Buying upholstered furniture is not only a pleasant undertaking, but also a difficult task. In the furniture salons, there are so many sofas, soft corners and armchairs that it is easy to get confused at the sight of all this.
What does the buyer most often pay attention to? First of all, the product is evaluated in appearance and design. Only a few pay attention to the upholstery, and this is precisely the main mistake. The fact is that upholstery material for furniture is not only a beautiful addition to the product, but also its important component. It is on the quality of this material that the features of caring for a sofa or chair and their lifespan depend.
Upholstery
In the manufacture of upholstered furniture, dozens of different materials are used. This can be seen at the international exhibition of accessories and upholstery for furniture.
For convenience, they are usually divided into several groups according to certain criteria.
The main classification . It is used for the general characteristics of the fabric, assigning a number from 0 to 8. To determine which group a particular material belongs to, several characteristics are taken into account (strength, density, cost). The top line is rightfully occupied by genuine leather - solid, dense and durable material. Most existing fabrics are roughly in the middle of this ranking.
The origin of the material. In this case, only 3 groups are possible:
- natural;
- artificial;
- mixed.
Production principle. It depends on how the upholstery material was produced:
Cotton Fabrics: Batiste, Poplin
This option is the simplest upholstery for furniture. Thin, but satisfied dense fabrics are made entirely from natural fibers. Of course, they have a lot of advantages:
- hypoallergenicity;
- a different version of the texture depending on the type of fabric and the technique of its execution;
- wide color gamut with print;
- ease of care (wet and dry cleaning);
- cheapness.
All supporters of natural material should bear in mind that cotton fabrics are not as durable as their denser counterparts (jacquard, tapestry and others). A short lifespan is limited to only 2-4 years (depending on the intensity of operation), after which the furniture will require a change in upholstery.
Tapestry
One of the most common types of upholstery used in furniture production is tapestry. It is a fairly dense heavy fabric, which is made by complex weaving of threads. The surface of the fabric is most often covered with a pattern, so furniture with tapestry upholstery looks very elegant and attractive.
The outstanding characteristics of this material have long been known. The first tapestry was created in 1662 by the famous Tapestry brothers. Their family was engaged in the production of woven paintings. In appearance, such a work of art remotely resembled a carpet, but it did not differ in softness and tenderness. After some time, any fabric created using this technology was called a tapestry. A little later, it was widely used as an upholstery material.
Among the advantages of tapestry:
- the natural origin of the fibers (from 60% to 80% cotton);
- strength and abrasion resistance;
- smart look;
- unpretentiousness in leaving (well tolerates dry and wet cleaning).
The fabric has no special drawbacks.
Jacquard
Jacquard is usually understood as a group of fabrics made using a complex technique of weaving threads. The composition of these materials uses natural and artificial fibers. Depending on their quantitative ratio, the jacquard is divided into several types.
In appearance, this upholstery material for upholstered furniture somewhat resembles a tapestry, but is more durable. Furniture with such upholstery looks presentable and luxurious. Often it is jacquard that is used in the manufacture of furniture in the style of upmire, baroque and retro. The relief pattern and interweaving of different threads give the surface of the material a special look. In different lighting, this fabric looks in a new way. Especially luxurious are overflows and the play of light and shadow in the material with the inclusion of silk threads.
Among the advantages can not be called:
- strength;
- long service life - with proper care, such a fabric remains attractive for more than 10 years;
- rich appearance;
- ease in leaving - well gives in to cleaning.
A relative disadvantage is considered only a fairly high cost.
Flock
Flock is a non-woven upholstery for furniture. The first flock was invented in China, in European countries it appeared only in the Middle Ages. Of course, modern material in production technology and appearance is significantly different, but the principle is still preserved.
In the manufacture of flock, a base is used (usually a canvas with polyester and cotton fibers), on which an adhesive is applied and microfibers are sprayed. All sprayed villi are fixed on the base in an upright position, which is made possible by the use of static electricity.
