends are popular for all types of upholstery projects.
As a natural fibre, cotton is an all-round favourite for upholstery. It resists wear, doesn't fade easily and is available in various textures and thickness. Damask and brocade weaves are formal while canvas is more relaxed and durable.
Olefin is a good choice for furniture that will receive heavy wear as it has no pronounced weaknesses. It is normally used for outdoor furniture, as it is sun proof.
Depending on the weave, cotton blends can be sturdy, family-friendly fabrics. However a stain-resistant finish such as Scotch Guard, should be applied for everyday use.
More expensive than cotton, wool blends offer good resistance to fading, wrinkling and soiling. Wool fabrics are generally blended with a synthetic fibre to make it easier to clean.
Due to the variety of colours and styles, silk is used for decorative or accent furniture, or upholstered furniture for adult areas. Silk must be professionally cleaned if soiled.
Synthetic fabrics
Developed as a more affordable alternative to wool, acrylic is a synthetic fabric that resists wear, wrinkling, soiling and fading.
Normally blended with other fibres, nylon is one of the strongest upholstery fabrics. It is resilient as it doesn't readily soil or wrinkle, but it does tend to fade.
Olefin is a good choice for furniture that will receive heavy wear as it has no pronounced weaknesses. It is normally used for outdoor furniture, as it is sun proof.
Polyester is blended with other fibres to add wrinkle resistance, eliminate crushing of napped fabrics, reduce fading and increase strength.
Developed as an imitation silk, linen, and cotton, rayon and acetate are often blended to create fabrics with a luxurious, silky appearance. This blended fabric can withstand mildew and shrinking, but offers only fair resistance to soiling and fading. This makes it ideal for decorative or accent furniture but not for furniture that will get everyday use.
Synthetic blends
Upon choosing fabric for upholstery, you should be aware of its durability, ability to stay clean and resistance to fading. So before you rush out and buy fabric, first note how your upholstered project will be used.
Easy-care and less expensive than leather, vinyl's are ideal for busy family living and dining rooms. However, durability depends on the quality of the vinyl or pleather.
7 Tips for selecting upholstery fabrics
1. To test the wrinkling of a fabric, crush a handful of it tightly in the palm of your hand. Release it to see if the wrinkles are retained.
2. As a rule, the tighter the weave or the higher the thread count, the stronger the fabric.
3. Don't confuse drapery fabrics with upholstery. Drapery fabric won’t endure everyday use as the fabric will unravel or holes will start to appear.
4. Check that fabrics have a stain-resistant finish. To test this, drop a small amount of water on the fabric. If the water beads up instead of soaking in, the fabric will repel stains.
5. Always remember that you get what you pay for. When comparing the cost of fabrics remember that prints cost more than solids.
6. If you chose a fabric with a repeat pattern, make sure to order extra fabric for matching up. The larger the repeat the more fabric you will need to complete the piece.
7. Choose a fabric carefully, analyse the original covering of the piece and try to determine why it was successful or not. Then determine if it’s going to be used often and pick accordingly.
You can use fabrics to add colour and design to every room. Today there are many different selections available to match any style and décor. Be daring, put your heart in your home and create warm spaces that put your family and friends at ease.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za
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