Types of upholstery materials for furniture: overview of options

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Buying upholstered furniture is not only a pleasant experience, but also a difficult task. So many sofas, soft corners and armchairs are presented in furniture stores that it is easy to get lost at the sight of all this. What does the buyer most often pay attention to? First of all, the product is evaluated by its appearance and design. Only a few pay attention to the upholstery, and this is precisely the main mistake. The fact is that upholstery for furniture is not only a beautiful addition to the product, but also its important component. It is the quality of this material that determines the particular care of a sofa or chair and their service life.

Varieties of upholstery

Dozens of different materials are used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture. This can be seen at the international exhibition of fittings and upholstery materials for furniture. For convenience, they are usually divided into several groups according to certain criteria.

Basic classification. It is used for the general characteristics of the fabric, assigning a number from 0 to 8. To determine which group a particular material belongs to, severalcharacteristics (strength, density, cost). Genuine leather rightfully occupies the top line - a solid, dense and durable material. Most of the existing fabrics are somewhere in the middle of this ranking.

Origin of material. In this case, only 3 groups are possible:

• natural;
• artificial;
• mixed.

Production principle. It depends on how the upholstery was produced:

• woven;
• non-woven.

Cotton fabrics: batiste, poplin

This option is the easiest upholstery material for furniture. Thin, but content dense fabrics are made entirely from natural fibers. Of course, they have a lot of advantages:

• hypoallergenic;
• different version of the texture depending on the type of fabric and technique of its execution;
• Wide printed colors;
• easy care (wet and dry cleaning);
• cheap.

All supporters of natural material should keep in mind that cotton fabrics are not as durable as their denser counterparts (jacquard, tapestry and others). The short life is limited to only 2-4 years (depending on the intensity of use), after which the furniture will require reupholstery.

Tapestry

One of the most common types of upholstery used in furniture production is tapestry. It is a fairly dense heavy fabric, which is made by complexweaving threads. The surface of the fabric is most often covered with a pattern, so furniture with tapestry upholstery looks very elegant and attractive.

The outstanding characteristics of this material have been known for a long time. The first tapestry was created in 1662 by the famous Gobelin brothers. Their family was engaged in the production of woven paintings. In appearance, such a work of art vaguely resembled a carpet, but it did not differ in softness and tenderness. After some time, any fabric created using this technology was called a tapestry. A little later, it was widely used as an upholstery material. Among the advantages of tapestry:

• natural fiber origin (from 60% to 80% cotton);
• strength and abrasion resistance;
• dressy look;
• easy care (tolerates dry and wet cleaning).

There are no special flaws in the fabric.

Jacquard

Jacquard is commonly understood as a group of fabrics made using a complex weaving technique. The composition of these materials uses natural and artificial fibers. Depending on their quantitative ratio, jacquard is divided into several types.

In appearance, this upholstery material for upholstered furniture is somewhat reminiscent of a tapestry, but more durable. Furniture with such upholstery looks presentable and luxurious. Often, it is jacquard that is used in the manufacture of furniture in the Empire, Baroque and Retro styles. Embossed pattern and weavedifferent threads give the surface of the material a special look. In different lighting, this fabric looks new. Particularly luxurious are the overflows and the play of light and shadow in the material with the inclusion of silk threads.

Among the benefits are:

• strength;
• long service life - with proper care, this fabric remains attractive for more than 10 years;
• rich look;
• easy care - easy to clean.

Only a rather high cost is considered a relative disadvantage.

Flock

Flock is a non-woven upholstery material for furniture. The first flock was invented in China, in European countries it appeared only in the Middle Ages. Of course, modern material is significantly different in terms of production technology and appearance, but the principle is still preserved.

In the manufacture of flock, a base is used (usually a canvas with polyester and cotton fibers), on which an adhesive composition is applied and microfibers are sprayed. All sprayed fibers are fixed on the base in a vertical position, which is made possible by the use of static electricity.

