Materials for upholstery of sofas: types, photos. The best material for upholstery of sofas. What is the best upholstery for a sofa? Upholstery material for sofas

27.06.2020

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When choosing a sofa, every buyer is faced with many questions: which sofa is better to buy, and, finally, What is the best upholstery for a sofa?

Indeed, choosing a sofa is not an easy task. Meeting all the parameters and at the same time buying a sofa that would meet all your desires is the dream of every person. And if you have already decided on the look and design of the sofa, then let’s talk about what upholstery to choose for the sofa.

Which sofa upholstery is best?

A practical component of any sofa is the upholstery fabric. But don’t forget that the hallmark of any home is the beautiful appearance of the sofa. Any furniture store presents various models of sofas. And for each instance you can choose upholstery from a huge variety of options. It is better to choose upholstery for a sofa based on the design and style of the room. Let's look at the main types of sofa upholstery.

Leather sofa upholstery

Sofa upholstery with leather, undoubtedly, will give a presentable and solid look to your home. A leather sofa has a number of advantages:

the skin is pleasant to the touch,
durability and strength,
ease of care,
waterproof.

Along with the positive characteristics, the leather surface also has a number of limitations. Upholstering a sofa with leather is not recommended for homes with pets, especially cats. Be careful when choosing upholstery made of genuine leather; it must be of high quality, otherwise over time the leather will begin to fade, crack and wear off. Along with other upholstery fabrics, genuine leather is a true classic.

But, of course, many are stopped by the fact that the price category of sofas upholstered in leather is very high. However, for those who want to buy a leather sofa inexpensively, there is an excellent alternative - upholstery made of eco-leather or leatherette. The excellent appearance, ease of care, many more colors and affordable prices of leather substitutes make them a very popular choice among sofa buyers.

Fabrics for upholstery of sofas

Manufacturers of furniture fabrics offer a wide and regularly updated range of upholstery fabrics. Most furniture manufacturers cooperate with different factories, so ordering a sofa in the color and design you need is easy.

A variety of all categories of fabrics is presented in the catalog of fabrics for sofas. Furniture fabrics for sofas are divided into natural fabrics and synthetic ones. Moreover, 100% natural fabrics are usually not used as furniture upholstery due to their low strength. A small percentage of synthetics makes natural upholstery more practical without depriving it of the benefits of natural fibers.

Types of fabrics for sofas can be distributed as follows:

Flock- a very common upholstery fabric. It is very suitable for homes with animals. There are practically no claw marks left on it and no fur sticks. This is a soft, fleecy material of various colors and shades, moisture-resistant, hypoallergenic and easy to care for. In addition, among upholstery fabrics it has an affordable price. Negative qualities of flock - it absorbs odors and wears out quickly.
Tapestry, jacquard and chenille- these are the most expensive, luxurious and unique categories of fabrics for sofas.
- Tapestry It is distinguished by its naturalness (cotton up to 100%), spectacular texture and durability, but does not absorb moisture well and fades in the sun.
- Jacquard is famous for its intricate patterns, interweaving patterns and is suitable for creating a spectacular look for a sofa. However, this fabric is not soft and cozy, so it is not suitable for regular use. At the same time, this upholstery requires only dry maintenance.
- Chenille good for allergic people. This is a very practical, durable fabric that does not lose color or shape over time. At the same time, chenille requires special attention in care.
Sofa upholstery velor Helps out at first - it creates a sofa that is pleasant to the touch and looks amazing. It gives a feeling of airiness, softness, while not stretching and perfectly permeable to air. But over time, the pile wears off, falls out, the color fades, and it becomes almost impossible to remove stains.

Upholstery fabrics for sofas differ not only in their variety, but also in their rich range of colors. There is any palette here, all you have to do is choose!

Choosing the best upholstery for your sofa

The modern interior of any home is not complete without a beautiful and comfortable sofa. Are you planning to buy a sofa and don’t know what upholstery to choose for the sofa? The upholstery of the sofa sets the tone and style of the entire room. Therefore, choosing the best fabric for upholstering a sofa is one of the main tasks when planning the design of a room. Not without reason, the cost of a sofa depends 50% on the quality of the upholstery.

