Upholstery for children's sofa. Upholstery fabrics: chenille, flock, jacquard, tapestry. Advantages and disadvantages.

There are many options for sofa upholstery today - how to choose the most practical option? Each fabric has its own properties - they should be guided by when choosing. In addition, all furniture fabrics are divided into categories. The higher the category, the denser, stronger and more complex the fabric. In this article, we will analyze the properties (pros and cons) of the most popular fabrics for sofas, as well as consider the categories of fabrics.

Properties of popular sofa upholstery fabrics

Categories of fabrics for sofa upholstery

All furniture fabrics are usually divided into categories. There is no single classification - each furniture factory has its own number of categories. The higher the category, the stronger the fabric. It is worth considering that for home use it does not always make sense to take a fabric of a high category. The operation of furniture at home is not as intensive as, for example, in a cafe, office, mall. A sofa for the home can be completely covered with a fabric that belongs to the initial categories.

• 0 - light, usually inexpensive fabrics. For example, cotton belongs to the zero category.
• 1 - the density of fabrics of this category is slightly higher. It includes chenille, velveteen and the like.
• 2 - even denser fabrics, for example, chenille jacquard.
• 3 - this category includes upholstery fabrics with a complex texture: tapestry, suede.
• 4 - a category to which chenilles and high-density tapestries belong.
• 5 - the fifth category includes fabrics based on fibers of natural origin.
• 6 - artificial leather.
• 7 - thin genuine leather.
• 8 - thick and elastic genuine leather.

The cost of fabrics of category 0 is usually the lowest; experts do not recommend using it for a sofa. Fabrics of other categories are quite suitable for a sofa. The choice of a specific category depends on how actively the furniture will be used. According to reviews, furniture upholstered with fabrics of categories 1-4 is most often found.

Removable covers can be made from inexpensive fabrics, including category 0. If they wear out, it will be a great reason to order new covers and update the interior.

In general, the main advice that can be given when choosing a fabric for sofa upholstery is to focus not only on the appearance of the fabric, but also on its properties. Then the sofa will please you for many years.

When ordering sofa upholstery in our atelier, our craftsmen will help you choose the fabric for upholstery, consult on the features different types fabrics. Call us and we will answer your questions in detail.

Modern production of custom-made furniture allows you to purchase an interior item that satisfies the taste and aesthetic needs of the family thanks to the ability to choose any fabric for upholstery of a sofa, armchair or chair from hundreds of color options. This gives a wide scope for the imagination of the buyer, but at the same time, it makes it difficult to choose which upholstery to choose for a sofa or other item. upholstered furniture from the many different options?

Sofa upholstery types

Dozens of varieties of materials that are used in the production of upholstered furniture are divided into 3 main groups:

1. Natural: suede, leather, fur. Differ in durability.
2. Textile: jacquard, tapestry, chenille, velor. They are distinguished by practicality, a variety of shades and patterns, have various tactile and visual characteristics.
3. On a fabric basis: flock, leather substitute. Combine visual appeal different materials, as well as affordable cost compared to analogues.

These types of fabrics for upholstery of sofas and other pieces of furniture are the most popular and find their admirers depending on individual preferences and features of furniture operation.

What is the best upholstery for your sofa - selection criteria

Before choosing a material of a certain texture and color, it is necessary to select options depending on the conditions in which the furniture will be used.

• Pets in the house. Need upholstery that is resistant to claw damage and easy to clean from wool. Recommended: flock, arpatek, velor, microfiber, courtisan.
• Sofa for children. The atmosphere in the children's room should be healthy: environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic, so it is advisable to avoid artificial materials here. Recommended natural fabrics: chenille, tapestry, cotton.
• Sofa for the living room. Here the furniture is used most often and is most susceptible to dirt and wear. A sofa that the whole family spends time on needs durable, easy-to-clean upholstery. Recommended: jacquard, velor, microfiber, leather.
• Sofa for the kitchen. Here you need furniture from which it is possible to remove stains from food products. Recommended: Teflon impregnated upholstery. Not recommended: flock, deeply absorbing odors.

