So, you’ve decided to buy upholstered furniture. It’s a significant investment that lasts a long time, not to mention that it’s well-built and nice-looking. There are many kinds of upholstered furniture, such as single sofas, living room chairs, sofas, and more. Given the fine finishing of the furniture, it’s no wonder that it’s in demand. Perhaps you’re thinking about reupholstering your favorite piece. If it’s very high-quality or has an unusual frame, reupholstering makes perfect sense. It’s much less expensive than buying a new furniture piece of the same quality and style.
Regardless of whether you’re purchasing upholstered furniture or upholstery fabric, there are some aspects to take into account. So, what should you consider when selecting a fabric?
Make Sure the Fabric Stands Up Well to Its Usual Level of Use
Furniture receives varying degrees of use, depending on the type of piece and where it’s located. The sofa, for example, is subject to wear and tear. When the kids don’t practice wrestling moves, your dog tries to dig a hole in the middle of the cushion. As you can imagine, durability is important. Think about your home habits and how often the furniture will be used when selecting upholstery fabric. Chairs and ottomans receive moderate amounts of wear, so you’ll be just fine with less durable material.
From a durability point of view, cotton, leather, microfiber, and olefin are the best choices. Cotton has an exceptional ability to resist damage from abrasion or rubbing. It’s prone to getting stains, but using a stain resistant fabric will make the furniture last longer.
Leather is an excellent choice for upholstery because it’s easy to maintain and clean. However, to keep it smooth, supple, and in great shape for years to come, you must condition it. Last but certainly not least, olefin is a long-chain polymer synthetic fiber. It’s not as durable as other materials, but it has a lot to offer.
Pick A Color or Pattern That Goes with The Style of Your Home
Consider which color and pattern suit your lifestyle. You should be able to live with and work around the furniture for many years. If the wall color is neutral, you can choose strong, bright colors for your chairs and sofa. But what if you fall in love with a piece of furniture and it’s only available in neutral colors?
Change the wall color to accommodate the unforeseen change in plan. Now, let’s talk about patterns. You can breathe new life into your home with a statement chair in a bold pattern. If you want to revive older furniture through upholstering, it might not be such a good idea to do it yourself. The result won’t necessarily look great.
If You Want to Keep the Furniture Looking New, Opt for Stain Resistant Fabric
No matter how carefully you position your glass of wine, it can still tip over. Red wine contains tannin, so it stains the fabric after the spillage occurs. From spilling wine on the sofa to kids bringing in mud after playing outside, you’re constantly fighting a battle against a challenging opponent. Stains are complicated to remove. Put simply, there’s not much you can do about it. Frequently used pieces of furniture should be covered in fabrics that protect against stains. A new category of upholstery fabric has emerged in recent years: stain proof fabric. It’s impervious to accidental spillages by coffee, oils, and other liquids.
Stain opposition is a helpful characteristic of upholstery fabric. Spills like ketchup or oil go away with a bit of cleanser and water. Harder spills, on the other hand, leave permanent marks. Your adorable loved ones cause wear and tear to the furniture through stains, food spills, and paint. When you have pets, accidents are bound to happen. More often than not, those accidents happen on the furniture.
Stain resistant fabric is ready to stand up to anything daily life throws at it. Plus, it’s child- and pet-friendly. Seek stain proof fabric for all your upholstered pieces, whether living room furniture, furniture placed near a sunny window, baby and children’s room furniture, or desk chairs.
Set A Budget for How Much You Want to Spend
Upholstered furniture pieces happen to be furnishings where quality matters. The old adage “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more accurate. While buying quality upholstered furniture might seem like an unnecessary expense, it’ll prove to be a worthwhile investment in the long run.
The furniture pieces last for years and years if well maintained. Reupholstering tends to be a more straightforward process as opposed to buying new. On TV, the pros make everything look simple. While it’s possible to handle some reupholstering projects yourself, there’s the risk of destroying pieces of furniture. If something requires full upholstery, it’s too complicated for a beginner. It would be best to call in the pros.
At any rate, establish a budget for how much you want to spend. You don’t have unlimited funds to spend, so take the time to create a budget. Here’s a sound piece of advice: Practice patience. It helps to keep an eye on the prize. The budget forces you to focus on your goals, save your money, and make your dream come true.
Most importantly, the budget ensures you don’t spend the money you don’t have. Be prepared to spend money – but when you do, spend it on something that’s long-lasting.
Final Thoughts
Picking the perfect upholstery fabric is no easy task. Pay close attention to the thread count. The higher the thread count, the more durable the fabric is and less prone it is to shrinkage. If you’re going furniture shopping, keep in mind that the actual construction is just as important as the upholstery.
If you’re strongly considering DIY reupholstery, select a fabric that’s easy to work with and suitable for the furniture piece’s level of use. You can work with a less durable fabric, but make sure to put down a piece of canvas or muslin underneath it.
