For anyone and everyone who wants to decorate or remodel their home, the selection of used furniture plays an important role in setting the tone and feel for the room, as well as fulfilling it in its most practical role. Considering that the upholstery fabric is an integral part of many pieces of furniture, it is wise to think about the choice of material as well.
Upholstery covers everything from the material that covers furniture and cushions to the upholstery of the interior. As you can imagine, each of these different types of upholstery fabric has its own characteristics that make them suitable for their respective purposes. The cover fabric is important in many ways; first and foremost, it determines how the furniture looks and feels.
Keep in mind that if you plan the placement of a softer place to site, that will be more suitable rather than sitting on the rock.
When you choose to cover a bigger furniture piece, this can improve the entire outlook of the room either blending in or standing out. Your choice of upholstery fabric plays an important role in determining how much use an item can bear before looking worn and tatty.
Upholstery fabric
- Plant fibers are often used to manufacture upholstery fabric. A popular choice is a cotton, which can be used to make a variety of fabrics from denim and canvas to chintz and toile. These are more delicate in nature, which means that although they may be attractive to look at, they are not very strong and easily damaged.
- On the other hand, many synthetic fibers are used to create durable and attractive upholstery fabrics when combined with the aforementioned natural fibers. Examples of these types of cover fabrics are nylon, rayon, acrylic, and polyester.
- Nylon tends to fade in sunlight, so it is better suited for shady locations. A popular option for both look and feel is animal hide such as tanned leathers. If you believe you’re your piece of furniture may undergo heavy use, you’ll definitely require a distinctive style and outlook. However, leather does gain a ‘worn’ look with use, which may be desirable or undesirable depending on the taste of the homeowner.
- As an alternative option to leather, vinyl is often used. Have you ever experienced it? Even if not, making the right choice for upholstery fabric may have a similar outlook to cowhide.
- Finally, animal fibers such as silk can be used as an upholstery fabric. It is generally very hazardous to the environment and should be used with caution. However, they can often add a touch of luxury to a piece of furniture that is mainly decorative. Silk can also be used for cushions, which are less used but still add an elegant accent to a piece of furniture.
When choosing a piece of furniture or updating an old one, you need to think about how the fabric affects the upholstery, looks, and contributes to the thing it covers and the room as a whole. As some types of upholstery fabric are more durable than others, it’s definitely worth thinking about how much use each piece of furniture will get over its lifetime, such as whether you’ll be changing upholstery styles often or infrequently. For the former, don’t forget delicate fabrics, but for the latter, a more durable material may be the best choice.