Categories of fabrics for sofas

In the catalog, fabrics for upholstery of sofas are divided into categories. Prices for upholstery fabrics for sofas vary depending on the practical qualities of the materials: strength, naturalness, resistance to fading, abrasion, moisture absorption, odors, care and other parameters. When choosing a more expensive upholstery fabric, you can be sure that you have made the best choice. Such a sofa will please you longer with its beautiful appearance and remain pleasant to the touch.

Which upholstery is best for a sofa?

To decide which fabric is best for your sofa, you need to study the basic parameters of fabric quality.

The best upholstery for sofas doesn't come cheap. Here in first place, of course, Genuine Leather good workmanship. You need to look for it in the latest and most expensive category of sofa upholstery. But with it, you are guaranteed the durability, presentability and sophistication of the sofa.

But, for example, modern eco leather in some practicality parameters it even surpasses natural leather. So maybe, in order to become the owner of a stylish car, you shouldn’t chase the high cost?

Upholstery fabrics vary in texture and color, so any flight of fancy will find its solution. A variety of the best fabrics for upholstering a sofa are presented in the catalogs of furniture stores. The best fabrics for sofas in terms of wear resistance and durability are tapestry, jacquard, chenille.

How to choose the best fabric for a sofa?

First of all, evaluate the location of the future sofa. If this happens sofa in the kitchen, then, of course, it is better to choose waterproof fabric, Maybe with Teflon impregnation to prevent the ingress of moisture, dust and dirt. This fabric is easy to clean and is very suitable for kitchen sofas.

How to choose fabric for a sofa if the house has pets? Many buyers ask this question. In this case it would be better suited for a sofa. flock upholstery- there are no traces of animal claws left on it, and hair does not stick to it.

The design of the room and the interior of the house set the tone for the future sofa. For example, it is impossible to imagine a large leather sofa or colorful tapestry upholstery in a style room hi-tech. But there are many fabrics of suitable style in other categories. Therefore, which fabric is best to choose for a sofa depends on the overall picture of the interior.

Solemnity and wealth will add sofa for a classic interior fabrics such as tapestry, jacquard.

Do you need bright upholstered furniture? The fabrics of the sofa upholstery boast many colors flock, velor, artificial leather.

To the children's room It is better to choose a soft, hypoallergenic, safe and easy-to-care fabric. Furniture fabrics with a high content of natural fibers will be preferable.

Many types of upholstery fabrics for sofas are presented in catalogs on the website www.site. Do you want to quickly pick up best upholstery for sofa- call! Sales consultants will tell you in detail about the features of each type of upholstery and help you choose the ideal fabric for your sofa.

Upholstery not only has aesthetic value, but also protects furniture from some negative environmental factors. At the moment, upholstery fabric for sofas is available in a wide selection, since it is made from different types of warp threads. As a result, it is important to choose the right material so that the product lasts longer and maintains its original appearance.

There is a certain classification into categories. Thanks to this, you can find out not only the performance characteristics, but also understand how high-quality the fabric used for upholstery is. The higher the category, the denser and more expensive the materials.

Category no.	Fabric type
0	Lightweight materials - cotton, thermal jacquard, scotchgard, light series of chenille fabrics. Suitable for furniture that is rarely used. Durability up to 5 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test.
1	Somewhat denser than the previous category. Not suitable for upholstering chairs, children's furniture and kitchen furniture. Durability up to 7 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test.
2	Fabrics of the first category, but with increased density and wear resistance (jacquard, flock, corduroy). Withstand 10-12 thousand abrasion cycles.
3	Fabrics with non-standard weaving, denser and thicker. Durability is about 15 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test.
4	Very dense fabrics - tapestry, bouclé chenille, suede with a pattern. Wear resistance - 18 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test.
5	Fabrics with lining or admixture of natural fibers. Withstands 20-22 thousand abrasion cycles.
6	Leatherette with a wear resistance of about 30-50 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test (Arpatek, eco-leather, nano-leather).
7	Genuine leather of varying degrees of tanning. Premium materials with complex woven patterns, high levels of wear resistance. Durability of at least 50 thousand cycles according to the Martindale test.