Popular upholstery materials, their advantages and disadvantages

The best fabric for sofa upholstery is one that matches the style of the interior, meets the buyer's requirements for tactile sensations and color palette capable of withstanding heavy use. By comparing the features, advantages and disadvantages of the most popular upholstery materials, you can make the best choice.

Genuine Leather

A sofa made of genuine leather always becomes the center of the interior due to its classically presentable appearance. This material is durable and attracts with pleasant tactile sensations.

Faux leather

Modern high-quality leather substitutes are sometimes difficult to distinguish from genuine leather, they are distinguished by a high degree of practicality and durability.

Flock

Most popular choice a material favored by many due to the fact that it is similar in appearance and tactile sensations to velvet, but has a higher density and practicality. A good choice if there are pets in the house - the fabric is resistant to scratches from claws, does not attract wool.

chenille

Beautiful, velveteen-like fabric to create an atmosphere of luxury and sophistication in the interior. Pleasant to the touch and comfortable for the rest of the material.

Jacquard

When buying upholstered furniture, more and more people pay attention not to its functionality, practicality, but to the material from which the upholstery is made. This is a material that is mounted on top of sofas and armchairs. When choosing it, it is necessary to take into account some points - the quality of the fabric, wear resistance, cost. Very often, it is necessary to decide on upholstery not only when buying new furniture, but when reupholstering the old one, when its former material has already lost its aesthetic appearance.

Today, the range of fabrics for finishing the sofa is huge. Manufacturers offer their customers natural and artificial materials.

chenille

The material got its name because of the thread that was included in the composition of the fabric. It looks like a furry caterpillar, it is characterized by a soft rounded surface. The production process of matter is carried out by twisting dense threads with chenille threads. Thus, it is possible to create an inextensible thread, which will set the properties of the future material. The composition of chenille contains cotton and synthetics in equal amounts.

The fabric is distinguished by its density and strength. The pile of pile can be done using a special machine. The cost of the material is 680 rubles per meter.

Chenille is divided into two types:

1. Fabric base. The material is resistant to moisture, so it can withstand wet cleaning. The disadvantage of the fabric is that you can’t sleep on it all the time. Because of this, it will wrinkle and lose its shape.
2. Glued base. This material is afraid of moisture, as it can be deformed, and after cleaning it also dries for a long time.

The benefits of fabric include:

• wear resistance due to the presence of synthetic threads in the composition;
• ecological properties are close to natural matters;
• You can remove dust from chenille stuffing with a regular vacuum cleaner.

Not without material and shortcomings, which include:

• the color scheme does not differ in its diversity, but for a moderate style, you can choose several options;
• the material is afraid of the influence of the claws of pets, as the threads will be pulled out.

Rogozhka

This fabric is characterized by a fine texture. Most of the time it is monochromatic. Its peculiarity is that the structure is equipped with thick fibers, and the weaving of the threads is made roughly. The canvas is characterized by increased elasticity, since it does not wrinkle during the day, perfectly retaining its shape. Caring for matting is also not difficult, since there is no need to use special solutions.

The advantages of the fabric include high strength qualities, resistance to wear, ease of care. But to the minuses - the lack of a wide range of colors. The cost of the material is 270 per r.m.

Velours

This material is characterized by its velvety and pleasant to the touch surface. The pile can have a vertical arrangement throughout the canvas or in some areas it is laid on one side. To finish the sofa, velor based on cotton and wool is used. detailed description of furniture fabric velor.

Material benefits include:

• ease of care, as it contains high-tech fibers with anti-allergic and antistatic qualities;
• velor is characterized by a high abrasion threshold, and any dirt can be easily removed, thanks to which the fabric has a long wear life.

The disadvantages of the material include high cost, low resistance to mechanical stress. The cost of velor will be 340 rubles per m.p.

Flock

This finishing material is obtained using polyester and cotton. A pile is applied to the surface of the canvas using an electrostatic method. First, canvas is made from cotton threads, and then impregnated with glue. On the picture - :

When it is stretched into electric field, spray pile. The coloring of the fabric is carried out by printing. The cost of the fabric is 390 rubles per r.m.

Flock has the following advantages:

• keeps its shape for a long time;
• ease of care;
• excellent light fastness;
• characterized by water-repellent properties;
• has a high density;
• the duration of the paint and the brightness of the shade;
• environmental friendliness.