As a result of such work, it is possible to obtain a soft, fleecy material that behaves ideally in the role of upholstery in chairs and sofas. The main secret of this is the absence of serious disadvantages of matter with a long list of advantages:
- aesthetic appearance;
- The texture is soft and pleasant to the touch;
- long term of operation (7–10 years);
- a wide variety of shades and patterns;
- resistance to abrasion of the villi;
- resistance to ultraviolet rays (does not fade);
- perfectly cleaned;
- affordable price.
Velor padding
In addition to smooth textile materials, velor is also used for upholstery in armchairs, ottomans, sofas and couches. This material is easy to recognize by its short soft pile.
Products with such an upholstery are pleasant to the touch and attractive in appearance. Thanks to them, it is possible to create a warm cozy atmosphere in the room. Velor is the favorite of thousands of customers, and it is no coincidence. The list of its advantages is quite long:
- aesthetic appeal;
- soft and delicate texture;
- variety of colors;
- relative cheapness;
- resistance to dry and wet cleaning.
However, there were some minuses. Among them:
- the tendency of villi to rapid abrasion;
- short service life (in comparison with the same jacquard);
- risk of damage from pet claws.
Given the characteristics of velor, furniture with such a coating is not recommended to be placed in the kitchen (increased humidity and fat can quickly ruin the fabric).
Chenill as an upholstery material for furniture
Chenill is a very popular version of the upholstery, which has won its recognition due to the successful combination of natural and artificial fibers. The composition of the fabric is viscose, cotton, acrylic and polyester.
The richness of colors, the original texture, softness - these are just a few of the main advantages of chenille. A feature of such upholstery is that it gives a luxurious look to even the simplest models of armchairs and sofas.
However, in a fit of admiration, one should not forget about the shortcomings, which are many:
- Dry clean only;
- the appearance of clings and puffs on the tissue from the claws of pets.
Leatherette
Today, leatherette is used in furniture manufacturing especially widely. This material is in demand among buyers. Often you can see leather furniture in public places (banks, reception rooms of companies, clinics). This is explained by the fact that armchairs and sofas are subjected to intensive use there, so the furniture accessories and upholstery should be not only attractive, but also reliable.
Artificial leather in some respects differs from many other upholstery. PVC fibers act as a basis here. Despite its natural origin, leatherette offers many advantages to furniture owners:
- elegant appearance is almost indistinguishable from the appearance of genuine leather;
- Compared to genuine leather, this material is more affordable in price;
- service life of about 10 years (upholstery types that are too cheap can crack and delaminate after 2–3 years).
Genuine Leather
Genuine leather is an expensive and high-quality material used for the production of sofas and armchairs in luxury interiors. Such upholstery material for furniture is often sold at Leroy Merlin and other world-famous companies.
No other type of upholstery can compete in beauty and luxury with genuine leather. Despite the modest color palette and conciseness, leather chairs and sofas look expensive and aristocratic.
No less important is the service life, ease of care and a pleasant to the touch texture. The only thing that prevents the purchase of leather furniture is the high price.
Reviews
How many people, so many opinions. This is how reviews of upholstery fabrics can be described. It is hardly possible to identify a leader in this regard, since buyers make dozens of demands on upholstered furniture.
Those who were looking for a budget sofa in the nursery or in the country, were quite pleased with the inexpensive cotton upholstery. Furniture perfectly fulfills its role, and after a couple of years it can be replaced (if the children are older) or order a hauling. Moreover, upholstery materials for furniture are now offered with free delivery. Of course, there are difficulties in cleaning and quick wear, but they are compensated by the low price of the product.
Lots of flocking flock reviews. Buyers are attracted by the soft texture, nice appearance and ease of cleaning. According to young parents, stains from the surface of flock furniture are removed with an ordinary kitchen sponge dipped in water.
Owners of cats prefer flock and velor. These materials do not have loops for which the claws of pets cling, which means that the life of the furniture will be longer.
Thousands of consumers sympathize with leatherette, however there is a risk to purchase a low-quality product. In such cases, buyers note the loss of the appearance of the furniture after 1-3 years.
To buy upholstered furniture was a joy, and not a waste of money, it is worthwhile to determine in advance the requirements for upholstery for furniture. Only then can you quickly and without hesitation choose the right material.