How to Choose an Upholstery Fabric

By Beth Larson,

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Reupholstering an old piece of furniture is a great way to update it and help it to match with your decor. One of the most fun parts of upholstering is choosing the fabric. There are many different types of upholstery fabrics available to choose from. Here the benefits and downsides of some of the most popular upholstery fabrics to help make your decision easier and to be sure that you get a fabric that is perfect for your room.

Leather
Although leather is more expensive than other types of upholstery fabric it is extremely durable and can last for years. It also brings a certain elegance to a piece of furniture and helps it to look upscale and classic. Leather is one of the most popular choices in upholstery fabric because of its durability and simply because it looks beautiful.

Vinyl
Although vinyl upholstery fabric may seem like a good alternative to leather, it actually can be quite uncomfortable to sit on. Not only that but over time it has a tendency to crack as it ages which means it won't last nearly as long as many other types of upholstery fabric. The main benefit of choosing vinyl for your upholstery fabric is that it is easy to clean; however the uncomfortable texture and relatively short lifetime should be considered before choosing vinyl for your furniture.

Linen
Linen is probably not the best choice for upholstery fabric for most people. Linen wrinkles easily and also takes a lot of care to help keep it clean. The fibers in linen can have a tendency to stretch which means it will also require extra care to help keep its shape. When it comes to upholstery fabric there are much better choices than linen.

Denim or Heavy Cotton Fabric
Denim or heavy cotton fabrics are a great choice for upholstering a piece of furniture. Cotton fibers are durable and tough and stand up well to most types of cleaning solutions and to every day wear and tear. Look for cotton fabric or denim that is color fast for ease of cleaning. After you've upholstered the furniture consider treating the fabric with a stain resistant spray to help protect it.

Upholstery Cleaning

Welcome to our site where we cover all things regarding upholstery and upholstery cleaning that let you know what to do and what not to do.

Upholstery Cleaning

Most people don’t realize how many things they purchase that contain upholstery. The most obvious items include furniture and cars, but upholstery is also common in office settings, bags and other merchandise.

The first step to upholstery cleaning occurs before you have any upholstery to clean. Yes, I am talking about understanding what you are buying. Some upholstery is easier to clean when compared to other types. When evaluating items for purchase, it vital you know what type of cleaning obligation you are buying into and we provide you with that information.

Once you buy a car, couch or so on, you are going to be faced with cleaning it at some point in time. There are do it yourself options with some upholstery fabrics, but others require the attention of an upholstery cleaning professional. You can find information in our articles section on doing it yourself or find a upholstery cleaning professional near you.

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