Teflon flock

This type of material is modern. The fabric fibers are equipped with Teflon protection, so that the fabric can be washed and dirt removed. The peculiarity of the fabric is that it has excellent resistance to the bones of pets. You can buy material at a price of 480 rubles per m.p.

Tapestry

This is a natural matter, which differs from others in its correct interlacing of yarn with a figurine or ornament. The range of material has a lot of flourishes and shades. The fabric is washable, durable, pleasant to the touch and practical. Since the canvas can take any shape, has excellent plasticity, it can be used to finish absolutely any furniture.

The advantages of the tapestry include its aesthetic appearance and naturalness. But to the minuses: low resistance to frequent loads, fear of wet and frequent cleaning and high cost. The cost of the fabric will be 450 rubles per r.m.

Jacquard

The advantages include wide choose shade, high strength and durability. Of the disadvantages, one can note the high cost, the fear of intensive cleaning, as a result of which it can tightly lose its color. The cost of the fabric is 560 rubles per r.m.

Thermal jacquard and scotchguard

These varieties of material refers to improved types of jacquard. To obtain a thermo jacquard, the thermo dyeing method is used. The ornament under the influence of high temperature is transferred to the base. Thus, it is possible to obtain a stable surface of the fabric. The cost is 550 rubles per r.m.

Scotchgard is a jacquard that is impregnated on top with a transparent composition to protect against wear and dirt. At the same time, the aesthetic appearance of the canvas is completely preserved. It is advisable to use the material for sofas that are subject to intensive use. The cost is 500 rubles per r.m.

Boucle

This type of material is similar to sheared lamb. The peculiarity of the canvas is that its structure is presented in the form of dense nodules that protrude above the surface. The material has an original decorative look. Aesthetic appearance is achieved through the use of threads of different shades. Boucle is a very durable material. You can buy fabric at a price of 660 rubles per r.m.

The advantages include the original look and low price. Of the minuses, you can cancel:

• fear of sharp objects, upon contact with which puffs can form;
• because of its porosity, the matter is easily soiled;
• difficult to remove dirt;
• stains should not be rubbed, it is worth blotting slightly, and then treating with soapy water using a soft sponge.

A natural skin

This kind finishing material used for facing expensive and high-quality furniture. Its advantages include attractive appearance, durability, strength and ease of cleaning. The downside is the high cost. Purchase material at a price of 2000 rubles per m.

Faux leather

This fabric is characterized by the presence of a one-sided monolithic or porous PVC coating. The basis is cotton and polyester knitted threads. Leatherette in its performance is not inferior to natural leather. It has high wear resistance, and it can be used when facing a sofa for domestic or public use.

TO positive qualities The material should include resistance to stress and pollution, ease of cleaning and non-absorption of odors and dirt. Artificial leather has disadvantages - it is a monophonic surface, fear of sunlight and high temperatures. The cost is 430 rubles per r.m.

eco-leather

This type of material is similar to genuine leather and is not inferior to it even in terms of environmental friendliness. To obtain the material, the method of applying porous polyurethane to a cotton base is used. Thus, it is possible to create a fabric that is resistant to wear, has a breathable surface and high environmental qualities. The cost is 670 rubles per r.m.

Arpatek

Previously, this material was used to decorate car seats. Arpatek is a type of artificial leather. It is resistant to light, abrasion and has high tensile strength. In the manufacture of the material used cotton, viscose and polyurethane. You can buy material at a price of 4000 rubles per meter.

Cotton

It is a natural material that breathes and can be dyed. The disadvantage of cotton is a short service life. To enhance the characteristics of the fabric, manufacturers apply a protective impregnation to its surface. It does not allow the paint to wear out and prolongs the service life.

Most often, cotton is used when decorating sofas in a children's room. This is due to the fact that the material is environmentally friendly and completely safe for children. And a short service life requires replacement of the canvas along with the changing needs of a grown-up baby. The cost of matter is 230 rubles per meter. described varieties of cotton fabric.

Which fabric is best

When choosing a material for finishing a sofa, it is necessary to take into account the room in which the furniture will be installed. If you need to transform the interior in a children's room, then you should choose natural canvases. This includes linen or cotton. The flock option is still quite popular, because then the sofa can be cleaned and washed to remove various contaminants.

