sofa upholstery material
Choosing the material for upholstery of a sofa in the living room

A person, due to his psychology, does not notice the amenities around him. The natural craving for comfort has led to the fact that pleasant sensations have become everyday life, and discomfort has become more noticeable. That is why the choice of materials with which a person constantly comes into contact becomes very important. Especially such as upholstery for a sofa in a hall or living room. The presence of variety and a rich choice on the market will allow the owner to choose a fabric to suit his requirements. At the same time, it is possible to make a purchase with any budget. You just need to understand your needs, and then the sofa will be dressed in the most suitable attire.

Color of furniture fabric
Variety of colors of furniture fabrics

Best Non-Woven Sofa Upholstery

Artificial origin gives materials low cost and wear resistance. Synthetics often surpass natural analogues in some important aspects. Upholstery production technologies are becoming more and more modern due to additional impregnations and synthetic fibers. Every year new brands with their own properties appear. Here are some of the common non-woven fabrics.

  1. Flock
Fabric - flock
The most popular wear-resistant and hypoallergenic fabric for sofas in various colors and patterns is flock

This material for sofa upholstery is a base with glued threads. There are many modifications (for example, microvelour), which provide additional capabilities. The advantages include low cost (but there are also expensive brands), color and moisture resistance, resistance to damage. The upholstery does not electrify and does not attract small particles. All these advantages make flock the most used in sofa upholstery around the world. But the absorption of odors and rapid wear do not allow the use of sofa upholstery with flock in the living room.

Bench and sofa
Bench and sofa in blue flock upholstery
  1. Faux suede
Suede Suarez
Suede Suarez has neutral, cold and warm colors in the collection for any interior solution

The variety of colors and configurations of the material will allow you to design and “fit” the sofa into any interior design solution. At the same time, the “warmth” of artificial suede will allow you to use it in the living room. Pile upholstery fabric can “go bald” quite quickly. Keep in mind that chemicals cannot be used for cleaning. Watch the suede when buying, as a poor-quality base will lead to rapid deformation.

Corner sofa made of suede
Corner sofa made of artificial suede
  1. Leather substitute
Leatherette King
Leatherette King is resistant to moisture, deformation and fading

Artificial leather has already become an integral part of everyday life. The cost is much lower than that of natural leather, which attracts the mass consumer. The wear resistance and moisture resistance indicators are higher than those of its natural counterpart. Cleaning is limited to lightly wiping the sofa with a damp cloth or sponge. But the material is flammable, and it also sticks to the body. Not the best choice for the bedroom, since sleeping on artificial leather upholstery is not very comfortable.

Leatherette sofa in a combination of colors
Modular classic sofa made of leatherette

The best fabric upholstery for a sofa

For fans of naturalness and closeness to nature, manufacturers offer a wide range of upholstery fabrics for sofas and other types of upholstered furniture. A high level of environmental friendliness unites all the fabrics listed below.

  1. Jacquard
Dense and durable fabric
Dense and durable fabric with a variety of different colors and patterns for upholstery - jacquard

The material is only half natural. But this only increases its strength. Softness to the touch gives variability of installation of fabric in different rooms and increases comfort of use. It feels like silk. The absence of fading allows you to easily clean and dry the sofa many times. A small drawback - this fabric for sofa upholstery will slide. Be careful and exclude wet cleaning, as this will spoil your furniture upholstery!

Sofa for living room
Living room sofa made of furniture jacquard
  1. Chenille
Chenille Dota
Dota Chenille features a fine dotted texture and a soft, fuzzy surface

Pile and threads of a special weaving method form the basis of the upholstery for the sofa. Natural chenille is resistant to fading. So deformation of the upholstery fabric over time is not a problem for chenille. It also does not form pellets and does not absorb odors. But the high price, frequent damage and fear of moisture scare off many buyers.

Sofa with chenille upholstery
Sofa with soft and practical upholstery - chenille
  1. Tapestry
Natural material - tapestry
Natural material with the addition of synthetic threads for upholstery - tapestry

One of the most ancient designer materials, has a considerable cost. But the appearance with pictures of hand or factory work on a loom compensates for any expenses. The possibility of individual ordering and naturalness of upholstery materials for the sofa will please the most demanding customers. But wear resistance and fading of fabrics leaves much to be desired. Requires special care.

Tapestry sofa
A tapestry sofa is suitable for rooms decorated in a rustic, homely style.
  1. Velours
Velour fabric
Velour fabric has a pleasant silky texture and a wide variety of shades.

Velour is a semi-natural fabric for a sofa. It also contains polyester. The breathable material does not stretch. Deformation is also excluded. Velour with a velvety surface, according to many, is the most pleasant to the touch. But the biggest problem in maintenance is washing. Only the most gentle mode is possible. Stains are very difficult to remove from the fabric. Chemicals based on petroleum products do not go well with velour. Quick washing leads to more frequent replacement of the upholstery.

