Which leatherette to choose for upholstering a sofa. Furniture fabric: a guide to materials for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Types of upholstery fabric

At the time of buying upholstered furniture few people pay attention to the basic parameters and quality indicators, such as the categories of sofa upholstery.

Most buyers intend to purchase good product as cheaply as possible, but the price cannot be lower than its cost, and it consists of many parameters. There are no bad sofas, only bad purchasing choices, including the material with which the model is covered– some need strong fabrics, others need decorative ones, and some prefer only white or black leather.

Choosing a sofa based on furniture upholstery

When choosing upholstered furniture, buyers are guided by its functionality, that is, the room where it should be used.

Some feel the need to update their office, others want to replace home furniture in an apartment or arrange Vacation home. To furnish a room with taste and at the same time invest in a small budget, it is important to buy a sofa of the appropriate level. Why look at luxury products and shy away from prices if you can buy enough for your dacha? nice budget sofa. Inexpensive furniture has its advantages, and it is fully consistent with its price category, and luxury products occupy their niche.

In most cases, sofas are selected based on their upholstery, and its color should match the overall decor of the room.

Furniture fabrics are produced in a huge assortment, and when reupholstering furniture and replacing upholstery, you can choose a more expensive and prestigious one, then the entire product will look like new and expensive. And when buying, you want to choose something elegant that matches the design style. And not it must be leather or its analogue, for example, arpatek has all the advantages of fabric and repeats the appearance of natural leather. Modern and stylish products They often have beautiful upholstery made of colored fabrics with naturalistic patterns or abstractions.

In the expensive category of fabrics for upholstery of sofas, plain jacquard products with a patterned weave of matte and glossy threads look very elegant, forming beautiful shimmers. Velvety fabrics and modern varieties furniture velor, especially shades natural stones, which on bends play with all faces like:

purple amethyst;
blue sapphire;
crimson red ruby;
deep green emerald;
yellowish topaz.

For a schoolchild's bedroom or children's room, colored fabrics with protective coating anti-vandal type. Felt-tip pens and other traces of children's “art” can be easily removed from them. For thrifty children, upholstery in natural fabrics that valued for their environmental friendliness. In online stores of upholstered furniture, both types of sofas are presented in a large assortment.

Among living room sofas today, the most popular upholstery fabrics are:

leather and arpatek substitutes;
flock and other fabrics with a fine-pile structure reminiscent of suede;
velvet and velor,
jacquard plain fabrics with different types patterns that are obtained by combining threads of different textures;
chenille and other fabrics with fluffy thread;
rep velor, combining the advantages of rep and velor;
silky taffeta and natural silk;
thermal jacquard, where the pattern is applied to the pile base using dye evaporation;
practical flock;
tapestry with a colored pattern;
boucle, matting and other textured fabrics.

What do upholstery categories mean?

When choosing a sofa based on the type of upholstery, pay attention to the category of upholstery, which directly affects its cost:

Category 0 – lighter fabric (cotton, scotchgard, series of fabrics with fluffy thread and inexpensive thermal jacquard);
Category 1 – inexpensive fabrics (flock, corduroy, simple chenille and tapestry, faux suede);
Category 2 – denser and more practical, including everything listed in category 1, as well as transitional materials with related properties;
Category 3 – denser fabrics (chenille, faux suede and nubuck, tapestry and fabrics with complex textures);
Category 4 – heavy furniture fabrics of the listed names and artificial fur;
Category 5 – natural fabrics based on natural fibers;
Category 6 – expensive leatherettes and luxury fabrics;
Category 7 – genuine leather and luxury fabrics;
Category 8 – expensive genuine leather and rare fur.

The lower the categorization number of furniture fabrics, the lower its price, so there cannot be budget sofas with luxury upholstery.

Cheap adhesive-based materials and printed synthetics are usually used for furniture for teenagers and budget sofas. Exclusive Italian fabrics are used for luxury furniture or luxury sets with upholstery of at least category 6. The most popular practical fabrics are average category numbers; such sofas form the basis of furniture production.

1. Fashion for furniture textiles also has its own fashion seasons, which are tracked using specialized catalogs. But for a spectacular or ultra-modern interior, the aesthetic component is more important than brand fashion.