If upholstery is carried out for furniture installed in the living room, then you need to pay attention to materials with high wear resistance. If the sofa acts as bed, then you can use any material except leather, since it is uncomfortable to be on it without clothes.

On the video, how much fabric is needed for upholstery of the sofa:

How to calculate the quantity

calculation measures to determine the amount of fabric for finishing the sofa are not difficult. It is recommended to remove first old upholstery, take a tape measure and take all measurements. If the details of the sofa have an irregular shape, then they will have to be measured in the longest and widest parts.

Now add up all the vertical dimensions of the sofa elements and add 20% to them. The value obtained is the required length of matter in cm. And to determine the width, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the widest part, most often facing materials have a width of 130-150 cm.

To determine the amount of matter for pillows on a sofa, you need to measure their length and height. Add these values ​​\u200b\u200band multiply by 2. Add 5 cm to the calculated value.

When characterizing upholstered furniture products, one of the most important and determining factors is furniture fabric, which must meet certain operational and aesthetic characteristics and requirements of consumers and furniture production. To do right choice fabrics when buying a sofa or chair, you need to have some knowledge. Namely:

The main characteristics of the quality of upholstery fabrics for upholstered furniture

1. Design. Most often, buyers choose upholstered furniture, focusing not so much on its comfort or style, but on the design of its upholstery. Therefore, the design of furniture fabric should be understood as the totality of factors that visually influence the choice of the consumer. The most important factor is, of course, the color of the fabric.
   When choosing it, you should pay attention to two factors.:
   • combination of the chosen color of the upholstery fabric with the existing or planned interior of the room
   • furniture models.
   
   
   The next important factor is the pattern of furniture fabric.
   When choosing it, attention should be paid to:
   • combination of colors in the picture
   • its volume and richness
   • report
   • pattern type
   • the clarity of his lines
   • play of shades
   • type of drawing (classic, floral motifs, avant-garde, abstraction, etc.).
   
   
   If the sofa model you have chosen has an abundance of stitching or a cut cut, then you should not choose upholstery furniture fabrics with a complex and rich pattern for them. Another selection criterion is the texture of the weaving of threads.


2. Durability. This criterion should be understood as the ability of furniture for upholstery of upholstered furniture to maintain its technical and operational characteristics for a long period of time. The durability and preservation of the original appearance for a long time in furniture fabrics depends on several criteria: the composition of the fibers, the stability of the dye used, the production technology, the presence of an additional base, as well as impregnation and processing, etc.


3. Comfort. This criterion can be understood as a person's perception of tissue with the help of tactile sensations (its tenderness, velvety, smoothness, warmth, etc.)

Quality criteria for upholstery fabrics for upholstered furniture

Classification of upholstery fabrics for upholstered furniture

1. According to the composition, furniture upholstery fabrics are divided into three groups :

1. natural;
2. Synthetic;
3. Artificial.

To the first group natural fabrics, include materials that predominantly, i.e. at least 30-40%, consist of threads of natural origin such as wool, cotton, linen, etc.)

Advantages of natural fabrics: Environmental friendliness;
• breathability;
• Anti-allergenic.

Disadvantages of natural fabrics:
• Low wear resistance;
• fragility;
• High wrinkle;
• high cost;
• Shrinkage.

To the second group synthetic fabrics, include materials that predominantly consist of synthetic threads. This, for example, nylon and capron, consisting of 40% of polyamide yarns, or polyester, lavsan, acrylic made of polyester threads.

Advantages of synthetic threads:
• Ease of care;
• wear resistance;
• Color fastness;
• Abrasion resistance;
• Less susceptibility to shrinkage.

Disadvantages of synthetic threads:
• Accumulation of static stress;
• Low breathability.

Such fabrics are produced in China, Belgium, USA, Turkey, etc.

To the third group artificial fabrics, include materials that consist mainly of threads of artificial origin, i.e. which were produced industrially from natural substances. This, for example, is viscose, which is produced by processing cellulose, which in turn is a product of deep industrial processing of natural wood.

Advantages of artificial fabrics:
• Softness;
• High breathability;
• Hygroscopicity (the ability to absorb moisture).

