Characteristics and categories of upholstery fabrics

Upholstered furniture in the modern world is an integral part of any interior. And this is not an accident, because it is an important part of a comfortable life.

Of course, the first thing we pay attention to when buying furniture is design. However, the second important factor is the upholstery. It is the right matched furniture fabric responsible for the longevity and practicality of your sofa.

In this article we will tell you how to choose the right fabric, what characteristics are worth paying attention to, and the main trends in the world of upholstered furniture.

Before using this or that fabric for the production of upholstered furniture, it passes a series of generally accepted tests that are indicators of the quality of upholstery.

One of the most important indicators of the quality of furniture fabric is its resistance to abrasion. It is tested by Martindale test - on a special holder on the figure eight, rub the fabric using a piece of wool or sandpaper. Thus, check how much contact with the upholstery is possible before it starts to deform. A normal figure is 20,000 or more cycles. The higher the index, the more wear-resistant the fabric.

Another indicator is the density of the tissue. The density of the furniture fabric depends on its structure. The higher the density, the higher its hygroscopicity, the lower the air permeability coefficient, the longer the service life. Optimal density for upholstery from 200 g / m 2 and above is considered.

Pillingability is another indicator of the quality of the fabric for furniture. The pilling test is conducted based on the Martindale test. It is believed that if after 5000 cycles of abrasion no sprues appear, then the tissue is not pilling.

Also pay attention to the composition of the fabric. Furniture fabrics made of synthetic materials are more wear-resistant.

When you come to a specialized furniture salon you may encounter such a concept as a category of fabrics. The upholstery fabric category speaks about its quality, operational properties, as well as its cost. As a rule, the higher the category of the fabric, the better it wear resistance and density, and accordingly the higher the price.

There are 8 main categories of furniture fabrics:

• 1st category - scotchgard, cotton, light shennil.

• 2 and 3 categories - shannil, thin tapestry, dense cotton, suede, flock, corduroy.

• 4 category - tapestry, tight shannil, jacquard, suede with a pattern.

• 5th category - arpatek, eco-leather.

• 6 category - artificial leather.

• 7th category - cheap genuine leather.

• 8 category - expensive, natural and dense skin.

Each kind of fabric has a number of features, advantages and disadvantages, more details with which you can find in our article "Types of fabrics and their characteristics."

And finally, I would like to give some practical lyhykov for choosing an upholstery fabric for your sofa.

The first thing to consider is that any fabric will eventually deform. Therefore, if you want to extend the life of your sofa, then remember that it would hide with a closed uneven location of the pile, in contrast to monophonic upholstery fabrics, which after active use begin their original appearance.

If you want to upgrade your interior by purchasing new furniture, you should first take a picture of the room, and then go to the salon where you can visually "try on" a new sofa in your existing interior.

Also in modern textile production use a number of impregnations and sputtering, which can significantly prolong the life of your furniture and help in caring for it. For example, Teflon coating provides waterproof and dirt-repellent properties of fabric, EverClean plus technology will help to easily get rid of marks of felt-tip pen and other stains. Furniture fabrics that fall into the category of Pet Frendly help protect your furniture from pets. Impregnation Waterproof makes the upholstery waterproof, Burn-out-resistant to ignition, and Silver active has a number of antibacterial properties.

Do not forget about the appearance of the upholstery for the sofa. It should be in harmony with your interior and fit into the overall style of the room.

Remember that soft furniture should serve you for a year, be an interesting addition to your home and provide comfort and coziness. Successful purchases with EDEN!