2. When purchasing luxury or office furniture, general trends and the latest developments are taken into account. Colored fabrics are not appropriate for the office; they are more suitable for the living room and other furnishings.

3. When choosing between natural and synthetic furniture upholstery, look at their practicality and the body's reaction - natural materials are recommended for allergy sufferers.

Most buyers perceive furniture upholstery as a decorative element, matching it to the living room interior, forgetting about practicality. “Oh, what beautiful roses!” - says the customer and pays the money, without thinking that a week later these most beautiful roses will become a victim of the claws of a cat or dog, and the light upholstery will forever be stained by cherry juice accidentally spilled by children.

The properties of the upholstery material ultimately influence how long a sofa or chair will last: whether it will be easy to clean, how well the upholstery material resists moisture and dirt, how resistant it is to fading and abrasion - all these questions should be clarified before How do you get your wallet?

Types of upholstery fabric

A few technical details: two types of fabrics are used for furniture upholstery - covering and upholstery. Springs and other structural elements of the sofa frame are covered with covering fabric; the back of covers is sewn from it and upholstered with it. internal surfaces sofas and armchairs. This is usually thick burlap or thick cotton fabric.

Upholstery fabric is what is used for external upholstery, the very beauty and practicality that we will talk about. Let's start in order, with the most popular materials.

1. Jacquard

This is the most common material for upholstery of upholstered furniture. Jacquard fabric consists of a mixture of cotton and synthetic fibers. It is very dense and holds its shape well. Jacquard fabrics are distinguished by a woven relief pattern, most often floral or ornamental. Jacquard manufacturing technology allows you to create designs with high detail. The cost of jacquard varies depending on the composition and thickness of the threads.

It is not difficult to care for jacquard upholstery: minor dirt is washed off with a soap solution, dust is removed with a vacuum cleaner. For strong stains - not too aggressive substances for dry cleaning upholstered furniture.

2. Scotchgard

This is the same jacquard that is treated with a special water-repellent compound. Impregnation protects the material not only from moisture, but also from dirt, fading, and even from the claws of pets: Scotch guard belongs to the category of anti-vandal fabrics. It is as dense as jacquard and is perfect for all types of furniture. Scotch guard is especially good for frameless fabric furniture.

3. Thermal jacquard

Relatively new material, which is an ordinary undyed jacquard with a pattern applied to it. The image is applied using the thermal printing method: the paint penetrates deeply into the fibers, adheres well, does not fade or fade. The remaining characteristics are the same as those of ordinary jacquard: durable, dense and practical material.

4. Tapestry

And this is also jacquard, or rather, one of its varieties. Tapestry is woven from thicker fibers, most often 100% cotton or with a slight addition of synthetics. The weave of threads in a tapestry is particularly tight, and almost always the tapestry has a complex pattern reminiscent of a painting. The fabric holds its shape perfectly, but due to high content natural fibers may fade slightly over time. Tapestry is good for upholstery small sofas, couches, chaise longues. A large sofa covered with tapestry may look too tacky.

5. Matting

Thanks to the checkerboard weave of the threads, the matting is very similar in structure to ordinary burlap. Basically, matting is woven from natural materials: linen, cotton, silk, wool, but for strength, acrylic or polyester threads are added to the fabric.

The matting is durable, textured and colorful. It is easy to care for: minor stains can be removed with conventional upholstery cleaning products (but never use bleach). A vacuum cleaner does a great job of removing dust. But the matting is not very friendly with domestic animals: their claws, even accidentally, cling well to large weaving and pull out the threads. By the way, the author of this article has both a sofa covered with matting and a cat at home. And the sofa is still intact.

6. Chenille

A mixed fabric consisting of cotton and synthetic threads that are woven in a special way: the threads are first twisted and then intertwined longitudinally and transversely. The material is very durable and dense. The peculiarity of chenille is that one of the synthetic threads is “shaggy”, and as a result the fabric gets a short pile. Thanks to its hairiness, chenille can be placed in the same category as velor and flock, next on our list, but chenille is much cheaper than its shaggy counterparts.

