The Upholstery Guide: Choosing the Right Fabric for You

Your living room furniture is more than just a place to sit and relax; it’s also a huge investment. With that in mind, selecting the right fabric for your furniture is essential for a successful project and a happy home.

Style, comfort, and maintenance are all important considerations when it comes to choosing your next piece, so an important place to start when trying to decide which fabric to upholster your furniture with is by evaluating the environment and type of use your furniture will be subject to. How often you plan on using it, how much traffic your furniture will receive, and whether you have children, pets, or are generally prone to spills are all factors to help you decide which fabric will work best in your home. Luckily, we’ve put together a material guide to help you make the right decision.

Natural Fabrics

Natural fabrics are made from materials that exist in nature, including plant and animal-derived fibers, and vary widely in look, feel, and durability.

Leather

Classic, timeless, and rich with character, it’s no mystery why leather is such a popular upholstery option. Despite its luxurious look and feel, leather is a remarkably durable material that requires minimal maintenance. Perfect for high-traffic areas and pet owners alike, it’s a great option for those who want an elegant, natural look without any major upkeep.

Cotton

Lending comfort and breathability, cotton is naturally resistant to wear, fading, and pilling. However, it is less resistant to soiling, making it less of an ideal option for more heavily used furniture.

Linen

Best suited for more formal, low-traffic areas, linen is similar to cotton in that it’s breathable and moisture-wicking but often wrinkles and stains easily. While naturally resistant to pilling and fading, linen upholstery will also age beautifully, softening over time.

Synthetic Fabrics

Synthetic fabrics are manufactured materials produced by a chemical process. Often, these fabrics are easier to maintain and cost less than natural fabrics. Synthetic fibers offer a range of different properties and characteristics.

Polyester

Often blended with natural fibers to provide wrinkle protection and added durability, polyester is a great choice for pieces that will need added protection against wear and tear. Resistant to stretching, shrinking, and mildew, polyester is hailed as one of the strongest, most durable fibers.

Acrylic

Originally developed to be an imitation wool, acrylic fabrics are resistant to wear, wrinkling, soil, and fading. While low-quality acrylic is likely to pill with overuse, higher-quality acrylic fabrics have been designed not to pill.

Performance and Sustain™ Fabrics

Performance fabrics is a general term for a wide range of fabrics that offer increased resistance to staining, fading, microbial growth, and wear. Sometimes completely synthetic, and other times a blend of synthetic and natural fibers, performance fabrics are typically available at a higher price point than most other standard fabrics due to their easy maintenance and increased durability.

Because performance fabrics are often treated with chemicals to increase stain resistance, many people would prefer a more sustainable, non-toxic option. Sustain™ performance fabrics offer the same stain resistance and durability as other performance fabrics but use low-impact materials and no added chemicals to create a more organic and environmentally conscious option.

With so many options to choose from, deciding on the right upholstery can seem overwhelming, but evaluating your lifestyle, values, and environment can help you find the right fabric for your home. If you’re looking for personalized guidance on finding the right upholstery for you, meet with a design expert today and take advantage of our wide array of custom fabric options.

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