The higher the number, the higher quality the fabric for the sofa. Naturally, it makes it more expensive. But if you choose the right product and properly care for it, even category 0 can last a long time.

Popular types of upholstery fabric

There are many types of fabric for sofas. It can be both natural and synthetic. The differences lie in price, features and appearance. In order to choose a sofa with a suitable surface that can serve for a long time, you need to know its description. Below are the best fabrics for upholstery.

Velours

Has a velvet surface. But he needs constant care. Upholstered furniture upholstered in velor is great for a bedroom, but is completely unsuitable for a nursery, since this material attracts dust. The advantages include the following factors:

excellent air permeability;
soft;
does not stretch;
looks beautiful.

At the same time, we should not forget about the disadvantages of velor. Firstly, it needs to be cleaned constantly. Secondly, it is prone to abrasion. And this reduces the service life.

Scotchgard

This is one of the subtypes of jacquard - the most practical material for sofa upholstery. It is resistant to dirt accumulation because it is impregnated with special substances. Suitable for a product that is often used for sleeping instead of a bed. Advantages:

moisture resistance;
strength;
attractive appearance;
does not attract dust.

The only downside is the high cost of upholstered furniture - due to the inflated price of these upholstery fabrics.

Owners of upholstered furniture upholstered in Scotchgard claim that the fabric is very durable and stain-resistant. These sofas are suitable for a children's room. The appearance does not deteriorate with intensive use.

Scotchgard

Jacquard and thermojacquard

This is a high quality material with a variety of patterns. Sofas upholstered in jacquard or thermal jacquard are suitable for living rooms. The fabric itself is very dense, wear-resistant, and does not fade. However, it is not recommended for cat owners to purchase such upholstered furniture. Animals leave puffs on the material with their claws. The advantages include the following:

long service life;
strength;
aesthetics;
wide choice of colors.

Despite the positive features, there are disadvantages. The fabric has a slippery surface, which makes handling unpleasant for some people. The second factor is mandatory compliance with cleaning recommendations. Since jacquard and thermal jacquard deteriorate from water, you will have to clean the sofa using dry methods.

These materials look luxurious and prestigious. Beautiful patterns can be applied to them . Jacquard fabrics are most often used in classic interior styles.

Chenille

Among the fabrics for upholstered furniture, practical chenille is distinguished, which is a little similar to corduroy. This is a soft material that is pleasant to touch. Sofas with such upholstery are perfect for a children's room. The advantages include the following factors:

the color is well preserved over time and is not affected by direct sunlight or frequent cleaning;
the fabric is soft and durable;
does not absorb odors;
has resistance to damage.

One of the disadvantages is that cats easily leave puffs on the surface of the material, especially if there is embroidery on the fabric. In addition, it is an expensive material. A sofa upholstered in chenille will last a long time, and this plus outweighs the minuses.

Flock

A very popular material for making upholstered furniture. There are different categories, flock colors. It is made from cotton and polyester. Has a velvety texture.

Sofas with such upholstery are suitable for a children's room, bedroom and living room. But you should not choose such products for the kitchen, because the fabric absorbs odors well. Among the positive aspects are the ability to repel moisture and debris, durability, and ease of maintenance.

Flock sofas are suitable for homes with pets as the material is durable and difficult to tear. Dirt can be removed with a soap solution; alcohol-based products are not recommended.

Microfiber

Modern technologies are used to create microfiber. It is essentially faux suede that has a realistic appearance. It is pleasant to the touch. The top is covered with Teflon, so it does not accumulate dust and does not allow water to pass through.

The downside is that sofas with similar upholstery are not suitable for a home with pets. Microfiber easily leaves claw marks. For cleaning, you can use wet cleaning.

Microfiber

Faux leather

Faux leather is suitable for those people who like leather, but are unable to purchase a sofa made from natural material. Eco-leather does not absorb odors and water; furniture upholstered with it is suitable for the kitchen. Other benefits:

softness;
affordable price;
abrasion resistance;
ease of care.

Disadvantages include poor fire resistance, the possibility of scratches, and stickiness. Therefore, reviews from owners are mixed. The benefits in price and ease of maintenance compete with the high risk of defects.

