Choosing the right upholstery fabric is very important to ensure the longevity of your furniture. There are so many upholstery fabrics available in the market including linen, cotton, acetate, polyester, leather, rayon, wool, polypropylene, nylon, hemp, silk, and acrylic. Choosing the perfect upholstery fabric can be daunting sometimes. You might get confused between natural or synthetic fabrics. Keep in mind that every kind of fabric offers a set of unique and different features. So, it’s very important to know the pros and cons of each.  In this blog, we’ll walk you through all these fabric types in detail. So, let’s get started:

Natural Fabrics

  • Cotton

Cotton is one of the cheapest natural fibers that is widely used. The fabric can provide a soft feel to your furniture. Even though cotton is durable and resistant to fading, still the fabric is susceptible to stains. That’s why it is not ideal for everyday use.

  • Wool

Wool is a durable fabric and highly resistant to staining and pilling. The only drawback to having wool is when it gets wet, it can spread odor in the environment.

  • Silk

Among all the fabrics out there, silk is one of the most expensive upholstery fabrics. But it can only be used for a formal setting. It needs to be cleaned professionally if it gets stained or soiled.

  • Linen

As linen can wrinkle and stain easily, it is only suitable for adult rooms. The fabric comes in intricate designs. The downside to having this fabric is it can shrink when washed.

  • Leather

Leather is one of the widely used fabrics for upholstery because of its durable nature. For those having pets or animals in their house, leather is the best option as its cleaning is very easy.

Synthetic Fabrics

  • Polyester

Polyester is rarely used upholstery fabric. It is a great blending fiber with cotton. The fabric can retain dyes and it was an early choice for upholstery.

  • Nylon

Another fiber that is rarely used for upholstery is nylon. It is combined with other natural or synthetic fibers. But it can fade with excess exposure to sunlight.

  • Rayon

Rayon is the very first fabric that imitated cotton, silk, and linen. The fabric is durable and strong but susceptible to wrinkling. Rayon is not an ideal upholstery fabric.

  • Olefin Or Polypropylene

Polypropylene or olefin is another great fabric for upholstery. It doesn’t require protective stain treatments otherwise the fibers can begin to break down.

  • Acrylic

Acrylic is also one of the best fabrics for upholstery due to so many good reasons. It is resistant to soiling, fading, and wrinkling. But it is wise to use high-quality acrylic otherwise it can get wrinkled.

So these are some of the upholstery fabrics you should consider. Whatever the upholstery fabric you choose, it is wise to have good research before purchasing. Keep in mind that only a good fabric will lead to the longevity of your furniture. And we hope you want it too!