A very basic need in a modern place, whether this is a house or an office is absolutely the sofa. So knowing types of upholstery fabric may be prominent, natural or synthetic. They have been daily changed based on people’s tastes, and technological development. People used to have natural covering and fabric long ago, they wore cotton clothes or animals’ fur for instance; moreover, they did not have a sofa or a couch to seat on. Consequently, they did not need any upholstery fabrics. As time passed, humans found new ways of making their favorite tools, forming their ideal shapes out of stone, wood, or metal, and gradually designing something fancy which has been known as a luxury these days. They first made wooden chairs with no fabric covering, sometimes later, they had a metal chairs with animals’ skin, birds’ feathers, or even plants’ leaves. This char-making process continued and they finally came up with a new concept, the sofa. To have a good sofa, they needed to have a better fabric. This was the reason they started making new fabrics by combining materials namely cotton and wool. Decades later, the chemistry was highly expanded by scientists, producing new chemicals and materials that were about to change the human world. At the present time, man-made fabrics which are called synthetic are made of natural cloth and artificial materials, presented the latest designs and patterns, and also in countless customized colors. A great number of synthetic upholstery fabrics are available that are made of several chemical substances like plastic, nylon, polyester and etc.
Sofa Fabric Types
As it was discussed before, two main categories of sofa fabric can be named due to their types. Natural and synthetic fabrics. The first category is about those that are naturally made and mostly from animals’ skin and plants. Cotton is among the top fabrics that are made of plants. It is not only soft and gentle but also durable and comfortable. Cotton is one of those fabrics that can maintain its position as a worldly-favorite fabric all the time. Leather, the fancy fabric, which is made of animals’ skin like cows, sheep, snakes, goats, etc is another natural fabric. It is also one of the most ideal fabrics for furniture, giving a superb look in the art of decoration. Leather is available in many patterns and various colors, due to different animals’ skins have been used in the textile industry. Another natural one is wool which is made of the thick hair of sheep, goats, etc. It is an appropriate fabric, resisting fading, wrinkling, dirt and pilling. Wool is so durable that will be a good choice for heavy use. Whether the furniture is formal or casual, leather can be used for both sofas, couches, and even chairs.
The second category is synthetic fabrics that are made of petroleum products and chemicals. Plastic particles, oil-driven substances, chemical ingredients and so forth are examples of materials used in synthetic fabrics. Non-natural materials which are used in these fabrics have some positive and negative points, due to the fabric. Olefin is a synthetic fabric that resists water, spills, stains and fading. It is made of chemical materials, specifically petroleum ones. This fabric that is used on lots of occasions is light, durable and beautiful. Polyester is another synthetic example that is made of polymer fibers and plastic yarns. Like other synthetic fibers mentioned, this one is also popular and commonly used. It is a good resistant to many chemicals while it is durable, light, strong, and easy to be taken colors.
Microfiber Upholstery Fabric
In the time of purchasing sofa upholstery fabrics, dozens of factors need to be considered like materials, colors, texture, patterns, etc. Microfiber fabric might be an ideal choice due to factors that have already been mentioned. Microfiber that is made of polyester and nylon has an appropriate selection for large families. It has been made of thin but strong synthetic fibers that can prevent the entering of tiny particles inside the texture. Because its artificial fibers are thinner than natural silk, tiny insects like fleas are not able to penetrate into the fabric. Microfiber is so similar to silk, velvet, suede, and linen. It easily resists dirt, stain, and water and can be simply cleaned through a vacuum. Effortlessly dusting is another advantage that microfiber has. Regular vacuuming your microfiber fabric keeps it clean and tidy. Also, you can use well-known cleaning brands available in the market. In the case of using any type of cleaner, remember that test it on a small part of the furniture, preferably a hidden backside of it. Because if you start cleaning your furniture without paying enough attention, the used cleaner might be not good for the fabric and it may be ruined. So start testing on a small backside or hidden part of it first. Then you make sure this cleaner is appropriate, do cleaning on the whole. Microfiber fabrics are thin-woven that prevent any sharp piercing like cats’ claws. Consequently, this is a good choice for those who have pets as well.
Upholstery Fabric for Chairs
Whenever you want to buy sofa upholstery fabric, you have to know that considering it for chairs is not the main priority, because chairs are usually set with the sofa and couches. Another reason is that chairs are not easily visible; they hide inside the table. Therefore, it is better to choose your sofa fabrics first, then go to find a suitable one for your chairs. Most people use the same fabric that has been already used for their sofas, it is the best way of setting the scene and matching colors. Exactly like sofa fabrics, chairs can be used as natural or synthetic fabrics to cover them. Another important point you have to consider is the use of chairs. In comparison to casual sofas that have been made to lie down and relax, chairs are not much used. They are only used to having a meal such as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Although formal sofas are delicately made for special purposes, in such cases chairs are much more used due to their different uses. The drawing room and the kitchen are given as examples. To inform further information about upholstery fabrics, if you cannot draw a conclusion, talk to an expert who is aware of the textile production in detail.
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