7. Velor

A fleecy fabric, which is obtained by a complex interweaving of several threads - warp and pile. The qualities and properties of velor depend on the density of the weave: velor can be either dense or “loose”. The material is soft to the touch, non-toxic and safe.

Velor is suitable as upholstery for a living room sofa if there are no small children or pets in the house: it is highly susceptible to abrasion and gets dirty easily. But if you still choose velor upholstery, be prepared for the fact that after 3 to 5 years you will have to change it.

8. Flock

Flock is a fabric with a pile, which is considered one of the varieties of velor. But the flock manufacturing technology is completely different. This is a more synthetic material with a cotton to polyester ratio of 1:3. Small nylon fibers are applied to a thin fabric base with an adhesive layer under the influence of an electrostatic field. Thanks to electrostatics, the pile falls onto the base strictly vertically. The result is a soft, pleasant-to-touch fabric with perfectly even and thick pile. Flock is durable, waterproof, repels dirt, and is easy to clean. It, like Scotchgrad, belongs to the category of “anti-claw” fabrics - the claws of pets cannot damage it.

9. Corduroy

Another fleecy fabric with characteristic scars. Depending on the width of the scar between the fleece strips, microvelvet, corduroy with a wide or medium scar are distinguished. Corduroy can be either 100% cotton or with the addition of synthetics (elastane or polyester).

The fabric is capricious and requires careful care: it should not be rubbed, wrinkled or squeezed too much. Dirty stains should only be removed with mild stain removers for natural fabrics. But the capriciousness of corduroy is more than justified by its beauty. The service life of corduroy upholstery is about 5-7 years. Corduroy becomes very “bald” in areas of constant contact.

10. Faux suede

Faux suede is a mix of polyester and cotton. Often this union is treated with Teflon liquid, which significantly increases strength and wear resistance. Artificial suede has many advantages: it is difficult to distinguish it from the real thing, it is not afraid of scratches and creases, it does not fade, does not fade, and does not wear out. There is nothing to say about the aesthetic side.

There are also disadvantages: it is not suitable for apartments and houses where small children or animals live; it still requires careful handling. Wet cleaning Contraindicated for artificial suede. Dry gentle clean only.

11. Faux fur

The structure of artificial fur resembles natural animal skin: it consists of a base (soil) and pile. The pile itself, in turn, is made from nylon, viscose or wool fibers, and to create a higher quality material, several types of threads with similar characteristics are used.

Faux fur is an affordable, environmentally friendly and easy-to-care material with a wide variety of colors. It can also be decorated with drawings, geometric patterns, other fabrics and even rhinestones. Cons: fragility and rapid contamination of synthetic fibers, which actively attract dust.

12. Genuine leather

Luxury upholstery material. IN furniture production For the manufacture of upholstery, pig skin is used, less often - goat or horse skin. There are two types of processing of this material: aniline method and semi-aniline (or complex). Aniline leather is soft and looks very beautiful, but at the same time it is very capricious: it is afraid of moisture, dirt and mechanical damage. Complexly processed leather is not as attractive, but it is tougher, thicker, more durable and better able to withstand all impacts.

The service life of leather is practically unlimited, and depends only on how well you take care of it. A special plus is that aged skin does not look worse. On the contrary, over time it acquires a special charm.

13. Faux leather

This is a fabric coated with an elastic film with a leather-like texture and pattern. Natural or synthetic fabrics, fabrics with an elastic base. Artificial leather holds its shape perfectly and has water-repellent and dirt-repellent properties. It is not very difficult to care for it: it can be washed with soapy water or products that do not contain too aggressive components.

Among the types of artificial leather for upholstery of upholstered furniture, arpatek, microfiber and artificial suede are used.