Faux leather

Faux suede

Faux suede does not have a uniform color due to its texture. The material smells like synthetics. Despite these disadvantages, such upholstered furniture has many advantages:

combines with most interior styles;
cannot be deformed;
does not fade;
excellent air permeability;
the upholstery does not stick to human skin.

Despite this, sofas with faux suede upholstery are not suitable for homes with pets. The fabric accumulates dust and dirt and does not tolerate moisture. But reviews from owners are mostly positive - the material is high-quality and inexpensive.

Faux suede

Genuine Leather

Such products are expensive, but of all those currently existing, this is the best material for upholstery of upholstered furniture. It is the most reliable and durable. The choice of a leather sofa demonstrates the good taste and wealth of the owner.

Leather furniture is often chosen for offices and prestigious hotels. This material is easy to care for and has a long service life. But you should pay attention to the negative points:

high cost;
damage from fire;
small selection of colors.

When used at home, the upholstery received conflicting reviews. This is explained by the increased risk of scratches from animal claws.

Genuine Leather

Velveteen

Corduroy has a second name - velvet. It is attractive because it creates the impression of a transfusion of colors and is pleasant to the touch. Resistant to moisture, so easy to clean. The downside is the low strength of the upholstery, which is not suitable for constant use. The corduroy upholstery of the sofa goes best with baroque, classic, and empire styles.

Arpatek

This is a very easy-to-use leather substitute, similar to natural material. It was first used to upholster car seats, but now manufacturers also use it to make furniture. Arpatek is a very durable, fade-resistant material. Its only disadvantage is its high cost.

People who have chosen sofas with such upholstery claim that they do not lose their presentation over time. The material is durable, so it can be preferred if you have animals at home.

Advantages of fabric upholstery

The material for the sofa affects the comfort and ease of use of the furniture. Thanks to the variety of colors and patterns, you can choose a product that will go well with any room. The chosen canvas carries not only aesthetic significance. It provides protection for the inside of the product. The coating protects against dust, dirt, and moisture. It becomes easier to care for, although not all types of upholstery fabrics require the use of wet cleaning.

Most types of materials are affordable, and sofas with them can be purchased even on a limited budget. The choice should be made based on personal preferences, including depending on the room in which the furniture is intended. For example, a product with leatherette upholstery is an excellent solution for the kitchen. There is a huge selection on the market today, so finding something interesting will not be difficult. To find out which sofa upholstery is better, it is recommended to first familiarize yourself with the properties of the fabric.

Since Soviet times, matting has been used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. It is a durable fabric woven by weaving thick fibers. Velor is popular today. This raises the question of what is better for a sofa – velor or matting. Matting is characterized by strength and rigidity, and velor is soft. From the point of view of long-term use, it is recommended to choose hard upholstery, for your own comfort - soft.

Criterias of choice

Fabric for sofas is selected after familiarization with its characteristics. You should rely on the following parameters:

What fibers are the upholstery fabrics for the sofa woven from? The material can be natural, artificial (synthetic). In some cases a combination is allowed. When choosing upholstery, you should find out all the advantages and disadvantages of a particular fabric.
It is important that the appearance of upholstered furniture fits well with the design of the room. If you need to choose a sofa for a child’s room, it is better to ask the child’s opinion. An excellent solution is if the patterns on the product repeat the pattern on the tulle or curtains.
The higher the density percentage, the stronger and better quality the fabric. The best fabric for a sofa cover with a minimum value of an important indicator is 200 g/m2.
How resistant is the fabric to abrasion? This value is measured in cycles and checked during the development process. The indicator must be at least 15 thousand abrasion cycles. The most durable fabric for a sofa is required if there are pets, small children, or frequent guests in the house.
Wear resistance. The fabric can be very susceptible to friction, stretching, and temperature changes. If you choose the wrong material, defects will quickly appear on the product and you will want to change it.
Color fastness. This indicator means that the shade of the product will not fade, for example, due to constant exposure to sunlight or frequent washing. It all depends on the quality of the paint of the material.
The fabric must not contain harmful substances. For example, these could be chemicals such as mercury or lead. It should be taken into account that there is an acceptable level at which they do not affect human health. For children's rooms, it is better to choose natural material for upholstery of upholstered furniture, which does not contain chemicals at all. For other rooms, synthetics are also suitable.
Breathability. The best material for covering a sofa should allow air to pass through it. Otherwise, it will accumulate moisture, which causes mold to appear. Also, if the air exchange is poor, the seams may come apart.
Synthetic upholstery materials are much easier to clean than natural ones. With frequent wet cleaning, defects may appear on the last fabrics.
Peelability. If pilling appears on the fabric, its quality is poor. This parameter is checked simultaneously with wear resistance.

