Do you want your sofa to look sensational? Or give your patio seating some pizzazz?
Choosing the right upholstery fabric is no easy choice. Sure, you want it to look good and fit in with its surroundings, yet there’s much more to upholstery than mere aesthetics. What happens when you purchase fabric with no durability to support its application?
This article takes a close look at upholstery fabrics, helping you understand the best choices for outdoor and indoor use and how to pick the right printable upholstery fabric for your needs.
What is Upholstery Fabric?
Upholstery refers to the materials used to make the soft coverings of chairs, sofas, and other furniture parts, like padding, webbing, and springs. The process of upholstering dates back to the Middle Ages, and it became increasingly popular in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
Many textiles have been used for furniture fabric over the years, from hay to horsehair to wool.Modern upholstery textiles offer a wider choice to consumers, from natural fabrics like cotton, linen and silk to polyester-based fabrics.
While you can change an outer fabric at any time — and may need to, based on wear and tear—high-quality inner components will ensure that your furniture is comfortable and lasts for a long time. Modern upholstered furniture also incorporates metal springs and foam for improved durability.
How to Choose Upholstery Fabric
Before you buy upholstery fabric, there are several things to consider.
Furniture Application
First, think about your lifestyle, including who will be using the piece and where. This will assist you in determining the type of material to use. You may adore the beauty of silk or velvet, but in an average home, how long will it stay looking its best?
Furniture in high-traffic areas, such as family or living rooms, should be made of durable textiles, whereas furniture in low-traffic areas, such as a bedroom couch or headboard, can be made of any type of fabric.
Upholstery Material Maintenance
Next, consider the required upkeep of your upholstery. A common blunder is failing to consider how cloth or leather will age and how much time you need to spend on its care.
Always check the fabric label and ask questions in the showroom to learn about the material's content and cleaning requirements, then consider how much upkeep you're willing to put in to protect your purchase. Will you still like leather once it has developed a wonderful patina from use? Will you vacuum the sofa fabric on a regular basis? Will you close the drapes when you're not in the room to prevent fading from exposure to sunlight?
Upholstery and Pets or Children
In previous times, many people were raised in homes where kids or pets weren't allowed in certain rooms. Mostly, this was because parents didn't want their 'entertaining' rooms getting messed up since the furniture and fabrics were not durable.
Nowadays, there are many durable and stylish options for home upholstery, including indoor and outdoor fabric collections that are both comfortable and highly durable. Still, if yours is a bustling household due to children or pets, you would be wise to avoid silk or other textured and easily damaged fabrics for your furniture.
Furniture Shape and Size
When selecting a fabric, consider the shape of the furniture. If you're upholstering a curvy piece, solid-coloured textiles are ideal simply because patterns or textures with a clear direction are difficult to upholster. And a pattern that looks wonderful on a bolt of fabric may not look so great when broken up and reassembled on your sofa, especially if it's a complicated, intricate shape.
Also, consider the size of the furnishings. For example, larger pieces like a sofa work well when covered in a rich solid colour or classic neutral, so you don't become tired of it. Smaller pieces, such as a wonderful statement chair, can help liven things up using a stronger shade or pattern. That said, always consider the rest of the room's furnishings, particularly the upholstered pieces, to be sure colours, textures, and patterns complement one another.
Printable Fabric
Do you have a desire to create a completely unique furnishing? If so, that's where printable fabrics are a great option. Several fabrics nowadays are printable, giving consumers endless freedom to create upholstery in any style or design imaginable.
Outdoor Furniture
Perhaps the most essential consideration of all is whether the furniture will live outdoors. Because, with this comes a whole load of additional things to think about, such as:
- Does the fabric need to be water-resistant or waterproof?
- Will the upholstery be exposed to direct sunlight for lengthy periods?
- Will the fabric be used on a boat?
However you plan to use your outdoor furnishings, they will be exposed to the elements heavily - and only certain fabrics are up for the job. Patio furnishings need to resist water and the harsh UV rays to avoid premature fading, and marine fabrics also have saltwater to contend with.
Best Fabric for Outdoor Upholstery
There are many different applications for upholstery fabrics that are used outdoors. You might be covering cushions and furniture to use on the backyard patio or around the pool or upholstering outdoor seating for marine craft.
Here are some of our favourite fabrics for outdoor upholstery, for use in different scenarios.
Waterproof Garden Furniture Fabric
The BLISS upholstery range for outdoor furniture offers up many fantastic options and designs. Made from 100% solution-dyed acrylic, you can use the BLISS outdoor fabrics collection for furniture, cushions and even outdoor curtains. These fabrics have no harmful chemicals and are weather-resistant. It’s also important to note that the materials in the BLISS range are also resistant to rotting and mildew, keeping them looking nice and lasting longer.
Vinyl is another good outdoor fabric for upholstery and is often used to cover indoor furniture as well. Vinyl is robust, resistant to spills, moisture, and harsh weather conditions, and very easy to keep clean. You will rarely experience the buildup of odours and bacteria when you cover your furniture with a vinyl upholstery material.
Marine Upholstery Material
Docril Nautica fabric is designed with boats in mind. This 100% solution dyed acrylic is highly resistant to fading, an essential feature for any furnishings that spend extended time in the sun. Teflon coated, it’s also waterproof and resistant to humidity and mould, perfect to use on marine upholstery projects where exposure to water, wind and rain is high.
The best fabric collections from Docril for marine furnishings are:
- Beach: Perfect for marine upholstery, seating and cushions
- Nature: Ideal for cushions, seating and upholstery
Best Fabric for Indoor Upholstery
If you’re looking for printable upholstery fabric to create your own designs indoors, Leather Print is hard to top. Made from a PVC-coated polyester knitted fabric, the surface of the material is embossed with the texture of leather for aesthetic appeal. The fabric even contains a layer of cotton for added softness and comfort. Or... you can print your very own design on the material for something completely unique! Leather Print is the perfect upholstery fabric for sofas, chairs, bean bags, ottomans and more.
Another good option for indoor upholstery coverings is Napaprint. It’s also excellent for use on lounges, ottomans, bean bags, and so on. The fabric is soft to the touch, flexible, and has high elasticity. Once again, you can print on the material using a number of different printing methods. Just like the Leather Print textile, Napaprint is made from PVC-coated knitted polyester and is very durable and long-wearing to guarantee years of enjoyment.
If you’re still unsure which sofa or chair upholstery fabric to choose, discuss your project with a quality textiles and upholstery fabric supplier, who can help you make the right choice.
Choose Ricky Richards for Upholstery Fabrics
When it comes to upholstery fabric suppliers in Australia, you’re in safe hands with Ricky Richards. On top of our expertise, we offer an extensive range in textiles for all types of applications - not just upholstery!
Browse our website and contact us to discuss your project in more detail.