Arpatek. Looks presentable, very similar to genuine leather. This is a soft and elastic material. Durable and easy to care for, does not fade and resists well mechanical damage, including pet claws
Microfiber is a material that, with its characteristics and appearance, resembles natural suede. Thanks to the dense weave of the threads and the additionally applied Teflon layer, microfiber is very durable and belongs to the “anti-claw” category.
Faux suede is a durable fabric base with polyester pile. Teflon impregnation makes faux suede durable and stain-resistant

How to choose upholstery material: a short checklist

So, before you buy upholstery material, ask yourself a few questions:

Are you ready to sacrifice practicality for the sake of the beauty of the upholstery and make excessive efforts to care for it?
If you have animals at home? If yes, pay attention to materials in the “anti-claw” category: scotchguard, flock, arpatek.
Will you sleep on your new sofa every day? If yes, give preference to upholstery with high content synthetics: it is stronger.
Are you buying a sofa or armchairs for the children's room? Remember that small children are best exposed to natural materials. Choose matting or tapestry.
Will you constantly use a sofa or chair as a place to relax? If so, choose upholstery that is easy to care for.

We hope our article will help you find “that” upholstery for your sofa, armchair or chair that will appeal to all family members.

How to choose upholstered furniture if you don’t know which sofa upholstery is more practical? It always seems to us that the thing we like at first glance is the highest quality, most durable and most comfortable. The same applies to the choice of sofas, but not every type of upholstery can be called practical. And yet there are furniture fabrics for all occasions, so the rating universal upholstery for sofas is worth studying in more detail.

What type of upholstery can be considered practical?

The market for furniture fabrics is so large that consumers not only do not have time to keep up with new products, but are also unable to remember the names of the materials.

Just a couple of decades ago everything was clear and simple - leather, dermantin, matting, tapestry, plush, jacquard.

And all materials could be unmistakably recognized. And today microfiber (microfiber) alone has many options, including varieties of flock different quality with Teflon coating and other protective impregnations. It is flock with Teflon impregnation that leads in the ratings of the most practical upholstery of upholstered furniture. But it is inferior to eco-leather and other types of modern leather substitutes.

Artificial leather or leatherette, which was previously widely used only in haberdashery products, is available in different modifications.

For example, eco-leather or Alcantara, which combines the properties of leather and fabric. Many artificial analogues of natural leather have proven themselves well in practice, and they are less capricious in operation than elite leather. Skin substitute is sometimes so similar to natural material, What buyers are confused about whether it is leather or leatherette. But all these varieties are impervious to liquid spilled on them, they are simply cleaned of food contaminants and look impressive.

But the real elite in the rankings of the most practical upholstery for a sofa is genuine leather.

For many buyers, it is in the first place of “personal” ratings, although it requires special care. True, if you follow all the leather care recommendations, this upholstery will always look great. Especially if you clean it from stains in time and carry out treatment with specialized products for skin care without exposing the sofa to excessive stress. Luxury leather furniture is not designed to withstand cat claws, dog fangs and children jumping on the sofa instead of a trampoline. In all other respects, the skin is very practical upholstery for upholstered furniture.

Anti-vandal fabrics are the most practical.

This is a conventional name for particularly durable fabrics from which “children’s art” with felt-tip pens and food stains can be easily removed. This category includes flock with a Teflon layer, and some types of artificial leather, as well as special quality velor, in which the pile is impregnated with a liquid-repellent composition.

!!!Results: All of the listed types of upholstery will last long years, and upholstered furniture will not lose its “new” look. Everyone wants their sofa to always look as if it was just brought from a furniture showroom. But teach that high-quality fabrics and protective impregnation cannot be cheap.

It is impossible not to take into account the quality of furniture fabrics produced by various textile enterprises around the world. The same velor, jacquard or flock can be of different quality and price categories. The same applies to the quality of leather upholstery, because elite leather is many times more expensive than upholstery at the “cheaper and simpler” level.

Today there are many high-quality synthetic fabrics used as furniture upholstery.

They are produced on the basis of special strong fibers, which do not wrinkle, do not cause allergies, can be easily cleaned with ordinary soapy water and do not require ironing after washing sofa covers or sofa cushions.

How to recognize high quality fabrics?

When buying a sofa you should pay attention to:

dimensions and configuration;
stylistics and general design;
layout type;
type of upholstery and its general characteristics.

In order not to guess what fabric is practical for upholstery and covers, and whether the selected product meets all consumer standards, you should carefully study the instructions and all the parameters. Usually in the instructions and technical description particularly durable fabrics or very practical upholstery is the basis of pricing, that is, its cost.

