Choosing the Best in Upholstery Fabrics

Whether due to damage, age, or the simple desire to alter the look of your home decor, deciding to change a piece of furniture like a couch, chair or loveseat need not require a new purchase. A simple reupholstery will cover up any stains, rips, and faded or outdated patterns, breathing new life into an old piece of furniture and cutting your redecorating bill in half. A quick visit to C&M Textiles will introduce you to all the latest fashions and styles in upholstery fabrics, as our team of experts advises you on everything from measurement to material construction to price!

Function Before Form

Before you get into the color and design of your upholstery fabrics, you need to determine what function it will serve on the furniture piece in your home. If you have pets or small children, or are reupholstering a couch that sees daily use, perhaps you should consider a heavier and more durable fabric, like leather or microfibre. If you are reupholstering a chair that sees little practical use and is more of a decorative showpiece, perhaps you should consider lighter fabrics like linen or silk.

Getting to Know Your Reupholstery Fabrics

The qualities of different fabrics are as endless as their designs. However, these are some of the most commonly used upholstery fabrics and their properties that you should be aware of before any purchase:

• Basketweave/Tweed: Densely woven and highly durable, this commonplace upholstery fabric can withstand a high degree of punishment and is ideal for homes with pets.

• Canvas: Usually crafted from cotton or linen, canvas upholstery fabrics are durable and easily imprinted, making them ideal for a myriad of designs.

• Chenille: Chenille upholstery fabric is tightly woven, making it another popular fabric for heavily used furniture.

• Faux Leather: Attractive, durable, and easy to clean, faux leather makes a great choice for heavy-use items like the living room couch or grandpa’s favorite recliner!

• Faux Suede / Microfiber: Like Faux Leather, this polyester upholstery fabric is strong, easy to clean, and highly durable.

• Jacquard: This highly textured and densely crafted fabric is ideal for showpieces that won’t see heavy use.

• Marine Vinyl: A highly durable synthetic material that is waterproof and easily cleaned, Marine Vinyl is perfect for outdoor furniture.

• Velvet: This fabric has a reputation for being soft and delicate but its dense weave when used as an upholstery material makes it highly durable.

The Right Color for Your Palette

Choosing a color for your upholstery fabric is your final consideration, and perhaps the most important. Your fabric choice should meld well with your decor, and shouldn’t be too flashy or ostentatious. Upholstered furniture like a couch, loveseat or recliner tends to be the centrepiece of a living room, and having brightly colored furniture tends to be garish and unseemly. Also, trendy and bold colors usually go out of style in a few years, so it’s best to stick to neutral colors, especially if you have children or pets.

For help with your fabric choices, contact C&M Textiles today to book a free consultation!