Shopping for Upholstery Fabric: Choosing Long-Lasting, High-Quality Upholstery
The Importance of Choosing the Right Upholstery Fabric
When it comes to shopping for upholstery fabric, the choices can seem endless. Whether you're refreshing an old couch or designing a brand-new furniture piece, selecting the right fabric is crucial for both design and durability. Upholstery fabric serves as the foundation of your furniture’s look and comfort, but it also has to withstand daily use, spills, stains, and general wear-and-tear.
Let's dive deep into the factors to consider when selecting upholstery fabric, sharing tips for choosing high-quality, long-lasting materials. If you want your furniture to stand the test of time, this guide will help you make an informed decision when you are shopping for a premium upholstery fabric, be it linen or velvet.
Why Choosing the Right Upholstery Fabric Matters
Selecting the right upholstery fabric is more than just about style; it’s about ensuring your furniture remains functional and beautiful for years. Furniture can take a lot of abuse—whether from daily use, dogs and cats, or kids. Poorly chosen fabric can quickly show signs of wear, leading to frustration and expensive replacements. That’s why durability and performance should be at the forefront of your decision-making process.
Key Factors to Consider When Shopping for Upholstery Fabric
1. Durability and Strength
Upholstery fabric must be able to withstand a lot of wear. Think about what happens to a couch after a few years of exhausted 100+ pound humans dropping on to the couch several times a day. This is many tons of hard wear. Choosing a long-lasting upholstery fabric will ensure that your furniture can handle that constant wear and tear.
When I was just beginning in the furniture trade, a customer asked me to cover an armchair in an apparel fabric. I was hesitant but I agreed because she really liked the fabric and it was cheap. Just 2 years later, she called me back to redo the work in a proper upholstery fabric. I was disappointed to see the fabric had not held up, it was pilled and stretched and sad looking.
2. Maintenance
One of the biggest concerns when shopping for upholstery fabric is how easy it is to clean and maintain. Fabrics like polyester blends and microfiber are known for being low-maintenance, easy to clean, and stain-resistant. However, more luxurious options, such as velvet, and linen may require more careful attention but can provide a more sophisticated look for your space. For furniture in well used rooms, consider an added stain treatment.
Read more about stain resistant fabric.
More info about linen fabric
More info about velvet upholstery fabric.
3. Sun Exposure
Sunlight can fade fabrics over time, which is why it’s important to consider the location of your furniture and the level of sun exposure it will receive. Furniture Fabrics like linen and cotton are particularly prone to fading, while synthetic fibers such as polyester tend to hold their color much longer. UV treatments can help furniture in sunny windows, or choose outdoor fabric.
Types of Upholstery Fabric: What’s Best for You?
Understanding the different types of upholstery fabric is key to making the right choice. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types:
1. Linen Upholstery Fabric
Linen is a natural fabric made from the flax plant, known for its cool, breathable feel and natural texture. However, linen is not as durable as synthetic fabrics and is more prone to wrinkling and fading, especially when exposed to sunlight. The thicker the linen, the longer it will last. And very thick linens wrinkle less. Look for 12 ounce weight or over.
2. Velvet Upholstery Fabric
Velvet is an elegant fabric that’s cozy and visually appealing. It adds a rich texture and depth to any room. For a luxury upholstery fabric, velvet is very durable. Velvet has good natural stain resistance. Velvet furniture fabrics are available as natural fibers or synthetics. The synthetics are economical and long lasting. The natural fiber velvets are more lustrous and comfortable.
3. Polyester Upholstery Fabric
Polyester is one of the most durable and low-maintenance upholstery fabrics available. It’s often blended with other fibers to improve its strength and comfort. If you're looking for a performance upholstery fabric, polyester is an excellent option. It resists staining, fading, and pilling, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Velvet is known to be a cat resistant fabric as well.