If you are particularly interested durable fabric(so that it is not spoiled by pets), or liquid-repellent upholstery (children tend to dine on the sofa in front of the TV) - ask a supermarket consultant. This issue should also be discussed with the manager of the furniture showroom. And if today they do not have a product with the declared upholstery, then Upon pre-order, you will receive the most suitable sofa, selected from a catalog with upholstery that has special properties.

What to do if you have already bought yours? perfect sofa", but are not sure that its upholstery will withstand any load? Then you shouldn’t test your chenille, suede or faux fur for strength. If you like the model of the sofa you have chosen, treat it with care and It is better to use a removable cover or cape so as not to damage the product.

Yulia Lapushkina

Most often, upholstered furniture takes up more space in the interior. Its durability is determined not only by the strength of the case, but also by the quality of the upholstery. The right fabric for a sofa can for a long time maintain its presentable appearance without requiring complex maintenance.

There are several categories of fabric that you need to consider when choosing. You need to know how to clean the material and how to care for it during use.

How to choose the best fabric for a sofa

Before buying a new sofa or replacing worn out upholstery, you need to take into account the features of the room in which this piece of furniture will be located:

If you smoke indoors, you should not choose textured or fleecy fabrics - they easily absorb odors. In sunny rooms, the fabric for upholstering the sofa should have high color fastness, optimal indicator– 4 (maximum – 5).

One of the most important characteristics upholstery fabric for sofas that allow you to choose the right upholstery is density. The indicator is measured in grams of fiber per square meter fabric (g/m2). The minimum unit is 200 g/m2.

Types of materials for upholstery of sofas

The modern variety of fabrics allows you to choose an option that satisfies all quality indicators. To find the right upholstery among thousands of options, you need to know its main types.

light - flock, chenille, tapestry;
practical - jacquard, chenille and denser versions of fabrics of the first category;
dense materials with complex texture, such as thick tapestry, suede, chenille;
heavy - like chenille and tapestry;
natural - leather.

Before choosing upholstery, it is worth taking a closer look at the most popular materials.

Flock

This fabric is soft to the touch and very reminiscent of velvet. The material is synthetic, but very easy to care for. The composition is two-thirds synthetic and one-third cotton.

Among the advantages it is worth noting:

easy cleaning (neutral detergent is suitable);
high density;
preservation of shape;
high color fastness.

Flock is great for children's rooms and bedrooms. However, you should not choose it for the kitchen or living room, because the top pile quickly wears off and absorbs odors. If you need anti-vandal fabric for your sofa against cats and other pets, then you should choose flock.

Modern collections of flock fiber are treated with Teflon and other coatings, which makes them resistant to mechanical coatings and dirt. Because of its properties, it is often used as a fabric for sofa covers.

Chenille

It is made from soft threads through a dense weave, which gives it a similarity to velor. Chenille thread is very strong, which makes the upholstery practically inextensible.

The advantages of the material include:

a large number of color variations;
high wear resistance (low formation of pellets);
environmental friendliness.

It is better to choose for kitchen interior. This material practically does not absorb odors and repels dirt. To clean it from dust, just vacuum it. This is worth considering before deciding what fabric to choose for your sofa.

Jacquard

Furniture with jacquard - no the best choice for a sofa in the living room or bedroom. The fabric has a tough texture that causes the skin to constantly slip off. Jacquard has a very beautiful and complex weave, which makes it unique.

Among the advantages of such upholstery it should be noted:

The material is made of cotton, which makes it suitable for people with allergies. Jacquard upholstery does not tolerate wet cleaning. Such furniture is expensive, but it never goes out of fashion. How to clean a sofa made of this fabric? For this, you should choose mild soaps and water-based cleaners.

Velours

Velor fabric is very impressive, and furniture with such upholstery is exquisite. The fiber threads are very soft and shimmer beautifully in the light. Velor is quite demanding to care for - it requires specialized cleaning, otherwise the pile will simply deteriorate.

However, such upholstery also has many advantages:

weaving allows air to pass through well;
high density;
effectiveness.