These are not all the characteristics that describe the types of practical furniture fabric. But these parameters are the most important. Based on them, you can choose the highest quality product.

The sofa is a comfortable place to relax. However, in order for the operation of such furniture to be enjoyable, it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the external cladding. Let's try to determine the best material for sofa upholstery.

Genuine Leather

A classic option, ideal for people who try to reflect their wealth in interior design. Externally, the upholstery can be matte or varnished, wrinkled, embossed, with or without printed patterns. The main difficulty here is choosing high-quality leather of a suitable shade.

This material for upholstery of sofas has the following advantages:

noble appearance;
feeling of solidity;
durability;
simple and quick care.

Among the disadvantages of the material, one can note gradual cracking and abrasion when choosing insufficiently high-quality leather. The obvious disadvantage for most consumers is the high cost of such a solution.

Cotton

Natural material for harmless, non-toxic. Thanks to these qualities, cotton is ideal for upholstering upholstered furniture to be used in a children's room.

The fabric is easy to dye, has good air permeability and absorbs moisture. The only drawback of cotton is its relatively rapid wear. Sofa upholstery material lasts on average about 5-7 years, subject to regular use. To give fabric durability, manufacturers often treat it with special compounds that prevent abrasion and color loss.

Jacquard

Considering the best materials for upholstery of sofas - which are suitable for these purposes - one cannot fail to note jacquard, which is a fairly dense, high-quality and elegant base.

The material is practically not subject to abrasion, does not fade and therefore retains its original appearance for many years. The weaving here is characterized by a complex, exquisite pattern. Silver and gold threads are often used as inclusions.

In the manufacture of the highest quality, expensive furniture, a material such as stretch jacquard is used for upholstery of sofas. The latter has a breathable effect and perfectly absorbs moisture, which is reflected in the service life of the upholstery. Thanks to treatment with special antistatic impregnations, the adhesion of dust and debris to the surface of the material is reduced.

Flock

What material is best for upholstering a sofa? Many experts consider flock fabric to be the best option for these purposes, which is not only durable and attractive in appearance, but also environmentally friendly.

Externally, flock in many ways resembles velvet. The composition of the material includes 65% synthetics and 35% natural cotton. The weave of nylon and nylon pile gives the fabric a velvety appearance.

This material for upholstering sofas looks like the optimal solution for decorating furniture that will be located in the living room. The fabric is able to withstand any household stains, and even the sharp claws of pets leave virtually no noticeable marks on its surface.

Flock upholstery has the following advantages:

pleasant to the touch, velvety, soft texture;
easy care and cleaning;
there is no effect of sunburn;
resistance to moisture, mechanical damage;
variety of colors.

However, flock absorbs odors well. Therefore, its use is irrational for reupholstering kitchen upholstered furniture.

Chenille

An extremely common material for sofa upholstery. It has a soft, thick pile, presented in the form of a harmonious combination of synthetic and natural fibers. The fabric is extremely pleasant to the touch and comes in a variety of different shades.

The use of such a solution allows you to create a feeling of warmth and comfort in your home and give upholstered furniture an extremely aesthetic appearance. Chenille is able to retain its original structure and quality for decades. Special tests show that the fabric can withstand about 70 million touches. And this equals approximately 50 years of service.

Chenille is easy to clean from dust and dirt. When caring for such upholstery, it is enough to use a regular vacuum cleaner, a damp sponge and a brush with soft bristles.

