When choosing upholstery fabric, consider who you live with and who will use the furniture. Pieces in high traffic rooms or areas where you entertain will need durable fabrics so avoid velvet! Furniture like a bedroom settee or a headboard can have any type of fabric. From a spillage beyond repair to a ripped arm rest, damage is inevitable on well loved furniture. So, when damage strikes, your main and most affordable option is to get it upholstered! To make your furniture look as good as new, all you need to do is choose a new fabric. Not only is it a much cheaper option than buying new furniture, but it is also much easier.
At Upholstery Guru, we have decades of experience in dealing with upholstery of furniture and equipment in all environments including domestic, commercial and vehicle. For tips on how to choose the right fabric and turn your furniture into eye-catching pieces of art, carry on reading!
Suit your Environment
Before you start choosing a fabric, consider your lifestyle factors. Consider where the furniture will go, who will be using it and how it will be used. Synthetic upholstery fabric was made for superior durability and clean ability. This is perfect for households with small children or pets. Synthetic fabrics tend to be more stain resistant and able to with stand damage, giving you extra time to notice a spill and start to clean it. Not only are they more durable, but they are also easily maintainable with less creasing. Pet hair is able to be removed off this fabric easily with a dry microfiber cloth, pet sponge, lint brush or tape.
For a quiet home with style, we recommend using velvet fabric. The velvet texture is very soft and luxurious, making a space feel sophisticated while having the ability to blend with different décor styles. Velvet furniture definitely adds aesthetic value to our home or office!
Wool makes a fantastic upholstery material. It is strong and naturally flame retardant. Many wool fabrics have a natural coating on the surface which repels liquid, giving you plenty of time to clean stains and spillages. Wool has the ability to keep it’s shape for years without sagging or stretching, while standing up to fading even in sunlight. This fabric is becoming one of the most popular with homeowners who have children and pets.
Choosing an Upholstery Fabric Colour and Pattern
Although there is no such thing as a bad colour, there are bad colour relationships. Using colour psychology is key to the finishing of interior.
Achromatic colours have low saturation therefore utilise white, black and greys. We love this scheme as it gives you the freedom to add any accent colour to compliment your furniture through cushions and flowers etc. It is a classic option and creates a timeless look.
Monochromatic colours are tints and shades of one colour. You can add interest through patterns and designs.
If you are wanting 3 colours which are different but match, try analogous colours. This means any three colours which are side by side of the colour wheel. More often than not, one colour is the dominant and the other two will support this colour – this offers balance and sophistication.
Rich and vibrant themes are in right now. These are called complementary colours which are opposite to each other on the colour wheel and directly contrast. We recommend using one dominant colour and use the others as supporting colours. The opposing colour naturally draws the viewer’s eye. By using this technique, you can really make a your furniture pop and capture your visitors attention.
Try Before you Buy
The easiest way to make sure you love a fabric before getting your furniture re-upholstered is to test it. Look around your local fabric or sofa stores and check out all of their different materials and fabrics. Look at how different colours contrast and create a colour palette. Even if you think patterned fabrics aren’t your thing, look anyway! You may fall in love with a pattern which is so different you have never seen it before.
Alternatively, get in touch with our team at Upholstery Guru via the contact page to chat about upholstery fabric options or to book your furniture in for re-upholstery!