Your lifestyle can strongly influence what sofa upholstery fabric you are looking for. Following are some factors you need to consider when picking sofa upholstery.
- Pets and Kids
We all love to have pets and kids in the house, but we all know how they can make the living space messy at times. If your sofa is going to be used by pets or kids, you’ll want sofa upholstery that can withstand wear and tear.
Microfiber is considered a great sofa upholstery fabric for pets and kids. That’s because it can withstand claw marks and stains. Another good material to consider is olefin. It is incredibly durable because of its synthetic plastic base.
There are some sofa upholstery fabrics you’ll want to avoid with kids and pets. These are velvet and silk. Both materials can be easily torn and require special cleaning and maintenance. Leather can also be cracked easily, and is therefore not ideal for houses with little ones and pets.
- Allergies
No one likes to sneeze all the time. Therefore, always choose sofa upholstery that minimizes the chances of allergic reactions. Whatever the material is, you’ll probably have to keep it clean to reduce the allergen build-up.
Leather and vinyl are the best sofa upholstery material for those with allergies as they are much easier to clean than other options. Natural fibers like linen and cotton are antibacterial as well as hypoallergenic.
- Durability
The most durable sofa upholstery fabrics are linen, cotton, polyester, wool, and olefin. All of these fabrics can withstand wear and tear and last for longer. However, some of these fabrics require minimal maintenance. For example, acrylic is prone to pilling and linen can wrinkle easily. Even though olefin is durable, it becomes brittle in sunlight. So, always choose the right upholstery for your sofa.
- Color
Silk, wool, linen, and cotton – all these fabrics can fade over time due to moisture and sunlight. The biggest downside to opting for cotton is that it can be dyed easily from other items. Linen, on the other hand, can hold its color well against direct sunlight.
- Stains And Cleaning
Silk and cotton, both fabrics are prone to spills. If not cleaned properly, these fabrics can become start smelling over time. As silk is delicate, it can only be dry-cleaned.
Velvet and linen are both typical to clean and maintain. When not cleaned professionally, linen gets shrink. It is also challenging to remove the dust away from the velvet once it gets dirty.
The most common easy-to-clean fabrics are acrylic and polyester. Both of them are stain-resistant. Leather is also a good sofa upholstery fabric as it doesn’t absorb stains, liquids, and foul odors.
Choosing The Right Sofa Upholstery
When selecting the upholstery for your sofa, there is a lot to consider to find the best one. You should consider the sofa upholstery that suits best your taste and lifestyle. Your sofa should match the overall style of your décor.