Velor - no durable material, its fleecy surface wears off quickly under constant loads, but the canvas itself is very durable. For sleeping sofa it definitely won't fit. To extend the service life, it is recommended to cover areas subject to heavy loads with covers or decorative blankets.

Tapestry

Tapestry is a durable material; ancient paintings using this technique have survived to this day. There are different types of tapestry weaving in different densities. The tapestry has a very refined texture, which is achieved by an ornate alternation of colored threads. Modern tapestry is made of cotton with the addition of synthetic fibers.

Upholstery advantages:

pronounced color;
ease of care;
high strength.

A significant disadvantage of tapestry is its low color fastness. To preserve the brightness of the fiber, a sofa with such upholstery should not be placed on the illuminated side. This is worth considering before deciding which fabric is best to choose for upholstering your sofa.

Leather

Furniture upholstered in genuine leather is an indicator of the status of the owner. This sofa will last a very long time. Leather is a material highest category. It does not absorb odors, so it is perfect for the kitchen. Also leather sofa Will please a family with children: it is not afraid of moisture and dirt.

Upholstery benefits:

presentable appearance;
durability;
very easy care.

The material may stick to the skin. At long-term use Cracks may appear on the folds.

If funds or principles do not allow you to buy a sofa made of genuine leather, you should choose leatherette. The material is several times cheaper than natural material, and also has large quantity textures and colors. Leatherette has almost all the advantages of natural leather, with the exception of care: artificial leather requires more care.

The appearance of the furniture depends on how the upholstery material looks. From a wide range of fabrics - varieties of texture, colors, functional properties of the fabric, everyone wants to choose the best option for themselves. The article gives short description categories and types of modern fabrics, requirements for them and expert advice on selection.

Requirements

Furniture fabrics - special materials for upholstery that is mounted on top of sofas, armchairs and other interior items. Their quality must meet strict standards and high performance characteristics.

There are a number of increased requirements for upholstery fabric:

durability quality;
creative design solution (color scheme, print, style);
comfort.

The durability of the material lies in the presence of the following properties:

strength and wear resistance;
color fastness, resistance to fading;
resistance to chemically active substances;
dirt and water repellency;
abrasion resistance;
environmental cleanliness;
tendency to pilling;
the ability to maintain its presentation for a long time.

Attention. Upholstery fabrics offered by suppliers are examined according to special indicators, and only after that they are included in the working collections of furniture manufacturers.

Categories of fabrics for upholstery of upholstered furniture

There is a generally accepted conditional classification upholstery fabrics into categories that characterize not the quality of the material, but their performance data. The higher the category gradation, the denser and more expensive the upholstery fabric.

0 - light, not durable, affordable;
1 - light, durable;
2 - dense, durable;
3 - medium-heavy with complex texture;
4 - heavy, dense;
5 - high density, with natural fibers;
6 - analogues of genuine leather;
7 - made of genuine leather, low density and low cost;
8 - made of genuine leather of significant density, expensive.

Types and their characteristics

The range of upholstery fabrics in the furniture world is huge. Materials can be divided into types depending on the methods of production and application.

According to the production method they are classified:

woven - obtained by weaving natural or artificial threads;
non-woven - fibers in the material are connected in other ways.

Attention. The optimal composition of the material is a combination of natural threads (70%) with artificial fibers (30%).

According to the method of application, fabrics are qualified:

Primary(upholstery) - used for upholstery of the external, visible part. These are high-quality fabrics made of durable, durable material.
Secondary(cover, cover) - used to cover the inside of furniture, making covers. The “wrong side” is made from inexpensive natural fabrics (satin, burlap, cotton, etc.).

Arpatek and faux suede

Arpatek is a certain type of artificial leather. Used for upholstery of car seats. The manufacturing technology involves cotton, viscose and polyurethane.

Characteristics:

has the quality of tensile strength, ultraviolet resistance, abrasion;
sophisticated and luxurious;
expensive, but the unusual texture and positive parameters of this upholstery make high price justified.

Alcantara

Alcantara is a material that is often confused with artificial suede, as it is very similar to it in appearance and to the touch. The patent and production belongs to the Italian company Alcantara SpA. The external luxury qualities of the material allow it to be used for inserted upholstery motifs in the cabins of expensive cars.