Velour furniture for the living room
Furniture made of velour has a beautiful velvety sheen and looks very impressive in the living room.

Expensive Sofa Upholstery

The price of complete work with fur or genuine leather often approaches the cost of the material. This is due to the complexity of installation and the value of the materials.

  1. Fur
Upholstery - faux fur
Upholstery - Faux Fur for Your Sofa

You can not worry about allergic reactions of family members, as the fur is often artificial with the addition of natural cotton. Durability and moisture resistance, together with a particularly presentable appearance will please its owner. A variety of colors and textures will allow you to imitate the fur of any animal on the sofa. But the material on upholstered furniture will wear off quite quickly. Do not clean it with chemicals and high humidity.

Fur sofa
Scandinavian style fur sofa to create an extraordinary atmosphere in the room
  1. Genuine leather

Classic in design. Expensive upholstery is very difficult to install on a sofa. Although it is quite durable, it is better not to use it in an apartment with pets. Maintenance is absolutely not difficult - wet cleaning with water and a rag. But genuine leather does not get along with alcohol and soap. There are special chemicals for these purposes on sale. When it gets old, it will start to crack. Genuine leather, unlike artificial leather, has a meager palette for sofa decoration. A luxurious expensive upholstery option for status and prestigious premises is genuine leather

Luxurious expensive option - leather
A luxurious, expensive upholstery option for prestigious and high-status rooms – genuine leather

Fabric quality categories

Manufacturers define eight categories of upholstery fabric for sofas and other upholstered furniture based on quality and density. Be sure to check this point with the seller.

  1. First, second, third

Flock, chenille, suede, tapestry. The differences in categories are the level of density and wear resistance. And also the textured finish.

  1. Fourth

Heavy chenille, suede, patterned tapestry.

  1. Fifth

Natural fabrics.

  1. Sixth

Leather substitutes.

  1. Seventh

Cheap leather, high-strength flock.

  1. Eighth

Expensive genuine leather.

The location of the sofa dictates the choice of material

  • Children's. Many homeowners use flock and chenille with impregnation in children's rooms. The resistance to dirt and durability of these fabrics will provide the opportunity for comfortable existence even for the most active children. The ease and cheapness of replacement make these materials the best choice for a children's room.

    Soft furniture made of flock
    Soft flock furniture for children's room
  • Bedroom. The main requirement is softness of the fabric. Velour, chenille, jacquard will do perfectly. The second important aspect is wear resistance. Flock is not suitable because of its roughness.

    Soft sofa bed
    Soft sofa bed for bedroom-living room
  • Kitchen. Any moisture-resistant material with fire-resistant impregnation is suitable for upholstery of sofas in the kitchen.

    Corner sofa made of leatherette
    Excellent corner sofa made of leatherette for the kitchen or dining room
  • Living room and hall. Expensive materials are very suitable for these rooms. Especially genuine leather. Fur will also look good.

    Good quality leather sofa
    A solid leather sofa for a chic living room

The most famous proven manufacturers

MICROFIBRES is an American company that mainly produces technological modifications of flock with high wear resistance.

De Poortere is a Belgian company with almost a century of experience. The main advantage is the shrinkage of the products sold before sale.

Showtex is a German company that produces fireproof fabrics. It is in great demand in commercial furniture. A good choice for kitchen furniture upholstery.

BIBTEX is a company from Syria, one of the world's leading suppliers of chenille and jacquard.

Birtan Tekstil is a Turkish company that produces budget sofa fabric of premium quality.

Tips for buyers

  • Replace the upholstery at the same time as you change the filler. This will save you money and time in the future.
  • Don't neglect the samples. Let everyone in the house touch them and evaluate the smell.
  • When calculating the volume of purchase, do not forget about decorative pillows. And also take 20% of the fabric reserve.
  • If you are reupholstering your upholstered furniture yourself, carefully remove the old fabric (even artificial leather). It will serve as a template for the pattern.
  • The more expensive the sofa upholstery material, the more necessary it is to entrust the installation to professionals. Saving on upholstery can lead to damage to expensive leather.
Rogozhka is a dense fabric
Rogozhka is a dense fabric with a fine texture.

Conclusion

When using different fabrics for sofa upholstery, first look at functionality. The beauty of the appearance of upholstered furniture will quickly disappear if used incorrectly. The complexity and cost of installation also depend to a large extent on the choice of fabric material. A competent and correct decision will provide your home with unnoticeable, but irreplaceable comfort.

Bright small sofa
A bright little sofa made of Teflon flock (Courtisan) is resistant to pet claws

Video: Fabrics for upholstered furniture. How to choose upholstery for a sofa