Disadvantages of artificial fabrics:
• Low wear resistance;
• Little durability;
• Light creasing.

Such fabrics are produced in Italy, Turkey, Russia, etc.

It should be noted that most upholstery fabrics for upholstered furniture are made from mixed (complex) threads, which consist of artificial, natural and synthetic threads in various proportions at the same time.

Cotton- natural fiber with antistatic properties. Cotton fabrics wrinkle quickly, unlike synthetic fibers, there is no “memory effect” in cotton fabrics, i.e. the ability to keep the shape, which adversely affects consumer and operational properties. Such materials have a lower wear resistance compared to synthetic ones, stain worse, quickly lose their original color, i.e. fade in the sun, or molt under the influence of moisture. However, cotton fibers have the advantages that no other fiber has: high breathability, anti-static, pleasant to the touch for humans and, most importantly, environmental friendliness.

Linen- natural fiber of plant origin, obtained from the culture of lat. Linum usitatissimum. There is an opinion that this plant, as an oilseed and spinning crop, is the best of all and that the fiber obtained from it is the oldest used by man. Linen fabrics are highly hygroscopic and breathable, they are non-allergenic and have little electrification. However, in the production of such fabrics it is quite difficult to achieve bright color, which affects the range of colors. Such fabrics wrinkle easily and are expensive.

Viscose- artificial fibers, perfectly breathable and easily absorb moisture. Such fibers have excellent heat-shielding properties, give the fabric a special softness, silkiness, smoothness and pleasant to the touch, but with all their advantages, they have significant drawbacks: easy wrinkling, loss of shape and strength when wet, low wear resistance.

Polyester — synthetic fiber with excellent functional characteristics. These are fabrics with lightness, breathability, wear resistance, resistance to light and moisture. They keep their shape perfectly, dry quickly, and are easy to care for. From this fiber, fabrics of various textures are produced: matte or shiny. Polyester perfectly imitates the texture of natural fibers and is therefore most often used in the production of fabrics such as velor, flock base or smooth fabrics.

Nylon- synthetic fiber with the following characteristics: strength, elasticity, resistance to abrasion, repeated bending and exposure to many chemicals. In terms of its performance properties, it resembles polyester, but is more often used for the manufacture of pile (flock).

Acrylic- a synthetic fiber which, in its appearance and technical specifications resembles wool and is used most often in the production of shannels. This material is resistant to light, organic solvents, weak acids and alkalis.

2. According to the method of forming the front layer, upholstery furniture fabrics are divided into two categories :

1. woven fabrics, which have a pile coating or are completely absent (there may be two options:
   • the fabric is woven from transverse and longitudinal threads, for example, chenille, jacquard, tapestry
   • the pile coating is woven into the fabric, for example, suede, carpet tapestry, as well as some suede imitations). This category is represented by the following fabrics: tapestry, boucle, suede, jacquard, chenille.
2. nonwoven fabrics, in which the pile is applied to the fabric base in an electrostatic field with glue, and then the base can be removed. This category is represented by the following furniture fabrics: flock, some suede imitations, leatherette.

3. According to the method of applying the pattern, upholstery furniture fabrics are divided into two groups :

1. fabrics that have woven pattern, i.e. a pattern is applied to them by interlacing fibers of various colors according to a given pattern;
2. fabrics that have printed drawing, i.e. on them, the pattern is created by dyeing a plain fabric in the required color scheme or stencil.

4. According to the production technology, furniture upholstery fabrics are divided into the following types :

Choosing fabric for upholstery of upholstered furniture

Knowing the composition of upholstery fabric, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fabric and its composition, as well as taking into account the functional load of a particular product, you can easily understand which fabric is best for your chosen sofa or chair.

1. If the sofa is to be used as permanent bed, then the fabric for its upholstery should consist of half of artificial fibers to ensure the wear resistance of the upholstery, and half of natural fibers so that the sofa is environmentally friendly and pleasant to the touch. This fabric can be chenille, velor, tapestry, jacquard and so on.


2. If the sofa is selected for children, then its upholstery should consist as much as possible of natural fibers, and at the same time it should be easy to clean and be unpretentious in care. Ideal for such a situation would be chenille or completely natural fabrics: linen or printed cotton fabrics coated with special protective compounds.