As a result of this work, it is possible to obtain a soft fleecy material that ideally behaves as an upholstery for armchairs and sofas. The main secret of this lies in the absence of serious disadvantages of matter with a long list of advantages:

• aesthetic appearance;
• texture is soft andpleasant to the touch;
• long service life (7-10 years);
• wide variety of colors and patterns;
• lint abrasion resistance;
• UV resistance (will not fade);
• greatly cleanable;
• affordable price.

Velor upholstery

In addition to smooth textile materials, velor is used for upholstery of armchairs, ottomans, sofas and couches. This material is easily recognizable by its short soft pile.

Products with such upholstery fabric are pleasant to the touch and attractive in appearance. Thanks to them, it is possible to create a warm, cozy atmosphere in the room. Velor is the favorite of thousands of buyers, and it is no coincidence. The list of its benefits is quite long:

• aesthetic appeal;
• soft and delicate texture;
• variety of colors;
• relatively cheap;
• wet and dry cleaning resistance.

However, it was not without cons. Among them:

• the tendency of the villi to wear quickly;
• small service life (compared to the same jacquard);
• risk of damage from pet claws.

Given the characteristics of velor, furniture with such a coating is not recommended to be placed in the kitchen (high humidity and grease can quickly ruin the fabric).

Chenille as upholstery material for furniture

Chenille is a very popular upholstery option now, which has won its recognition due to the successful combination of natural andartificial fibers. The composition of the fabric is viscose, cotton, acrylic and polyester.

The richness of colors, the original texture, softness - these are just a few of the main advantages of chenille. The peculiarity of this upholstery lies in the fact that it gives a luxurious look to even the simplest model of an armchair and sofa.

However, in a fit of admiration, one should not forget about the shortcomings, which are many:

• dry clean only;
• The appearance of hooks and puffs on the fabric from the claws of pets.

Leatherette

Today, leatherette is used in the manufacture of furniture especially widely. This material is also in demand among buyers. You can often see leatherette furniture in public places (banks, reception offices of companies, clinics). This is explained by the fact that armchairs and sofas there are subjected to intensive use, so furniture fittings and upholstery materials must be not only attractive, but also reliable.

Artificial leather differs from many other upholstery in some parameters. PVC fibers are the basis here. Despite its unnatural origin, leatherette offers a lot of advantages to furniture owners:

• elegant appearance almost indistinguishable from genuine leather;
• compared to genuine leather, this material is more affordable;
• service life is about 10 years (too cheap types of upholstery can givecrack and flake).

Genuine leather

Genuine leather is an expensive and at the same time solid material used for the production of sofas and armchairs in luxury interiors. More often such upholstery material for furniture is sold in Leroy Merlin and other world-famous companies.

No other type of upholstery can compete in beauty and luxury with genuine leather. Despite the modest color palette and conciseness, leather armchairs and sofas look expensive and aristocratic.

Equally important is durability, ease of care and texture that is pleasant to the touch. The only thing that prevents buying leather furniture is the high price.

Reviews

How many people, so many opinions. This is how you can describe reviews of upholstery fabrics. There is hardly a leader in this regard, as buyers have dozens of requirements for upholstered furniture.

Those who were looking for a budget sofa in the nursery or in the country, were quite satisfied with the inexpensive cotton upholstery. The furniture perfectly fulfills its role, and after a couple of years it can be replaced (if the children have grown up) or ordered a banner. Moreover, upholstery materials for furniture are now offered with free delivery. Of course, there are difficulties in cleaning and rapid wear, but they are offset by the low price of the product.

Many good reviews about flock. Buyers are attracted by the soft texture, pleasant appearance and ease of cleaning. According to young parents, stains from the surface of flocked furniture are removed with ordinarykitchen sponge dipped in water.

Cat owners prefer flock and velor. These materials do not have loops for pet claws to cling to, which means that the life of the furniture will be longer.

Thousands of consumers sympathize with leatherette, but there is a risk of purchasing a poor quality product. In such cases, buyers note the loss of furniture appearance after 1-3 years.

To make buying upholstered furniture a joy, not a waste of money, you should decide in advance on the requirements for upholstery materials for furniture. Only then can you quickly and without hesitation choose the right material.