Silk

Fabrics made from natural silk fibers are rarely used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Only the most expensive interior items are awarded such reupholstery.

Despite its visual fragility, silk is extremely durable. The material has hypoallergenic, bactericidal and antistatic properties. The surface of the fabric is extremely smooth and pleasant to the touch. Silk leaves a pleasant sensation when in contact with the skin in any weather - be it hot or cold.

Tapestry

When trying to decide what material to choose for upholstering a sofa, special attention should be paid to tapestry, which has been used for upholstery of upholstered furniture since the mid-14th century. Modern light industry offers the consumer a wide range of such fabrics. Tapestry lining is strong and durable, distinguished by a variety of textures and subjects, from colorful avant-garde to children's motifs.

The basis of the material is made up of cotton and wool threads, supplemented by the use of the latter, which significantly increases the resistance of the fabric to wear. Like other high-quality materials for sofa upholstery, tapestry is treated with special impregnations that protect it from contamination.

The advantages of the fabric are:

luxurious appearance;
high tensile strength and abrasion;
production using natural, environmentally friendly bases (cotton content can range from 40 to 80%).

The main disadvantage of tapestry fabric is that it fades quite quickly in the sun. Therefore, it is recommended to install furniture with such upholstery away from windows.

Arpatek

The fabric was originally developed as an upholstery material for car seats, and therefore has increased abrasion resistance.

Arpatek is unique in its structure; to the touch it resembles soft, thin leather of high quality. Such upholstery is difficult to tear and undergo all kinds of mechanical stress. The fabric does not fade in the sun, retains its original shade for a long time, and does not stick to the body.

The basis of the material is natural cotton, polyurethane and viscose. Thanks to this composition, the fabric is not afraid of moisture and food contamination.

How to choose the optimal material for sofa upholstery? The photos presented in this material allow you to decide on the most attractive solutions. However, the practicality of the fabric when used in certain conditions plays a decisive role here.

To understand which material is best suited for upholstering the selected sofa or chair, you should pay attention to the following points:

If upholstered furniture will be used as a sleeping place, it is desirable that the upholstery fabric consists of at least half synthetic fibers. This solution will ensure that the upholstery is resistant to wear.
As an external material for upholstering a sofa in a children's room, it is worth choosing a natural fabric that is easy to clean and does not require special care. The optimal solution in this situation is chenille, as well as cotton treated with protective compounds.
A sofa in the living room will become a practical means of relaxation if it has synthetic upholstery that is wear-resistant and easy to maintain. Flock, leatherette, and arpatek look like good options here.
When choosing upholstery for a sofa that is installed in the hall, you should pay attention to natural leather, since in this case it is not so much the performance qualities of the material that are of decisive importance, but its respectable appearance.

Eventually

When deciding on the nature of the upholstery for upholstered furniture, it is necessary to decide what qualities of the fabric are valuable in the existing conditions, be it practicality, safety, appearance, ease of care, etc. Comparing the characteristics of the above materials will allow you to choose the best solution for interior design. But only practice will show how good this or that upholstery is.

Thanks to ANDERSSEN's own production, you can choose upholstery fabric for any sofa model presented in the catalog. Our designer will advise on possible finishing options. And in order not to get confused in the wide range of fabrics, read this article.

Types of upholstery fabrics for sofas

There is a fairly large number of fabrics used for upholstery of upholstered furniture. The main materials are:

jacquard;
velours;
matting;
flock;
chenille

Let's talk about them in more detail.

Jacquard for sofa upholstery

A thick fabric often used to cover upholstered furniture. By twisting the loops during manufacturing, the jacquard becomes dense. The jacquard is smooth and lint-free to the touch. Usually the composition is a ratio of cotton and synthetic threads in various proportions; polyester is more common.

The material lends itself well to dyeing, so the color range of jacquard upholstery is truly impressive. Thanks to the interlacing of threads, the pattern on the fabric is embossed.

Advantages of jacquard upholstery:

practical material, resistant to abrasion and quite easy to care for;
pleasant to the touch;
durable;
large selection of upholstery fabrics.

The price of high-quality jacquard may be slightly higher than other fabrics, but its cost is justified by its amazing durability.