3. If you choose a sofa in the living room, then you can stop at synthetic or artificial fabrics, which may not contain natural fibers at all, but be durable and unpretentious in care. Eg, flock, flock on flock, microfiber, furniture fur, faux suede, boucle and many others.


4. If you choose a sofa for the hall, so to speak, representative upholstered furniture, then pay attention not only to the performance characteristics of the sofa upholstery, but also to its appearance. Most often, the most acceptable option for such upholstered furniture is Genuine Leather rather than textile upholstery.

Among these requirements is the choice of the type of upholstery material, because the appearance of the furniture and the duration of its operational life depend on it. That is why it is important to know which sofa upholstery is best from the whole variety of materials.

Which sofa upholstery is better: the choice of material

Before deciding which sofa upholstery is better to choose, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with general recommendations given by experts. First of all, you should consider in which room of the house or apartment the sofa is bought. If you buy this item, it is advisable to give preference to natural materials. It can be cotton or linen. A good option is a flock, because such a sofa can be cleaned and even washed to remove traces of dirt.

When choosing a sofa for a living room, experts recommend choosing those materials that are endowed with high wear resistance. For sofas used as a bed, almost any upholstery is suitable, however, the exception is such material as leather.

Pay attention to the type of fastener for the sofa cover, it can be tied, fastened with Velcro or zippers. It is much more reliable and convenient to fasten a removable upholstery cover with a zipper, as the Velcro wears out very quickly, and tying it is not very convenient.

Some time after buying a sofa, the upholstery may lose its attractive appearance, which is associated with wiping the villi on the fabric. In order to prolong the life of the upholstery and not to change it due to the wear of the fabric, it is better to choose a surface with bulges and relief, worn villi will not be so noticeable.

Which fabric is better to choose for sofa upholstery: leather or jacquard?

It is difficult to say right away which upholstery material for a sofa is better, because it is represented by a wide variety. To understand what properties this or that upholstery will have, you should familiarize yourself with the qualitative characteristics of each of them.

Leather sofas throughout the entire period of its existence are the standard of luxury and prosperity. Choosing a sofa with such upholstery for your living room, the interior will look respectable and expensive. Leather upholstery can be natural or artificial, modern technologies allow you to create an imitation of the highest quality leather. The surface of the material can be different - wrinkled or embossed, matte or glossy, it all depends on the taste preferences of the person who buys the furniture. Despite the luxurious appearance, leather sofa not intended for recreation, especially in the warm season, such material is more suitable for furniture in the living room.

When choosing a sofa for relaxation, instead of leather, it is better to give preference to suede, it creates a feeling of coziness, warmth and comfort.

Fabrics, which consist of strong fibers of a special weave, retain their appearance best of all, they do not deteriorate even under the influence of time. What is the best fabric for a sofa when it comes to special weaves?

With confidence, jacquard can be attributed to the number of such materials - a lint-free fabric with complex weaving, which most often has a multi-color pattern. Behind last years such upholstery has become the most popular, which is caused by a whole set of positive properties of jacquard. The fabric is endowed with strength, high wear resistance, unpretentious care, attractive appearance and wide range of design options.

What is the best upholstery for a sofa: velvet, velor, flock or silk?

Often, experts, when answering the question of buyers, which fabric is better for a sofa, call velvet and velor. They look especially great on sofas of complex shape, the surface of the material is embossed, embossed, and may be a combination of several colors. This sofa upholstery looks best in dark and complex colors - blue, burgundy, eggplant, black. Velor and velvet upholstery will look new even after multiple cleanings.

Instead of velvet, its artificial substitute, flock, is often used. It is as beautiful as velvet, but stronger and more durable, and at the same time its cost is lower.

Silk is one of the luxurious materials that are suitable for sofa upholstery. Now it is extremely rare to see silk sofas, because silk is more suitable for creating a luxurious interior, but the material cannot be called practical. He is completely unsuitable for daily use during rest.

After reviewing the recommendations on which fabric is better to choose for the upholstery of the sofa, you can safely go shopping for furniture in your home. In order for the sofa to remain attractive for longer, you should learn how to care for the selected type of upholstery.