Characteristics:

elastic, soft, used when working with intricate shapes and miniature products;
practical;
very wear-resistant and durable, does not lose its original appearance during operation;
has a rich color scheme in collections of patterns from manufacturing factories;
use for cleaning detergents for skin.

Velor and micro-velor

Velor is a knitted pile upholstery fabric with a durable weave. Used for upholstering formal furniture of complex shapes in living rooms, halls, and libraries. Due to the sufficient height of the pile, the material looks good in draperies.

High-tech fibers are used for production; the base composition includes cotton or wool threads. The pile on the canvas is located vertically, in some parts of the upholstery it is laid on one side.

Characteristics:

velvety, pleasant to the touch;
has hypoallergenic and antistatic properties;
easy to wash;
may be damaged mechanically;
expensive.

Corduroy and its varieties (microvelvet, etc.)

Corduroy - this fabric was known back in the Middle Ages and was used by crowned heads. The texture of the material resembles velvet, and is its variety. Cotton fabric (based on cotton and mixed fibers), has a thick pile and longitudinal trimmed scars on the front side. Plain or with a printed pattern.

Characteristics:

durable, has high wear resistance;
ecologically pure;
elastic;
easy to care for;
has an acceptable cost;
fades in direct sunlight;
shrinks after washing;
subject to mechanical stress.

The fabric has the following varieties:

Corduroy rib - low pile, rib width 2-3 mm.
Cord - high pile, rib width 5 mm.
Shaped corduroy - a brushed surface is combined with a smooth one.
Velveton is a thick velvety pile.
Microvelvet - rib width 1-1.5 mm.

Jacquard

To produce jacquard fabric, special weaving machines are used. The material is based on cotton (60%) and artificial or mixed yarn (40%). The material consists of a complex twisted weave of multi-colored threads (up to 10 shades). Drawing on the wrong side and front side is different. Can be used as upholstery fabric for upholstered furniture and mattresses.

Characteristics:

It has high density and rigidity, which is achieved using a special jacquard method of weaving threads;
distinguished by original ornaments with variants of large and small patterns;
has a long service life;
afraid of intensive cleaning, the canvas may lose color;
expensive.

Thermo-Jacquard

The fabric appeared recently and is an improved type of jacquard material. Thermal printing technology is used for production. The pattern is applied to the surface of the fabric using high temperature. Finished thermal jacquard materials are durable and have unique colors and patterns.

Microjacquard

Micro-jacquard - one of the varieties of jacquard fabrics, is a decorative upholstery material made from a complex weave of threads of various colors and shades. Upholstered furniture in this upholstery looks exclusive and is suitable for decorating offices and living rooms.

Scotchgard

Scotchgard - modern inexpensive option jacquard, which during manufacturing is impregnated with a special protective agent. But at the same time it retains the aesthetics and richness of colors.

Characteristics:

durable and wear-resistant;
environmentally friendly (contains only natural ingredients);
soft to the touch;
does not require complex care (do not wring out the fabric, wash at high temperatures);
has a durable protective layer.

Attention. It is advisable to use the fabric for upholstery of intensively used furniture.

Velvet

The material is similar to velor, but with short fluffy pile. Upholstery fabric is suitable for furniture of specific shapes, for classic, sophisticated interior styles.

Chenille

Chenille is a type of fabric that is obtained by twisting dense threads with chenille threads consisting of cotton, acrylic or polyester in equal parts. The material has a soft rounded surface. Chenille fabrics are made on two bases: adhesive and fabric.

Characteristics:

has greater wear resistance due to the artificial fibers in the composition;
dense and durable;
voluminous, has an inimitable texture and softness;
can be easily cleaned using a vacuum cleaner with an appropriate attachment;
the collection of manufactured fabrics does not have a large selection of colors;
acceptable cost.

Flock

Flock is one of the most common furniture fabrics that meets all the basic requirements for upholstery materials: comfortable, beautiful, reliable and durable. In addition, the fabric is very diverse, it can imitate chenille, suede, velor, leather.

