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 and Leather Care - The Done Rite Way


By John Gray on Aug 31, 2012 at 05:11 PM inUpholstery Cleaning

Upholstery & Leather Care

Malibu, CA upholstery cleaners, Done Rite Carpet Care offer state of the art cleaning techniques to remove set in stains and dirt from all upholstered furniture. The cleanliness of the furniture in a home is the first impression most guests form. If furniture is stained and dirty, guests may feel uncomfortable from the first moments in the home. Whether the furniture in your home is a one of a kind creation from a high-end designer or a thrift store deal, we will give it the most thorough cleaning ever.

Upholstery cleaning is different from carpet cleaning, and we should know because we have cleaned, repaired or restored more than 30,000 jobs since 1990. Whether your furniture requires dry cleaning by hand, solvent cleaning, or steam cleaning our certified technicians will make your upholstery or leather furniture healthy and clean, keeping all warranties intact. Expert technicians from Done Rite Carpet Care will inspect the upholstery and ask homeowners questions about materials and age before offering an estimate for cleaning services. 

Dust, mold, viruses, and fungus can live in dirty upholstered fabrics. While most homeowners would just throw out old, stained furniture, Done Rite Carpet Care can restore most upholstered fabrics to like new condition while removing dust and killing mold, viruses, and fungus. Not only will your furniture look better, it will be a healthier place to sit. 

As is the case with all Done Rite Carpet Care Thousand Oaks, CA upholstery cleaning services, you will get the most healthy and thorough cleaning ever. Call or click today for an in-house estimate and evaluation. We can clean, sanitize, and Stain guard most fabrics with little or no down time so you can use your freshly cleaned upholstered or leather furniture with less waiting.


Choosing Upholstery Fabric

How to Choose the Right Fabric

By Abe Abbas,
Some aspects of choosing upholstery fabric might seem pretty obvious such as selecting a color, the single biggest factor in fabric selection. However, since it's always good to take your needs into account, here are some other factors you might want to consider.

 Sofa - Hickory House

Fabric Durability

  • Choose a fabric based on who will be using your sofa. If your pets will also be sharing your sofa with you, consider a microfiber fabric or leather as they can withstand heavy use.
  • Consider fabric durability if your sofa will be placed in a high-traffic area of the home.
  • Woven patterns hold up longer than printed ones, as do higher thread counts. Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch of fabric, and denser fabric lasts longer.

Fabric Style

  • Your fabric choice should approximate the style and character of the piece it is covering. For example, a traditional fabric would look better on a traditional style of frame.
  • Some fabrics appear casual, while others might look more formal. Choose a fabric to echo your own style or theme that you have established throughout the home.
  • Consider the scale of the pattern. It should be appropriate to the size of the furniture it is covering, as well as the room size. A large bold, pattern might work better in a larger room, while a more muted or smaller one might be a better choice for a smaller space.

Fabric Color

  • Color is the most important reason people choose a fabric, so make sure your color choice is appropriate. For instance, it may be best to avoid a very bold color for a smaller room, especially if your sofa is also large.
  • Avoid delicately colored fabrics around children and pets.
  • To strike the right mood, consider the color temperature. Since warm and cool colors affect the mood of the room, make sure you’re choosing the right fabric for the right mood.
  • Avoid trendy colors, unless you happen to really like them. Color trends come and go so be careful. What if you don't consider eggplant attractive in the first place? Will you be able to live with a color even when its popularity wanes?

Special Considerations

  • Fade Resistance: Consider if your fabric is fade resistant especially if it will be placed in a room that gets plenty of sunlight, or will be placed close to a window.
  • Mildew Resistance: Look for fabric that is mildew resistant if you live in a humid climate that fosters mildew.
  • Allergies: Consider fabric such as microfiber for certain allergies because it is lint free and does not attract dust.
  • Pets: If you have pets avoid using delicate fabric such as silk, or any fabric with lots of texture. Select pet-friendly upholstery instead.

Tips On Cleaning Furniture

For years of beautiful furniture, keep any pieces out of sunlight and away from heat sources. These can dry out wood, paint finishes, leather, and rot upholstery fibers.

Have you ever made the shocking discovery of a stain on the back of a favorite chair or a water mark on the top of the desk in your guest room? You really can't blame anyone. But you can fix it. We'll help you find how to clean any piece of furniture and keep it looking like new.

  • Painted Furniture
    • Everyday Care
      Painted furniture is almost the easiest to keep clean. On a weekly basis, dust or wipe clean with a cloth dampened with water. Be sure not to leave water spots on the surface, as they'll dry and could leave permanent marks.
    • Special Cleaning
      If your piece of painted furniture has stains on visible surfaces or nicks and scratches on it, you'll want to make whatever repairs you can. Gently sand down any mars, taking care not to damage more painted finish than you have to. Carefully glue and clamp any loose joints.

      Match the paint as best you can or select a new color of paint and restore the piece to near-perfect condition. Add an oil finish for greatest protection. Read more about cleaning painted furniture in these tips from eHow.com.

  • Wood Furniture

    • Everyday Care
      Before you decide how to clean your piece of furniture, you need to determine what type of finish it has on it. You can find information about cleaners and conditioners for wood furniture and information on getting built-up finishes off to expose the beautiful wood underneath. Check these tips on caring for hardwood furniture from the American Hardwood Information Center.

      You should use a lint-free cloth to polish your furniture on a regular basis. Use just a little furniture polish on the cloth and rub the surface to get a beautiful shine.

Tips On Cleaning Furniture

or years of beautiful furniture, keep any pieces out of sunlight and away from heat sources. These can dry out wood, paint finishes, leather, and rot upholstery fibers.

Have you ever made the shocking discovery of a stain on the back of a favorite chair or a water mark on the top of the desk in your guest room? You really can't blame anyone. But you can fix it. We'll help you find how to clean any piece of furniture and keep it looking like new.

  • Painted Furniture
    • Everyday Care
      Painted furniture is almost the easiest to keep clean. On a weekly basis, dust or wipe clean with a cloth dampened with water. Be sure not to leave water spots on the surface, as they'll dry and could leave permanent marks.
    • Special Cleaning
      If your piece of painted furniture has stains on visible surfaces or nicks and scratches on it, you'll want to make whatever repairs you can. Gently sand down any mars, taking care not to damage more painted finish than you have to. Carefully glue and clamp any loose joints.

      Match the paint as best you can or select a new color of paint and restore the piece to near-perfect condition. Add an oil finish for greatest protection. Read more about cleaning painted furniture in these tips from eHow.com.

  • Wood Furniture

    • Everyday Care
      Before you decide how to clean your piece of furniture, you need to determine what type of finish it has on it. You can find information about cleaners and conditioners for wood furniture and information on getting built-up finishes off to expose the beautiful wood underneath. Check these tips on caring for hardwood furniture from the American Hardwood Information Center.

      You should use a lint-free cloth to polish your furniture on a regular basis. Use just a little furniture polish on the cloth and rub the surface to get a beautiful shine.