Boomers like me tend to have poor opinions of polyester, because when it first came into common use, there were many disadvantages. But today synthetic textiles are much improved and they mimic more expensive natural fabrics very well, with some added advantages.
4. Chenille Upholstery Fabric
Chenille is a plush, fabric known for its cozy feel. It’s an ideal choice for furniture in family rooms. Chenille is durable and often resistant to fading. While similar to velvet, chenille has a looped nap which adds texture and visual interest. Chenille however, is not resistant to cat scratching.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Upholstery Fabric
Before you commit to a fabric, consider the following factors to ensure you choose the best one for your needs.
1. Purpose and Location of the Furniture
What’s the purpose of the furniture you’re upholstering? A family room sofa will experience much more wear and tear than an antique chair in the corner of the dining room. For a high-traffic area, opt for a durable upholstery fabric like polyester blends, microfiber, or polyester velvet, which are resilient and easy to maintain.
2. Cleaning and Care
Some fabrics are easier to clean than others. If you have young children or pets, choosing a fabric that’s machine washable or resistant to stains is essential. Performance upholstery fabric is specifically designed to resist dirt, stains, and spills, making it wipe clean, which is perfect for households with cats and dogs.
3. Fabric Weight and Thickness
The weight of the fabric affects its durability. For natural fabrics like linen, a heavier weight of at least 12 ounces per yard will increase the material’s longevity. However, even heavier natural fabrics can require extra care to prevent damage. Always look at the fabric’s weight before making a decision.
How to Shop for Upholstery Fabric: Tips from Experts
When you’re ready to shop, here are some essential tips to guide you toward the best choice for your furniture.
1. Invest in Quality Fabric
While it might be tempting to choose the cheapest fabric, quality over affordability is a principle you should live by. High-quality upholstery fabric will last longer and maintain its appearance, while cheaper options may look fine initially but wear down quickly, costing you more in the long run. Even so, it is possible to find a high quality fabric at a great price.
2. Choose Synthetic Fabrics for Durability
If you want a fabric that lasts, synthetic fibers are your best bet. Polyester, polypropylene and acrylic blends are excellent choices for high-use furniture as they are resistant to fading, pilling, and staining.
3. Plan for Extra Fabric
Consider purchasing a bit more fabric than you need, especially if you're upholstering a piece in a high-traffic area. This will give you extra material for future repairs caused by unexpected puppies and new grandkids.
4. Test Fabrics Before You Buy
Honestly I find more and more, that abrasion ratings are suspiciously high. They seem to go up every year. I don't think the quality of the fabric has increased, more that the standards have decreased.
Before you make your final decision, do your own little test on your favorite fabric choices.
- Hold a swatch up to a window. If you can see light through, keep shopping..
- Additionally, check the fabric’s resistance to pilling, as this can be a sign that the fabric may wear down faster than expected. You can rub the fabric with a strong bristle brush to see if the fibers separate and pill easily.
- If you plan on washing the fabric, throw the sample in washing machine. Some fabric contents pill more than others. With newer fabrics, the pilling problem is mostly a thing of the past but it is good to check.
How to Find Upholstery Fabric Nearby
It is always good to check your local stores but you will probably find that most fabric stores just carry the basics and mill ends which may not be available in the quantity you need.
That is where POP Home Fabric comes in. We specialize in Home Decor Fabrics. We have a hundreds of upholstery fabrics in many colors and unique prints and patterns. It is easy to order our good-sized samples so you can browse our fabrics from the room you are decorating. We also offer bulk discounts which are perfect for larger purchases.
Check out our extensive selection of upholstery fabric.
Now You Can Make an Informed Decision When Shopping for Upholstery Fabric
When shopping for upholstery fabric, the key is balancing durability, design, and maintenance. The right fabric can transform your furniture into a long-lasting, stylish investment, with performance upholstery fabric.
By understanding the types of fabric available, considering your specific needs, and following the expert tips outlined above, you can ensure that your furniture will look great and stand up to the demands of daily life for years to come.