Flock is produced using an electrostatic method, with the help of which pile is sprayed onto a fabric canvas with an applied adhesive layer. The material uses cotton and polyester. The fabric is dyed with a print.

Characteristics:

high density, keeps its shape;
does not require complex care;
resistance to exposure to sunlight;
has water-repellent properties;
does not lose color or brightness over time;
ecologically pure.

Microfiber

Microfiber is one of the new generation upholstery fabrics. Consists of cotton or polyester microfibers. Velvety material imitating suede. It is used in the production of high-quality samples of upholstered furniture for any design solutions.

Characteristics:

dense, durable, with high wear resistance;
has a large palette of colors;
resistant to ultraviolet radiation and moisture;
resistant to chemical influences;
requires gentle specific care using special cleaning products;
expensive.

Artificial wool

Artificial wool is a fabric made from synthetic polyester fibers. Comfortable upholstery material that creates a cozy atmosphere in the house,

Characteristics:

durable, strong;
does not require complex care;
practically does not wear out, suitable for upholstery of upholstered furniture that is used intensively;
pleasant to the touch;
significantly cheaper than natural wool;
does not fade in the sun;
becomes electrified, attracting dust.
does not have anti-claw protection.

Faux leather

Artificial leather - fabric with one-sided monolithic or porous PVC coated. Made from cotton and polyester knitted threads. Upholstery material that is not inferior to natural leather in operation and looks attractive and respectable.

Characteristics:

due to its high resistance to wear, it can be used for upholstery of furniture in public places;
does not absorb odors;
afraid of high temperature, ultraviolet radiation;
acceptable cost.

Genuine Leather

Genuine Leather - finishing material, which is used in the upholstery of expensive, prestigious and high-quality interior items. The material is strong, durable and easy to care for.

Attention. Since the cost of fabric is high, it is recommended to use anti-claw protection in areas where pets live.

Tapestry

Tapestry is a natural soft fabric with ornaments or figures, obtained by organically interweaving yarn. A wide variety of colors and textures. Very plastic, used for finishing completely different pieces of upholstered furniture.

Characteristics:

strong and durable;
practical;
natural and aesthetic;
afraid of wet and frequent cleaning;
expensive.

Gozhka

Matting is a fabric made from thick fibers with coarsely woven threads. It is characterized by fine texture and monotony. Elastic, durable fabric that retains its shape well. It does not require special care.

When choosing upholstery fabric for a sofa, experts recommend considering the following general criteria:

Is the fabric easy to clean from dirt?
what is the resistance to moisture, sunlight, abrasion and other impact factors;
strength and service life;
attractiveness and aesthetics;
Do the colors and textures match the interior style?

The choice of sofa upholstery depends on the location:

Kitchen. Better to use artificial leather, since it does not require complex care and does not absorb foreign odors.
Children's room. Inexpensive ones will do upholstery materials, which are resistant to pollution: chenille, flock, artificial leather.
Office. We need practical, abrasion-resistant materials that have a presentable appearance. It can be natural or artificial leather.
Living room. The choice of upholstery fabrics for halls and halls is very diverse, depending on the style of the interior.

Attention. In smoking areas, you should choose materials that do not absorb odors, such as leather and chenille.

Proper care

To P to determine the service life of the upholstery fabric, you should adhere to proper care according to the requirements:

How better quality fabric, the more delicate the care.
For materials requiring dry cleaning with organic solvents or mechanical friction, do not use wet ones, otherwise it will damage the fabric.
Contamination should be removed as quickly as possible.
There is no need to apply excessive force and rub the fabric so as not to disturb the structure of the material, stretch the threads or get bald spots in the pile upholstery.
It is recommended to wash removable furniture covers without mixing them with other textiles, following the care instructions.
It is not advisable to mix cleaning products intended for different types fabrics.
You need to wash stains with a sponge or brush with a product applied to it.
If the contamination is severe and cannot be cleaned at home, you can use the services of professional dry cleaning.

It becomes clear that choosing upholstery fabric is an important and responsible matter. Velor is pleasant to the touch, and tapestry is aristocratic, flock is modern, and matting is practical, each canvas is attractive in its own way. Having understood the features and properties of materials, you can create your own unique and inimitable style in interior design.